The process of figuring out what to pack for a trip is usually cumbersome. Thoughts of over packing items for the journey is a bad idea, though you can console yourself with preparing for any possibility during the trip. Frequent travelers know what awaits them and are adequately prepared, unlike you. Below are some of the best tips to help you prepare for travel.
Light Packing and Traveling with Little Luggage
When you are a first-time traveler, you don’t know what to pack and what items to leave behind. You want to take as many clothes as you can fit. This is never a good idea. If you like reading traveling articles, you might have come across the statement before that says the happiest traveler is one who can fit his luggage or backpack under the train seat.
This also applies to buses and planes. You might not trust the statement, ignoring it as a false website tip. Don’t be a doubting Thomas and learn the hard way. A medium portable bag is the best way to go when traveling to developing countries as it can fit perfectly on buses in the overhead compartments or under your seat.
There are many items you need to have during your trip that are a must-have. Things such as shoes, clothes, backpack, and neck pillows. Traveling neck pillows are vital as they offer comfort when in transit. It prevents you from having a stiff neck after long flights and ensures you are fit for the adventure ahead.
A small backpack brings with it less stress and freedom of comfortable movement around. Only pack the essential items. Some items are more important than others, and those are the objects to take with you. How would you know what’s necessary for a trip and what’s not? Below are some reasons behind packing lightly:
- The backpack holds your valuables and the smaller it is, the less vulnerable you are. Large bags make you stick out, which increases the possibility of being targeted. Would you rather lug around your backpack or luggage?
- During the trip, you will come across many beautiful items that you can take as souvenirs. But this cannot happen when you have a full backpack. There is no room for the relics, too bad, maybe next time. The bulkiness also affects your budget as you will incur extra costs when taking flights and buses.
- Repeatedly wearing clothes might sound terrible, but during such trips, it works well. Choosing the right clothes for the journey is the first step. No one will notice as you are always on the move, seeing new people daily.
Choosing the Best Destination to Go Backpacking
The world is full of lovely places to visit. You will have to think deeply about which place to visit and plan ahead.
Planning the Course of Your Trip
There are two types of trips, namely long and short trips. The kind of trip will determine the route you plan to take. Long trips don’t need much preparation at home as you don’t know what awaits you. It depends on the period you have and the places and regions you want to visit.
The first few days into your trip will be the hardest, but with time, you will find yourself enjoying your travels. Your flexibility will also determine how your trip will go. Connecting from one place to another might not be accessible depending on regions. It’s due to this that your flexibility will play a part in making the journey worthwhile.
The best part of letting yourself go is that you will find yourself visiting more sights than you’d ever imagine. You can also make modifications on your travels on where to visit next as you go along. Do a bit of research on the Internet or read through guidebooks as your trip progresses and continue with the adventure.
Ask Yourself Why You Are Going on the Trip When Planning
What is the reason for this trip? This question can help you determine the best destination. It enables you to focus on what you want to achieve when you set out. Why are you going on a trip? Are you going to fulfill your dreams? Is it because you are forced? Are you traveling because your family is doing so? Are you running away to rethink about your life purpose? These are some of the questions that can help you focus on the destination to visit.
Some areas to think about are:
Rivers: Visit some of the best rivers the world has to offer, such as the Nile, Indus, Mekong, and Ganges.
Culture: Sample the culture of different countries. There are many cultures around the world and getting to experience them brings out a tremendous feeling.
Religion: Nepal, Rome, Tibet, and Labella are some of the regions you can choose to visit.
Beaches: If you are a fan of beaches, you can visit Jamaica, Philippines, Lamu, and Brazil. These regions have beautiful beaches.
High altitude: Areas with high altitude include Chile, Cape Verde, Nepal, and Kashmir. The scenery in these regions is spectacular though breathing becomes more difficult due to the high altitudes.
Tales of Friends Adventures and Advice
Parents and friends always have a say when you want to travel. Usually, the stories told are dramatic. The drama part is usually included to scare you into taking their advice. Tales include the struggles of obtaining visas, insecurity, diseases, infections, and poor services offered in different regions.
In the modern world, most of these fears are no longer there. The most commonly visited regions include South America, Australia, and Southeast Asia. You won’t be offered poor services in these regions or poor banking systems. Accommodations are of excellent standards, and there is not much to worry about.
Traveling from one region to another has become much more comfortable in the developed world. Especially in the past decade. The emergence of the Internet has dramatically improved traveling. Numerous blogs advise you on what to do and where to visit. However, with so much information readily available, you don’t know what is true or false anymore.
What information should you ignore and what should you actually pay attention to? The question posed only increases doubt. The places you have always wanted to visit should be the obvious answer to your destination. See what the world has to offer and enjoy the trip. Afterward, you will find yourself refreshed and ready to face your challenges head-on.
Resources— Rei Coop, Travel Independent