Backpacking isn’t just about seeing beautiful places, it’s a mindset, a lifestyle, and often, a crash course in letting go of control. Real travel isn’t about copying someone else’s highlight reel, it’s about creating your own story.
This guide is packed with honest, practical, and hard-learned backpacking tips to help you avoid the most common mistakes and actually enjoy the ride. From choosing the right gear to embracing spontaneity, here’s what you really need to know before you set off with a backpack and a one-way ticket:
Don’t use Social Media to plan your trips
Okay, let me explain what I mean: Social media is definitely a great place for inspiration and to discover the best spots, but you should definitely dig deeper.
Most people plan their trips by typing “Must See Places XX” into TikTok. As a result, they’re shown the most viral videos where creators present 10 places everyone has to see. If you watch 5 of these videos, you’ll quickly notice that all the creators are recommending the same “must-see places.”
But this is exactly how countless other travelers are planning their trips too and in the end, everyone ends up at the same overcrowded tourist spots.
If you want to find a few hidden spots, you need to go a bit deeper. Look for creators you trust and who travel in a similar way to you. Check out their profiles, go through their Story highlights, and don’t hesitate to message them for their best tips. That way, you’ll get much more valuable information.
Booking in advance is the worst you can do
You can’t always predict the weather at a place, you don’t know how good or bad a place really is until you’ve seen it yourself, and you’ll meet people you’ll want to spend much more time with. Your plans will change so many times, and you’ll learn to be spontaneous which is why it doesn’t make sense to book accommodations, flights, activities, or anything like that more than two days in advance.
If you buy cheap, you buy twice
I understand that as a backpacker, you don’t have a lot of money to spend and want to save wherever you can especially on things that might break anyway. But when it comes to a backpack or a good pair of shoes, you should definitely not cut corners. These items have to withstand a lot. If you try to save money here, you’ll very quickly notice the poor quality and have to buy again.
You don’t need a lot of clothes
…in the end, you’ll end up wearing the same three t-shirts over and over anyway. Everyone will certainly have experienced it before, that you have once again packed much more than you actually need for your holiday. But especially when traveling, all the luggage you don’t actually need will be a huge burden. You will need to change your hostel every few days or regularly run long distances to the next bus stop. The heavier your luggage is and the more you carry with you, the more nerve-racking and exhausting your journey becomes. So try to limit yourself to the bare minimum of luggage.
Don’t pack white clothes
The same goes for fabric tote bags or anything similar. White clothes get dirty very quickly, and in most cases, not even a washing machine can get the stains out (especially not hostel washing machines). Try to stick to dark clothing as much as possible, stains and dust are much less noticeable on them.
Hanging toiletry bags are more hygienic
They’re so much more practical because you can hang them up anywhere and don’t have to put them on dirty or wet floors.
Packing cubes can save you a lot of packing & unpacking stress
Way too often, you’ll be looking for a piece of clothing that’s buried deep at the bottom of your backpack. Packing cubes help you find your stuff more easily. Plus, they make packing way faster.
Earplugs & a sleeping mask will save your sleep
Especially in hostels, you’ll often end up sharing a room with people who snore or simply don’t care about being quiet at night. High-quality earplugs in particular can really help block out the noise so you can still get a decent night’s sleep.
Always read reviews
Whatever you book, always read the reviews. Especially when booking a hostel, it’s important to take the time to read the reviews. Don’t rely solely on the photos. One of the most important things to look for in the reviews is whether people say the hostel is clean. I also always check if the hostel is “social,” meaning if it’s easy to meet other travelers there. If you’re not into partying and prefer to get a good night’s sleep, make sure to check whether the hostel is a party hostel.
But no matter what you’re checking out online, you’ll always come across some negative reviews. Don’t let that throw you off right away, opinions are often subjective. If the majority of guests give it 10 stars, it’s a good sign.
If you would like to learn more about booking a good hostel read my ultimate Hostel Guide for Backpackers.
You’ll have unexpected expenses
No matter how carefully you’ve planned your trip down to the last detail and calculated your costs, sooner or later unexpected expenses will come up. Sometimes it’ll be small amounts, sometimes bigger ones. That’s why you should always budget significantly more money than you think you’ll need. It’s better to have some leftover in the end than to cut your trip short because you ran out of money.
Staying on the beaten path is not fullfilling
Don’t try to do what everybody else does and visit one tourist attraction after the next. Because these places are usually crowded with people. Instead, try to listen to the tips of the locals or just explore the area on your own without having a goal in mind. So you will have your own experiences and not experience what everyone else has done anyway. The most beautiful experiences and adventures are hidden off the beaten path.
Travel burnout is real
I know that as a backpacker you’re on a limited budget, and of course you want to see as much as possible in a short amount of time. But if you’re out and about from morning till night, constantly taking in new impressions, and packing your backpack every other day, you’ll quickly become exhausted and your body also needs time to process everything you’ve experienced.
Travel slowly. Stay a little longer in one place now and then. Give yourself days where you do absolutely nothing, or something that has nothing to do with traveling. Make time for your other hobbies too. That way, you recharge your energy and come back stronger for the next adventure.
If you just try to tick off your bucket list, you’ll stop feeling excited about traveling after a few weeks and it won’t bring the same sense of fulfillment anymore. Sure, you’ve seen the place that was on your list, but you haven’t truly experienced, enjoyed, or felt it.
You need offline maps
You won’t always have internet access everywhere. That’s why it can be really helpful to download an offline map in advance, whether it’s on Google Maps or Maps.Me, so that you don’t lose your sense of direction in an emergency and can always find your way back to your accommodation safely.
You’ll lose a lot of things
When you live out of a small backpack for weeks or even months, constantly packing and unpacking your stuff, and storing your backpack in a room with five others every night, it’s pretty much inevitable that you’ll lose something along the way. It’s just part of the backpacking experience, accept it and try not to let it frustrate you too much.
Nothing stays intact
Just like you’ll end up losing things, most of your stuff will eventually break. After just two weeks of traveling, you’ll start to notice the first scratches on your phone, your clothes will get dirty and never fully clean again, your shoes will have holes… It’s all part of the backpacking experience.
You’re never truly alone
Especially when you’re traveling solo, you’ll quickly notice that it’s incredibly easy to make friends almost anywhere. Whether it’s at a hostel, on the street, or in a restaurant, people will approach you, and it’s easy to start conversations. Other solo travelers in particular are often quick to come up and connect with you. Before long, you’ll realize that you’re almost never really alone.
You need insurance
If you don’t want your trip to end in a total disaster, then you definitely need travel insurance. In particular, you should invest a little money in liability insurance, health insurance and luggage insurance. If you break your leg and need surgery, you’ll be grateful if you don’t have to pay the heavy bill yourself.
You need at least two credit cards
You could lose your credit card or have it stolen at any time. In that case, the last thing you want is to be on the other side of the world with no access to your money. That’s why you should always carry at least one backup credit card — just in case.
Notify your bank that you will be overseas
Before you start your journey, you should definitely inform your bank that you will be abroad. A lot of banks will spot the use of your credit or debit card overseas as „unusual activity“ and put a hold on it. So if you suddenly find yourself alone in a foreign country without access to your account, it can become a very big problem.
Hostellive is more incredible than you think
You can have an amazing time in hostels. You meet new people every day, form friendships that sometimes last for ever, take part in lots of events, are constantly surrounded by like-minded travelers, and you laugh a lot. Of course, it can occasionally happen that you share a room with people who aren’t very considerate but the good times always overweight.
No place is ever as bad as they’re going to tell you
How many times have you shared your travel plans and heard reactions like “I’d never dare to do that” or “that place is way too dangerous”? There are so many places in this world that are considered “dangerous” but actually aren’t. These are prejudices often spread in the West by people who’ve never been to those places themselves. Trust me, no place is ever as bad as they’re going to tell you! Only trust reviews and opinions from people who have actually been there.
You will grow and raise your standards
You’ve seen the world, experienced different cultures, had deep conversations about life, lived through things most people only dream of and so much more. Going back to a “normal” life isn’t easy for many backpackers. A regular 9-to-5 job or small talk with friends might no longer feel fulfilling.
You’ve changed, you’ve grown and with that, your expectations for life have grown too. And that’s okay. That’s how it’s supposed to be. You’re allowed to want more if your heart is longing for more.
Nothing will work out as you plan (but still in your greatest favor)
So many times your plans get ruined, you have to adapt or rearrange everthing but trust me, especially while traveling, everything, literally everything always happens in your greatest favor. Trust that there is a bigger plan for you, one that‘s leading you to the happiest version of yourself. That‘s also why you should throw your plans out of the window… they’re probably not that great anyway. 😉
Traveling is less about the places you see and more about the people you meet
Sounds weird, I know but let me explain: At the end of the day, a beach is just a beach, and a waterfall is just a waterfall. No doubt, these places are beautiful and a big reason why we travel in the first place. But in the end, it’s not about how much you saw it’s about what you experienced.
Who did you talk to? How much did you laugh? What did you do together? Those memories are worth so much more than the 1000 photos on your phone of ten different waterfalls. Because in the end, it’s those shared moments that will truly fulfill you.
You have to step outside your comfort zone
While traveling, you’ll find yourself in so many situations that require courage. Almost every day, you’ll face new challenges you’ll need to overcome. But you know what? That’s how you grow. That’s how you become stronger. That’s how you become braver and how you give yourself the chance to live a life where fear doesn’t hold you back.
You’re giving yourself the chance to one day look back on your life and say, “Wow, I really did it all,” instead of “I wish I had dared to.”
Lower your standards and see every opportunity as an adventure & a story to tell
Don’t expect high qualitiy rooms, be okay with dirty clothes or places, accept that things break and so on… just really lower your standards and accept that everything is just how it is. It’s all part of the journey. If you embrace it and see it as an experience and a great story to tell your future kids, you’ll enjoy it. If not, you’ll just be frustrated and want to leave as soon as possible.
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