Backpacking is the perfect way to see part of the world on a shoestring budget.  Who needs the formality of a hotel when you can pitch a tent and sleep under the stars?  Who needs mealtimes and dress codes when a local bistro allows you entry in jeans and T-shirt? The freedom of the open road beckons...

Freedom, that’s what backpacking is all about.  To be one with roads, fields and forests.  Whether walking in Mother Nature’s wide open spaces or cities and villages, you see much more on foot than you do from a car or a bus.  You have the time to stop and take in the details, explore shops and restaurants and talk to the locals.

Although backpackers make use of airplanes, trains and buses, walking is their thing.  After all, like the popular saying goes ... It’s all about the journey, not the destination.  Backpackers often don’t even have a destination; they go where their feet take them.

This is why it’s important, if you are planning on backpacking, to have comfortable shoes.  An ordinary pair of sneakers is often not enough; good walking shoes are not a luxury but a necessity. The right gear and apparel can make all the difference in the world when it comes to striking off into the great unknown.

What is equally important is that you have a back-up plan.  Should you encounter some misfortune, like having your money or credit card stolen, or have an accident, you need to have a plan of action, someone to call, and a way to get home.

In addition to have contact information, it also might be a good idea to carry some basic medical details on you.  For instance your blood type, allergies and details of a medical condition such as diabetes or epilepsy. It's no fun waking up in a hospital hooked up to machines becasue you passed out from heat exhaustion and no-one knows you also have low blood sugar!  It is also a good idea to have this information in the language of the country you are visiting, as not everybody can read English. This checklist can help you prepare for your backpacking experience!