Bring Earplugs
One of the first things you’ll realize when staying in a cheap hostel is that you should have brought earplugs. Popping some earplugs in your pack will ensure that you can sleep through the loudest of snoring and passing wind. Sleep is going to be very important on your trip, and you don’t want anything stopping you from getting a good night’s sleep.
Don’t Pack So Much
If you haven’t been traveling before, you may end up packing enough supplies for a small army. You quickly learn that you don’t need so much stuff, and anything you need can be bought pretty easily. You can wash your clothes practically anywhere you stay, and three pairs of shoes are just not required.
Not Everything is Online
The beauty of traveling to a far and distant land is discovering things for yourself. Many of a backpacker’s best stories come from when they got lost and found the perfect little restaurant. Trawling Tripadvisor for a good place to eat might help you avoid the bad places, but you could be missing out on the real gems too.
Free Doesn’t Always Mean Free
If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. The same applies when you’re backpacking, and those super cheap taxis usually include a detour to some shop you have no interest in visiting. Free walking tours come with the hidden cost of tipping your tour guide, generally after being guilt-tripped into it. When backpacking, it’s important to realize nothing comes for free.
Backpackers, make a note of these important lessons before you set off!