Backpackers Journal vol.1 - Get Thinking.

BACKPACKER’S JOURNAL.

A short guide for the eager traveller.

1/02/2018

Whether it's your first time out or you’ve found yourself with a serious case of the travel bug i'd like to hope this simple guide put together of my own finding’s helps you on your next adventure. i have been exploring here and there for 2 years now so even i am relatively new to the game, however my 2 years have brought me school boy errors aswell as strokes of pure genius that i’d like to share with you all. i’ll be covering packing tips and tricks, safety advice, a budgeting guide, an insight to overseas volunteering, aswell as introducing you to eco-tourism as the world is a beautiful place and im sure we’d all like to keep it that way.

in this post i am starting off a series of blogs to help you on your way around the world. this blog will consist of a breif run down of what i think is essential knowledge when preparing for your trip. these pointers cover the bare fundamentals of travelling with references to aid you. remember that everyone's style is different, and you will certainly find yours on your way.

MY FIRST PieCE OF ADVICE WOULD BE TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK. RESEARCH, RESEARCH AND RESEARCH AGAIN AND I don’t MEAN JUST READ THROUGH YOUR STA TRAVEL GUIDE, I MEAN READ BLOGS, WATCH VLOGS AND LISTEN TO WHAT REAL PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE COUNTRIES YOU’RE PLANNING ON VISITING. THANKS TO THE INTERNET A SINGLE GOOGLE SEARCH will uncover THIS GUIDE AND MANY OTHERS WHERE YOU CAN PUT TOGETHER A RAPPORT APPROXIMATING A WEEKLY BUDGET FOR FOOD, TRAVEL, ACCOMmODATION AND PACKING NECESsiTIES.

MY SECOND, don’t USE A TRAVEL AGENT.

SADLY, YOUR TRAVEL AGENT ISN'T GOING TO BE THERE WHEN you’ve MISSED YOUR TRAIN AND CAN'T READ THE TIMETABLE BUT THE COMMISsION FROM FEES THEY MADE ON YOUR BOOKING WILL BE BURNING a HOLE IN THEIR POCKET. DO IT YOURSELF. THIS IS WHERE YOUR RESEARCH AND PREPARATION IS KEY. TAKE YOUR PLANNING STEP BY STEP:

1. fLIGHTS

I PERSONALLY HAVE ALWAYS FAVOURED cHEAPFLIGHTS https://www.cheapflights.co.uk , ITS QUICK AND SIMPLE AND COVERS FLIGHTS FROM almost EVERY AIRLINE ADVISING YOU THE CHEAPEST AND SMARTEST (LEAST TIME CONSUMING) OPTIONS. BE AWARE THAT WHEN BOOKING THROUGH CHEAPFLIGHTS YOU WILL MOST LIKELY BE USING A THIRD PARTY TRAVEL PROVIDER MEANING WHEN IT COMES TO BOOKING, TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY VARY FROM THE AIRLINE’S THEMSELVES. GOOGLE FLIGHTS IS A NIFTY LITTLE SEARCH ENGINE IDEAL FOR THOSE QUICK ON THE MOVE ENQUIRIES, SKYSCANNER TOO https://www.skyscanner.net , HOWEVER I ALWAYS RE-SEARCH ON CHEAPFLIGHTS AFTER A SEARCH ON SKYSCANNER AS I HAVE FOUND THEY AREN’T THE MOST RELIABLE FOR FINDING EVERY ROUTE POSSIBLE.

THE WAY TO AVOID USING A THIRD PARTY TRAVEL PROVIDER IS TO USE THESE PLATFORMS PURELY AS SEARCH ENGINES, ONCE you’ve FOUND A FLIGHT GO DIRECTLY TO THE AIRLINE’S WEBSITE AND PURCHASE THROUGH THEM IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT.

i recently subscribed to email offers from ‘jacks flight club’ https://www.jacksflightclub.co.uk/ you can sign up for free and its very simple just add your name and email adress and every week you will receive one or two amazing flight deals. its just some dude with a love for travelling that has a nack for finding cheap flights that he’s eager to share with us all. you can also sign up to premium where, for a small fee, you can receive numerous flight deals. if you do chose to do this, then be aware that the emails you receive may fall into your ‘promotions’ or ‘spam’ folders.

2. Accommodation

if you're not short for time, please please please don’t book too far ahead. using your research make a guess of how long you will want in each place and then book yourself in for 2/3 days. if you fall in love and want to stay longer, just ask at the desk or failing that search for other rooms in the same area. this way is also beneficial for if you hate where you are. if you book yourself in for a week and then have all your future plans booked in then your stuck because if you leave or don’t show your hotel will charge your registered card you used for your booking for the entire amount of your stay (in most cases).

a way of avoiding this is by using booking.com https://www.booking.com reguarly and becoming a genius (regular user) with a genius account you’re entitle to not only numerous perks like free breakfast, late/early check in/out and room discounts but also free cancellations with no credit card required to secure your stay.

however, booking.com is very well known for taking the full cost of stay prior to your arrival if a credit card has been listed on the booking, this was common for me in india. i guess every country is different though seeing as up until that trip i had had no issue with the booking platform.

another useful booking platform is hostel world. www.hostelworld.com on hostel world you will tend to find not always cheaper but more so backpacker accommodation, although plenty of hostels are available on booking.com i have found that there is an even larger array available to you through hostelworld. so, if you’re booking ahead always browse around on both platforms to ensure you find the cool and quirky accommodation that you’re after, be it a party hostel with a bar and beach access to a green boutique made from and supplying fully sustainable materials and promoting eco-tourism.

i will be going much deeper into the different kinds of accommodation and how to not be fooled by online images of plush beds and huge spaces for a fiver a night in another post.

3. The next move – transport.

ONCE you’ve GOT YOUR INITIAL FLIGHTS (OR ONE WAY FLIGHT IF YOURE LUCKY ENOUGH) DECIDE IF THE CITY YOURE FLYING INTO IS WHERE YOU WANT TO SPEND TIME. I WILL ALWAYS TELL YOU THAT EVERY CITY DESERVES A CHANCE, PERHAPS GIVE YOURSELF 2 NIGHTS TO RECHARGE AS TRAVELLING IN A NEW COUNTRY WHILST TIRED AND STRESSED IS NO FUN ATALL, BE GOOD TO YOURSELF WHILST YOU’RE ON THE ROAD AND YOU WILL BE REWARDED.

NOW REFER TO YOUR RESEARCH. when i arrived in bangkok with 2 nights accommodation booked. i sat in bed and looked over my notes and saw the small town west of the city that i was eager to visit, i slept the night and head out in the morning to numerous local tour operators to compare prices for a bus into the town the next morning. once i'd found the best price i booked my seat and set off to explore bangkok before venturing west.

if you’re planning on staying in one country for a long period of time then i suggest that on arrival you purchase a local sim card from a legit network provider desk which are usually located at the arrivals area of your international airport. purchase a plan with as much data you can get, it will be cheap and beneficial, not for facebook updates or tweets but for google maps, which will now become your best friend. using the google maps app is simple and easy, enter your destination and using your current location it will provide you with a route and approx travel time for each option of transport. in most major cities all reliable transport will be available to you through this app which is wonderful, you can even book an uber or use grab.

to double check for accurate prices ive used rome to rio. this online search engine works similar to the others i have mentioned and is great for buses and trains, it will also provide you with an approxamte cost for a taxi if you’re needing transport super early/late in the day. always keep taxis as your last resort though, they will most likely be a lot cheaper than in your home town however they can come with a multitude of language barrier issues and scams. if using a taxi, make sure you either insist on meter usage or a flat rate to your destination before getting yourself or your luggage inside the car. this is another way where your phone will come in handy aswell with some of the apps i have previously mentioned.

on booking .com you can load your hostel/hotel address without using data and you can also translate this address into the local language which is amazing. always try and find the road names too as names of bars and such might not be well known to local drivers, knowing the full address just avoids confusion.

due to personal experience i will always stress to ensure you only travel in registered licensed taxis, ubers and grabs, if any. sadly there are saftey concerns when travelling in cars or mototaxis without a licensed driver. i have personally endured some nasty experiences and have heard numerous reports of petty theft, assault and such like. unfortunately this can happen anywhere though, even in your home town so to put yours and your families minds at ease perhaps have a single point of contact that you can message the number plate or a photo of the taxi number to, just incase of an incident. although i never had an issue in colombia, This is always highly advised in southern america and i will stress to avoid using mototaxis alone in indonesia, especially if you are female.

Buses and trains are wonderful, whilst you may be opposed to using them at home due to the extortionate prices do not hesitate whilst abroad. when onboard a bus be wary of your belongings and keep nothing in your pockets. whilst i was in colombia it was very common that whilst travelling on the transmillenio bus systems that a handful of common thieves would be onboard riding the line and making a living, these people are extremely clever and crafty and once they get you, you will will feel like tipping a hat to them as their work is an art form. for longer distances rather than using the towns bus system try out some tourist offices for information on daily charter bus and coach trips that may be travelling to your desired destination. this form of transport will be cheap and comfortable and will more than likely have more stops than the trains where you will be able to hop off and have a cigarette and grab some food from a street vender. most of the coaches will have reclining seats, a usb charger port and air conditioning, however the mini buses do vary, if you find yourself in a mini bus then get to the terminal nice and early to ensure a good seat. if air con and certain amenities like a toilet etc are a must for you then be sure to mention that when booking.

many major cities also have a metro system which are perfect for days of sight seeing aroud a city, with clear colour coordinated lines you will easily get the hang of working your way around with picking up a free metro map, you can often buy day passes with 10-12 journeys and if you're travelling with somebody you can use that same pass for the both of you, just pass it back over the barrier, no one will care.

for long distances you will be surprised at the comfort of the sleeper trains. sleeper trains are my most favoured form of transport, you can book online or just rock up to the station (not in peak times) and book your bunk. i'd recommend top bunk for privacy, though you wont have a window up there, i just prefer it to get more shut eye. there will often be a class system, make sure you’re at least in second for long journeys if not first, there wont be a huge difference in price either. lower class is interesting and i recommend you experience it at least once but keep your belongings close and don’t fall asleep.

make sure you make it clear that your bunk is your bunk. locals will try their luck at squeezing into any space possible for a comfy spot for a nap, don’t be surprised if you wake up to an indian dude curled up at your feet or a thai family setting up camp in your spot after a quick bathroom trip. keep a padlock on your bag zip and to be extra cautious i've seen some people bike lock their bag to their bunk too.

for all things trains for every corner of the world imaginable then save a bookmark under https://www.seat61.com/ The man in seat sixty-one is a genius and has put together a simple website providing us with all the train services around the world with timetables, prices, pictures of your seats, personal reccomendations, popular routes and even ferry connections and services.

if you happen to find yourself bumming around the white shored islands of southeast asia then i highly recommend the ferries and boat services on offer. information for timetables and pricing aswell as booking, visit a local tourist information centre or local tour operator. i found that sometimes the local tour operators have been beneficial, although occasionally more costly. by chance i found myself on lombok island with a group of people i had met in bali, we flew together to lombok for £12 each with airasia, from lombok i was wanting to get to the gili island's to meet back with some other friends. the people i was travelling with wanted to do a snorkelling excursion from lombok to gili t's crystal waters and coral reefs (an experience i'd recommend if you're not overly bothered about swarms of other tourists in the water with you). this worked out perfect for me, for £15 i hitched a ride on the roof of their snorkelling boat basking in the sun and joining them in the water to then alight the other end and stay on gili t. so be sure not to miss out on opportunities like these! be crafty, of course there are regular charter ferry services daily available from most of the islands, but whats more exciting? a stuffy ferry surrounded by seasick backpackers or sunbathing on the roof of a small boat followed by swimming with sea turtles in the ocean?

of course for long distances you can always fly with the local budget airline. in se asia or other areas of the world where you will be island hopping and trying to get to more obscure areas of the world then airasia, latam airways (southern america) and jet star (oceania and se asia) and many many more will become extremely handy. keep in mind that there may be awkward stop overs included, for example on a recent trip where i was in the malaysian borneo rainforest in mulu on the border of brunei, to go a relatively short distance to another island to the south (java) the only option was a day consisting of 3 flights due to being short for time. our day consisted of a flight from mulu to miri – 5 hour stop over – miri to kuala lumpur – 1.5 hour stop over (not a comfortable amount of time for a huge airport) and kuala lumpur to surabaya followed by a 10pm 3 hour drive up a mountain to mount bromo. if we had had the time then we would have definitely at least stayed one night in surabaya however we had booked accommodation in advance therefore we were not in a position where we were willing to lose out on the accommodation cost.

if you are particularly fussed about long days spent travelling then ensure you research thoroughly as unfortunately ive found some of the most beautiful less explores areas of the world are less explored for a reason and although it may be cheap, it can be a hell of a challenge to get there.

I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT MY ADVICE REGARDING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ARE JUST TO GET YOU THINKING AND BE WARY OF WORST CASE SCENARIOS. WHEN YOU'RE TRAVELLING THE LAST THING I WANT YOU TO BE THINKING IS ‘OH GOD, EVERYONE HERE IS GOING TO TRY AND ROB ME’ BECAUSE I CAN ASSURE YOU IT'S SIMPLY NOT THE CASE. LIKE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD INCLUDING THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME TOWN THERE ARE PEOPLE MUCH LESS FORTUNATE WHO ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING AND A FOREIGN BACKPACKER CARRYING AN IPHONE, LAPTOP, BRANDED SHOES AND MOST LIKELY NUMEROUS CURRENCIES IN CASH IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THEIR NUMBER ONE TARGETS, YOU ARE A GOLD MINE. SO PLEASE TAKE CARE AND DON’T FEEL RUDE FOR HOLDING YOUR BAG TO THE FRONT OF YOU WHEN ON THE METRO OR FOR TURNING YOUR BACK WHEN OPENING YOUR WALLET TO PURCHASE WATER FROM THE STORE.

soon i will be posting a guide purely dedicated to budgeting, this guide will also include some little safety hacks ive learnt from the mistakes i’ve made in the past and if you have found this little guide helpful i’d love for you to keep reading what i have to come. please feel free to leave any comments and if you have any other hacks that you have found essential to your travels then don’t hesitate to comment!

thanks for reading and happy travels!

amber.