At this point, I’ve spent about eight months of the last two years living in hostels and have definitely seen the good, the bad, and the ugly side of hostel life. If you’re planning your first trip, here’s what to look out for in order to pick a hostel and have a good experience:

Pay attention to the hostel’s ‘ambience’ and ‘safety’ ratings.

The vibe of the hostel is important, especially when you’re traveling on your own. Try to look for places with nice common areas or bars, so you have a space to meet other travelers. Hostels that organize group events or have community breakfasts or dinners are great because it’s a built-in way to meet other people and create a group of people to go out adventuring with.

If you can, try to avoid properties that are half hostel, half hotel. These places cater more to families and business travelers, and the vibe is much different than that of a property that caters specifically to the young, backpacker crowd. These places are typically much less social, which can make for a lonely stay if there aren’t any people around for you to mingle with.

Also, this is pretty self-explanatory, but check out the safety ratings. This will cover things like whether the property is located in a good part of town, whether there’s a secure place to lock your belongings inside your room, if the keys and locks work, or if the building and surrounding area well-lit, or whether there are people hanging around the property who aren’t guests of the hostel, etc.

Pick a hostel that is close to the attractions and has a 24-hour reception.

If you know you’re going to want to go out at night, look for a place closer to the city’s nightlife so you don’t have to travel as far in the dark in the event that you end up having to be out alone. You can minimize your time spent on public transit doing so, and you won’t have to take as many cabs (so you can avoid being ripped off) and you won’t have as far to walk if that’s something you’re concerned about. Obviously, use your judgement and take the same precautions you would at home, and you’ll be fine.

24-hour reception is important if you know you’ll be arriving late. You don’t want to show up after the reception has closed and not be able to check in. Also, if there’s an emergency and you need something in the middle of the night, the hostel reception is going to be your first point of contact because they know the area and how to get you the services that you need (like pointing you to the hospital where you’re more likely to find English-speaking doctors at 4am).

Female-only dorms (maybe).

I have mixed feelings about staying in female dorms because I’ve had good and bad experiences with both (big surprise: people suck regardless of gender). You never know who you’re going to get as roommates, and my good experiences have by far outweighed the bad. The only difference is that so far, I haven’t (yet, thankfully) been fearful for my safety in a female dorm. I have two big pieces of advice on this one:

1. Read the reviews carefully.

If the reviews give you a sense that the hostel only really cares about their bottom line and just wants to fill beds, it might not be somewhere you want to stay, for a variety of reasons, but if it’s the only option available, you may want to consider booking a female-only dorm. You might just end up in a 12-bed dorm with an 11-person stag party, who stumbled back in at 4am and didn’t realize that they do not actually have the room to themselves (first the obnoxious drunkenness, then the snoring, yikes). Needless to say, I dragged my blanket downstairs to sleep in the bar, checked out as soon as I could, and left the property a delightful review for 1. letting that happen to me in the first place, and 2. not informing me or giving me another choice of room.

2. Pay attention to whether or not you’ll be traveling in peak season.

If there’s an issue with your roommates, the hostel will likely let you change rooms if they have the space available, although they might charge you a fee (worth it for the peace of mind if you’re the only woman in the room with some creeper neighbors). If it’s fully booked, you might be out of luck (hopefully they’ll help sort you out but it’s possible they may not).

Read the reviews, but use your judgment.

You can generally get a good sense of the place from what previous guests have written, and how many people have left reviews. Keep in mind that the quality of reviews may vary from place to place, so always take them with a grain of salt. For example, a lot of people who don’t typically stay in hostels travel to places like Amsterdam to party, but then complain about things like the fact that a 200-year old building doesn’t have an elevator and you had to walk up four flights of stairs with a heavy suitcase.

If you’re traveling solo, I’d always advocate for staying in hostels, because they’re great for so many reasons. If it’s your first time and you’re nervous, just be careful and deliberate with when you pick a hostel and, above all, use your best judgment and you’ll be sure to end up having a wonderful trip (or at the very least come out with a lot of interesting stories).

Suggested next reading: Why I Travel Alone (And Why You Should Too)

The post How To Pick A Hostel Like A Solo Female Traveler Expert appeared first on Modern Trekker.

By my calculations, in order to hit everything on my bucket list, I’d have to move every 2-3 days, and even then I might not be able to hit everything. That’s just simply not sustainable for a year, and while moving quickly and checking off boxes might be some people’s preferred way to travel, it’s definitely not for me.

So, the alternative was to figure out how to make it work long-term. If I was going to take the plunge and travel full time, it was going to be a permanent lifestyle change. It took a lot of deliberate planning and hard decisions to get to this point where I am permanently and intentionally homeless.

I’m not saying that everyone should quit their jobs and travel long-term instead of enjoying those short trips when you get the chance, because short-term travel can also be wonderful and I’d always advocate for any type of travel over staying in one place. The long-term travel lifestyle is not for everyone, by any means. But if you are considering making the leap, here are the tidbits of wisdom I’ve learned so far.

Pros of Long-Term Travel:

You can go anywhere at a moment’s notice, and that’s incredibly liberating. My entire life fits into a 45L backpack. I can be at the airport in under an hour, and go anywhere in the world. Because I work online, my job will come with me. For the gap year-ers and the non-digital nomads, the process is the same. When you can carry everything you own with you on your back, the possibilities are endless. While on some days the sheer number of options will seem overwhelming, there’s so much joy in going with the flow and seeing where life takes you.

Your perspective will change along the way, and you will grow as a person so much faster than if you’d stay at home. You have to adapt and evolve with each new place you visit. The exposure to new people and fresh perspectives will constantly challenge you to reevaluate who you are, what you believe in, and what’s truly important.

Every person crosses your path for a reason, and being in an unfamiliar place opens up your heart and your mind to those lessons. On my first round of traveling after finishing school, I learned more about people, life, love, humanity, and the way the world works in three months on the road than I did in four years of college. It took one eight-hour hike with a stranger to completely change my entire worldview.

You don’t necessarily need to travel long-term to experience this—it could be as much as taking a weekend trip to somewhere an hour away from your hometown, as long as you can go somewhere new and open your eyes to the people and cultures around you. While all our cultures, languages, and traditions vary wildly across the globe, we are all the same at a basic, fundamental human level, and kindness knows no language barrier.

Cons of Constantly Being on the Move:

It’s a lifestyle, and it’s going to be just as scary jumping out as it was jumping in. As scared as I was when I finally walked into my boss’s office after months of planning and told them I’d be leaving at the end of the month to travel the world, I’m committed now. It took a lot of deliberate, calculated steps to get to this point, and I’m sure it will take just as much work to stop. After all, a body in motion stays in motion. As hard as it is to adjust to the culture shock of being in a new place, reverse culture shock when you return home is so much worse. 

But it is a lonely lifestyle. Even if you’re moving slowly and staying in the same place for months at a time, you’re ultimately still saying goodbye to those friends you make in each new place, and you can forget about having a real long-term relationship. The pool of people who share the same nomadic or semi-nomadic mindset is small and scattered, and so far, I’ve had a hard time identifying people who are even able to relate to what I’m doing, or why.

Long-term travel is a beautiful thing, and an experience I wouldn’t give up for the world (pun unintended), but ultimately it’s not sustainable. As you get older, your interests and pace will inevitably change, leading you to put down roots and move more slowly. That doesn’t necessarily mean stop traveling, but it could mean setting up a home base somewhere and spending a smaller percentage of the year on the road.

Anyone who has taken the plunge into long-term travel knows that even once you’ve stopped, travel is not something you’d ever willingly give up altogether. It becomes a series of trade-offs. Yes, see the world while you have the ability to do so, and don’t look back. But know that it’s not all gorgeous, instagrammable sunsets and coconuts. It’s a lifestyle that comes with pros and cons, just like any other.

Suggested next reading: Backpacker Culture: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

The post The Pros & Cons Of Long-Term Travel No One Ever Tells You About appeared first on Modern Trekker.

If you’re lucky enough to have the opportunity to backpack Vietnam, you will find no better convenience than purchasing the Vietnam open bus ticket. This allows you to start your adventure either up north in Hanoi or down south in Saigon. From either of those starting points, you can travel across the country stopping at various cities on your own schedule. Vietnam by bus is easily accessible and allows you to experience the diversity of the ancient Chinese influence mixed with French colonialism.

What Is The Vietnam Open Bus Ticket?

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The Vietnam open bus ticket is a single ticket that allows you to hop on and hop off in certain cities. You can choose from a slew of open bus ticket packages that range from about $35 – $50 with the cheaper options offering fewer stops. The advantage of a great price with a flexible itinerary is worth it. Even if you feel that you want to ditch the other tourists on your multi-city trek across Vietnam, rent a motorbike (more on doing that here) or smaller bus from one of the set destinations and head elsewhere for a few days before you hop back on to your Vietnam open bus ticket transportation. The open bus ticket typically allows you to travel for up to a month at your leisure. All you need to do is call a day or two in advance when you are ready to head on over to the next town on your adventure.

It’s best to purchase the Vietnam open bus ticket upon arrival in either Hanoi or Saigon. You can visit any tourist center and inquire about the Vietnam open bus ticket.

8 Common Vietnam Open Bus Ticket Destinations:

1. Saigon is where you can experience a metropolis of 8.5 million people weaving their motorbikes through the city. Saigon is worth seeing for the War Remnants Museum, the delicious pho, and some of Asia’s best craft beer. It’s a city with a diverse twist of traditional Vietnam culture with touches of the outside world pouring in and bringing in a global feel. The hectic buzzing and busyness make people watching an event. There are loads of parks throughout the city to enjoy. Saigon is an accessible starting point to explore the Mekong River Delta, Cu Chi Tunnels, and the southern islands.

Saigon also hosts lots of amazing and cheap street food. Check out this video for 10 street foods under $1 in Saigon:

2. Dalat is a must for those who love smaller mountain towns and outdoor adventure. One of the most popular attractions in Dalat is canyoning. You can sign up for a full day tour of rappelling off cliffs, sliding down streams, and swimming in the river. Dalat is also a perfect place to rent a motorbike or bicycle and get lost in the countryside while searching for really good coffee. The town is quite small which makes it easily walkable and a bit more relaxed for those who want something a bit more low key.

3. Muine has grown to be loaded with beach resorts. But don’t let that turn you off quite yet. You can hop into a guesthouse or hostel just on the other side of the beach for a much cheaper price and not be trapped into the resort life. However, if you want to have a fancy night or two, Muine is a good spot for that. Even during the day, you can relax on the beach, pay entry for a pool or table at a resort, or visit the famous sand dunes.

4. Nha Trang is another great beach town but with more of a lively city feel rather than just resort-speckled beaches. You can soak in the famous mud baths and island hop in your free time. Spend days relaxing in the sun before enjoying nights out in the city. Nha Trang is another stopover worth spending a few days.

5. Hoi An has stunning beaches right outside of the city center. The old town has a nice riverfront and is easily walkable. The night markets are bright and lively and you’ll be tempted to snag some of Hoi An’s pretty lanterns. You may get a bit overwhelmed by the mass amounts of tailor clothing shops, but it’s worth getting some new custom-made outfits while in Hoi An. While not busy finding your measurements or lounging on the beach, grab some cao lao near the river in town. You can also rent bikes to make it easy to explore the entire city or do a day trip up to Da Nang.

6. Da Nang is just a quick motorbike ride north from Hoi An and another stop on the Vietnam open bus ticket trek. It’s worth heading to the iconic Lady Buddha that watches over the country’s third largest city from her hill. Da Nang is not a prime hot spot for tourism so you can get away from some of the regular backpackers for a bit. If you head here, make sure to check out the Marble Mountains just outside of the city with their stunning views between the caves and temples. If you are looking to head somewhere away from the shops of Hoi An, this is a great getaway. Of course, both are worth seeing, and it’s easy to go back and forth between them.

7. Hue is worth seeing for the history. Hue was the capital for almost 150 years up until 1945. As being fairly centrally located on the strip of Vietnam, you can see where different parts of Vietnam have come together. You can roam around the forbidden purple city visiting various ruins and old pagodas. Some people bypass Hue, but it’s definitely worth a couple of days to see a side of Vietnam that’s not as well known to travelers.

8. Hanoi is lively, but only until about 10pm. Life shuts down early but the days and sites make it worth it. Walk through the Old Quarter, sing karaoke, and eat BBQ on the streets. The architecture mixed with the French influence is perfect for photographers. You can buy many famous brand name items at a fraction of the cost. Go and sip a cup of weasel coffee, but check the cafes that are “real” as you may see them all over the place. If you have some time, from Hanoi you can access buses to the mountains of Sapa where you can trek through the rice paddies or grab a boat to Halong Bay.

The open bus ticket is great for those who want to see loads of Vietnam—big towns, small towns, beach towns, mountain towns, French history, war history, regional food, and good beer. You can get bits and pieces of the entire country with the Vietnam open bus ticket. Best of all, it’s affordable and convenient! The buses typically get you to a part of the city where you can easily find accommodation and grab lunch nearby. The buses are safe and comfortable. However, remember that you are not bound to the itinerary listed above. From each destination you can hop on other buses to head away from the tourist crowds. You will not regret seeing the country with the help of the Vietnam open bus ticket.

Suggested next reading: How To Go Rogue And See Southeast Asia By Motorbike

The post Going To Vietnam? Don’t Miss This Essential Travel Hack appeared first on Modern Trekker.

To be fair, hosteling is definitely not for everyone. For some, it’s doable for a long weekend or a vacation with friends, whereas for others, hostels form the perfect home base in each new city for extended solo trips due to the social scene. It’s these clusters of like-minded travelers you find in hostel lounges and bars throughout the world that makes up the backpacker counterculture.

The stereotypical backpacker is young, scruffy, crunchy-looking, possibly weed-smoking, earth-loving hippie dressed in baggy elephant pants, carrying a tattered backpack and wandering around train stations or urban centers looking for their next ‘experience’. While all stereotypes at some point originate in truth, there’s far more behind the appeal of the vagabond, backpacker lifestyle than simply avoiding responsibilities back at home.

The Good

The Backpacker Bubble is an attractive, welcoming niche for many who reject the ‘traditional’ life arc: you go to school, study hard so you can get into a good university, do well in university so you can get a good job, and then work until you can settle down, buy a house, start a family, and do the same thing every single day until you die.

They’re mixed in with the vacationers and the gap year-ers, creating the vibe of being permanently on vacation. Regardless of whether or not these long-term backpackers are working remotely, just living off savings, or some combination of the two, the laid-back, go-with-the-flow mindset is what draws many people in, to begin with.

When you’re on the move long-term, you’re far removed from the day-to-day stresses of ‘normal’, everyday life. It’s easy to make friends with like-minded people from around the world because many people travel alone or in small groups, ready to mingle with others and make new friends.

Even further, everyone is transitory—only in town for a few days before moving on and following their own path. You know you don’t have much time together, and you never have to see these people again unless you actively make an effort to do so, so people are far more open and authentic. The shared bonding experience of being in an unfamiliar place creates instant camaraderie between travelers, along with lasting memories of the people and the places you visit.

When you’re ‘at home’, people have a tendency to fall into specific patterns of behavior around their family and friends, setting the expectation that you’ll continue to behave the same way in the future. When you’re on the road, constantly surrounded by strangers, there’s no pattern for you to follow. You can just go with the flow, exist, and enjoy the world around you.

The Bad

Maintaining a semi-nomadic lifestyle in the long term is not sustainable for most people. For most, as you age, your interests naturally shift from wanting to get out and explore as much of the world as possible towards wanting to settle down (or at least move slower).

It is easy to burn out both physically and mentally after being on the road for long periods of time. Moving around constantly, sleeping in unfamiliar locations, and eating unfamiliar foods can wreak havoc on your body. In addition to being physically exhausting, it’s difficult to maintain ideal levels of health and fitness while on the move without some impressive discipline and dedication, which can take a toll on your body over time.

In addition, being constantly surrounded by strangers and having to meet and befriend new people in each location only to leave them again in a few days or weeks is emotionally draining. Even if you love to travel, meeting new people, and finding your next adventure, there are only so many times you can have the “Oh, cool, where are you from? Where else have you traveled?” conversation with everyone you meet. Especially as an introvert, it can be difficult to continue being open to meeting new people after going months without seeing a familiar face.

After months of living in the world’s greatest destinations, what do you do when living the ideal vacation lifestyle sought after by millions becomes your everyday life? As wonderful as it is to travel the world indefinitely, where do you go when you need a vacation from your vacation?

The Ugly

When you’re alone in a foreign country, it’s easy to bond with those who speak your language or share a similar cultural background. However, it also creates a Backpacker Bubble, which, especially for Westerners, encompasses the globe and allows you to travel anywhere in the world without having to have a meaningful interaction with someone outside your own culture if you so desire.

We travel the world to escape our own lives, cultures, and communities, but yet can easily find more of the same in a warmer locale with (usually) a lower cost of living than our home countries. This brings along a whole host of social issues—do you, as a traveler, have the responsibility to have a positive impact on the places you travel beyond stimulating the local tourism economy?

When you’re living among backpackers constantly (or permanently), you have no choice but to deal with the negative stereotypes and social consequences of the backpacker lifestyle. Will you be one of the notorious Western tourists partying on the beaches of Southeast Asia with no intention of learning about the culture of each place? Are you contributing to over-tourism in some of the world’s most beautiful places, such as Venice or Boracay?

This is by no means to discourage you from joining the thousands who reject the sedentary lifestyle in favor of traveling the world, but to encourage anyone considering long-term travel to be conscious of your position, privilege, and perception as you do so.

Suggested next reading: Questions You Need To Ask Yourself Before Traveling

The post Backpacker Culture: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly appeared first on Modern Trekker.