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 Contents
So You Want To Be A Backpacker 1
How To Pick Your Destination 2
What Is My Budget 3
Backpacking Destinations
Western Europe 4
Eastern Europe 6
The Balkans 8
Southeast Asia 10
South America 14
How to Find Cheap Plane Tickets 17
Travel Apps You Need 20
What To Pack 22
Money: How Do I Manage It Abroad 23
Visas 24
Travel Insurance 25
Hostels 26
How To Cook In a Hostel 30
Volunteering and How it Can Change Your LIfe 33
Solo Backpacking Tips 35
Group Backpacking Tips 37
Traveler Safety 38
Traveler Responsibility 40
 SO YOU WANT TO BE A
BACKPACKER

People have been backpacking for decades. In the early days of

backpacking, it was all about self-exploration, traveling to
lands known by few, understood by few. In many of these “off
the beaten path” countries, there was little tourist
infrastructure, so many of the trips were free-form and
personalized, with the traveler doing only what they read in
books or took from other backpackers while they were there.

In many ways, the amenities were basic, the way, harder to find
but the experience in total, 100 percent authentic. It was a
time characterized by jungle huts, dingy hostels and pocket-
sized language guides. There were no GPS maps, online
reviews and certainly no boutique hostels; let’s just say that
things have changed.

Now, let’s fast forward to the world of today’s backpacker.

There are nearly so many travel options that things have
become challenging. The whole world has seemingly opened
up.

Many of the developing nations of the 80’s and 90’s are now
economic powerhouses, offering first-class accommodations
to business trippers, backpackers, and family vacationers all
seeking sun and new sights in lands far away.

With all these amazing destinations at your fingertips, how

could you possibly choose! Good news for you the
BeyondThePack team has put together this all-inclusive book
to get you from an idea to realizing the dream!
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 That being said, picking a region is certainly helpful.
Here are some good questions you can ask yourself
before committing to a location.

What is my dream destination?

What cultures am I interested?

Do I know how long I will travel for?

Do I prefer beaches/hiking or cities?

Do I want to practice/learn languages while traveling?

These five questions, while simple, are really

important when making decisions about a long-term
backpacking trip.

If you have honestly and wholeheartedly sat down

and thought about your trip, you are ready to learn
about each region below and how to successfully
backpack through them.

2
HOW TO PICK YOUR DESTINATION

If you want to be a backpacker, before packing your bags or

making any other decisions, you have to pick your destination.
The good news, and what we have always preached here at
BeyondThePack, is that you shouldn’t pick the city you want
to go to, but the region.

Don’t be focused on getting to that one city, if you want to be

there, you will! Instead, focus on getting to the continent, to
the area where you want to make your mark or plant your flag
for lack of a better word.

This will make it much easier to find cheap tickets and make
your travel plans more fluid, going to the places that spark
interest, rather than just checking off cities on an itinerary.

We aren’t saying that you shouldn’t plan everything out. It’s

just that many times backpacking trips take a turn away from
what you intended. You stay longer at one destination, you
dislike another and leave early, you make friends and skip your
next planned destination for a different one your group chose.
Don’t limit yourself by staying in the box!

Ask friends, crack open a map or just flip a coin. The

destination doesn't really matter all that much, but the
adventure and memories you have do! Focus on a climate, a
budget and sites of interest before picking but make sure to
keep your options open. Just because you haven't heard of
the place doesn't mean it's not amazing!

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 WESTERN EUROPE
In truth, modern-day backpacking culture originally began in
Western Europe. Anybody born in the 90’s surely remembers the
movie Eurotrip, a kitschy tale of a high school grad that went to
Europe to find the girl of his dreams. For many people all around the
world, exploring the old town and cobblestoned streets of Europe’s
greatest cities has been a dream, and it certainly should be. The
canals of Amsterdam or the avenues of Paris are enough to lure
anyone away from their homes for a great backpacking excursion.

Western Europe today, this includes Ireland, the UK, Netherlands,

Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany and the
Scandinavian Countries, are truly the road “more” travelled. Cities
like Barcelona or Paris get hundreds of thousands of backpackers
each year. They have a good hostel infrastructure, a great
international vibe and for many people are the easy choice. The cities
are beautiful, the food is great, and transportation is simple; what’s
not to love.

The main issue with backpacking Western Europe for most people
may be the price tag. All of the countries listed above excluding
Iceland, the UK, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, all use the Euro, making
prices quite standard in all of these countries. This means that you
won’t catch a break with currency exchange anywhere you are using
the US Dollar. Hostels at high season can cost up to 40 euros a night,
and meals from 5-10 euros depending on where you eat.

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Backpacking Western Europe on a budget Is certainly possible but
takes a bit more effort and makes you travel more selectively,
especially when planning what attractions, you will see and what
food you’ll eat. The good news is that many hostels in Europe have
kitchens, which allows you to shop at stores and cook your own
meals. This can be a huge money saver and something we certainly
recommend.

Many European cities also offer plenty of free and reduced-price

events and attractions for young backpackers, especially students.
You can find these offers online or ask your local hostel for more
information.

We would also like to note that the more north you go in Europe,
generally the more expensive it gets. Southern Spain is just about
half as expensive as Amsterdam, for example.

TOP FIVE: WESTERN EUROPE

Paris, France
San Sebastian, Spain
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Berlin, Germany
Florence, Italy

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 EASTERN EUROPE
Eastern Europe for our definition includes much of the post-
Soviet Russian states, such as the Baltics (Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania), Belarus, Russia, Poland, The Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Ukraine. This region is defined today by strong cultures,
beautiful cities, good prices and a much different vibe than what
you would find in Western Europe.

Backpacking Eastern Europe isn’t much different from your

standard Western Europe backpacking trips, as the cities are
modern, fun and transportation between the cities is readily
available. What you’ll find that is the main difference is a lack of
English that is spoken by people outside of the tourist zones, a
lack of translated signage as well as countries that use Cyrillic as
their main writing script, which can make getting around a bit
trickier.

The best part of backpacking the Eastern European nations is

that you avoid the woes of mass tourism and overcrowded
tourist zones, which leave you with a more authentic and
wholehearted experience.

Since tourists do not particularly flock to Riga as they do to

Paris, this has kept accommodation and food prices low in the
city centers. While there are always tourist zones that have a
higher price point than others, they are much smaller and much
more avoidable in this part of the world, which is a super benefit
while backpacking.

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As opposed to nearly needing 50 Euros a day during the high
season in the west, a backpacking trip in the east could save
you between 30-40% on food, housing, and transportation.
Many countries such as Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and
the Czech Republic do not use the Euro, so you will also catch
a break with the currency exchange rates, making the
countries even cheaper.

The Eastern European region has a short tourist season,

normally lasting from the end of May until early September, as
the climate is a challenge. Winters last long in this part of the
world and can certainly be a deterrent if you want to backpack
during the offseason.

TOP FIVE: EASTERN EUROPE

Riga, Latvia
Tallinn, Estonia
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Prague, Czech Republic
Krakow, Poland

7
 THE BALKANS
The Southeastern pierce of the European continent is widely
known as the Balkans and is both a cultural and regional area
including Hungary, the former Yugoslavia (Slovenia, Serbia,
Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro), Albania,
Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova.

This region is extremely diverse as both European and

Ottoman Empires have ruled this area over the years. While
traveling through the Balkans, you will find an absolutely
unique cultural and architectural landscape.

Wind down the continent and you will see beautiful

Orthodox cathedrals, superb Mosques and ancient castles,
temples and other ruins from the times of the Greek and
Roman Empires.

The Balkan countries are friendly and approachable, and

best of all have not yet become major tourist hot spots. The
most well-known city in the Balkans would be Budapest,
known for its ruin bars and historical city, but as you head
south, you’ll encounter other great capitals such as Sarajevo,
Belgrade, Tirana and Bucharest.

The Balkan region is certainly defined by Yugoslavia, and

more importantly its civil war during the 90’s in which its
seven republics split up.

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Each part of former Yugoslavia has wonderful sights to see,
both historical, cultural and modern. The problem that
remains is the transportation between the new countries, as
border crossing often take quite long because of hostile times.

As the conflict has died down, what remains is something

magical. A cultural mishmash of the best of the near east and
the developed west.

The prices in all of the countries except Croatia are relatively

low in comparison to the rest of Europe and the nature in this
region cannot be beat. Crystal blue lakes, rolling hills and the
eastern Mediterranean coastline are just waiting to be
explored!

TOP FIVE: BALKANS

Budapest, Hungary
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Belgrade, Serbia
Sofia, Bulgaria
Dubrovnik, Croatia

9
 SOUTHEAST ASIA
Backpacking Southeastern Asia, a region which includes
Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia,
Indonesia, Singapore, The Philippines, Sri Lanka and India can
often be considered the dream trip for long term
backpackers. The Banana Pancake trial as it has been called
by backpackers from yesteryear has been a region that
backpackers have been getting permanently lost in for
decades.

The intense cultural and lifestyle differences can be a shock

to the system but become endearing and something hard to
leave. Time in Southeast Asia changes everyone in their own
ways. Whether its chilling on the beach with large groups of
international tourists, volunteering in schools for
impoverished children or wandering through the thick
jungle, this region truly has something for everyone. There is
an allure that is undeniable, and it is addicting.

The larger cities fast paced lifestyle like you can find in Ho
Chi Minh or Bangkok sit in stark contrast to the sleepy
villages just kilometers outside of them. Here you will find
some of the world most miraculous landscapes; waterfalls,
white sand beaches, mountains, river, you name it.

The first concern about backpacking southeast Asia is the

weather, as it is incredibly hot most of the year, unless you
are in northern mountainous regions of some countries.

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 The hot and humid environment, mixed with the air pollution
of some cities, make touring during the day a challenge. Make
sure to bring light clothes that can be washed plenty of times,
a hat, sunscreen and plenty of mosquito spray.

Health is also another concern while traveling in this region,

and food poisoning and infections do happen. Make sure to
carry the proper medications for this trip and do some
research on each country before showing up. While all these
countries have proper medical facilities, it certainly isn’t a bad
idea to be prepared.

Possibly the best reason for traveling in south-east Asia is the

cost. Food generally costs around 1-2 USD per meal and a
hostel bed between 5-10. This region of the world easily could
be the most affordable of any region, which makes the bang
for your buck extremely good. Day-long tours, excursions and
other activities will never normally cost more than 15 USD.

Be aware that if you want to visit Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia,

India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, you will need to obtain a visa
before entry. Visas generally cost between 35 and 50 USD.

TOP FIVE: SOUTHEAST ASIA

Bangkok, Thailand
Hanoi, Vietnam
Luang Prabang, Laos
Penang, Malaysia
Yogyakarta, Indonesia 11
 SOUTH AND LATIN AMERICA
South and Latin America is a large region to break down, we
know. Seemingly a never ending stretch of land, starting
from Mexico and extending all the way to the Patagonia
region of Argentina, these many nations have so many
unique and amazing experiences to offer. Whether it's
summiting Machu Pichu in Peru, trekking through the
Amazon in Brazil or chilling on the beach in Cartagena,
Colombia you'll never run out of things to do.

Backpacking South and Latin America is gritty and not as

easy as many people think. Yes, there are large metropolises
with every modern tourist accommodation you may need all
over the continent but the especially mountainous Andes
region has poor roads, making travel long and truly an
adventure. If you find yourself outside of metro areas, cheap
but old buses will shepherd you through mountain passes
and along epic cliffs; it's just part of the fun!

The weather in this region is a challenge as well, as packing

for Colombia for example, will require you to bring both
warm and cold weather clothes. The hot equatorial coastline
couldn't be any more contrasting to the colder mountainous
interior cities.

If your headed to this region, its best to start learning some

Spanish before your travels, as English is not widely spoken,
only in major cities. The only countries you'll encounter with
non-Spanish speakers, in general, will be Brazil and
Suriname, so it would certainly be worth it to grab a travel
size dictionary for your journey.

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For Western travelers, South and Latin America gets you a
serious bang for your buck. The cheapest, are easily the latin
American countries, such as Nicaragua or Guatemala, followed
by Ecuador and Peru on the southern continent. A night stay in
a hostel will range from $5 to $15 highest in most cities other
than Buenos Aires and Rio. A meal between $2-$5 in most
cities.

While the allure of the bigger cities and beach destinations

get much of the international tourists, we would hope that
you don't skip some of the smaller gems along the way such as
La Paz, Bolivia, Montevideo, Uruguay as well as Santiago, Chile.
These off the beaten path locations give good prices,
authentic cultural experiences and a great backpacking
community.

TOP FIVE: SOUTH AND

LATIN AMERICA
Bogota Colombia
Rio De Janiero, Brazil
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Mexico City, Mexico
Cusco, Peru

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 GET ME THERE! A GUIDE TO
PLANE TICKETS
If you are looking at a long term backpacking trip, chances are high that
you will be flying to your first destination. In todays world, there are
hundreds of different options for getting you to where you need to go,
but below, we have simplified the process by giving you our favorite
ways to book tickets.

Remember that its better to choose a region, than a specific city. You
can pick the cheapest destination and then end up in the place that you
want after checking out a new place you never thought of!

Aggregators: Sites that specialize in taking all the sales data from
internet vendors and giving you the best prices for your trip. We like the
following;

Skyscanner/ Momondo
Skyscanner and Momondo are great aggregators for all flight websites
you can find on the web. They have a few good features including
flexible date, best price finder as well as the “everywhere” feature,
which lets you find the cheapest location in the world to fly from your
outbound city.

Google Flights
Another aggregator site with tons of deals. Really great for same day, or
near future travel. The best thing about Google Flights is you can
actually scroll over a map of the world and see the buy now price for
tickets for thousands of locations.

Student Universe
It is a site aggregator that specially reserves tickets for students, but the
catch here is that you have to have a student ID in order to reserve the
ticket. Normally they have good deals similar to skyscanner but anytime
you book a ticket I would definitely check both.
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 Budget Airlines For European Travel
(Icelandic Companies) WOW Air and Icelandic Airways
Iceland has been on a tourism promotion rampage, offering
flights from various locations in the US including LA, DC, NY
and Seattle for unbeatable prices. WoW air is truly bare
bones, much like a bus in the air. If you travel WOW don’t
forget to bring food and plenty of water because nothing is
complimentary except the chair! While peanuts are nice, so
are one-way tickets from LA to Paris for 250$.

RyanAir
RyanAir is the standard for offering cheap flights in Europe.
You can bounce around from the largest cities in Europe for
under 20 Euros one way easily, with many destinations to
choose from. The one caveat with RyanAir is their hidden
fees that could really stack up if you don’t pay attention.
Make sure to print your ticket in advance and check yourself
in online if you want to avoid paying for them at the airport.

Norwegian Air
Norwegian Air, much like Wow and RyanAir, is another
essential budget option for European travel. They do,
however, offer a bit more of a comfortable ride and give out
more complimentary services.

Vueling
This airline may our favorite one in Europe, being the perfect
median between affordability and services offered. Think
Southwest in the US. Its an economic choice that operates in
every major city on the continent.
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 Budget Airlines For Asian Travel
Air Asia
As far as budget airlines are concerned, Air Asia owns the South
East Asian Market. With hundreds of daily flights to every country
from India to Indonesia, the Malaysian owned Air Asia is certainly
the way to travel. Much like any other budget airline, it’s a no frills,
back to the basics experience, that certainly get you where you
need to go and not much else.

Thai Budget Companies (Bangkok Air, Thai Lion, Thai Smile,

Nok)
The Thai budget Airlines we have listed above proved an ample
amount of flights for a very fair price, if you are considering
western standards. You can travel to destinations all across South
East Asia, mostly by way of Bangkok. If you are already in Bangkok,
you’ll have a plethora of options for getting where you need to go.
These airlines are also commonly used in the North of Thailand, the
South of Thailand, Malaysia, Laos and Vietnam as well.

Viet Jet Airways

If you aren’t flying Air Asia and want to travel through or to
Vietnam, Viet Jet Airways is going to be your cheapest option.
There’s nothing classy about this airline company, but the tickets
are cheap, and they have many differing city options for you to
choose from.
.

16
 THE TRAVEL APPS YOU NEED

Traveling is fun, and it gets you out of your comfort zone. It

takes you to places where you don’t speak the language,
don’t know the customs and are completely unfamiliar with;
Which is awesome!

That being said, people have been using tools since the stone
age, so why wouldn’t a traveler need their own toolbelt to
make sure they are successful in every stage of the trip.

Below is a list of our 5 favorite travel apps that we hope will

help you not get lost, manage your money and ensure your
best trip ever.

1. Uber/Lyft/Taxify/Grabtaxi
We know what you are saying, I have heard of all these before
and I use them in my regular life, why did they make the list?
Because in many ways, the rideshare apps are a “get-out-of-
jail-free” card when you are more than lost. There are those
days where you are in unfamiliar territory. The buses seem
crowded and daunting, the metro is nowhere to be found and
you aren’t feeling up to walk the 2 kilometers to your hostel
in the 95-degree heat.

If you haven’t heard of Grabtaxi or Taxify, it is because they

are used generally in Asia and Eastern Europe. They all
function the same as Uber and Lyft in the US, but Taxify
especially works with local taxi companies, so your trip can be
paid either in cash or by your linked card, which is more than
helpful.
17
2. Maps.Me
This is probably one of the coolest apps out there as far as maps are
concerned. We believe it is much superior to google maps and its
community updated so you have options you didn’t even know were
possible. Maps.Me is an offline maps app, where before traveling
somewhere, you can download the map along with all the
searchable information you need. Just link up to the wifi and
download their map pack for the country you are headed to.

The best part about this map is first: the navigation arrow. It’s large
and prominent on the screen and moves as you move, ensuring that
you end up going in the right direction.

The second is that it highlights paths and hiking trails that do not
normally show up on normal map apps. Let’s say you are hiking the
mountain overlooking Dubrovnik, Croatia, but unsure about the way
up. Maps.Me will actually show you exactly how to go, where there
are stairs and all the options you may not have known about.

Maps.Me also highlights viewpoints, places of interest and all the

normal items you need for daily use such as pharmacies, grocery
stores and more. Once you are done with the city, and you can
simply delete the downloaded map info, so it doesn’t affect space
on your phone.

3. TripIt
We like this app because it makes it easy to let your family know
where you are and stores your travel document information in a safe
place. When creating a trip within the app, TripIt will pull
information about all tickets you have purchased, places you have
booked that are in your connected email and put it in a timeline
within your app.

You can see check-in, departure, arrival and checkout times all in an
easy and organized way. You can also share your trip with family
members, so they know exactly where you say you are going to be!

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4. XE Currency
Money is always an important matter when traveling. This can get a
bit tricky when you are dealing with 22,000 Vietnamese Dongs to the
dollar when making a purchase. XE Currency is a fast and up to date
exchange rate tracker. You can plug up to 5 different currencies into
the app at a time, getting up to date international rates to ensure
that you aren’t getting ripped off at various stages of your trip. The
best part about this app is that is works while you are offline, which
is helpful when having to make a transaction exchange while buying
something in a Thai market for example.

5. Couchsurfing
We love couchsurfing. The app basically allows you to meet locals
and stay at their homes when you need a place to crash for the night
and aren’t up for spending money to stay at a hostel. While many
people have their doubts about that part of the app
(safety/weirdos), we don’t even think it’s the best part of the
couchsurfing experience.
*If you are using Couchsurfing to stay at someone’s home, make sure
you let a friend or family member know who and where you are
staying with as a precaution.

Couchsurfing has added a feature called “hangouts” which allows

travelers to meet up with both locals or other travelers. It’s really
awesome if you are in a city alone and want some company or be
shown around the town by locals. The Couchsurfing community is
open, welcoming and has generally great members. You can see
both, events happening in the city where you are located and see
who is going to “hangout” around you. You can join a new hangout or
browse the profiles to find someone you think would be a good fit
and send them a hangout request.

If they accept, you are connected in a chat with a GPS system, so you
can easily meet up.

19
 WHAT TO PACK
Packing is always the first challenge of any successful
backpacking trip. What do I take? How much do I take? Don’t
worry, the BeyondThePack Team are here for you.

The first step to any good backpacking trip is to find a good

backpack! You want something lightweight and not bulky, as
you will be traversing different terrains, subways, airports,
stations. Great backpacking brands include Deuter, Osprey,
The Northface and more. If you don’t want to order or buy a
new backpack online, many camping stores offer used
backpacks at discounted prices.

Once you have selected a good backpack, you need to decide

what you will put in it. It’s obvious that you will need clothes,
toiletries a towel, but the question remains how much do I
bring? The good news is that most hostels offering laundry
services, so generally packing a week’s worth of clothes will
suffice.

The best advice we can give you is to pack your bag, and then
remove 33% of what you just packed. We often overpack and
don’t be worried as this is a problem that we all deal with at
some point. Just remember that anything that goes in your
backpack, you will literally have to carry on your back wherever
you go. Logically you don’t want to haul a whole bunch of
clothing you won’t end up wearing anyways. Maybe rethink
that third jacket!

Be aware that when packing toiletries, anything over 100mls (4

oz) will not fly.

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 General Packing List
Obviously, clothes and toiletries are important, but any
successful backpacker doesn’t have their shortage of gear
and handy tools. These items have become tricks of the
trade and are almost staple goods for any international
backpacker.

External Battery
The external battery is truly a lifesaver. Whether you are
at a hostel without an outlet near your bed or on the road
without a chance to charge up, having an external battery
ready to go is something that you have to have! Be aware
that you are not allowed to check external batteries while
flying, so make sure you keep it in a carry-on bag.

Reusable Water bottle

Instead of buying water bottles at each destination,
spending money and creating waste on your way, a
reusable water bottle, especially a flat-folding one, is a
must bring on your trip.

Padlock
You need to be able to store your things safely in a hostel
because you never know what could happen when
sleeping in a shared room. While 9/10 times things are
fine, there’s always that one time something gets stolen.
Make sure to lock up your valuables, especially your travel
documents.

Earplugs
Depending on the hostel, dorm rooms can be loud at
night. If you are a light sleeper, earplugs are an easy and
affordable way make sure you get the sleep you need.
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Quick Dry Travel
There’s nothing worse than packing a smelly wet towel
into your bag when leaving the hostel for your next
destination. Many hostels also do not offer towels, or only
provide them for a fee, so just to make sure you’re
covered, we’d recommend a quick dry small towel. They
are good for the beach too!

Digital Copies of Travel and ID Documents

As a responsible traveler, you have to be aware that losing
things or having things stolen is part of the journey. While
we all try to avoid this, it happens. Make sure you have an
actual photocopy and a digital copy of your passport and
ID card while traveling in case the worse happens. It’s
much easier to file a police report and get the embassy to
make you a new passport.

Charging Adapter
If you have ever traveled internationally, you may have
noticed that many countries do not have the same outlets.
Packing the correct travel outlet will certainly prevent you
from not being able to charge your phone or other
electronics while abroad.

Good Headphones
Not only to listen to music, noise-canceling headphones
can be helpful when trying to sleep in a noisy dorm room
or find some peace and quiet among the common areas.

22
 MONEY: HOW TO MANAGE IT
ABROAD?
If you are going abroad to start a long-term trip, chances
are, you are going to be in a country with a different
currency than that of where you came from. While there
are many opinions about how you should access and use
your money, we have come up with one full proof
solution.

Generally, the first port of entry, whether it is an airport, a

train station or a bus station is a terrible place to exchange
cash withdrawing from an ATM. To counteract using them,
we recommend that you exchange just enough, maybe 10-
20$ of your home currency, or the currency of the last
country you were in, to the new currency, just to get you
to your hostel or out of the station.

This allows you to avoid high ATM fees and exorbitant

currency exchange charges while giving you the freedom
to do what you need to do without worrying about having
enough money.
From there, we recommend using an ATM to withdraw
cash, as they typically have the best rates. Please avoid
ATM’s that are not run by a legal bank, as they sometimes
manipulate your currency withdraw figures as well as give
you poor rates and high withdrawal fees.

We would suggest investing in a credit card with zero

transaction fees abroad for purchases and well as a bank
card (debit) with low withdrawal rates.

23
 VISAS

If you don’t know what a visa is, don’t worry! We are here
to help. A visa is a legal document that goes in your
passport which allows you to go into a country for a
specified amount of time.

They are normally obtained through the consulate or

embassy of the country you are trying to go to in your
home country. You should make an appointment or
submit the documents online for the visa and obtain it
BEFORE going to the country.

If you are traveling to South East Asia, South America or

Eastern Europe, chances are you are going to need to get
a visa at some point. If you are planning to go to Russia,
for example, make sure to get your visa while still in your
home country, as consulates abroad normally are unable
to process a tourist visa.

If you are in countries with more relaxed entry

requirements, but still require a visa, many times you can
acquire it in the country you are already in.

For example, if you require an entry visa to Vietnam, you

can apply for one with a valid agent while in Thailand or
Cambodia. Generally, you pay these agents to do the
paperwork for you and they provide you with a visa in just
a few days.

24
 TRAVEL INSURANCE

If you are going abroad, please buy travel insurance. Many

people think it is unnecessary because traveling isn’t often
a dangerous thing, but you never know what can happen.

There are many affordable travel insurance vendors, see

list below, that offer great rates and low deductibles in
case anything goes wrong on your travel. Not only do
these insurance providers cover medical costs, but they
often cover delayed travel expenses, damaged goods,
stolen items etc.

If you are traveling with a laptop, for example, and it gets

stolen or damaged on your trip, you can generally file a
claim with your travel insurer and get money back for it, if
all of your papers and proof of incident are accepted.

Travel insurance is also important if a natural disaster, war

or other out of the ordinary event occurs. You wouldn’t
have to worry how much the plane ticket costs, because it
would be covered in your plan.

Allianz Travel Insurance:

https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/

World Nomads Travel Insurance:

https://www.worldnomads.com/

AXA Travel Insurance:

https://www.axa.co.uk/insurance/personal/travel/

25
 HOSTELS

As a hostel work exchange service, we would argue that we know

hostels pretty well. In this section, you will find all the insider
information that you need on hostels before you go!

Hostels have a branding problem. For years, the hostel has been a
dingy, gross room that was used as a cheap alternative to your
typical hotel experience. Within the last twenty years, the
industry has gone through a revolution of sorts, transforming
those ratty old rooms in beautiful and safe establishments,
welcoming travelers from all over the world with open arms.

The industry has developed so much, that there are even

different niches depending on what hostel experience you want.

Party Hostels
The party hostel has become a mainstay on the hostel circuit.
Normally big hostels that cater to groups of backpackers looking
to drink and party, they offer special services you might not find
at other places such as pub crawls, drinking games, quiz nights
and bar deals.

Party hostels normally have extremely outgoing and fun

environments characterized by happy people, loud music and late
nights. If you are looking to have a good time while traveling, the
party hostel is definitely for you. If you prefer quiet time, make
sure to choose another spot.

Disclaimer: While fun, party hostels can be dirty and loud. Make
sure to read the reviews beforehand to make sure it’s the
experience for you. 26
Surf Hostels
The surf hostel has become popular in beach tourist
destinations and provides a chill atmosphere filled with people
who want nothing more than to catch the morning waves and
hang out the rest of the day.

Boutique Hostels
The boutique hostel has become something quite easy to find
around the world. These hostels focus on a high-quality hostel
experience, offering clean and comfortable sleeping quarters in
a design-driven space.

They are often sleek, modern, yet cozy all at the same time.
Many of these establishments offer services you wouldn’t find
at your traditional backpackers’ hostels such as beds already
being made, shampoo and soap, free towels, free breakfast and
more.

Backpackers Hostels:
This brand of hostel was the staple for the industry and haven’t
transformed much from their original purpose. Friendly and
comfortable, these hostels offer little extra amenities other
than a genuine experience and a bed.

They are great places to keep it cheap, like the other hostels
listed above often cost a bit more for obvious reasons. You will
always find amazing backpackers with unique stories at the
specifically cheap hostels, the ones who have been adventuring
around the world for serious amounts of time. Backpackers
Hostels generally are nothing special, but we love them just the
way they are.

27
 DO!
BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR ROOMMATES
LOCK YOUR THINGS UP
PARTICIPATE IN HOSTEL ACTIVITES
INTERACT WITH THE STAFF

DON'T!
LEAVE A MESS IN THE KITCHEN
TURN THE LIGHT ON WHILE PEOPLE ARE
SLEEPING
BE NOISY IN THE DORM ROOM
SPEND ALL YOUR TIME IN THE HOSTEL AND
FORGET TO SEE THE CITY 28
WHERE TO FIND THE BEST DEALS
ON HOSTELS

To find a bed in a hostel has become really easy these

days. Large aggregator sites are the norm and you can
find hundreds of beds in hundreds of hostels in thousands
of cities across the world! It’s truly never been easier.

What we can say is that while they are easy to find, they
may not actually offer the best deals on rooms. Since
many of the aggregators take a portion of room sales,
hostels offer the best deals on beds through their own
website, if they have one.

You could save up to 15 percent on bed costs by simply

going to the website of the hostel you have chosen
through an aggregator and booking directly. They even
offer special long term and group deals if you call them
on the phone. Book smart!

Hostelworld.com: https://www.hostelworld.com/

Booking.com: https://www.booking.com

Hostelbookers.com: https://www.hostelbookers.com/

29
 HOW TO COOK IN A HOSTEL

If you are traveling on a budget, chances are, you are going

to use the kitchen in a hostel. Not a good cook or have never
done it before? We’ve got you covered.

Cooking lowers the cost of your travel, period. If you learn

how to make a few simple dishes that are perfect for
hostels, we can guarantee that you will save money and
have fun while doing it.

Pro Tip: Always put your name and the dates you are staying
on your food, or the bag it’s in. Hostel staff often goes
through food and throws out or eats the stuff that got left
behind! Don’t let it be yours.

The good news about hostel kitchens, is they often have the
staple ingredients that you need for any dish such as butter,
salt, pepper and oil, so you don’t often have to start
completely from scratch!

Using the kitchen is also a great way to get to know people

in the hostel. Using public areas and socializing are what
hostels are all about! If you spend enough time in the
kitchen, you might even get some free food tossed in your
direction.

After you are done in the kitchen, make sure to clean up!

30
SPAGHETTI BOLOGNAISE - THE HOSTEL CLASSIC

This italian classic, made with meat, or even meatless for our
vegetarian friends is perfect for filling your hungry belly without
breaking the bank. Its a fool proof recipe that even the most
inexperienced chef can master in minutes!

How to cook:

Sauté onions until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add in beef and
cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. While you are doing
this, bring you water to a boil, add salt and add your pasta in, cook
until tender, about 6-7 minutes. Once your onion and beef mixture is
cooked, add in the tomato sauce, salt and pepper, and let simmer
until combined.

BOOM! Awesome meal for just under 2$.

Ingredients
1 onion chopped 0.15$
200 grams of ground beef 1.00$
200 grams of spaghetti 0.35$
Half jar Tomato Sauce 0.50$

31
 STRAMMER MAX - OPEN FACED DELICIOUSNESS

This heavenly combination of awesome breakfast items is

good at any time of the day and your fellow hostel residents
will be jealous they didn’t think of it themselves.

How To Cook:

Start with some butter in the pan, add your ham and let cook
for 30 seconds. Add eggs on top and let sit for 2 minutes. Add
cheese and remove from pan, replacing it with your two slices
of bread and more butter. Once you have browned the bread
on both sides, return the egg, ham, cheese, to the top and cook
for another minute, making sure all the cheese is melted. Sit
down and enjoy!

Ingredients
2 pieces of bread 0.20$
2 Eggs 0.25$
2 Slices of Cheese 0.50$
2 Pieces of Ham 0.50$
Ketchup (Probably in the hostel)

An E Book By
32
VOLUNTEERING AND HOW IT CAN
CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Since you have signed up for this subscription, it is quite

likely that you will be looking for a volunteering position for
the first time or have done it before in the past. Regardless
of your experience with volunteering in the past, we at
BeyondThePack want to provide you some reasons why
volunteering can truly change your life and make a major
and long-lasting experience on how you see traveling in the
future.

At BeyondThePack, we believe in the short term local. Many

times, when you backpack, you are in many countries over
few days, simply just touring the sights and not truly getting
into the culture of the country that you are in. Admittedly,
its quite challenging to fully experience a culture or country
in a few days.

Volunteering at a hostel is a game changer when it comes to

interacting and becoming part of the culture. The short-
term local philosophy goes with the position. You work with
the locals in the hostel, getting a better idea of how life for
them actually is while having the time to fully explore the
place, the country that you are in. 3 weeks in a place is
enough time to learn, to understand and to feel a part of
your location. We find that these experiences have a lot
more of a lasting impact on how we remember our trips
abroad that just a simple backpacking trip.

33
While the experience does come with work and
responsibilities, it is the intangible things about the position
that really make it worthwhile. Fostering intercultural
communication and understanding between peoples is
something that we can really get behind and a main facet of
any work abroad experience.

A word from the founder-

My first work abroad experience was in Antwerp, Belgium. I

had been to Belgium before, but I was never fascinated with
it. My time in Antwerp was transforming, as it was the first
time that I had made a longer trip abroad. I became more
open to people and ideas, as traveling alone forces you to
push yourself to do new and exciting things.

During the experience I fell in love with Antwerp, its ebbs

and flows. It was much more than a new city to explore, but
a new version of myself as well. I left Antwerp a more
enriched and confident human, and that is why I started
BeyondThePack, to help others find that transformational
experience that I had.

-Pierce

34
 SOLO BACKPACKING TIPS

Embarking on a solo backpacking trip isn’t easy. It’s filled

with a lot of ups and a lot of downs. You’ll meet new and
interesting people from all across the planet and have tons
of unforgettable experiences, but these do not come with
challenges and hard things to deal with. Hopefully this
section can help explain what you may encounter on the
road and how to deal with it.

How to Deal with Travel Loneliness

Travel loneliness is hard and certainly one of the biggest

issues solo backpackers have to deal with in one way or
another. Being away from friends and family for a long
period of time can be a struggle at first. Feeling homesick
isn’t unusual. Remember that this feeling is natural and
something that should be embraced, not buried.

There are many good tricks to stay connected while so far

away and on different time zones.

Start a blog
A blog, even for personal use, is helpful as writing can be
quite cathartic. Let friends and family know the address of
your blog so they can follow you on your journey and
understand what you are going through, where you are and
how you are feeling. This will certainly give you more to talk
about during your calls.

35
Download WhatsApp
WhatsApp is a great communication app because not only
does it allow you to facetime friends and family, but it also
is great for messaging and phone calls; all over Wi-Fi. Since
you probably won’t have a sim card in country, WhatsApp
can be used anywhere you have a Wi-Fi connection, making
it truly your phone on the go.

Send Postcards
It seems like a trivial activity, but if you do it every location
you are, it can actually be a fun venture. It gives you time to
think about your friends and family, in even the short
moment it takes you to write and send it.

Set Time aside to connect

It’s important to give yourself a set schedule of time to
connect with family and friends and doing it at the same
time every week makes it easy to connect with them, as
they know you will be available at this time.

How to Deal with Travel Fatigue

Months on the road is tiring! Travel fatigue is a real thing

and can be defined simply as the exhaustion one
accumulates while moving from place to place. The bus
trips, the hikes, the tours, the hours spent wondering the
cities without a map truly adds up!

What we can recommend is to take a day for yourself every

once in a while. Forget seeing the city, hanging out with
people and just take some time for yourself. Do some yoga,
read, watch Netflix all day. It’s important to recharge those
batteries every once in a while!

36
 GROUP BACKPACKING TIPS

Backpacking trips where you bring a friend, a loved one or a

whole group make for an awesome experience. You don’t
have to deal with the travel loneliness that happens on the
road but in many ways, you make a trade for a reduction of
freedom in your travel plan.

How to Make Group Plans

The best tip we have for constructing group plans is to give
each member of a group a chance to offer an opinion on an
activity for the group. Generally, if everyone feels that their
voice is heard, the group dynamic will remain solid. Don’t
gang up on one member if they aren’t happy with what the
group chose to do. Also, don’t feel obligated to do every
activity with the group; it’s important to have private time,
even when traveling with others.

If you are having a problem with your group, or you feel that
the trip isn’t what you wanted, vocalize it! Don’t let your
whole trip be ruined without anyone know that there was a
problem.

Group Respectfulness
It’s often easy when traveling in a group to be more
obnoxious than normal, as you are with people you like and
are comfortable with and you want to have fun. Don’t
forget that you are many times in countries with different
cultural background and rules and having a loud and rowdy
group wander through their town is seen more as a nuisance
than something welcomed. Always make sure to respect
others around you while traveling in a group. 37
 TRAVELER SAFETY TIPS

Make Sure to Keep Your Passport Safe at All Times

If you are travelling, it is likely that you have a passport with
you. Make sure you know where it is at all times. A very large
business across the world is stealing Western Passports for
counterfeiting purposes, in which many organizations can
access your information and could possibly steal your identity.

To counteract this, always lock up your passport and other

valuables in the hostel. Lockers are your "friends" and an easy
safety net to use to protect yourself.

While out and about, make sure to keep your passport secure
in your bag or even better, in a small valuable carrying pocket.
If you are in a country with less laws than you would expect to
see in Western Europe and the US, never forfeit your passport
over to an official because they have asked for it. You have a
right to protect yourself.

While showing your passport make sure that you never let it
leave your site. Many police and law enforcement around the
world can hold your passport in order to extort money from
you.

Watch Out for Pickpockets

This goes without saying, but it is really important, as they are
rampant. Many people have started carrying their backpacks in
the front when in crowded areas or on public transportation to
combat this.

38
If you carry a wallet, keep it in a buttoned pocket or in your
front pocket. If you have a purse, make sure it is securely in a
place where you can see it.
Also avoid carrying large amounts of cash in the same place.
This goes without saying, but if you have a backpack and look
like a young traveler, you become an easy target. To combat
this, split up your cash in various parts of you bag, so if they get
some of it, they won’t take it all.

Always Settle on A Price Before Trying to Purchase an Item

or A Service
This rule generally applies to travel in the Middle East and Asia,
where haggling/bargaining happens on just about every
exchange of money made.

NEVER get in a taxi before you know how much it costs and if
you can, ask the drive to turn the meter on for you. Make sure
you know where your bags are and keep your valuables close.
Motorbike thefts are rampant in southeast Asia, so be sure you
keep your bags between your legs if you are riding in an open-
air transportation vehicle (Tuk Tuk).

Motorbike drivers also stealing phones out of people’s hands

as they are walking down the street has also become a major
safety issue.

Avoid Walking Alone at Night

This is a given in most places around the world, but people
every year still get robbed because they go out at night, have a
few to drink and stumble home in the dark alone. Be smart!
Make some friends at the hostel and stick to the streets you
know.

39
 TRAVEL RESPONSIBILITY

As an international traveler, it is your job to not only be respectful

to other cultures and countries, but also to be an ambassador for
your own. In whatever country you are in, please make sure to
respect the local rules and be aware of the do’s and don’ts.

BeyondThePack wants to help foster a travel community of

responsible and eco-friendly travelers, who create a safe and
respectful environment around them while not trashing the one
they are in. As a group, we can help make a more understanding
and respectful tourist climate for international travelers.

Reduce Your Waste

BeyondThePack is a proud supporter of pro-environmental efforts

to counter the long-term effects of mass tourism. Being a
backpacker is being part of a community that respects the places it
goes and always tries to leave it better than how it found it. During
your travels there are easy things you can do to make sure that you
are reducing your impact on the environment.

Use a reusable water bottle

Eat at local restaurants and support local businesses

Recycle your garbage when available

Donate money to the carbon tax, a measure set by airlines to

reduce each passengers carbon footprint

40