Backpacking is one of life’s many simple joys as a single individual without much of a responsibility other than oneself. Doing this activity while you are young has proven to be a good exercise of seeing the world from a different perspective while learning to be more independent and effective as far as decision-making is concerned. Consider it as your baptism of fire when it comes to adulthood. Even so, a youngster would most likely have limited funds, and as such, you must be careful in choosing your backpacking destinations in order to make sure that you would be making the most out of your trip.
Schengen and Non-Schengen
While the European Union is expanding even further, not every country has been included in the Schengen Area, and since most countries would have 90 days of free access in the Schengen zone, it would be best to split your backpacking adventure between those countries covered and not covered by Schengen. Notable non-Schengen states include: Belarus, Croatia, Ireland, Romania, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. What you can do is hop to a city in any of these countries once your 90 days in the Schengen Area are up.
Backpacker Destinations
Europe is still a goldmine of cheap backpacking destinations, and while cities come and go when it comes to lists of the most affordable and the most majestic, most of the common cities visited remain the same in the perspective of many. Here are just some examples to start you off with your trip.
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Budapest is littered with old world architecture spread out across its two main districts Buda and Pest which are divided by the Danube River.
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Lisbon ranks among the cheapest in Western Europe as far as affordable is concerned. Food tripping is a must as far as pastries are concerned.
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Paris might not be that cheap, but its reputation as the city of lights and romance continue to attract both newbie backpackers and veterans alike.
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Berlin is popular not just because of its affordable cost of living, but also because of its emerging status as a hub for the arts.
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Bratislava serves as the gateway to Eastern Europe through its airport, which serves as a low-cost airline hub and alternative to Vienna’s international airport.
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Vienna is still considered by many as one of the most beautiful in Europe, and boasts an efficient mode of public transportation which makes moving around easy for travellers.
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London still prides itself in being one of Europe’s multicultural hotspots. With its remarkable architecture and regard for the arts, it remains to be a must see.
Backpacker insurance could be the very line that divides a fun backpacking adventure and a miserable existence characterised by setbacks resulting from unforeseen circumstances. You could never tell what could happen while you are travelling. While you can never predict the future, you could always get backpacker insurance and have the peace of mind that you would be taken care of if you suddenly encounter a bump on the road.