Backpacking Tips from Real Travellers

Over many nights and many beers, through long journeys and bored boat rides, I 've asked a United Nations of backpackers for their best travel tips.  Here's what they came up with: 

• Keep a journal / blog to remember your adventure (plus you're never alone with a pen and notebook). 
• Lose the travelers cheques, they’re more hassle than they’re worth and bank cards do fine
• Start somewhere mildly challenging, but don’t start off in India or Africa
• Most bags get stolen on night buses, when travellers store them above the seats. Always keep your bags with you.
• When traveling in high season, plan ahead to avoid frustration.   Use online hostel booking sites, which have recent reviews and updated vacancy calendars.  
• Travel light
• Shop around for tours, the biggest is usually not the best, nor the cheapest.
• Try learn a little of the language in each country
• Bring hand sanitizer
• Avoid planning extensively – you find the best spots by speaking to the people you meed
• Be bold with the food (except in India, and stay away from street sushi, Gary I'm looking at you!)
• Don’t believe the bad stories
• Keep an open mind
• Don’t always believe the advice or directions of the locals, sometimes they’d rather give the wrong information than admit they don’t know.
• Be positive about traveling solo!
• Don’t listen to other’s advice, it’s so personal you’ll want to experience it yourself
• Buy on the way, pack half, it’s cheaper
• If you like your boy/girlfriend, go travelling with them!
• Shop around for your ticket, even reputable agencies can be rip-offs
• Don’t be embarresed about doing an organized tour
• Be weary of “cosmic” travellers who seem to know everything!

You see, the universe wants you to book your ticket!  

I know these things, because I'm the starshine travel guru they're warning you about. 

Feel free to add your nuggets of wisdom.