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My first backpacking trip was such an amazing journey! I had an absolute blast, but along the way, I did make a few small mistakes that I wish I had known how to avoid. That’s why I’m excited to share my tips and tricks with you so that you can benefit from my experiences and make the most of your own travels. Whether you’re an experienced backpacker or new to exploring the world, my goal is to help you have the best adventure possible. One of the things I love about being part of the travel community is the opportunity to share insights and connect with like-minded individuals. So, let’s get started and make your next journey one to remember!
Stupid mistake number 1: I kind of assumed I would become a different person on the other side of the world.
What do I mean by this? Traveling for a long time and far away from home makes your life very different for that amount of time. You will be met with so many new impressions, cultures, smells, colors, people, and foods in the most wonderful way. However, you will still be the same person throughout all of this. Equipped with the same insecurities, strengths and biases as before you set out on your journey. And although this might seem obvious and not much of a big issue, it can lead to some serious travel burnout. We all travel at different speeds, with different priorities, so it might be a good idea to give this a thought before you head out on a long journey.
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Let’s say you’re an introvert who needs your space to recharge. Constantly hanging out with a group of 10 might drain your social battery quite quickly, and you might need to recharge for longer than if you travel solo or with one friend. Traveling too quickly can have the same effect. I get sensory overload very quickly, so slower travel is better for me. I might miss a few checklist items by traveling slower, but it allows me to fully appreciate the ones I do see.
This also applies to other aspects, such as figuring out what to bring. I have to admit that this is a mistake i have made repeatedly. It is so easy to be a bit too inspired by what you read in guidebooks and hear from other travelers. And although they give excellent tips, they are just that – tips – and it’s best not to take them too literally. The truth is, if you don’t wear certain clothing items at home, you won’t wear them elsewhere either. So I say, keep it simple and bring the person you are at home into the planning mix because that person is coming with you.
Stupid Mistake Number 2: I didn't bring a pen.
I honestly didn’t realize that international travel required that many forms! I should have known; it just was a bit of a surprise that one had to fill in a form on all modes of transportation, from busses to minivans to airplanes. These days a lot more of this is done digitally, but a pen is one of those items that doesn’t take up much room, and when you need one, it sucks to run around trying to borrow one.
Stupid mistake number 3: Pack as if nothing is possible to buy outside your own country.
I can still remember how unsure I felt about what was in my backpack on my first backpacking trip. I brought all the wrong stuff. I had all the just in case items and could have gone on a week long jungle hike, ( I was not planning on it.) In retrospect, I see how silly that was, but the world seemed so big and unknown at the time. Getting lost in the jungle of packing tips is easy, but you will most of the time get what you need everywhere. So my best suggestion is to bring the stuff you like and can’t live without, and adjust to the activities you are going to do. Do your research on what you need for those specific activities, and maybe you can rent it in you destination. If you are not likely to go for a three-day hike in the jungle, don’t bring the equipment.
Stupid mistake number 4: Thinking I Could wing it when arriving at my destination after a long flight.
I love the thrill of getting on a long-haul flight, knowing that I will be somewhere new and exciting when I arrive. However, over the years, I have come to realize that no matter how excited I am about my destination, a 12+ hour flight is very draining, and I am pretty beat at the end of it, and my brain will not be at its sharpest.
On top of this, you most likely will not have Wi-Fi at your destination. Immigration might want to know where you are supposed to stay, where you will go, etc., and all the other difficult questions you could have answered with ease had you had Wi-Fi access.
Do yourself a favor and download all travel documents to your phone so you can find them easily. Also, do some research on transport from the airport before you land. This way, you can cruise out of immigration, hop on your ongoing vehicle, and quickly and easily crash in your hotel bed.
Stupid mistake number 5: I did not think I needed sunscreen while chilling in the sun on a mountain in Vietnam.
I don’t know what I was thinking! I thought I wouldn’t get burnt while sunbathing on a mountain in Vietnam. I’m a rather pale Norwegian, and when I go skiing on the mountain at easter, which is still winter season. I always wear sunscreen. Why? Because the sun usually is pretty intense in the mountains. So yeah, I should have known better. This became very clear the next day on a 12-hour bus ride. I was red from my neck to my heels, and my backside did not stop hurting. Safe to say i learned my lesson and i will always have a small bottle of sunscreen with me.
So, here you have it: a small selection of my rookie mistakes. The thing is, you will most likely make some travel blunders. If not, congratulations! You are a natural-born world traveler. But, if you’re like most of us, traveling to a very different location than what we are used to for the first time, you will experience some things you were not prepared for. These blunders usually end up as good travel stories when you get back home and in my opinion the small blunders add to the experience. And usually someone will help you, the world is full of great people. But some mistakes where health and safety are involved are best to avoid. So do your research, don’t make the same mistakes i did, and happy travels.