5 travelling tips for backpackers abroad

Backpacking is often a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and for those less-than-frequent travellers, it’s important to be prepared and start your adventure on the right foot.

From what to bring on your travels to how to keep safe, we’ve compiled a few tips to help you make the most of your overseas backpacking experience.

It’s natural to feel slightly out of place while you’re travelling, especially if you’re exploring a culture that’s completely new to you. Don’t fret, culture shock is a very common phenomenon and can usually be resolved with some simple preparation.

Before your travels, research the cultural history, traditions, and practices of the places you’ll be visiting. Whether it’s the food customs or social etiquette, do a bit of reading into a location’s cultural norms so you’re up to speed with what you can and what you can’t do.

You can also spend some time thinking up a few learning goals. Set out to make a discovery and gamify your experience while learning a new culture. Even something as simple as greeting a stranger in a new language is an achievement. Know that learning takes time and allow yourself to adjust to the cultural lessons you learn.

It might seem like a small thing but having a microfibre towel will certainly pay off while you’re away. In fact, it’s a must-bring for any backpacking trip, especially if you’re unsure what your accommodations will provide. Rather than a thick towel that’ll inevitably be squashed somewhere at the bottom of your backpack, why not bring a small microfibre towel on your travels instead?

Lightweight, quick-to-dry, and multipurpose, a microfibre towel will double as a bath and hand towel. They’re also known to have more grip on dirt, so you can spend less time rubbing away at a pot and more time making unforgettable memories abroad.

You never know where you’re going to end up while backpacking across a foreign country, and although you might not need much, a water bottle is a must-pack item on the list. You’ll save money, be waste-free, and most importantly, never get thirsty.

Depending on the seasons and where you’re visiting, you might want to consider bringing a thermal water bottle to store some hot water instead. Be mindful that thermal water bottles are usually heavier than plastic water bottles.

Nothing brings people together like a card games. Card games are largely universal, and they make for a great bonding activity – whether it’s with the friends you’re travelling with or some new roommates at your hostel. You can even download a few card game apps onto your phone prior to your travels, for quick and easy access during your trip.

There are all sorts of card games you can play with friends and strangers alike, starting from icebreakers like Cheat (I doubt it) to more competitive games like Blackjack. Two-player games all the way to ten-player games, the bonding and play possibilities with card game apps or a physical deck of cards are endless.

In today’s day and age, stable internet connection is no longer a luxury – it’s an expectation. For both safety and entertainment reasons, there are sure benefits to a quick internet connection and easy access to data while backpacking abroad.

International roaming gives you the ability to use your device with its regular mobile connectivity while you’re outside of Australia. It means you can call and text while overseas, have 24/7 access to the internet, and keep your number (SIM) while overseas.

Catch more travel tips or check out amazing overseas destinations you might like to visit.

If you’re backpacking overseas and would like to stay connected with your loved ones back home in Australia, check out our International Roaming offers. Our options include a $5 Roaming Add-on, $10 Roaming Pass, or Standard Roaming (a pay-as-you-go service).