Our Travel Tips
Our Tips for Traveling Well
Planning a backpacking trip means asking yourself a thousand questions before you leave. Which travel insurance should you pick? How do you manage your budget on the road? Do you need a special bank card for travelling abroad? How do you pack without forgetting anything? These are exactly the questions we answer here, with advice tested in the field over years of travelling the world.
Our tips aren't lists copied from the internet. Every piece of advice comes from direct experience: we've tested the bank cards, compared the insurance policies, fine-tuned our packing list, found the right apps, and above all made the mistakes so you won't have to. We also share our everyday methods for travelling more responsibly: how to reduce your environmental impact on the road, favour overland transport, buy local, and support the economies of the communities you visit. And how to avoid feeding overtourism.
Are you planning to go away?
We've put together a short guide to help you get ready for a long trip!
Check out our preparation guideAll Our Travel Tips
Getting to Chichén Itzá from Valladolid
Visit Chichén Itzá independently using these 3 simple, tried-and-tested modes of transport!
Crossing the Ecuador-Colombia border by bus: a practical guide for 2026
How to cross the land border from Ecuador to Colombia by bus from Quito. Route: Quitumbe-Tulcán-Rumichaca-Ipiales, including prices, border formalities, and practical tips for backpackers.
Responsible tourism: how to truly immerse yourself in the local culture while traveling
Discover how to do responsible tourism and turn every trip into a truly authentic cultural immersion. From local markets and countryside buses to spontaneous encounters, here is our best advice on how to travel with respect, tolerance, and curiosity.
How to meet locals while traveling?
How do you meet people on the road and make real connections? Here is our take on the best apps and off-the-beaten-path destinations. Plus, our favorite tips for connecting with locals and travelers alike while backpacking, or simply making the most of your trip to meet new people.
Workaway review: our volunteering experience in South America (complete guide)
Our Workaway feedback after our South America tour. Platform comparison, animal rescue missions, wwoofing, budget, and tips on how to get started with volunteering for free.
Peru vs Chili: which country should you choose for your South American adventure?
Peru VS Chile? A complete comparison to help you choose your South American destination: budget, landscapes, culture, itineraries, and practical tips for backpackers.
Traveling without a return ticket: the complete guide to making it legal
Planning a trip around the world, a long-term adventure, or just a one-way ticket to a faraway destination? From refundable tickets and onward tickets to overland travel options, here are all the best ways to set off on a one-way journey without getting stuck at the airport.
The 27 Best Apps for a Round-the-World Trip or a Long Journey
Our pick of travel apps: the 27 essentials for a round-the-world trip. The right apps can turn a basic smartphone into a traveler’s true Swiss Army knife.
About Our Advice
Here you'll find our complete pre-departure checklist: the paperwork not to forget, recommended vaccines by destination, managing your budget and banking abroad, choosing travel insurance, and all the essential gear for travelling light. We've also written detailed comparisons to help you make the right calls: Peru vs Chile, which country to choose in South America? How to use Google My Maps so you never lose your travel routes again?
Our advice also covers everyday backpacker life: how to manage your budget on the road, how to find cheap places to stay, how to get around by local transport in each country. We share our tips for travelling with peace of mind without blowing your budget, with a particular focus on eco-conscious solutions: choosing buses over domestic flights, buying local, and cutting down on waste while travelling.
Whether you're setting off for the first time or planning your tenth adventure, these articles are designed to save you time and help you avoid the classic mistakes.
