18 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Went Backpacking Around The World
*Disclaimer* This post may contain affiliate links, if you purchase through one of these links I would receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Are you planning a big backpacking trip or heading off to travel the world soon? Then this post is for you, to share some advice and thoughts with you to make sure you have a great adventure.
After 7 years of on-and-off backpacking around the world, it’s safe to say I learnt a lot. If I could go back and tell 18-year-old Hattie these things it would certainly save her a lot of time, mistakes and in some cases pain. But it’s your lucky day because I can share all these things I wish I had known before I went backpacking with you in this blog post.
From travelling slower to making sure I documented these once-in-a-lifetime experiences, I want to make sure you enjoy your adventure. Also, I’ll talk about how to be more mindful of your impact on these wonderful destinations so that you can leave nothing but great memories.
About My Adventures
Before we begin on what I wish I knew, here’s a short story of my journey backpacking around the world.
I was 18 when I first left home, solo with a gigantic backpack, that embarrassingly caused me to fall over just after entering the doors of Heathrow Airport. I survived the mortifying experience and got on that plane to Australia with a 2-day layover in Hong Kong. My first week was spent on a group trip around Sydney as an intro to a working holiday visa. I then travelled to Western Australia and the East Coast before failing to find decent work in Brisbane and illness led me to returning to the UK.
I felt like a failure for a while, and then I realised I could just pick the backpack up and go again—though not the same backpack, as that had sick on from a crazy night at a hostel party. So, I worked and saved up for the next trip, which was three weeks of interrailing in Europe with my best friend. Shortly after that, I backpacked solo around Southeast Asia for four months and, I might add, fell in love with the Philippines.
Then came the dreaded 2020 and life went dark on the travel front, but I did get an amazing boyfriend. There were a few European holidays when travel was possible again. Then in October 2023, I bought a much smaller backpack, cabin size I’ll have you know and Josh(the amazing boyfriend) and I went on an 8-month backpacking adventure through Latin America. We started in Mexico and travelled by land down to Panama before flying to Colombia and spending a month in Spain to wrap it up. My favourite adventure yet.
We went home to refill the bank accounts but managed to squeeze in a 2-week Italian adventure. We moved to Australia in August 2024, with a suitcase, not a backpack. Am I a fraud who knows? We are now living in the sunny city of Perth. Maybe my backpacking days are behind me but my travel days are not.
18 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Went Backpacking Around The World
You will never see and do everything
When I was planning my backpacking trips, I would look at all the destinations and write down long lists of places to see and things to do. And when it came to being in these places, this list often felt very long and unachievable in the amount of time I had. Also when I arrived at a destination I would find loads more things to add to the list.
You could spend a year in one place and still feel like you have things you want to see and do. It’s okay not to tick every tourist site, activity or destination off the list. My Dad always says you need to leave a reason to come back.
You will feel homesick, but that’s okay
When I set out on my first trip I never thought about missing home, I was just so excited to get away. But after a while the novelty of travelling wears off and you are likely to miss home comforts. That might be the people at home, a warm shower, the food or the routine of being in one place.
When this does happen it’s important to recognise it and know it is normal. You don’t need to book a flight home. Facetime loved ones, treat yourself to a fancier accommodation and cook yourself a good meal. You’ll be back to loving backpacking around the world in no time.
Don’t always choose the cheapest flight
As a backpacker, you will likely be trying to travel on a budget. I know I was. One mistake I made was booking the cheapest flight on Skyscanner. It had 3 layovers, none with enough time in between and with different airlines. I missed a connecting flight, had to sleep on airport chairs and overall it made my journey time 20 hours longer all for the sake of saving £50.
If you can afford a direct flight then I recommend it for the sake of a smooth travel experience. If not, be sure to leave at least 2 hours between any layovers. Ideally, you want the connecting flights to be with the same airline or partner airline. If the first flight is delayed then they have the responsibility to get you on another flight if you miss your connection.
This is also why I recommend booking directly with an airline when you have a layover. Sometimes when you book through a third-party site the airline may not be able to help you with your booking if there are any delays or missed connections.
Research your destination
By this, I don’t mean watching a YouTube video or reading a blog. Although those are good things to do before you go somewhere, especially if it’s this blog. You want to go beyond the guidebook-style information. You don’t have to do a full deep dive but maybe you could watch a short documentary, look at local news headlines or listen to a music artist from that destination.
Knowing a little about a destination before you visit allows you to have a better experience when travelling. You may find out something you want to look into further and as a bonus, it drums up the excitement. This happened to me after watching a documentary about the Mayans, I became fascinated and made the many Mayan ruins we saw in Central America a whole lot more interesting.
It is also essential to know the guidebook style information such as different weather seasons, the currency, the languages spoken, the capital city and the type of plug socket.
Trust your instincts
I know as a young backpacker I didn’t always do this. But this one is simple if something feels wrong about a situation, whether that be a hostel that doesn’t feel safe or an area that feels a little uncomfortable, trust yourself and get out of there.
The same goes for people who approach you trying to sell you a tour or a bus ticket. If it doesn’t feel right then don’t do it. You don’t have to be rude just politely decline and move on. This may seem like a simple one but it’s important not to forget.
Do what brings you joy
I spent a lot of time on my travels doing things I felt like I had to but didn’t want to. One example of this for me is local food. I am the fussiest eater on the planet and very rarely eat out even at home because of this. But trying local food when travelling was something I felt I had to do. Turns out that forcing myself to eat Vietnamese Pho achieved absolutely nothing other than making myself horrendously uncomfortable. I wasted both food and money because I only ate a spoonful.
My point here isn’t to tell you to not try local food, although if you don’t want to don’t. And also it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try something completely new when you are travelling. What you should remember is to lean into the things you do find joy in and that you don’t HAVE to do anything.
Learn another language
I don’t expect you to become fluent in every language of every country you visit, this would be impossible. Simply knowing some basic phrases allows you to connect with a local even just with a hello or thank you. Taking a language class in the destination is even better and allows you to connect with a place much more. I learnt so much from my Spanish teacher in Xela about life in Guatemala. I wish I had done this in more countries I have visited.
Interact with locals
Backpacking for most people takes them to places far away from home with very different cultures. The best way to see a place you don’t know is through a local’s eyes, right? Although you aren’t going to have a local tour guide everywhere you go, chances are you will have plenty of opportunities to interact with locals.
Ask them about where they live and their favourite spots. Sometimes they won’t want to talk to you and that’s fine. Sometimes the language barrier might be too big, but translation apps do come in handy for that. Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation where you can though. People’s lives can look so different but when you get chatting you realise there are similarities in all of us.
You won’t like everywhere and that’s okay
On my first backpacking trips, I would feel very guilty if there was a destination I just didn’t vibe with. I felt I needed to be so grateful for the opportunity to be backpacking around the world, I couldn’t possibly dislike somewhere.
When in reality it is fine to not like a destination and a little crazy to think you would like everywhere. Don’t be rude and disrespectful when talking about it, but sharing your honest opinions on a destination with other travellers can be helpful.
Record your travels
You are making memories to last a lifetime when backpacking around the world, so be sure to record them. I wasn’t always the best at this and do wish I had a few more photos with myself in them, but I just hate taking photos of myself.
But, recording your travels doesn’t have to just be taking photos and videos. You could write a travel journal or keep tickets to create a scrapbook. I have a travel journal from a few of my trips and I love reading it back to this day, so many little stories I would have forgotten otherwise.
Get travel insurance and a good one
Over my time travelling I have met many people who have sadly had accidents whilst travelling and have had them myself. I hope it doesn't happen to you but you need to make sure you are covered if it does.
Insurance companies are known for finding excuses to not pay out, so make sure you have a good policy. If you are backpacking Southeast Asia, ensure riding a scooter is included in your insurance, even if you are a passenger. Also if you will be participating in extreme sports such as scuba diving or hiking up high altitude you need to ensure this is included.
I had a good experience with Tesco Bank Backpacker Insurance. They were good to us when Josh had a short stay in a hospital in Guatemala. However, do your own research and make sure to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions before purchasing the insurance.
Be present in the moment
It’s so easy when you are backpacking around the world to get lost in the planning and excitement. But be sure to have those moments when you can be grateful for everything you are doing, seeing and experiencing.
Take yourself on a short walk, maybe to somewhere with a nice view and take it all in. The smells, the sounds, the buildings, the mountains, the ocean, whatever is around you and just be there, no thinking. These are some of the best moments I remember nearly 8 years later.
Take care of your health
I mentioned earlier coming home from Australia partially due to illness. I got sick a few times whilst travelling Australia and then on return to England got diagnosed with Glandular Fever. I’m convinced it was due to the lack of care for my health, I wasn’t sleeping or eating well and I was drinking way too much.
Don’t make this mistake. If your body needs to rest, listen to it. Maybe that means paying extra for a private room for a good night’s sleep. Or cooking in the hostel so you eat your 5 a day. Try not to fall into the backpacking culture of drinking heavily every night. Health is wealth people and if you don’t look after it you’ll be headed home like me.
Pack the essentials and leave the rest at home
My bag got smaller the more I travelled and I advise you to start this way. Less is truly more when it comes to backpacking. Unless you enjoy lugging a 70-litre bag in blistering heat. Otherwise, I advise you to think about what you pack.
For any girlies, cut your makeup bag down to the basics and maybe leave the straighteners at home. Keep the clothes basic, you don’t want to take all your favourite stuff as it will likely get ruined in hostel washing machines anyway. Whilst backpacking you can be a little less put together and that’s fine. I lived in a uniform of hair up, basic outfits and little to no makeup.
Do what you can to be a responsible traveller
I think travelling responsibly is discussed a lot more now than it was when I first went backpacking. It’s not about being the perfect traveller, but just about making those adjustments to lessen your impact on destinations.
That could mean carrying a refillable water bottle or reusable cutlery sets. Be culturally respectful of the areas you are in, covering up in religious spaces or being mindful of local historical events. Avoid any activities that exploit wildlife or local customs. Explore some lesser-visited destinations.
Travel slower
Slow travel is better. Rushing around from place to place just to see it all ends up with you being burnt out. Allow time for longer stays in destinations you love, from a week to a whole month.
Also, think about travelling by bus or train instead of taking flights everywhere. I was guilty of flying too much in my early backpacking days. But travelling overland makes for a great story. After all, it’s about the journey, not the destination.
Think about where you spend your money
Tourism can benefit local communities when sustainable goals are achieved and tourism leakage is prevented. For those who have never heard the term it’s when money spent by tourists doesn’t stay in the local economy of the tourist destination.
There aren’t always things individuals can do to prevent this, but we can try. For example using locally run tour companies, booking accommodations directly and eating at locally run restaurants.
I’m not an expert on this particular topic so if you would like to learn more, read this article by Not in the Guidebooks ->
It’s going to be hard to go home
I know I know you probably don’t want to think about this before going backpacking but it’s a reality you most likely will at some point. Going home is hard. Your friends don’t want to know about your travels for more than five minutes. Life gets a lot slower and you aren’t exposed to such new and exciting challenges as regularly.
Be prepared for this. It’s not doom and gloom though. You have to appreciate the small things about being home. Maybe that’s being able to eat your favourite snack, I always buy Quavers and a Fanta Lemon on my arrival back to the UK. Or appreciating the fact you can spend face-to-face time with family and friends.
And if you still don’t settle in back home, just plan another adventure.
What’s something you wish you knew before you went backpacking around the world?
