Travelling as an independent traveler, either backpacking or just heading off and staying at guest houses, hotels or other types of accommodation along the way, can be a great experience. Many students take a gap year to do just that, but independent travelling is popular with all age groups and people from every sort of background. Independent travelling is the complete opposite to the cruise or package holiday where everything is organized for you. That type of vacation has its place, of course, especially if you’re short for time, but independent travel is something to experience whenever possible; it is the best way of exploring other countries and cultures, even if the country in question happens to be your own.
The key to successful independent travelling is to organize and plan everything carefully, both before and during the trip. Ensure that you have a good guidebook, or books, in your luggage, and if you know any other independent travelers ask them for tips and advice; they’ve probably already made all the mistakes themselves and learnt from them. Money-wise, stick to a daily budget to make sure your money stays the distance, because the last thing you want is to run out of it a couple of weeks into your journey.
If you’re planning on visiting a string of places, it’s also a good idea to arrange travel insurance that will cover every stage of your trip. If you’re backpacking be sure to take only the essentials so that you can travel light. Even if you travel by car this is a good idea; you don’t want to be loaded down with inessentials before you even start on the road. Compare car insurance quotesfor the best deals and to secure sufficient cover if going abroad.
Take a lightweight travel towel with you, as these are easier to carry than the regular ones, and if you’re going somewhere like Morocco or the Middle East make sure you pack clothes that are suitable for that country. For female travellers, short skirts and bikinis might not go down too well with the locals. For example, even in some parts of relatively liberal and secular Turkey this can attract unwanted attention, and has the potential to create a problem that you can well do without. Do your research about dress codes for each country that you plan to visit. In the worst-case scenario you could end up being arrested if dressed immodestly.
Iodine, bandages and purification tablets for sterilizing the local water is a must for some countries if you don’t want to get laid low en route. Another good tip is to copy your passport and other travel documents such as insurance before you go and email them to yourself, so that if you lose the real things you’ll still be able to access them in an Internet cafe. If you’re going to work abroad make sure you arrange a work permit where this will be needed, as otherwise you could well land in trouble with the authorities. For the same reason, never breach the terms of a visa.
If you think travelling on your own might be too lonely for you, consider volunteering, which is a fantastic way of meeting like-minded independent travelers. Some of the most interesting countries to head for if you’re interested in independent travel are in South America. Places such as Peru, Brazil and Bolivia are ideal. They are largely unspoiled and are away from the most popular tourist centers.
The same is true of Turkey, especially the interior and eastern areas away from the Aegean. Guatemala, Mexico, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, the Philippines and India are just a few other countries that are ideal for independent travelling, especially backpacking for the adventurous.
By Anna
