Tips on traveling alone as a backpacker

jonneymendoza

jonneymendoza

jonneymendoza

Caporegime
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Hi all.

as the title says, does anyone have any tips in travelling abroad on holiday on your own with just a backpack?

Anyone here done it before?

Going to Vietnam on my own for around 3 weeks with just a backpack full of my camera gear and spare clothes/essentials.
 
As soon as you check into a dorm introduce yourself to other people there. I've noticed some people don't do this and it becomes awkward and anti-social very quickly.

Try not to be one of those people that sits on their phone all the time :).

Do not have anything in a rustly plastic bag. You will annoy a lot of people, I've made this mistake myself.

As with the first point, it's not easy, but just try and drop your inhibitions and say hello to people. Also I used to the think the idea of hostel pub crawls was awful but they are actually great fun and good way to meet other people, just don't go overboard or you'll look a fool!

edit: Also try and be the person that organises stuff. If you are going to restaurant or a particular sight, ask if others want to come along. Make things happen rather than wait for them to happen.
 
Keep a very close eye on your bag if you have it with you when out and about. I met a guy in Zagreb who had his stolen when he fell asleep at the beach and it had everything in it, including passport, majority of his cash and all his cards, clothes and electronics. Keep a separate emergency cash fund on you so you can get to the embassy.

Take a padlock if staying in hostels and make friends with your room mates.
 
It's almost too easy. I did it for a little bit in Europe and basically as long as you talk to people and say "yes" to everything, you'll be fine. As has been said - introduce yourself at the first opportunity. You have common ground already and the usual "where are you from"/"where are you going/been" etc doesn't ever get old so stick to those at first if you can't think of anything to say. You'll find you'll get invited out on the first night and after that everything will be a blur ;)
 
Trifid said:
Keep a very close eye on your bag if you have it with you when out and about. I met a guy in Zagreb who had his stolen when he fell asleep at the beach and it had everything in it, including passport, majority of his cash and all his cards, clothes and electronics. Keep a separate emergency cash fund on you so you can get to the embassy.

Take a padlock if staying in hostels and make friends with your room mates.
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That was his own fault, really.
 
Definitely take padlock for backpack, you will find lots of other people in a similar situation to you, I went around Asia for 4 weeks with friends and we met up with a bunch of people travelling on their own, makes it easier to decide where you want to go and when. I found didn't need to pack as many clothes as I had taken, as clothes out their were so cheap, and end up not wearing half the things you bring. Try find rooms with safes in to keep passport any extra money / essentials in. Rather than taking it out and carrying it round with you.
 
i dont think my bag can be locked with a padlock though? not many can unless it is a suitcase!

In terms of clothes, how much do you bring with you? im thinking of bringing mostly spare underwear and maybe 2-3 shirts and one or two shorts.

i wanna pack as light as i can as i will be lugging around the follow gear:

canon 5DMK3 camera
70-200 f2.8 mk2 lens
24-70 f2.8 mk2 lens
16-35 f2.8 lens(maybe)
some filters
13inch laptop plus charger
 
jonneymendoza said:
Hi all.

as the title says, does anyone have any tips in travelling abroad on holiday on your own with just a backpack?

Anyone here done it before?

Going to Vietnam on my own for around 3 weeks with just a backpack full of my camera gear and spare clothes/essentials.
Click to expand...

You'll be fine, making friends is crazily easy. I found that when travelling all relationships you make are very much 'fast track' in that you get to know people pretty well within a short amount of time!

With it being vietnam, just don't be a muppet where common sense is concerned ;)

I'd probably stay in hostels as it'll be more fun!
 
Pack your bag, and then take it all out and get rid of 1/3 of it. You won't wear all the stuff you take.
Don't worry about locking your bag up, if someone does want to get into it they will. Canvas is easier to break than a lock! There are often lockers in hostel rooms which you can use which will be better.
Take copies of all the important documents and bank cards and keep them available.

The most important thing to do is just to get stuck in and say hello to folk. Everyone is in the same boat but it depends on how you are which dictates how good a holiday you'll have!

Who you flying with? When you going?

I'm booking 2 weeks in Thailand at the end of November later today. £500 with Emirates, with a day + night in Dubai. I'll be going with myself but meeting my brother who is in Cambodia. Should be awesome!
 
TommyV said:
You'll be fine, making friends is crazily easy. I found that when travelling all relationships you make are very much 'fast track' in that you get to know people pretty well within a short amount of time!

With it being vietnam, just don't be a muppet where common sense is concerned ;)

I'd probably stay in hostels as it'll be more fun!
Click to expand...

i started practicing making friends by attending special photo walks organised on the internet around london. i went to one last saturday and met with about 10+ people i never knew and made friends very easily.

Nice practice for when i do go abroad!

Yea my friend recommend i stay in hostels as its far cheaper and you get to meet people similar to you!

Ahleckz said:
Pack your bag, and then take it all out and get rid of 1/3 of it. You won't wear all the stuff you take.
Don't worry about locking your bag up, if someone does want to get into it they will. Canvas is easier to break than a lock! There are often lockers in hostel rooms which you can use which will be better.
Take copies of all the important documents and bank cards and keep them available.

The most important thing to do is just to get stuck in and say hello to folk. Everyone is in the same boat but it depends on how you are which dictates how good a holiday you'll have!

Who you flying with? When you going?

I'm booking 2 weeks in Thailand at the end of November later today. £500 with Emirates, with a day + night in Dubai. I'll be going with myself but meeting my brother who is in Cambodia. Should be awesome!
Click to expand...


The list i mentioned are a must as i will be bringing my camera gear and using extensively on my trips :)

For clothes i am just a bit worried that i will smell like i have not had a shower for weeks on end if i dont take much clothes!

I have not booked my tickets yet as i am sorting stuff out at work to see when i can exactly go. I did a bit of googling and the price to go their is around £500 give or take which is nice. 3 week trip i reckon should be enough
 
So what is it that you guys find adventurous about this backpacking business? Is it the anything can happen type of thing?

I'm not really keen on this hostel type thing, I find it strange, and then talking and sleeping amongst strangers.

I think it's a comfort zone thing for me, as my brother is totally into this backpacking scene thing, he went for like 3 months over asia hopping around the place..

I'd much rather get there, check into a hotel, do whatever then checkout and go somewhere else.
 
pepsilol said:
I'd much rather get there, check into a hotel, do whatever then checkout and go somewhere else.
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That 100% not the backpacking mentality..

While backpacking, i've slept on planks of wood, walked through forest (inside a city, somehow) and relied on complete strangers to survive.. It may sound bleak but within situations like that there is loads of fun...

Its the "i never thought i'd be doing this" experience.

My favourite expereince was visiting a 'bar' (with a random fellow we met in a restruant) that was a barn, complete with straw and everything.. The only lighting in the place was a massive amount of candles..

Alcohol + Straw (everything was wood also) + Naked Flames = Great night. :)
 
Doomedspeed said:
That 100% not the backpacking mentality..

While backpacking, i've slept on planks of wood, walked through forest (inside a city, somehow) and relied on complete strangers to survive.. It may sound bleak but within situations like that there is loads of fun...

Its the "i never thought i'd be doing this" experience.

My favourite expereince was visiting a 'bar' (with a random fellow we met in a restruant) that was a barn, complete with straw and everything.. The only lighting in the place was a massive amount of candles..

Alcohol + Straw (everything was wood also) + Naked Flames = Great night. :)
Click to expand...
i dont think i could go that far in sleeping in a plank of wood lol but for me backpacking is about exploring the place you are in traveling as light as possible.

It doesnt matter if you are staying in a hotel or a hostel imo. same experience can be had no matter where you are staying
 
I'm staying in a hostel right now - had never done it before - it's pretty cool, everyone seems pretty chilled - It can get loud at times so I've had to use the earplugs a few nights :p
 
Where are you thinking of going in Vietnam and how long are you staying in each place (if you know)? I can definitely offer some good advice once you've got a plan.
 
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