Places to go Backpacking for Students

Choosing a destination or destinations when you’re looking at taking a backpacking trip will be one of the most important decisions of all.  There’s so much choice out there, and it can be hard knowing what’s on offer, whether somewhere will be cheap enough, or even whether it’s somewhere that is suited to backpacking.

Here are a few ideas that we’ve put together for you:

Sydney, Australia

The beaches are awesome, and there is a lot to see and do, and for people looking to stay any length of time getting work here is much easier than in some places because there’s no language barrier to surmount.  Hostels here aren’t as cheap as some places, but, you can still get shared accommodation in a dorm from around £8.50 and a single room or double/twin from £12 each if you try.

Bangkok, Thailand

Probably one of the best places for backpacking in terms of cost and change of culture, Bangkok is central to lots of places so you can get a really good feel for the country and transport here is excellent.  Hostels and hotels can be really cheap, from around 200 Baht per night (that’s under £5).  Do be aware though that the culture can be quite different and it’s worth learning some do’s and don’ts before you go.

India

India is probably one of the most challenging places to travel around as a backpacker, but it’s also one of the cheapest too.  A big thing here however is don’t forget your malaria tablets and a trip to the doctors to arrange for jabs before you go.  The cost of rooms varies widely, but it’s perfectly possible to get somewhere for £3-5 per night that’s decent, and there are places that are a fair bit cheaper but they’re not always in the most desirable locations.

Bartering is well and truly alive here, and so shopping is cheap, but don’t forget, if you buy it, you have to carry it – actually, this isn’t strictly true.  Larger towns like Delhi for example have storage centres where you can hire a deposit box or shelf for just a few pence per day, so you can buy loads, pop it in storage and then leave it there till you are heading home.  You’ll still have to carry it on the plane though, so don’t go too mad.

Guatemala

Since Mexico became a bit more expensive, more back packers have taken to visiting Guatemala, and it really is cheap here.  You won’t find many hostels, but hotels and guest houses are still very cheap, with a single room costing around £4-7.  A basic meal of rice, beans and either chicken or meat will cost around £1-1.50 so even with a small budget you can still get quite a long way.

If any of these destinations have inspired you to pack your bags, you can find cheap flights and netflights and hostels at hostelbookers.

Tags: Australia, backpacking, Guatemala, India, student travel, Thailand

Category: Entertainment, Featured