| If you're familiar with budget travel, you've | | | | amount of time traveling since their money goes |
| probably heard of backpacking. It is a popular | | | | a long way. Many backpackers travel for months |
| method of international travel that involves | | | | on end. Gap year travel refers to backpacking |
| traveling with whatever items you can fit into a | | | | after one graduates from high school or |
| backpack. Backpackers stay in hostels versus | | | | university. Many young people travel for a year |
| hotels and oftentimes shop in grocery stores and | | | | prior to entering university or the work force. |
| prepare their own food versus eating out in | | | | Backpacking has grown considerably in the 2000s |
| restaurants. Backpacking is popular with young | | | | due to the fact that cheap airlines and budget |
| people who want to see the world but can't | | | | accommodations are becoming more |
| spend lot of money doing it. | | | | commonplace. The internet and popularity of |
| The Advantages of Backpacking | | | | travel guides such as Moon guidebooks and Lonely |
| The obvious perk of backpacking is that it is | | | | Planet are also making it much easier for travelers |
| cheap. Backpackers travel using the cheapest | | | | to plan trips and know what to expect. |
| modes of transportation like bus and train. They | | | | Backpacking Europe is one of the most popular |
| stay in inexpensive hostels and eat inexpensive | | | | routes because of the proximity of all of the |
| food. One of the joys of backpacking is that | | | | different countries and good infrastructure. The |
| when you are on the backpacking trail, you can | | | | train system and large amount of hostels makes |
| meet many other travelers and share stories. | | | | Europe an easy and enjoyable destination to |
| You can also make friendships that last a lifetime. | | | | backpack. However many adventurous |
| Even backpacking alone can be entertaining since | | | | backpackers are also choosing to backpack in |
| you will meet so many people on the same trail | | | | developing areas that are further off the beaten |
| and have more opportunities to interact with | | | | path. |
| others at hostels where you share dorms and | | | | In conclusion, backpacking is an inexpensive and |
| kitchens. | | | | enjoyable way to see the world. With the recent |
| Backpacking is also more interesting than traveling | | | | economic crunch, for many people backpacking is |
| as a hotel tourist because you are oftentimes | | | | the only viable way to travel. It is becoming |
| exposed to parts of the culture that you wouldn't | | | | popular even with older people since it gives |
| be if you were just on tours and staying in fancy | | | | travelers the opportunity to interact with each |
| hotels. You can learn about areas of cities that | | | | other as well as get closer to the local cultures in |
| only locals go to and local people are more likely | | | | the countries they visit. If you want to see the |
| to approach you to show you around. | | | | world and don't mind giving up some of the |
| Another advantage of backpacking is that most | | | | creature comforts you are used to, get out there |
| backpackers can afford to spend an extended | | | | and see what backpacking is all about. |