Backpacking for Beginners: How to Plan an Affordable Adventure Step-by-Step

Are you a first-time backpacker unsure where to begin? Look no further! This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of planning an affordable backpacking adventure, from pre-trip preparations to your triumphant return home, with a special focus on budget-conscious travel.

Choose a low-cost destination

While it might seem self-evident, selecting a budget-friendly destination is paramount for planning an affordable backpacking adventure. Although the initial airfare to these locales can be costly, once you arrive, maintaining a minimal budget for accommodation, transportation, food, and activities becomes surprisingly easy.

For your first international backpacking experience, Southeast Asia is highly recommended due to its exceptionally low cost of living. Additionally, Southeast Asian countries generally offer a safer travel environment compared to other popular regions like Latin America.

Alternative budget-friendly destinations include Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Check out my destinations travel guides.

Visa, Vaccines and Insurance

After selecting your destination and securing your flight, it’s time to tackle the bureaucratic aspects of your trip. Some countries do not offer visas on arrival. In these cases, you must apply for a visa, which may incur a fee. A comprehensive list of visa requirements depending on your passport can be found here but I still recommend checking official sourcers. Certain countries also mandate vaccinations.

Finally, do yourself a favour and purchase travel insurance that covers at least medical expenses and liability. I’ve written a comprehensive article comparing the best travel insurance options, which I encourage you to read.

Create a travel itinerary

To maintain a budget-friendly trip throughout, I recommend gathering information about potential itineraries and attractions online. The internet is teeming with websites, blogs, and forums dedicated to these topics. Alternatively, consider purchasing a Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, or any of the numerous guidebooks available. However, remember that no guidebook is flawless, and keeping them up-to-date is challenging. Furthermore, everything you read is often subjective. If you’re unsure where to start, just prompt Chat Gpt.

Now that you’ve gathered all the necessary information, it’s time for the actual planning:

• Create a wishlist:  Compile a list of things you’d like to see, but remember that seeing everything a country offers is impossible, as it is constantly moving from place to place. Aim to spend at least two nights in each location before moving on. Travel can be exhausting, so it’s better to experience a few places at a leisurely pace than to rush from one destination to another.
• Map your itinerary:  Locate and mark your points of interest on a map (Google Maps works well) to visualize their locations and create a logical itinerary. For instance, consider a trip to northern Italy starting in Milan and ending at Lake Garda, with Venice and Bologna as intermediate stops. Following this order is much more sensible than visiting Venice, Lake Garda, then Bologna. A geographically optimized itinerary will save you both time and money.
• Allow for flexibility: Itineraries can change rapidly. You might decide to explore a different location based on recommendations from fellow travelers or encounter unforeseen circumstances. It’s unlikely that everything will go precisely as planned, so let your instincts guide you, remain calm if things go awry, and don’t hesitate to skip some stops in favor of others or simply spend more time in a place you particularly enjoy. Embrace spontaneity and have fun!

Choosing the Right Gear for Your Backpacking Trip

Now, it’s time to pack your bags. I highly recommend using a travel backpack. Regardless of your luggage choice, pack according to your trip’s nature, considering the climate and planned activities (e.g., trekking, snorkeling), and always prioritizing lightness.

Traveling light is the most valuable advice I can offer regarding packing. It will save you money, allowing you to walk instead of taking taxis and avoiding checked baggage fees. You’ll also appreciate it when moving between locations without straining yourself (if you’re considering a wheeled suitcase, remember that elevators and smooth sidewalks won’t always be available).

You can find a comprehensive packing list for your trip at this link.

How to find low-cost accommodations

I’m a big fan of hostels and wholeheartedly recommend them. Often dismissed, hostels have significantly elevated their quality standards in recent years while maintaining affordability. They’re inherently social spaces, making them ideal for solo travelers. Increasingly, hostels offer private rooms at lower rates than hotels, catering to those who prefer not to share accommodations.

For booking hostels and accommodation in general, my go-to platform is booking.com.

For those on an ultra-tight budget, besides traditional camping, I suggest exploring Couchsurfing, which offers the opportunity to stay with locals for free. It’s also a fantastic way to connect with people in the area.

I personally recommend booking only the first few nights in advance and securing subsequent accommodations once you’re certain of your plans. I value flexibility, and pre-booking can create unnecessary constraints. However, make an exception during peak seasons or holidays, as not having a reservation can be risky.

Another indirect way to save on accommodation is by traveling overnight (for long distances) on night buses or trains. This not only eliminates the cost of a night’s stay but also saves you valuable time.

How to get around while spending less

In short, utilize public transportation, avoid taxis whenever possible, and walk whenever feasible. These three simple steps will save you a substantial amount of money.

Unfortunately, sometimes taking a taxi is unavoidable. In developing countries, which are often popular budget destinations, fares are often determined arbitrarily, with a tendency to overcharge tourists. Agree on the price before getting in to avoid unnecessary disputes upon arrival.

Whenever possible, use Uber or Grab for short distances (especially prevalent in Southeast Asia), while BlaBlaCar is recommended for long distances.

For the more adventurous, hitchhiking is always an option. In some countries, it’s not only relatively safe but also a common practice.

While not flawless, Rome2rio is a useful website for determining how to reach specific destinations. I also recommend consulting the “Get in” and “Get out” sections of the relevant Wikitravel page.

How to eat cheaply

Having the option to cook your own meals is almost always the most economical choice. Therefore, especially in destinations that aren’t particularly budget-friendly, I always try to find hostels with kitchens.

However, if your chosen destination is known for being affordable, you can often eat out for very little money. My advice is to visit the local markets, both for meals and to stock up on fresh produce. Markets not only offer the best prices but are also fascinating places to explore!

When it comes to restaurants, use common sense and avoid overly touristy areas. A restaurant filled with locals rather than tourists is generally a good sign. Using Google Maps and the price filter to look for restaurants works really well for me.

How to book tour, activities and tickets

Generally, I advise against booking any activities, tours, or tickets online, except for those with limited daily visitor access, like Machu Picchu. In such cases, purchasing entrance tickets in advance is definitely worthwhile.

Regarding tours and activities, booking directly with a local agency upon arrival is almost always cheaper. A particularly appealing option for budget travelers is the “free walking tour,” where the guide expects a tip at the end. These tours are widespread in many tourist destinations and provide an excellent introduction to a city without breaking the bank.

Before returning home or visiting another country

Before leaving your current destination, calculate the necessary cash for transportation, meals, exit fees, etc., and exchange any excess currency before reaching the airport, where exchange rates are notoriously unfavorable. Ideally, you could swap money with a fellow traveler at the official rate, but this isn’t always feasible. Alternatively, seek out a reputable currency exchange shop, get recommendations from your hostel or do some research on google maps.

If you anticipate a long wait at the airport, pack food and water (empty your water bottle before security and refill it in the bathroom once inside the gate area). As a general rule, avoid airport purchases due to inflated prices.

When crossing borders overland, you’ll likely find individuals near immigration offering currency exchange at reasonable rates. I recommend downloading the XE Currency app to have real-time exchange rates readily available.

Do you have any questions? Updated information? Feel free to leave a comment or message me on Instagram!

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