Comments on: 5 Common Mistakes Of First-Time Backpackers http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:15:16 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Hannah http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/comment-page-1/#comment-97236 Hannah Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:17:45 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/#comment-97236 Some thoughts on this that came soaring into my head as I was reading: 1. Leaving space for... I tried to garner myself an Oktoberfest stein... it was seized by security and hurled to the ground, never to carry wonderful beer again. Tip on getting one of these if you're really determined: Get out of your tent with your stein EARLY, before security gets tight. 2. On gadgets - I LOVE traveling with my silk sheets that get stuffed into their stuff sack. Maybe I'm a germ-o-phobe, but I always feel just a little bit better in hostel beds with these and they certainly don't weight much. Ditto for the super-absorbent travel towel. Money well spent! 3. And on travel partners - I've traveled with incompatible partners before. It resulted in a massive blow out, and a LOT of learning about myself. We're still friends today. Thanks for this article. 'Travel light' can NEVER be said enough! Some thoughts on this that came soaring into my head as I was reading:

1. Leaving space for… I tried to garner myself an Oktoberfest stein… it was seized by security and hurled to the ground, never to carry wonderful beer again. Tip on getting one of these if you’re really determined: Get out of your tent with your stein EARLY, before security gets tight.

2. On gadgets – I LOVE traveling with my silk sheets that get stuffed into their stuff sack. Maybe I’m a germ-o-phobe, but I always feel just a little bit better in hostel beds with these and they certainly don’t weight much. Ditto for the super-absorbent travel towel. Money well spent!

3. And on travel partners – I’ve traveled with incompatible partners before. It resulted in a massive blow out, and a LOT of learning about myself. We’re still friends today.

Thanks for this article. ‘Travel light’ can NEVER be said enough!

(Report comment)

]]> By: Demanova http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/comment-page-1/#comment-34646 Demanova Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:19:54 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/#comment-34646 I am sure you can come up with 5 things that happen once your trip begins. Here is No.1: What can go wrong will go wrong, so be prepared. :) I am sure you can come up with 5 things that happen once your trip begins. Here is No.1: What can go wrong will go wrong, so be prepared. :)

(Report comment)

]]> By: Kirsty http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/comment-page-1/#comment-10160 Kirsty Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:40:19 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/#comment-10160 Ya that's a common mistake for me too! I'm sure I could come up with another list of things that happen once your trip begins. Most on that other list are pre-trip things. Hrm... off I go to brainstorm! Ya that’s a common mistake for me too! I’m sure I could come up with another list of things that happen once your trip begins. Most on that other list are pre-trip things. Hrm… off I go to brainstorm!

(Report comment)

]]> By: Budapest http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/comment-page-1/#comment-10159 Budapest Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:50:38 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/#comment-10159 Taking enough cash would be point 6. for me, or at least making sure in advance that you can draw cash somewhere. I always end up with a credit card that I can not use, because they do not accept ccs at all or they say "not this type of card", or the "we have problems with the POS" thing. Taking enough cash would be point 6. for me, or at least making sure in advance that you can draw cash somewhere. I always end up with a credit card that I can not use, because they do not accept ccs at all or they say “not this type of card”, or the “we have problems with the POS” thing.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Ian MacKenzie http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/comment-page-1/#comment-9895 Ian MacKenzie Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:44:26 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/#comment-9895 thanks for the extra tips and comments! perhaps we'll have a follow up article at some point...detailing the 5 most common tips that backpackers make even when they're trying to avoid them... thanks for the extra tips and comments! perhaps we’ll have a follow up article at some point…detailing the 5 most common tips that backpackers make even when they’re trying to avoid them…

(Report comment)

]]> By: Kirsty http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/comment-page-1/#comment-9623 Kirsty Fri, 10 Aug 2007 07:00:51 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/#comment-9623 Ya I agree... these are all seemingly small, basic things but they have the potential to wreck a trip so heed the warning! Heed! Heed! Scribe I really love your style of travel and am hoping to do things that way when I head off in June. I'll be trying desperately to travel light but I'll have a laptop and a heap of camera stuff so it'll be a challenge. One I'm looking forward to though! Ya I agree… these are all seemingly small, basic things but they have the potential to wreck a trip so heed the warning! Heed! Heed!

Scribe I really love your style of travel and am hoping to do things that way when I head off in June. I’ll be trying desperately to travel light but I’ll have a laptop and a heap of camera stuff so it’ll be a challenge. One I’m looking forward to though!

(Report comment)

]]> By: Scribetrotter http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/comment-page-1/#comment-9571 Scribetrotter Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:23:43 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/#comment-9571 How utterly true that rings!! I set off for Africa with a 25 kilo backpack (55lb). Granted, it included a laptop and lots of reference materials. Within a month, I was down to 11 kg (25 lb) and it stayed that way for three years on the road. Among some of the things I shed along the way: a first aid kit (you can get most things most places), a beautiful padded shoulder strap (what on earth possessed me to think I could carry it on ONE shoulder?!), 6 T-shirts (I only needed 2), shampoo, conditioner and soap (a bottle of J&J baby shampoo will do the trick), clothes washing liquid (see previous allusion to shampoo), extra books to read (find me a backpacker and I'll find you a book exchanger)... I went the other way on overbooking and overplanning... I set off for a year initially (it sort of got stretched because of my LACK of planning) with a one-way ticket to Cape Town and a list of 12-15 countries that should (according to the map) be on my list... I made each decision on the spot - I'd talk to travelers heading towards me in the opposite direction about where they'd come from. Or I'd go to the bus station and simply get on something full enough to be leaving. Once in a while I'd have to adhere to a timetable, especially when visas were about to expire, but mostly I went with the rhythm and flow around me. And finally - I travel solo most of the time - wouldn't have it any other way! How utterly true that rings!!

I set off for Africa with a 25 kilo backpack (55lb). Granted, it included a laptop and lots of reference materials. Within a month, I was down to 11 kg (25 lb) and it stayed that way for three years on the road.

Among some of the things I shed along the way: a first aid kit (you can get most things most places), a beautiful padded shoulder strap (what on earth possessed me to think I could carry it on ONE shoulder?!), 6 T-shirts (I only needed 2), shampoo, conditioner and soap (a bottle of J&J baby shampoo will do the trick), clothes washing liquid (see previous allusion to shampoo), extra books to read (find me a backpacker and I’ll find you a book exchanger)…

I went the other way on overbooking and overplanning… I set off for a year initially (it sort of got stretched because of my LACK of planning) with a one-way ticket to Cape Town and a list of 12-15 countries that should (according to the map) be on my list… I made each decision on the spot – I’d talk to travelers heading towards me in the opposite direction about where they’d come from. Or I’d go to the bus station and simply get on something full enough to be leaving. Once in a while I’d have to adhere to a timetable, especially when visas were about to expire, but mostly I went with the rhythm and flow around me.

And finally – I travel solo most of the time – wouldn’t have it any other way!

(Report comment)

]]> By: Ben Steele http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/comment-page-1/#comment-9484 Ben Steele Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:53:30 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/08/08/5-common-mistakes-of-first-time-backpackers/#comment-9484 I remember all too well how much pain point one can cause. Lugging a 5000 tonne backpack 5 miles into the country in 45 degree heat. I think for a lot of the above points, you will never fully understand until you make those mistakes in the first place. I remember all too well how much pain point one can cause. Lugging a 5000 tonne backpack 5 miles into the country in 45 degree heat.

I think for a lot of the above points, you will never fully understand until you make those mistakes in the first place.

(Report comment)

]]>