Planning your activities
Okay, now you’ve got your basics covered. The next big question is:
What are you going to do during your trip?
To plan or not to plan
The first big question to ask yourself is how much you want to plan ahead and how much room you want to leave for spontaneity. Some travellers prefer the order and certainty of planning everything from hostel and travel bookings to activities and daily schedules ahead, while others might barely book a one-way flight and the accommodation for the first night.
This is completely up to you. However, for or a first experience, especially if you are unsure about your preferences, we’d recommend to at least do some level of planning. This will bring you peace of mind and allow you to discover your way of travelling without excessive hassle.
On the first big backpacking trip we did together, we had all hostels and transport booked ahead. We always knew where and when we were going next, but we left the activities open. For our first joint trip, this was ideal: it reduced potential stress about the itinerary in unfamiliar places, yet allowed room for spontaneous discovery and activity planning.
Where to find activities
Sometimes a destination is specifically known for some activities, or there are some must-do’s that you absolutely shouldn’t miss. To figure this out, we suggest a good old Google search and scrolling through a few blogs and websites, as well as search for “things to do X” on social media.
Once you’ve listed the types of must-do experiences and you want to compare prices and find other fun activities, we suggest using a few experience booking websites to search for best prices and reviews. Some common such websites are:
Finally, you can find more unique acitivites and local events on sites such as:
Facebook
Local platforms and events websites
Your hostel’s info board
Local bar and restaurant bathrooms - seriously, we’ve found more than one cool and memorable event through posters and stickers in random bathrooms. Just keep your eyes open!