Backpacking solo can seem daunting at first. Everything about this way of travelling was new to me until recently. It has its ups and downs but now about six weeks in, I can say I am used to it all. If you have never backpacked before, read on for some backpacking wisdom. This is what I learnt in my first month of backpacking:

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You shouldn’t be afraid to travel solo.

One thing I always heard before I went on my trip was: “You are going ALONE?? I would never be that brave!” I will let you in on a little secret: It is not that difficult. Okay, if you have never travelled before, it will not be a piece of cake at first. But in general… it is just about moving from one place to another, right? If you speak English, know how to book a flight ticket and accommodation, do your research and have an open mind… you will be fine. Plus there are always people around you to help out.

In fact, travelling solo comes with a great freedom – you can go wherever you feel like, eat whatever you want, take as many photos as you want and say yes to anything you fancy, without worrying about someone else’s feelings.

Oh and guess what – it is definitely not as dangerous as everyone seems to think. There hasn’t yet been a moment when I would feel unsafe while here in Asia.

You really do get used to anything.

12 hours on an overnight bus? Sounds OK. 16 people in a dorm room? Fine by me. Dirty feet? Who cares! One bathroom shared by eight people? We’ll survive. Wearing the same T-shirt three days in one week? No one even noticed. Eating noodles seven days in a row? Yum… Sweating all day because of tropical temperatures? Means I am in some amazing warm countries!

No, really… it is not as bad as it sounds! Humans are much more adaptable than you think. And comfort is overrated 🙂

Bed curtains are your best friends.

When choosing your hostel, do yourself a favour and book one with bed curtains from time to time (check the photos when booking). I don’t want to be surrounded by people 24/7, and shutting those curtains of your dorm bed can give you some needed privacy. It’s a little thing I have learnt to appreciate on my travels.

You really can live without a hair conditioner.

Or facewash. Or a make-up bag full of stuff. Or a wardrobe crammed with clothes. Or a thousand other things. Honestly, who needs things when you can collect so many memories instead?

But you suddenly cannot live without these things:

Filter water bottle, packing cubes, eye mask, padlock, universal adapter, power bank, notepad and a pen, microfibre towel, sunscreen, antibacterial gel, mosquito repellent, tissues. I worship every single one of these items now!

Maps.Me is THE most useful app EVER.

Forget Google Maps. All travellers are using Maps.Me. They seem to work a lot better and you can download whole countries to always have access to the maps offline. The first thing I do before going to a new location is pin my accommodation and other places of interest on the map – makes life so much easier!! You would have to be very dumb to get lost with this app in your pocket…

Using a spending app is the best way to stick to your budget.

Speaking of apps… definitely get a budgeting app and use it every time you pay for something. I find it to be the best way to keep track of my finances – it immediately shows how much you are spending on food, transport, accommodation and other things in different currencies. (My favourite is TrabeePocket.)

Oh and currency converter apps are super useful, too! And Google Translate of course. I could go on…

Reviews are important.

If you use Booking.com, always read reviews. But also, always WRITE reviews. Try to leave an honest comment about every hostel you stay in if you can. It helps other travellers – but it also helps you! You might come back to some places and when you are switching accommodation every few days, you are likely to forget what sucked (or you loved) about this or that hostel.

Days off are needed.

When you are not travelling, do you work seven days a week? Probably not, right? I know some people do but the truth is, your body needs to rest sometimes. If you don’t want to end up completely burned out, plan some chill days and take it easy now and then. It is better in the long run, especially when you are on the road for months. Also, the laundry just has to be done sometimes.

Eating where the locals eat is cheaper.

Take your time and find the local places or street stalls – even if it means you have to tackle menus in foreign languages. It’s a great way to familiarise yourself with local cuisine and spend less (foreign food is for tourists and therefore more expensive). Street food is an amazing option in places like Southeast Asia, just don’t look too closely at the hygiene. It’s different than what you are used to and it’s better not to know. If the locals are eating there and the food looks okay, there is no need to worry about getting sick.

It’s OK to pay a little more for comfort sometimes.

Even if you are backpacking and sticking to a low budget, it’s OK to make an exception here and there. Like when you arrive in a new city late at night and can’t be bothered to figure out how to get from the airport by bus – take that taxi and don’t feel guilty about it. Especially when you are spending around £3-4 per night in hostels.

Don’t overplan… but don’t come unprepared either.

Don’t sabotage your trip by planning every single day of your trip beforehand. Chances are, you will get lots of recommendations from other travellers on the way so your plans might keep changing.

On the other hand, have at least a list of things you want to see in every city/country so you don’t miss out. Not to mention it can be hard to constantly do your planning on the road when you are trying to enjoy your current destination.

(But if you are ever going to China, I absolutely don’t recommend coming unprepared! Here’s everything you should know before travelling to China.)

There is a routine on the road, too.

Packing and unpacking all the time. Meeting new people and saying goodbye. Having the same conversations again and again. Checking in and checking out. Going through airport security checks… Routine isn’t just your daily commute to work, it will emerge in your backpacking life as well. It sure as hell is a lot more exciting, though.

Staying in touch with family should be a priority.

It can be easy to forget about people at home when you are having fun exploring new countries but do let them know you are okay. They are probably worried (for no reason) so it’s nice to take a few minutes and tell them how you are doing whenever you can. 😉

But overall… it’s just a lot of fun so make sure to enjoy it! 🙂

What are the things you have learnt while backpacking?

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