A girls guide to backpacking
Every year, backpacking is getting safer and easier, so much so that more females are choosing to travel alone. Hostels, travel companies and activity services have had to do adapt and thankfully they are doing so quite nicely.
Travelling alone however, particularly if you are a woman, is still more risky and potentially hazardous than going as a group. But the freedom and rewards it offers are unparalleled and definitely worth a little uncertainty.
First and foremost, get insurance because as a backpackers you are the most at-risk group of travellers out there. Many insurers also have 24-hour international emergency help lines that could prove invaluable in your time of need.
Secondly, keep in touch. If you are travelling alone you will need to check in with home via email or text message regularly. Make sure your phones roaming capability is activated and find out if your network provider offers any special discounts on international calling.
Valuable clothes and high-heeled shoes are completely pointless. You will be laughed out of the hostel if you turn up for a night out in stilettos and a LBD. Save luggage space for more useful items such as a first aid kit, a decent pair of trainers for walking long distances and a waterproof rain mac. Travelling clothes are now themselves a fashion statement, so enjoy the freedom of life without foundation, heels and a dress.
Toiletry wise, you can buy shampoo, conditioner etc when you arrive at your destination for much cheaper than you can at home, plus you will save weight at the airport. However, sanitary items and medicines are worth buying at home, as in certain countries in Africa for example, you can have problems getting these.
While hair straighteners are becoming more commonplace in a girls backpack, the voltage in some countries outside of Europe, Australia and New Zealand is too low to support the extreme heat that is required, so they may end up just being a waste of space.
Hair-ties on the other hand are useful. Humidity and hair are not good bed fellows so keep your hair tied back and give centre partings a miss as youll risk burning your scalp ouch!
You can cut back on clothes but not medicines so travel light. Youll also need to save space for all that shopping youll be doing.
For all the girls out there who have already planned there trip, make sure you are prepared. etravelinsurance.co.uk provide cheap student travel insurance policies. If you are planning a longer trip you could look at their gap year travel insurance policy.