World Traveler

Before I left the UK to go backpacking I thought I had travelled but how wrong I was!  Yes, I had been to a good few places but I never saw much of anything, I just soaked up the sun and relaxed, I didn’t realise how much I actually missed out on.  Backpacking certainly opened my eyes to a whole new world, a whole new way of living and a whole lot of me that I never even knew existed and I would highly recommend it to everyone.  Its not as costly as you might think (obviously depending on the country that you visit), its flights that set you back the most.  In Thailand, for example, it costs roughly ₤10 a day, which includes everything you might need; accommodation, tours, food and partying.  There are also plenty of things you can do to make money while you are away like freelance writing, any internet based jobs, hair cuts in hostels, teaching English, you can often work in hostels in return for accommodation, there are all sorts of options when you put your mind to it. 

Guide books are helpful to find out about costs, travel, safety, things to see and do and where to stay.  I travelled Asia and Europe for a year without working (ah, bliss) but would recommend a period of about four months to ensure it stays as exciting as possible.  Its definitely the best thing that I have ever done and its totally changed my life, but now I have caught the travel bug and there is no way that I can ever stop!

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/tips/backpacking.html

http://www.worldtravelerjournal.com/category/backpacking/