Travel
About the Author: Jennifer Rhodes is a travel blogger with a thirst for adventure. Having backpacked across numerous countries following the completion of a Leisure and Tourism degree, she works as a travel consultant to offer advice to those just starting out on backpacking adventures.
Image by Jhong Dizon via Flickr Creative Commons
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- How To Leave Everything Until The Last Minute
If you are leaving everything until the last minute with your summer holiday this year ‘staycationing’ may well be the perfect solution for you. For a start there will be no problems if any of the family’s passports need renewing, secondly you won't...
Travel
How to Prepare for a Backpacking Holiday
Any type of holiday requires thorough preparation but when backpacking, this is intensified. From organizing the accommodation to researching your travel options, preparing for a backpacking trip requires more than just packing a few sets of clothes into your rucksack.
Book accommodation
Whilst some travellers like to adopt a fluid approach to their holidays, leaving accommodation bookings until they arrive at their destination, this can be a huge risk. Backpacking holidays don’t have to mean travelling with little or no agenda and you can still entertain a certain amount of fluidity whilst booking accommodation in advance.
Look into different options from hotels to hostels and B&Bs before making your choice. Remember to compare quality with price to ascertain how much value for money you’re getting and have a look at reviews or testimonials for assurances over accommodation standards.
Research travel
While accommodation may be something you can book in advance, the same is not always true for travel. Any flights you take can be booked fairly easily online but for those taking a more traditional approach to backpacking and journeying by road, rail or foot, this may not be viable.
Instead of leaving yourself in the dark before your departure, research the travel options available in your intended destinations and get an idea of how they work and how much they cost. This way you can choose the one best for you and will have a rough idea of what to expect when you turn up.
Make an itinerary
Whilst the whole point of a backpacking holiday is not be tied down to structured plans or packages, that doesn’t mean you don’t need an itinerary. Draft a rough guide of the areas you want to visit and a rough order in which to travel to them. Highlighting any attractions you want to see will also keep you focused whilst allowing room for more spontaneous plans.
Get protected
With all the excitement of planning your trip it can be easy to overlook some of the more practical details. Getting protection from travel insurance policies such as those provided by Allianz Global Assistance is a great option and there is even specific single-trip backpacker insurance to cater to this particular type of trip. It’s important to remember danger can strike at any time and whether you’re backpacking across the world or sticking to home soil, the peace of mind afforded by travel insurance is something which is hard to beat.
Inform your relatives
Finally, keeping friends and family members informed about your plans is crucial. Checking-in regularly so they know you’re safe and showing them a rough itinerary will put everyone’s mind at rest and ensure help is at hand if you do encounter any difficulties.
About the Author: Jennifer Rhodes is a travel blogger with a thirst for adventure. Having backpacked across numerous countries following the completion of a Leisure and Tourism degree, she works as a travel consultant to offer advice to those just starting out on backpacking adventures.
Image by Jhong Dizon via Flickr Creative Commons
- How To Plan A Break On A Budget
We all want to go on holiday, but sometimes our finances have other ideas. Going away involves spending money - usually a lot of it – and often our bank balances simply can’t support this. This doesn’t mean that you have to give up your dream of...
- Going On A Holiday. Have You Packed Your Travel Insurance?
When you think about holiday planning, your thoughts will no doubt run to destinations, bulk buying sun cream and whether last year’s bikini is still looks great. All very important, I’m sure you’ll agree, but you could be missing one very important...
- What Type Of Luxury Traveller Are You?
It's that time of the year when many of us are planning our ideal holiday, sorting out all the flight and accommodation details. Sure, our vacation can be a cultural trip along the streets of Rome, a relaxing time on a laid back exotic beach, or a...
- Lodging Options In South Africa
South Africa is a destination that appeals to a variety of travellers, from backpackers on a budget to honeymooners seeking luxury and everything in between. From the extravagant hotels that add glitz and glamour to Cape Town's famous Victoria and...
- How To Leave Everything Until The Last Minute
If you are leaving everything until the last minute with your summer holiday this year ‘staycationing’ may well be the perfect solution for you. For a start there will be no problems if any of the family’s passports need renewing, secondly you won't...