Random budget backpacking FYI's: Just some fun! (9 sections)

(Last Updated On: July 30, 2022)

Some of these random budget backpacking FYI’s may split opinion, you might agree with some of them, some you will think are ridiculous and others you may think are obvious.

Random budget backpacking FYI's for you

Table of Contents

Ok let’s dive right into it, I’ve broken the backpacking FYI’s into sections for you so they make more sense

General backpacking FYI’s
Backpacking FYI’s for Hostels
Backpacking tips with other backpackers
Recreational Backpacking FYI’s
Backpacking FYI’s for food
Backpacking FYI’s for transport
Tips and backpacking FYI’s with local
Backpacking FYI’s about yourself
Backpacking FYI’s about your budget

GENERAL BACKPACKING FYI'S

Research well but plan loosely. (How many times have you heard this?
Travel plans change on a whim so be prepared.
There will be times you will get stuck in one place longer than anticipated. (Sometimes you will not even want to leave)
There will be times you won’t see half the things you thought you would.
Pack light but practical
Pack enough underwear – Why? Some of your underwear will almost certainly go missing every time you wash your clothes in either a hostel or a launderette
Long term budget backpacking is actually hard work and tiring; it’s not always a holiday and can take its toll
Backpacking can be mentally draining at times
Travel books are guides and not travel bibles – You don’t have to follow everything they say
Form your own opinion of a place and not what the travel book said
Long term budget backpacking is a marathon, not a sprint – You don’t need to see everything straight away. Take your time and enjoy it
Some places will just blow you away and stay with you forever. Other places you’ll hate and want to get out of there as quick as you can
Be open-minded and receptive to new circumstances – Embrace the new country you’re in
Long term budget backpacking will rip you out of your comfort zone
You will have the highest highs and the lowest lows
You will learn more about your own personality and character more than ever before
There will be times when you get lost but that’s what makes it an adventure
There will also be times you will get lost within yourself – Don’t worry it happens to all of us
Sometimes you will question why you’re doing this
You can have identity crisis sometimes – Forget the person you were, but ultimately you will grow as a person

BACKPACKING FYI'S FOR HOSTELS

Forget what pre-conceptions you may have of hostels – they can become the cornerstone of your travels
Don’t expect hotel quality in a hostel
Don’t be the snobby guest, not everything is going to be perfect, things break and people make noise
Learn about hostel etiquette – You don’t want to be the hostel asshole!
Hostel WiFi might not be the best – It’s not the end of the world
Easiest way to make friends is to be social; play cards, share a beer or a joint
Hostel friends can sometimes be clicky, don’t be afraid or intimidated by them
Take advantage of free breakfasts – But don’t complain about them if they don’t offer a wide range of choices – It’s free! If you don’t like it buy your own stuff and make your own!
Hostel staff are usually fellow backpackers too – Be friendly to them
Hostels are usually safe but keep your belongings in a safe place
Every hostel will have a drug dealer or somebody who will know a drug dealer
Cannabis and other drugs are taken in almost all hostels. (Don’t be shocked)
There are always ways to sneak booze into hostels that say they don’t allow it
Know the difference between party hostels and other types of backpacker hostels
There will almost always be at least one ‘long-termer’ at the hostel – Don’t judge them for why they don’t want to hop and skip to a different place every other day
Don’t leave your shampoo in a hostel shower, it will get used
Don’t use all the plugs in the dorm at the same time – Charge things one after another not all at the same time – It’s not your room
Keep your bag close or under your bed in the dorm room – Don’t leave it laying around in the middle of the room. Be considerate of other guests
If you’re leaving early in the morning pack your stuff the night before and not before you need to leave
If other people are sleeping, be respectful of them (doesn’t matter what time it is
Don’t steal from fellow backpackers!

BACKPACKING FYI'S WITH OTHER BACKPACKERS

Fellow backpackers have the potential to become like family
You can feel closer to your new friends than your own family
Lifelong friendships can be formed from backpacking
Most backpackers are there for the same reason but you will meet such a diverse range of characters
Be prepared to make new sets of friends on a regular basis
You will fall for somebody or a lot, while backpacking
You will come across somebody who is exactly the same as you and you will bond instantly
Saying goodbyes to backpacking friends you become close to is hard at first but you do get used to it
Sometimes backpackers can be very judgmental and quite pretentious
Other backpackers don’t want to know your life story straight away
Having the same conversations all the time gets tedious (Where you been? Where you going? What’s your route? How long have you traveled for? blah, blah, blah) – Stay away from the backpacker talk
Backpacking isn’t a competition – Just because you’ve done a certain thing or in a certain way doesn’t make you a better backpacker
You don’t have to dress or look a certain way to be a long term backpacker

BACKPACKING FYI'S FOR RECREATION

Agree or disagree – Drinking and partying is a huge part of backpacking culture
Party Hostels will regularly organize nights out
You will party a lot even if you tell yourself beforehand you won’t (personal experience)
Buying local alcohol is a lot cheaper than exported (Helpful for your budget)
If you smoke prepared to smoke even more when you’re backpacking
A lot of countries cater to backpackers and have backpacker specific areas with cheap bars
Reps from bars will always come over to your hostel and entice you for a night out
Don’t judge other backpackers who seem to just party all the time. (You might become one of them down the line)
If you can’t handle your alcohol don’t go too hard on your first night. (Seen it far too many times)
If you see people smoking weed or taking drugs and you don’t, don’t judge them – You do you and they will do them
You will have some of your best night’s out as a backpacker
Just one more! – Will lead to a night out until the early hours of the morning

BACKPACKING FYIS FOR FOOD

Eating street food will not kill you, It’s actually tastier and more authentic than some restaurants
Don’t be afraid of trying local delicacies. (Fried Scorpion tastes like burnt chicken wings)
In some countries eating out is cheaper than cooking for yourself
Even though instant noodles will come in handy at times – BUT you don’t need to live off them
Saying that there will be times you don’t know where your next meal is coming from
If you can’t cook, you will learn to cook cheap and basic food
It’s hard to find good bacon in a lot of countries (real bacon and not crappy American streaky bacon)
Most countries have a variety of cuisine (cheap and expensive)
Hot dog stands and pizza slices can be lifesavers
Spaghetti bolognese will be a staple of your diet
Don’t steal other peoples food – If you want to borrow something just ask them
Cook in groups makes it cheaper, make friends and more sociable
Shopping at local markets and butchers is normally cheaper than supermarkets – Don’t be afraid to explore

BACKPACKING FYIS FOR TRANSPORT

When choosing transport – Remember the cheapest option is not always the best. You will want some comfort
Renting your own vehicle (car, van, Bike) can be a much better way to see a country
Always check transport options don’t just book the first thing you see, read or are told about
Check hostel boards and talk to people, as other travelers may be heading to the same place and some will have free spaces in their vehicle
Take snacks with you for long haul bus journeys
Take overnight buses to save on a nights accommodation – But don’t expect a good night’s sleep
Be prepared to freeze to death on some overnight bus journeys take something warm. (air-cons that don’t work in the day will be on full blast through the night)
Be prepared for bus drivers to blast out local music at 4am, just when you’ve finally been able to fall asleep
In some countries police will board bus’s to check Id’s of passengers – Don’t be alarmed (Even if they see your British passport, hear your British accent and think you might be Venezuelan)
If you’re backpacking solo but don’t feel safe traveling alone – find a group and travel with them
Keep your personal and important items close to you, don’t advertise your belongings (I’ve seen it happen)
Hitchhiking can be daunting but is actually fun

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BACKPACKING FYI'S WITH LOCALS

Learning basic words of your destinations mother language goes a long way
Making friends with locals is well worth the experience. You will learn so much more from them than any guide, book or blog and will generally enrich your experience
You never know what relationships will grow from meeting locals – you could make friends for life
Try a homestay to get a different type of experience
Having local friends, they will show you all the hidden gems that are not advertised about
Stay away from dangerous areas – If there are signs at the hostel or local areas saying don’t go there, then do not go – Don’t think you are an exception
Haggling is a game – Don’t take it too seriously, don’t get angry at them
Be wary of scammers – Learn to become a savvy backpacker
Don’t flaunt that you’re a backpacker – you will get targeted
Learn to blend in with the locals
Respect other countries beliefs and ways of life – You are visiting their country
Just because something is a certain way in your country doesn’t mean it has to be that way in another
Remember different cultures have different customs, you chose to go there, don’t get upset if you don’t agree with their way of life or how they do certain things
Explore local areas, don’t just stick to the tourist strips (just make sure they are safe areas)
Prices in tourist areas are generally hiked up to the max
Don’t fall into the tourist trap
If you go off the beaten track and into non-touristy places be careful but have fun
Some locals don’t take kindly to tourists so be mindful and don’t act like a douche

BACKPACKING FYI'S FOR PERSONAL

Arduous journeys are worth it – what you will see and experience at the end of it will remain with you forever
Traveling in all forms is meant to be fun, don’t stress your self out with needless things
Take your time, soak in the moment, enjoy the experience, don’t rush to just take pictures or just to say you’ve been there. Who cares about how many countries you’ve been to
Don’t just be a passport stamp collector, what’s the point in traveling through 100 countries if you’ve not spent enough time there to feel and really experience it?
You will have times when you question why you’re doing this
There will be times when you feel lonely as a solo backpacker
However solo backpacking doesn’t mean lonely travel
Whatever reason you’re backpacking for – you’re traveling for yourself and not for others
If you don’t like a certain place do not be obliged to stay
Backpacking will open your eyes in ways you didn’t know about
You will see things from a different perspective
Long-term budget backpacking is like being in a bubble and there will be times you lose touch with reality
You will continue learn something new about yourself all the time
Be prepared to have arguments with yourself
From personal experience, if you think you’ve left your personal demons at home, you’re wrong – they will follow you and will rear their heads at certain times

BACKPACKING FYI'S FOR BUDGETS

Backpacking on tight budgets can be hard but fun at the same time
You will learn to manage your money better over time
Don’t blow a weeks budget in a couple of days. (Another personal experience)
Pick and chose what you would rather spend your money on
Look for free activities to do, sometimes they turn out much more enriching
Remember you are long term backpacking and not on holiday, you shouldn’t spend like you are on holiday
Resist spending money on needless things
Put your pride to the side and pick up random work to keep you going
If needs be work for accommodation – hostels, workaways, woofing
Buy simple cheap drinks instead of most fancy and expensive
Have days where you’re super tight with your money but also have a day to spoil yourself
You don’t need to buy every souvenir you see

You will encounter your own

Like I mentioned at the top of this random backpacking FYI’s post, these statements are just things I’ve seen come across, heard, experienced and learnt over the years. I hope these backpacking FYI’s have helped you in some way for your journey.

I’m sure during your backpacking trip there will be some other backpacking FYI’s you may come across, or if you are already backpacker is there any backpacking FYI’s you think I’ve missed at all.

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