Backpacker Travel Insurance & Gap Year Cover

How to Backpack the World on a Budget

The popularity of gap years, career breaks, and a growing sense of adventurism is rolling back the frontiers of independent backpacking faster than ever. Now more than ever, backpacking around the world is a seductive combination of fun, discovery and adventure, all on a low budget. Whether you’re in your early twenties, taking a midlife career break, or even retired, the experience is likely to be enriching at all levels. However, in order to avoid disaster or unnecessary expense, planning ahead is essential.

Here are some tips to help you make the most of your backpacking adventure.

Travel Companions

One of the first things you need to do is work out whether you’re going to travel alone, with a companion, or perhaps even in a group. Going in a group can be safer, and moral support can be indispensable when things go wrong, but arrangements can also get complicated if each person has their own ideas of what the trip should be like. If you do decide to travel in a group, you should try to prepare a wish list of the places and activities you’d like to visit or take part in. By contrast, travelling with a companion you know well can make things easier. Either way, the key is to discuss things thoroughly before the trip and talk about what to do in the event of a conflict or hiccup, whether that’s social or travel-related.

Do Your Research

Backpacking doesn’t have to mean bikinis in Bali or hiking Machu Picchu. At the forefront of backpacking, travellers are exploring beyond established trails in search of adventure, skipping the rave beaches of Thailand in favour of Cambodia and Laos. Just make sure to do your homework! You also don’t have to be travelling for the sake of travelling either, or to chase that sense of adventure. So many people spend time abroad to volunteer or teach, in sanctuaries and schools all over the world.

Once you have a good idea of what you’d like to do or see, then it’s time to start your research. The internet, guidebooks, social media, and maps are all invaluable sources of information - just make sure you’re going somewhere because you want to, not because your favourite influencer took a photo there once. Don’t feel like you need to get into the nitty gritty of it all straight away, as tempting as that might be! Just get an overall feel of your journey based on where you’d like to go. Then once you’ve decided on locations, you can connect the dots and delve deeper.

Research legal requirements, such as visas, local customs, what the environment is like, both in terms of geography and weather and also politically - you don't want to head into a war zone or get stuck somewhere during monsoon season. You’ll also need to factor in flights, local transport, accommodation, food, activities, and emergency situations. You’ll also need to consider how this will work in multiple countries in different currencies, which can be tricky.

It’s also important to respect the culture, traditions and language of your destinations. For example, visiting the Middle East as a person who identifies as female can mean you need to dress modestly or even adopt a head covering - check the guide books and talk to anyone who has gone before to understand how you should behave.

Your Budget

Where you go has a huge impact on costs. Obviously, some countries are considerably cheaper than others so you should plan carefully in order to maximise your budget. In India for example, you can live on £5 a day, but in Australia even staying at hostels can put this closer to £30. This is why it’s worth looking into where backpackers tend to go - it’s usually for good reason! Take a look at online forums and sites, read, do your research, and ask loads of questions. People love an opportunity to share their travel stories, and they may know about some hidden gem you'd never find otherwise.

Accommodation
Accommodation can be a massive expense, so think ahead. Do you have any relatives or friends in the countries you’re visiting? Or are they near enough that public transport can get you where you want to go? Do you have online friends you trust? If someone can put you up for free, then it’s definitely worth considering. There are also all kinds of sites and schemes in place where you can work for your accommodation, like petsitting.

Airline Expense
Now this is pretty difficult to avoid, but you’ve got two choices: either book well in advance, or book last minute and hope for cancellations and deals. Don't overlook internal flights either - they can be cheaper, cut out difficult journeys, and save visa hassles too.

Local Travel
Unless you intend to brave hitchhiking, you’re almost definitely going to take public transport when you get to where you’re going. There’s always buses or taxis, and most countries have a good-enough train network (especially Europe), so that you can combine transport with your sleeping arrangements. Just make sure to secure your belongings before you nod off!

Cash or Card?
All current accounts are not made equal. If you’re spending money abroad, some will charge you extortionate amounts while others can gain you extra interest. It’s important to look into an account with a debit card for your everyday cash needs, that doesn’t charge you to withdraw cash abroad, and can be easily managed online or via an app. However, you should share control of this account with a trusted person in the UK, just in case something goes wrong.

Try not to carry around large amounts of cash for safety reasons, and aim to withdraw just enough for a day or two. If you need to exchange money, make sure you use a reputable establishment. Otherwise, use ATMs that belong to well-known bank chains.

Insurance
It’s not just the trip itself that you need to pay for. Make sure you’ve got travel insurance that covers what you need it to, including specific sports or activities you’ll be doing. If you’re planning on hiring a vehicle, this’ll also need to be insured.

Take into account the emergency medical cover as well, and ensure you’ve got enough - hospital costs are likely to be higher in California than Indonesia. On this note, don’t forget that some countries have an NHS-style arrangement which can be utilised by visitors, so get a GHIC card for Europe and sign up for Medicare in Australia. Consider getting End Supplier Failure Insurance too, especially if you are planning on flying a lot.

Before you leave, you should get medical advice and check if you need any vaccines or immunisations. Check the NHS website, then book a GP appointment if necessary.

Finally...

Be safe. Don't take any unnecessary risks and use your common sense - you want your trip to be memorable for the right reasons! 

It’s really important to keep up-to-date with the information on the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website. Here, you’ll find genuine updates which might affect your travel.