Essential Backpacking Hacks You Need In your Life!

Way back in what feels like my past life, the life before houses, kids and responsibility, I backpacked my way around Europe on trains. I visited Australia, Singapore and Malaysia on various trips too. I had the time of my life and have picked up so many backpacking hacks that I still use now!

As a young fresh-faced 18-year-old, I couldn’t wait to get out and explore the world. My first trip with an interrail pass was quite spontaneous. I’d been planning to go around Australia for the last almost 2 years saving and planning with my friend and had it booked for September 2002.

This trip came up as a chance conversation with a friend and some cheap Ryanair flights. We headed off to Europe for an adventure that was far more than we expected. Arriving at hotels with no reservations was completely new to me. As was waking up and deciding to go somewhere new the next day with nothing more than a guidebook and our backpacks!

10 days was all we lasted and ended in disaster when my friend had her passport stolen from her bag in an internet café in Rome. In that short time, we learned so much. Apart from the cultural aspects we learned travelling through Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Italy, we also learnt that we don’t need all of the material things we are conditioned to need. If we couldn’t carry it we didn’t need it.

Some days we ate like kings with my friend’s family in Italy. The family spoke only Italian and we spoke not one word of Italian. We still managed to get by with great coffee brought to us every morning and the universal language of FOOD. On other days we ate crackers and cream cheese as our main meal sitting on the floor at the train station waiting for our train to wherever we were going next.

We slept in hostels, cheap B&B hotels and on sleeper trains to keep our costs down. We met so many people from different walks of life that we would never have met going to an All-Inclusive hotel in Tenerife.

When I headed to Australia and Singapore, more lessons were learnt still. We spent 3 nights in Singapore in Little India. This was like nowhere I had ever been before! My biggest lesson here was that Frozen Cola in McDonald’s was amazing! Heading into Australia I learned to sacrifice some things for others that I liked. I sacrificed eating nutritionally so that we could enjoy an iced latte with ice cream overlooking Bondi Beach!

In my many trips travelling around, I have learnt so much. These trips and tips have shaped how I live and travel now. It’s funny some days when people question why I do things. They look at me strangely for things and I realise this is something I picked up on my travels. It’s more than half of my lifetime ago these things are still normal, and probably won’t be to me.

Backpacking hack #1: Travel Light

Travelling light is one of the major backpacking hacks I take with me. Wherever I go I am always the one with the least amount of luggage. I remember heading to Thailand in 2006, whilst my friends all had the bright orange “Heavy” labels on their cases. My case for travelling around for 2 weeks came in at 12kg.

I read once that for a trip you should pack, unpack and repack removing at least 1/3 of the original packing. This is something I still do now. On family holidays we still end up with clothes that aren’t worn too. For a short break to Zante, we usually take one 22kg case between the 5 of us and hand luggage. Friends with similar-sized families would take 5 22kg cases!

Travelling light makes things easier, the obvious reason being that there’s less to carry. There’s the also practical side where it means less waiting around at airports for cases on the carousel and more time spent on the beach. In case you need another reason, it’s better for the environment to travel lighter. Less weight means less fuel needed on planes. So pack, unpack and repack with a third less.

I almost forgot to mention another great reason: I’ve mentioned it in previous posts but it quite often saves you some money. Some airlines charge up to £90 for a return trip. For a family of 5, £450 for 5 cases is often as much as the flights alone!

Backpacking hack #2: 3-minute noodles are always a yummy meal!

Like the other backpacking hacks, there’s always a trade-off to be made on the budget. Usually, it was scrimping on food to pay for alcohol. We were not often without a box of wine but we regularly fuelled our bodies with a packet of noodles!

The cheaper the noodles the better too. Black and gold brand noodles were a particular favourite! sometimes we went crazy and had these noodles with a slice of cheese and ketchup. Sometimes there was nothing left in the hostel pantry and we just had noodles and the broth that they came with.

Aside from noodles, we cooked up a storm in the hostel kitchens. Cup a soup, tinned potatoes and packet gravy too… All of these are still my go-to easy meals when I just can’t be bothered and need a bit of a pick-me-up. I Spice up the noodles a bit more these days with some peas and sweetcorn sometimes. Other times we just stick to the ketchup and it’s just comforting! Luckily in those backpacking days, a breakfast of toast and peanut butter was often included so we did at least have some protein some days!

Backpacking hacks #3: Handwash clothes in an emergency

Budgets when travelling are tight. We want to spend money on alcohol and ice latte so paying to use the laundry machines is something we try to avoid if possible. Washing clothes in the sink with shampoo was common. I genuinely don’t think we smelled bad and it’s something I still do when we travel especially. It sort of goes hand in hand with our travelling light ethos and travelling with kids.

Kids favour certain items of clothes over others so we end up washing light stains out in the sink with shampoo and drying them on the balcony. No one has ever known any different. Rinse the swimmers after a day in the pool or at the beach it helps prolong the fabric too. As far as backpacking hacks go this one is one we all use!

Backpacking hacks #4: Flip Flops are for every occasion

This is probably one of the backpacking hacks I’ve taken to heart the most. From May – October ish I will be wearing my Havaianas everywhere. To the shops, shopping in town, a trip to the country park, a school run, a night out….. I live in them! They work for every occasion. I don’t even take any other shoes on holiday anymore. This helps with travelling light too…. unless it’s a work trip! Comfort, style and they go with any outfit!

Backpacking hacks #5:Your natural hair suits you the most!

I used to straighten my hair, I’ve never needed to curl it that’s for sure! I hated my natural hair but there just isn’t the space in a backpack for a hairdryer and straighteners. There was no way I was breaking my back carrying those things around so I had no choice but to embrace my natural style. Disclaimer at 37 I am still not ready to embrace my natural colour though! Huge wavy hair is my signature style, and natural style now. I will rarely blow dry my hair let alone straighten it!

I’m sure there are a few more things that I do that I started doing in the backpacking days! Have you picked any backpacking hacks apart from how to drink like a fish? I think that one goes without saying!

Becky x

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