A Guy Shares 50 Backpacking Tips... (from Journeywoman.com)

A Guy Shares 50 Backpacking Tips...

Dave Dean

Born and raised in the South Island of New Zealand, Dave Dean started travelling over a decade ago and hasn't quite figured how to stop yet. His degree in Political Science and History was obviously the perfect preparation for a career in IT, which has given him the freedom to work around the world and enough internet access to book his next plane ticket. Dave isn't quite sure what he wants to do when he grows up but suspects it may involve sun, beer and a large body of water.

We asked Dave to offer some tips for a traveller's first extended backpacking adventure. At the end of his article we also linked backpacking tips from a woman's point of view. We all can learn from both the male and female ways of looking at this topic.

Here's what Dave suggests...
About to head off and see the world but feeling a bit daunted by the whole thing? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. The great thing is that it really doesn’t have to be that hard – a little knowledge goes a long way. Here’s a few useful tips that I wish I’d known before I went travelling for the first time. Want more of Dave's tips. Go to: http://www.whatsdavedoing.com/



Planning and packing...

1. If you’re not sure if you need it, you don’t.

2. If you’re pretty sure you need it, you don’t.

3. If you’re absolutely certain you need it, you probably still don’t.

4. Take more money.

5. Take more pairs of underwear.

6. Take fewer pairs of shoes.

7. If it can’t be worn for three days then washed and dried in a hostel laundry room, don’t bring it.

8. Your airline’s baggage allowance is a limit, not a challenge.

9. Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel. Pack small sizes.

10. If you can’t carry your luggage up a flight of stairs easily by yourself, it’s too heavy. See hints 1, 2 & 3.

11. Make sure your passport has enough pages and validity (> 6 months) to last your entire trip.

12. A little planning is good. For example, accommodation in Europe can be hard to find in peak season.

13. A lot of planning is not. The best experiences are often spontaneous – detailed itineraries don’t allow for that.

14. Aspirin, Band-Aids and Imodium. The traveller’s trifecta.

15. Contraceptives are not the stupidest idea in the world either.

16. Take another memory card for your camera. You’ll need it.