Backpacking Checklist – Get ready for your trip!

© Anja Knorr

Arriving in a new and foreign country can be both exciting and overwhelming at times. For many, it is their first time far away in a foreign country alone, in a third world country or in a different culture. And sometimes it can be all those things at once. Therefore, being prepared can give you some sort of ease and, besides, it is always good to have a backup plan.

Visa, Passport and regulations

Check on the Internet or in your local embassy if you need a visa to enter the country you choose to travel to. If so apply online or through a travel agent who can help you. Also you need to decide if you want to enter the country as a tourist without any work rights or if you want to apply for a Working Holiday Program. A few countries like Australia, New Zealand or Canada offer these handy visa which allow you to travel and work throughout a whole year you are visiting their country.
Make sure your passport is current and signed before going to the country you choose. In many countries it needs to be valid for at least six months after the arrival date.
Also make sure to check the import and export regulations for electronic devices like iPads, antiques, cultural assets, animals, food, medicines etc.

Flight

Once you have your visa confirmation, buy your plane ticket as early as possible to get low airfares and to allow yourself plenty of time. Try using price comparison sites in order to find the cheapest flights.

Try and fly on Tuesdays – Thursdays. These days are usually cheaper than any other days of the week.

Call the airlines and ask about baggage allowance, as they differ from airline to airline. Also get a cover for your backpack so it will arrive safe and in one piece at your travel destination.

Health

Get Medical Insurance or Travel Insurance. Expenses of doctors and hospitals can be considerably higher than in your home country and often need to be paid in cash in advance. You don’t want your trip and budget to be ruined by a broken arm.

Talk to your doctor in your home country and take safety measures. In many countries it is required to get general vaccinations against illnesses that aren’t widely spread in your country such rabies or yellow fever. These vaccinations might safe your life though in another country. Allow at least a couple of weeks to tell to your doctors and get the vaccinations. For example, to get successfully vaccinated against Hepatitis B, you need two immunizations, the second being four weeks later.

Do not forget to take a well equipped first aid kit with you, including medication for existing illnesses as well as diarrhoea, motion sickness, disinfection spray and plasters. Also insect repellent with DEET is useful if you fly to malaria-infested countries as it keeps the malaria mosquitoes away.

Personal Documents

Don’t forget to take basics like your passport, personal identification card, driver’s license and credit card. Keep in mind that in many countries you need to be at least 21 years old in order to hire a car.

It is wise to also scan all those documents and to save the copies on your USB stick or sending them to your personal email address. Also make copies of them for you to take with you. That way, you will be prepared if your documents might get lost or stolen.

Get phone numbers of your embassy and consulates in the country you travel to. In case you need them, you will be grateful that you don’t need to call around in order to get to them.

Phone

Take your mobile phone with you and have it unblocked by your agent. That way, you easily can buy a local Sim card which usually are quiet cheap and will be reachable to your folks back home with a local phone number.

Money

Change some money with your bank back home and inform them that you will be travelling. Also ask how much they charge for using a card overseas or if they have any special deals with foreign banks. The fees can vary immensely.

In many countries you can only bring a certain amount of cash with you into the country, so inform yourself first and be prepared. In most countries, for a small fee you can easily withdraw from any ATM machine.

Traveller’s checks are less and less used since more people favour credit / debit cards for its easy use. However, remember that according to each country you choose there might not always be ATM machine around the corner.

Book a hostel or hotel

A few days ahead of your trip book a hostel or hotel online or through your local travel dealer. Often they can get you cheap deals on a few nights in a hotel / hostel. It also feels nice to know that you have a room to stay in and don’t need to wander around with a heavy backpack fighting off any hustlers until you find something. However, some travellers prefer the independence and adventure of finding their own hostel at their chosen travel destination since they can bargain and might end up with better deals.

Arriving at your travel destination

Upon arrival at your travel destination get a pre-paid mobile phone card and then call or email your family and friends back home to let them know that you have arrived safely.

Get a map of your new area and discover the place! However, beware of money haggling new friends and use your common senses while walking around a new place. Leave your passport among other valuable in your hotel and enjoy your stay!

If you do stay on a Working Holiday visa, get a Tax File Number and open a bank account in the country you have chosen.

And last but not least: STAY SAFE! Happy travels.