With the price of travel tickets dropping almost daily, independent backpacking on a budget is growing more and more popular. Whether you're backpacking in South Africa, Singapore or Sri Lanka, take into account these tips to help you stay within your budget, so you can experience all the fun and flavour of a true backpacking adventure.
Your destination
Probably the most important decision to make - and therefore the one you ought to make first. Where you go has a huge impact on your expenses. Some countries are considerably cheaper than others, so choosing a cheaper destination can really help you budget.
For example, in India backpackers can manage for as little as £4 a day, but in Australia even staying at the cheapest hostels could cost around £30 per day.
Spending
Do your research into local prices and work out a daily budget, and then try to stick to it. Make sure you have reserves in case of a theft or other unforeseen expenses. Read up on your destination using various online forums and travel guides so you are prepared, financially, for almost any eventuality. Take into account accommodation costs, local travel expenses, regular meals as well as any activities.
Travel costs
If your trip involves flights (long-haul or short-haul), you have two choices when it comes to budgeting: plan well in advance or look for budget airlines, last minute deals or cancellations. If you intend to visit more than one country, consider a multi-destination ticket. Don't overlook internal flights - they can be cheaper than trains or buses in some countries. Other travel options for shorter distances include taxis - in some countries they can be relatively cheap but you will usually need to negotiate the price with the driver beforehand.
Insurance
Be careful not to underestimate the importance of travel insurance. Consider specialised backpacker travel insurance, as this is likely to prove better value than travel insurance designed for shorter trips. Costs will depend on where you are going, for how long, and what you will do when you get there. Direct Travel Insurance Backpacker Insurance starts from £16.97 for up to 90 days. Read into the finer details of your travel insurance policy too - for example, some policies will not cover you for extreme sports such as bungee jumping. If you are planning on hiring a vehicle on your trip, make sure you have adequate cover for this too. Scheduled airline failure cover is also something worth considering so that you are protected if the airline you have booked your flights with declares bankruptcy.