Backpacking Abroad e Bookcompressed
Backpacking Abroad e Bookcompressed
Backpacking Abroad e Bookcompressed
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Contents
So You Want To Be A Backpacker 1
How To Pick Your Destination 2
What Is My Budget 3
Backpacking Destinations
Western Europe 4
Eastern Europe 6
The Balkans 8
Southeast Asia 10
South America 14
How to Find Cheap Plane Tickets 17
Travel Apps You Need 20
What To Pack 22
Money: How Do I Manage It Abroad 23
Visas 24
Travel Insurance 25
Hostels 26
How To Cook In a Hostel 30
Volunteering and How it Can Change Your LIfe 33
Solo Backpacking Tips 35
Group Backpacking Tips 37
Traveler Safety 38
Traveler Responsibility 40
SO YOU WANT TO BE A
BACKPACKER
In many ways, the amenities were basic, the way, harder to find
but the experience in total, 100 percent authentic. It was a
time characterized by jungle huts, dingy hostels and pocket-
sized language guides. There were no GPS maps, online
reviews and certainly no boutique hostels; let’s just say that
things have changed.
Many of the developing nations of the 80’s and 90’s are now
economic powerhouses, offering first-class accommodations
to business trippers, backpackers, and family vacationers all
seeking sun and new sights in lands far away.
2
HOW TO PICK YOUR DESTINATION
This will make it much easier to find cheap tickets and make
your travel plans more fluid, going to the places that spark
interest, rather than just checking off cities on an itinerary.
3
WESTERN EUROPE
In truth, modern-day backpacking culture originally began in
Western Europe. Anybody born in the 90’s surely remembers the
movie Eurotrip, a kitschy tale of a high school grad that went to
Europe to find the girl of his dreams. For many people all around the
world, exploring the old town and cobblestoned streets of Europe’s
greatest cities has been a dream, and it certainly should be. The
canals of Amsterdam or the avenues of Paris are enough to lure
anyone away from their homes for a great backpacking excursion.
The main issue with backpacking Western Europe for most people
may be the price tag. All of the countries listed above excluding
Iceland, the UK, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, all use the Euro, making
prices quite standard in all of these countries. This means that you
won’t catch a break with currency exchange anywhere you are using
the US Dollar. Hostels at high season can cost up to 40 euros a night,
and meals from 5-10 euros depending on where you eat.
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Backpacking Western Europe on a budget Is certainly possible but
takes a bit more effort and makes you travel more selectively,
especially when planning what attractions, you will see and what
food you’ll eat. The good news is that many hostels in Europe have
kitchens, which allows you to shop at stores and cook your own
meals. This can be a huge money saver and something we certainly
recommend.
We would also like to note that the more north you go in Europe,
generally the more expensive it gets. Southern Spain is just about
half as expensive as Amsterdam, for example.
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EASTERN EUROPE
Eastern Europe for our definition includes much of the post-
Soviet Russian states, such as the Baltics (Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania), Belarus, Russia, Poland, The Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Ukraine. This region is defined today by strong cultures,
beautiful cities, good prices and a much different vibe than what
you would find in Western Europe.
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As opposed to nearly needing 50 Euros a day during the high
season in the west, a backpacking trip in the east could save
you between 30-40% on food, housing, and transportation.
Many countries such as Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and
the Czech Republic do not use the Euro, so you will also catch
a break with the currency exchange rates, making the
countries even cheaper.
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THE BALKANS
The Southeastern pierce of the European continent is widely
known as the Balkans and is both a cultural and regional area
including Hungary, the former Yugoslavia (Slovenia, Serbia,
Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro), Albania,
Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova.
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Each part of former Yugoslavia has wonderful sights to see,
both historical, cultural and modern. The problem that
remains is the transportation between the new countries, as
border crossing often take quite long because of hostile times.
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SOUTHEAST ASIA
Backpacking Southeastern Asia, a region which includes
Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia,
Indonesia, Singapore, The Philippines, Sri Lanka and India can
often be considered the dream trip for long term
backpackers. The Banana Pancake trial as it has been called
by backpackers from yesteryear has been a region that
backpackers have been getting permanently lost in for
decades.
The larger cities fast paced lifestyle like you can find in Ho
Chi Minh or Bangkok sit in stark contrast to the sleepy
villages just kilometers outside of them. Here you will find
some of the world most miraculous landscapes; waterfalls,
white sand beaches, mountains, river, you name it.
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The hot and humid environment, mixed with the air pollution
of some cities, make touring during the day a challenge. Make
sure to bring light clothes that can be washed plenty of times,
a hat, sunscreen and plenty of mosquito spray.
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For Western travelers, South and Latin America gets you a
serious bang for your buck. The cheapest, are easily the latin
American countries, such as Nicaragua or Guatemala, followed
by Ecuador and Peru on the southern continent. A night stay in
a hostel will range from $5 to $15 highest in most cities other
than Buenos Aires and Rio. A meal between $2-$5 in most
cities.
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GET ME THERE! A GUIDE TO
PLANE TICKETS
If you are looking at a long term backpacking trip, chances are high that
you will be flying to your first destination. In todays world, there are
hundreds of different options for getting you to where you need to go,
but below, we have simplified the process by giving you our favorite
ways to book tickets.
Remember that its better to choose a region, than a specific city. You
can pick the cheapest destination and then end up in the place that you
want after checking out a new place you never thought of!
Aggregators: Sites that specialize in taking all the sales data from
internet vendors and giving you the best prices for your trip. We like the
following;
Skyscanner/ Momondo
Skyscanner and Momondo are great aggregators for all flight websites
you can find on the web. They have a few good features including
flexible date, best price finder as well as the “everywhere” feature,
which lets you find the cheapest location in the world to fly from your
outbound city.
Google Flights
Another aggregator site with tons of deals. Really great for same day, or
near future travel. The best thing about Google Flights is you can
actually scroll over a map of the world and see the buy now price for
tickets for thousands of locations.
Student Universe
It is a site aggregator that specially reserves tickets for students, but the
catch here is that you have to have a student ID in order to reserve the
ticket. Normally they have good deals similar to skyscanner but anytime
you book a ticket I would definitely check both.
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Budget Airlines For European Travel
(Icelandic Companies) WOW Air and Icelandic Airways
Iceland has been on a tourism promotion rampage, offering
flights from various locations in the US including LA, DC, NY
and Seattle for unbeatable prices. WoW air is truly bare
bones, much like a bus in the air. If you travel WOW don’t
forget to bring food and plenty of water because nothing is
complimentary except the chair! While peanuts are nice, so
are one-way tickets from LA to Paris for 250$.
RyanAir
RyanAir is the standard for offering cheap flights in Europe.
You can bounce around from the largest cities in Europe for
under 20 Euros one way easily, with many destinations to
choose from. The one caveat with RyanAir is their hidden
fees that could really stack up if you don’t pay attention.
Make sure to print your ticket in advance and check yourself
in online if you want to avoid paying for them at the airport.
Norwegian Air
Norwegian Air, much like Wow and RyanAir, is another
essential budget option for European travel. They do,
however, offer a bit more of a comfortable ride and give out
more complimentary services.
Vueling
This airline may our favorite one in Europe, being the perfect
median between affordability and services offered. Think
Southwest in the US. Its an economic choice that operates in
every major city on the continent.
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Budget Airlines For Asian Travel
Air Asia
As far as budget airlines are concerned, Air Asia owns the South
East Asian Market. With hundreds of daily flights to every country
from India to Indonesia, the Malaysian owned Air Asia is certainly
the way to travel. Much like any other budget airline, it’s a no frills,
back to the basics experience, that certainly get you where you
need to go and not much else.
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THE TRAVEL APPS YOU NEED
That being said, people have been using tools since the stone
age, so why wouldn’t a traveler need their own toolbelt to
make sure they are successful in every stage of the trip.
1. Uber/Lyft/Taxify/Grabtaxi
We know what you are saying, I have heard of all these before
and I use them in my regular life, why did they make the list?
Because in many ways, the rideshare apps are a “get-out-of-
jail-free” card when you are more than lost. There are those
days where you are in unfamiliar territory. The buses seem
crowded and daunting, the metro is nowhere to be found and
you aren’t feeling up to walk the 2 kilometers to your hostel
in the 95-degree heat.
The best part about this map is first: the navigation arrow. It’s large
and prominent on the screen and moves as you move, ensuring that
you end up going in the right direction.
The second is that it highlights paths and hiking trails that do not
normally show up on normal map apps. Let’s say you are hiking the
mountain overlooking Dubrovnik, Croatia, but unsure about the way
up. Maps.Me will actually show you exactly how to go, where there
are stairs and all the options you may not have known about.
3. TripIt
We like this app because it makes it easy to let your family know
where you are and stores your travel document information in a safe
place. When creating a trip within the app, TripIt will pull
information about all tickets you have purchased, places you have
booked that are in your connected email and put it in a timeline
within your app.
You can see check-in, departure, arrival and checkout times all in an
easy and organized way. You can also share your trip with family
members, so they know exactly where you say you are going to be!
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4. XE Currency
Money is always an important matter when traveling. This can get a
bit tricky when you are dealing with 22,000 Vietnamese Dongs to the
dollar when making a purchase. XE Currency is a fast and up to date
exchange rate tracker. You can plug up to 5 different currencies into
the app at a time, getting up to date international rates to ensure
that you aren’t getting ripped off at various stages of your trip. The
best part about this app is that is works while you are offline, which
is helpful when having to make a transaction exchange while buying
something in a Thai market for example.
5. Couchsurfing
We love couchsurfing. The app basically allows you to meet locals
and stay at their homes when you need a place to crash for the night
and aren’t up for spending money to stay at a hostel. While many
people have their doubts about that part of the app
(safety/weirdos), we don’t even think it’s the best part of the
couchsurfing experience.
*If you are using Couchsurfing to stay at someone’s home, make sure
you let a friend or family member know who and where you are
staying with as a precaution.
If they accept, you are connected in a chat with a GPS system, so you
can easily meet up.
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WHAT TO PACK
Packing is always the first challenge of any successful
backpacking trip. What do I take? How much do I take? Don’t
worry, the BeyondThePack Team are here for you.
The best advice we can give you is to pack your bag, and then
remove 33% of what you just packed. We often overpack and
don’t be worried as this is a problem that we all deal with at
some point. Just remember that anything that goes in your
backpack, you will literally have to carry on your back wherever
you go. Logically you don’t want to haul a whole bunch of
clothing you won’t end up wearing anyways. Maybe rethink
that third jacket!
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General Packing List
Obviously, clothes and toiletries are important, but any
successful backpacker doesn’t have their shortage of gear
and handy tools. These items have become tricks of the
trade and are almost staple goods for any international
backpacker.
External Battery
The external battery is truly a lifesaver. Whether you are
at a hostel without an outlet near your bed or on the road
without a chance to charge up, having an external battery
ready to go is something that you have to have! Be aware
that you are not allowed to check external batteries while
flying, so make sure you keep it in a carry-on bag.
Padlock
You need to be able to store your things safely in a hostel
because you never know what could happen when
sleeping in a shared room. While 9/10 times things are
fine, there’s always that one time something gets stolen.
Make sure to lock up your valuables, especially your travel
documents.
Earplugs
Depending on the hostel, dorm rooms can be loud at
night. If you are a light sleeper, earplugs are an easy and
affordable way make sure you get the sleep you need.
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Quick Dry Travel
There’s nothing worse than packing a smelly wet towel
into your bag when leaving the hostel for your next
destination. Many hostels also do not offer towels, or only
provide them for a fee, so just to make sure you’re
covered, we’d recommend a quick dry small towel. They
are good for the beach too!
Charging Adapter
If you have ever traveled internationally, you may have
noticed that many countries do not have the same outlets.
Packing the correct travel outlet will certainly prevent you
from not being able to charge your phone or other
electronics while abroad.
Good Headphones
Not only to listen to music, noise-canceling headphones
can be helpful when trying to sleep in a noisy dorm room
or find some peace and quiet among the common areas.
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MONEY: HOW TO MANAGE IT
ABROAD?
If you are going abroad to start a long-term trip, chances
are, you are going to be in a country with a different
currency than that of where you came from. While there
are many opinions about how you should access and use
your money, we have come up with one full proof
solution.
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VISAS
If you don’t know what a visa is, don’t worry! We are here
to help. A visa is a legal document that goes in your
passport which allows you to go into a country for a
specified amount of time.
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TRAVEL INSURANCE
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HOSTELS
Hostels have a branding problem. For years, the hostel has been a
dingy, gross room that was used as a cheap alternative to your
typical hotel experience. Within the last twenty years, the
industry has gone through a revolution of sorts, transforming
those ratty old rooms in beautiful and safe establishments,
welcoming travelers from all over the world with open arms.
Party Hostels
The party hostel has become a mainstay on the hostel circuit.
Normally big hostels that cater to groups of backpackers looking
to drink and party, they offer special services you might not find
at other places such as pub crawls, drinking games, quiz nights
and bar deals.
Disclaimer: While fun, party hostels can be dirty and loud. Make
sure to read the reviews beforehand to make sure it’s the
experience for you. 26
Surf Hostels
The surf hostel has become popular in beach tourist
destinations and provides a chill atmosphere filled with people
who want nothing more than to catch the morning waves and
hang out the rest of the day.
Boutique Hostels
The boutique hostel has become something quite easy to find
around the world. These hostels focus on a high-quality hostel
experience, offering clean and comfortable sleeping quarters in
a design-driven space.
They are often sleek, modern, yet cozy all at the same time.
Many of these establishments offer services you wouldn’t find
at your traditional backpackers’ hostels such as beds already
being made, shampoo and soap, free towels, free breakfast and
more.
Backpackers Hostels:
This brand of hostel was the staple for the industry and haven’t
transformed much from their original purpose. Friendly and
comfortable, these hostels offer little extra amenities other
than a genuine experience and a bed.
They are great places to keep it cheap, like the other hostels
listed above often cost a bit more for obvious reasons. You will
always find amazing backpackers with unique stories at the
specifically cheap hostels, the ones who have been adventuring
around the world for serious amounts of time. Backpackers
Hostels generally are nothing special, but we love them just the
way they are.
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DO!
BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR ROOMMATES
LOCK YOUR THINGS UP
PARTICIPATE IN HOSTEL ACTIVITES
INTERACT WITH THE STAFF
DON'T!
LEAVE A MESS IN THE KITCHEN
TURN THE LIGHT ON WHILE PEOPLE ARE
SLEEPING
BE NOISY IN THE DORM ROOM
SPEND ALL YOUR TIME IN THE HOSTEL AND
FORGET TO SEE THE CITY 28
WHERE TO FIND THE BEST DEALS
ON HOSTELS
What we can say is that while they are easy to find, they
may not actually offer the best deals on rooms. Since
many of the aggregators take a portion of room sales,
hostels offer the best deals on beds through their own
website, if they have one.
Hostelworld.com: https://www.hostelworld.com/
Booking.com: https://www.booking.com
Hostelbookers.com: https://www.hostelbookers.com/
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HOW TO COOK IN A HOSTEL
Pro Tip: Always put your name and the dates you are staying
on your food, or the bag it’s in. Hostel staff often goes
through food and throws out or eats the stuff that got left
behind! Don’t let it be yours.
The good news about hostel kitchens, is they often have the
staple ingredients that you need for any dish such as butter,
salt, pepper and oil, so you don’t often have to start
completely from scratch!
After you are done in the kitchen, make sure to clean up!
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SPAGHETTI BOLOGNAISE - THE HOSTEL CLASSIC
This italian classic, made with meat, or even meatless for our
vegetarian friends is perfect for filling your hungry belly without
breaking the bank. Its a fool proof recipe that even the most
inexperienced chef can master in minutes!
How to cook:
Sauté onions until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add in beef and
cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. While you are doing
this, bring you water to a boil, add salt and add your pasta in, cook
until tender, about 6-7 minutes. Once your onion and beef mixture is
cooked, add in the tomato sauce, salt and pepper, and let simmer
until combined.
Ingredients
1 onion chopped 0.15$
200 grams of ground beef 1.00$
200 grams of spaghetti 0.35$
Half jar Tomato Sauce 0.50$
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STRAMMER MAX - OPEN FACED DELICIOUSNESS
How To Cook:
Start with some butter in the pan, add your ham and let cook
for 30 seconds. Add eggs on top and let sit for 2 minutes. Add
cheese and remove from pan, replacing it with your two slices
of bread and more butter. Once you have browned the bread
on both sides, return the egg, ham, cheese, to the top and cook
for another minute, making sure all the cheese is melted. Sit
down and enjoy!
Ingredients
2 pieces of bread 0.20$
2 Eggs 0.25$
2 Slices of Cheese 0.50$
2 Pieces of Ham 0.50$
Ketchup (Probably in the hostel)
An E Book By
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VOLUNTEERING AND HOW IT CAN
CHANGE YOUR LIFE
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While the experience does come with work and
responsibilities, it is the intangible things about the position
that really make it worthwhile. Fostering intercultural
communication and understanding between peoples is
something that we can really get behind and a main facet of
any work abroad experience.
-Pierce
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SOLO BACKPACKING TIPS
Start a blog
A blog, even for personal use, is helpful as writing can be
quite cathartic. Let friends and family know the address of
your blog so they can follow you on your journey and
understand what you are going through, where you are and
how you are feeling. This will certainly give you more to talk
about during your calls.
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Download WhatsApp
WhatsApp is a great communication app because not only
does it allow you to facetime friends and family, but it also
is great for messaging and phone calls; all over Wi-Fi. Since
you probably won’t have a sim card in country, WhatsApp
can be used anywhere you have a Wi-Fi connection, making
it truly your phone on the go.
Send Postcards
It seems like a trivial activity, but if you do it every location
you are, it can actually be a fun venture. It gives you time to
think about your friends and family, in even the short
moment it takes you to write and send it.
36
GROUP BACKPACKING TIPS
If you are having a problem with your group, or you feel that
the trip isn’t what you wanted, vocalize it! Don’t let your
whole trip be ruined without anyone know that there was a
problem.
Group Respectfulness
It’s often easy when traveling in a group to be more
obnoxious than normal, as you are with people you like and
are comfortable with and you want to have fun. Don’t
forget that you are many times in countries with different
cultural background and rules and having a loud and rowdy
group wander through their town is seen more as a nuisance
than something welcomed. Always make sure to respect
others around you while traveling in a group. 37
TRAVELER SAFETY TIPS
While out and about, make sure to keep your passport secure
in your bag or even better, in a small valuable carrying pocket.
If you are in a country with less laws than you would expect to
see in Western Europe and the US, never forfeit your passport
over to an official because they have asked for it. You have a
right to protect yourself.
While showing your passport make sure that you never let it
leave your site. Many police and law enforcement around the
world can hold your passport in order to extort money from
you.
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If you carry a wallet, keep it in a buttoned pocket or in your
front pocket. If you have a purse, make sure it is securely in a
place where you can see it.
Also avoid carrying large amounts of cash in the same place.
This goes without saying, but if you have a backpack and look
like a young traveler, you become an easy target. To combat
this, split up your cash in various parts of you bag, so if they get
some of it, they won’t take it all.
NEVER get in a taxi before you know how much it costs and if
you can, ask the drive to turn the meter on for you. Make sure
you know where your bags are and keep your valuables close.
Motorbike thefts are rampant in southeast Asia, so be sure you
keep your bags between your legs if you are riding in an open-
air transportation vehicle (Tuk Tuk).
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TRAVEL RESPONSIBILITY
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