What is a Hostel?

Hostels provide budget oriented, sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, sometimes a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. – Wikipedia

Hostel With Courtyard Pool

Types of Accommodation

There exists a tremendous amount of variation between hostels and locations.  Typically, you have the option of booking a private room or a dormitory bed.  When traveling as a couple its makes sense to book a private room, considering it’s usually only a few dollars more than reserving 2 bunk beds in a dormitory.  The private rooms come with double beds and single beds and sometimes have the option of including a private bathroom for an extra fee.  Dormitory sizes also vary.  A room with 4 beds is a bit easier to adapt to compared with a dorm of 8 beds.  With 8 people you have to expect persons coming and going at all hours of the night.  Some will party late and some will have to awake early for a tour.  When staying at a beach hostel you might even have the option of renting a hammock or setting up your tent.  It’s best if you travel with a mosquito net for these open air places.

You might also enjoy… Preparing to Travel To-Do List

Hostel Services

Drink Specials & Laundry Service

Just as most businesses in the travel industry, hostels are evolving to meet all of your travel needs; a one stop shopping center.  Here is a list of services that hostels often provide:

• Bar / Game Night  (particularly party hostels)
• Book Exchange
• Breakfast
• Common Room
• Computer Station w/ Internet
• DVD Movie Selection
• Guest kitchen
• Laundry Service
• Luggage storage
• Security lockers
• Tour Desk / Operator
• Transportation Booking
• Wi-Fi

You might also enjoy… Land Border Crossing Checklist

Hostel Rooftop Games & Bar

Hostel Atmosphere

So what should you expect when staying at a hostel?  Well, it depends on what type of person you are.  If you enjoy partying late night, then consider a party hostel, or one with a bar and music.  If you don’t enjoy drunks walking into your dorm room, and loud music late in the evening stay away from hostels with bars.  Some hostels are designed and advertised as guest houses.  The accommodation will more so resemble a big house divided up into individual rooms.  It is a much more quiet and mellow atmosphere.  Most importantly, hostels provide a perfect environment for meeting other travelers.  This is where you can get the best information regarding future plans, other hostels, suggested tours and possibly new unplanned adventures with some new friends!

You might also enjoy… 5 Tips on Traveling as a Couple

Working Remotely in Courtyard Hammock

Working Remotely in a Hostel

For us, it was essential to have Wi-Fi available in the hostel.  If it’s important for you too, be sure to ask if the Wi-Fi is available in the rooms, common area or lobby only.  When possible, we visited several hostels in town, testing each one’s signal strength with our iTouch.  Hostel staff might also shut their systems down for the night, eliminating a good time for uploading photos and videos.  If the wireless signal only reaches to the common area, but sure there are some power outlets.

You might also enjoy… Lack of a Travel Itinerary

Salt Hostel on the Uyuni Salt Flats

Booking  a Hostel

So how do you book a hostel reservation?  On-line is one of the best ways in our experience.  Hostelworld.com and hostelbookers.com are the two most widely used reservation services on the web.  Check both of them, because not all of the hostels will use both services.  In addition, you may find more guest feedback on a particular hostel when viewing both sites.  Look at the facilities and user feedback to determine if this is a hostel that suits your lifestyle or travel style.  Be aware of the check out time as well, since they usually range from 10am to 1pm.  Some hostels require a minimum of 2 nights stay.  If you are traveling during busy season consider booking your hostel before arriving, but only book for 1 or 2 nights to get a feel for the place.

Now get out there and start booking some budget hostels, meet other great backpackers and share precious information!

© Jason for Two Backpackers, 2024. | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | Permalink | 9 comments |

Running in Central Park, NYC

Aracely and I are both health conscience individuals who enjoy working out and eating healthy, but there are always exceptions.  We definitely do have our  fair share of splurges on pizza (for me) and ice cream (for Aracely).  Our initial thought was that backpacking for a year would get us into better shape.  We have discovered that while on the road having any sort of routine, especially an exercise routine, is nearly impossible.

Participating in multi-day treks is an excellent form of exercise, but they usually take place weeks apart, creating new break-in pains each time.  Making things even more challenging, eating cheap street food is usually not healthy.

Here are some tips on how to Stay Fit and Healthy during your travels:

1. Walk

Instead of taking a cab, walk to your destination.  Walking is good exercise, saves you money and allows you to see a lot more of place.  It’s also an excellent way to capture spontaneous photos.  Walking down a street on the way to a destination we often spot a funny sign, a local restaurant or a hidden park.

2. Jog

Most large cities will have a park that is used by runners, walkers and sometimes bikers.  These tend to be safer areas if you are looking for a place to run.  We don’t recommend running in city streets that are unfamiliar to you.  In Latin America cars will always have the right away and rarely stop for you.  Getting lost is also a great concern.  Aracely started running in Quito since we had settled down there for a month.

3. Exercise

If you know you will be in a larger city try to do research ahead of time and find a yoga studio or workout class you can attend.  Ask your hotel staff, hostel or guest host where they recommend you workout.  Don’t forget that a simple exercise including push-ups, sit-ups, squats and stretching can be done from almost everywhere.

4. Eating Healthy

Eating healthy while traveling is not very difficult.  Visit the local markets, which can be an excellent cultural experience in itself, and purchase local fruits and vegetables to cook in your hostel or apartment.

Exercise Tools

1. GMAP-pedometer.com

GMAP-pedometer is a website that allows you to trace your walking or running route anywhere Google Maps has mapped.  That’s a lot places.  The tool can show your distance, elevation and calories burned.

2. HundredPushups.com

This workout program can build tremendous strength and muscle endurance for those needing it.  The workout tailors to your current abilities, enabling a customized workout.  Beyond it’s name, the website also offers a sit-up, pull-up and squat workout.  You can also download the One Hundred Pushups application from the iTunes store for your iPhone or iTouch.  The application comes with a built in timer.

3. iFitness Application

The iFitness application from iTunes has become the #1 selling fitness app for good reason.  The application includes a cardio log, varying workout programs specific by muscle or equipment, and routines tailored to your goals.  Each exercise includes pictures detailing the steps involved.

If you are an outdoor person that enjoys the occasional hike while traveling, naturally the exercise might come a little easier for you.  For those that do mostly city tours, there will be a greater breaking in period, but you will have lots of access to local gyms and yoga centers in the urban areas.  Staying healthy will strengthen your immune system, which is important when traveling to foreign places around the world.

© Aracely for Two Backpackers, 2024. | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | Permalink | 6 comments |

Packing And Selling Stuff

Preparing to travel, regardless of travel style, can be a stressful task.  We weren’t able to sleep; awake until 3:00am thinking about all that remained to be done for our backpacking trip.

When you live in the United States, traveling to another country typically means you have a long trip overseas.  It means you have to research passport and visa requirements, book flights, and ensure things at home are taken care of.

Don’t expect your planning to be perfect, it’s impossible for long term travel.  This is a journey that will be filled with the unknown; new cultures, language barriers and obscure villages.  For me, it is was about letting go of control.  “I am unable to prevent the inevitable stress we will experience.”  Being able to control yourself when in a situation that is out of your control is a skill you will attempt develop.

What is involved in preparing to backpack around the world?

That is the question we asked ourselves repeatedly, never really getting an answer.  The fear of not accomplishing everything before we departed kept us awake at night.  I would wake Aracely up and say, “I can’t sleep.  There is just so much trip planning left to do.  Look, our room appears as if we haven’t accomplished a thing.  All of our clothes are still in our closets and we haven’t sold any furniture yet.  We don’t even have plane tickets!”  It seems funny today, now that we have more experience planning for long term travel.

Backpacking Around the World To-Do List

1. Sell Your Stuff on Ebay
2. Create a Budget
3. Purchase Backpacking Gear
4. Purchase Camping / Hiking Gear if appropriate
5. Purchase Camera Equipment
6. Purchase iTouch
7. Create a Skype Account
8. Tell Your Families
9. Notify Employers
10. Check Passports
11. Notify Landlord / Sell or Rent House
12. Create a Twitter Account (cool travelers on there)
13. Create a Facebook Account (global address book)
14. Create a Couchsurfing Account
15. Are Going to Play Fantasy Leagues on the Road?
16. Create a Rough Itinerary
17. Check Visa Requirements for Each Country
18. Choose a Departure Date
19. Get Required Immunizations
20. Put Remaining Stuff in Storage (don’t store old photos in hot attic)
21. Purchase Travelers Insurance
22. Change Auto Insurance
23. Open Travel Friendly Checking Account
24. Open Travel Friendly Credit Card Account
25. Change Address or Set Up Mail Storage
26. Cancel Cell Phones or Consider Global Phone Plan
27. Practice Packing
28. Break in Boots or Shoes
29. Set Up First Aid Kit
30. Purchase Lonely Planet Guides (if needed)

• Travel Immunizations
• RTW Trip Budgeting for Central America
• Choosing the Right Backpack
• Leaving Our Home
• How We Paid for a Year of Travel
• Lack of a Travel Itinerary

Solitude In The Woods

This is why preparing for our around the world trip became overwhelming.  It is a lot of tasks to complete, especially while you are still working your normal job and trying to visit with friends and family on the weekends.  Most of the tasks revolve around long term travel.  You will notice that when you plan for a short vacation, most of the research surrounds where you will be traveling to, lodging and sight seeing.  This list has very few of those items.  This is the challenging, uncontrollable part of the journey.  It is the unknown.  You don’t exactly know where you will be staying week to week.  You won’t know many of the places you will be traveling to yet.  Plane tickets will be purchased as needed.  You will need to trust in the kindness of foreign peoples.   All these unknowns are what make long term travel so exciting, and at the same time overwhelming.

© Jason for Two Backpackers, 2024. | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | Permalink | 21 comments |

Working at the Beach in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua

Perhaps you are expecting me to reveal a secret formula or quick way to make money that gives you the means to take a year long trip.  I’m sorry, we do not have one.

It’s similar to asking a trainer or nutritionist what’s the best way to loose weight and their response is always, “eat healthy and exercise,” uh, what a bummer.  Who wants to do that!  We never want to do the work we just want to bask in the results.

Now, I’m definitely not an expert on financial planning or round the world trip planning for that matter. But, I am going to share with you the personal details of how Jason and I were able to pay for the $15,000 USD each for our year of travel in Latin America.  Unfortunately, my answer for how we did it is probably worse than eating healthy and exercising.  It’s financial responsibility.  Gasp!

Aracely’s Financial History

Currency We Have Collected During Our Trip

I am from a single parent home and have worked since the age of 14.  My mother has never had the means to save much money and always lived from paycheck to paycheck.  That meant I had to work for what I wanted.  I rushed through college because I knew I had to hurry up and help my mother and younger brother financially.  I paid for it all with financial aid, scholarships, grants and working up to three jobs at one time.  Oh, and I never had any credit card debt, ever.

After college I was hired by Mercedes-Benz where I worked for a little less than 5 years.  With my salary, I paid for my own apartment, car, bills and helped my mother.  This meant I too lived paycheck to paycheck during that time.  Then in 2024, at the age of 25, I landed a job with a Fortune 500 Company.  The move gave me a much needed 50% salary increase.   When this happened, I did not purchase a new car or get a bigger apartment as most Americans have the habit of doing.  In fact, I reduced my spending by getting rid of my leased vehicle, since I  could now take The Path (NJ-NY public train system) to work everyday.  This enabled me to save a lot of money over 1.5 years.

5,000 Chilean Pesos

When we decided to travel for an entire year we began to run the numbers and calculated that we needed $15,000 USD each.  This does not include any of our gear expense.  In my case, I also had to make sure there was enough money to continue to help my mother during the time we were traveling.  That was an additional $6,000 dollars for the year.  Upon our return, I wanted to make sure that I had enough savings left to feel financially safe for emergencies.

Once I knew all of the above was feasible, from only 1.5 years of savings, I gave my boss my resignation notice.

Jason’s Financial History

1 Guatemalan Quetzal

This is probably the only time I will consider my age an advantage.  I had never planned on long term travel before, therefor I have never saved money for it.  But, I have been working since 1997 and was able to begin saving money after I paid off my debt in 2024.  My debt was the result of a owning a high maintenance car and some small graduate school loans.  From 2024 to 2024 I had saved enough money for a down payment on a home, my highest priority at the time.  I own a vehicle that is paid off and have no existing debt.  It was the perfect time to move forward on a home considering the housing market had tanked.

5 Argentinan Pesos

Unexpectedly to both us, we suddenly made a decision to travel long term.  The good thing was, I had the money.  The bad thing was, I would be spending the down payment of a house.  We look back now with no regrets.  I don’t see us buying a house anytime soon, it would hinder our traveling significantly and eliminate many freedoms we have today.

I didn’t necessarily save for this trip, I saved for the sake of saving.  I saved for a house, financial freedom, an active social life and fun vacations.  Saving includes eliminating credit card debt.  If you are saving money, but at the same time increasing your credit card debt or taking out loans for cars, you aren’t saving.  It’s a concept that the United States struggles with, including our government.  Debt takes away your freedoms.

I quite my job and am now cruising along on my many years of savings.

Our Budget Progress

10 Bolivian Bolivianos

We rationed our budget at $1,333 USD each per month for a total of $2,666, of that $1,000 was allocated towards “adventure” and the rest for day-to-day living expenses.  The actual expenses varied from month to month and country to country.  After 11 months of travel we have already exceeded the $30,000 mark  by $1,500 dollars, we still have not purchased our tickets home and have one more month of travel expenses left.  We both agree that we could have stayed within our original budget if we didn’t have friends visiting from home.  That’s not to say we didn’t want our friends visiting.

When friends visit us, it’s a vacation for them.  They have 2 weeks to see and do as much as possible.  That usually means flying places and eating at fancy restaurants.  If we eliminate the flights and fancy restaurants we ate at during our friends’ visits we would have made our budget.  During our last month in Quito, Ecuador, we are now eating in all the time, saving money.  I don’t think it will be enough to break even, but it’s helping.

Advice

There you have it.  I’m sorry again for not being able to provide a secret formula.  The only secret is financial responsibility.  Even though we already had the money  saved before we decided to do long term travel, I think the same behaviors apply regardless of what you are saving for.  You must have discipline and patience.  These characteristics are important for more than just saving money.

© Aracely for Two Backpackers, 2024. | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | Permalink | 34 comments |

Jason Jumping Over a Land Cruiser

It is hard to believe it has been 270 days (9 whole months) that we have been on the road.  Nine months of moving around, nine months of living out of our backpacks, nine months of not seeing family and friends, of hostels, of street food, of meeting strangers, of making friends, nine whole months of travel.  The worst for me has been the nine months of worrying about where I last left my passport.

We have definitely traveled further, taken more pictures, and had many more adventures and mishaps since our 6 Month Summary.  This time around we would like to share a few pictures that you would normally not get to see, and with them some important lessons learned while on the road.

1. Never pass up a once in lifetime opportunity

When you are presented with a once in a life time opportunity, take it, even if you do get motion sickness.  On my Nazca Lines flight I only got to see 4 out of 12 figures because I got sick on the plane, as I knew I would.  It was a miserable 30min flight that I would do all over again if it were my only opportunity to see the famous Nazca Lines.

Aracely Feeling Ill During Nazca Lines Flight

2. Always carry your own toilette paper

Some hostels don’t provide toilet paper and neither do some public restrooms.  And when you are doing your business in nature, remember to take your toilette paper back with you.  You would not want to see other people’s TP flying around during your trek.

It's So Easy For Guys. Volcano Pichincha near Quito, Ecuador

3. Art is in the eye of the beholder

You will find some strange and usually sexual things on some vendor market stands.  We didn’t buy this, it was too big for the backpacks and Jason felt intimidated.

This Picture Was Taken In Mancora, Peru. Um, Yeah.

4. Be flexible and patient

Expect the unexpected, because things will go wrong.  In Costa Rica our bus broke down, in Chile our rental vehicle almost got stuck in 2 feet of mud (that was really scary) and in Bolivia our jeep got a flat tire and the fuel pump broke.  We also lost out on $135USD worth of bus tickets when, after 9 months of reading military time, we understood 20:00 hours as 10pm.

Flat Tire During Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

5. Documenting your journey is important, but don’t risk your life

Capturing the great photo or video footage is part of the excitement during your travels, but be sure to take calculated risks when doing so.  Jason has fallen endless times while filming during a trek, almost breaking the camera and his face.  In Bolivia, it’s often considered rude to take photos of people and you might get rocks thrown at you.

Jason Standing Barefoot In Poop To Get A Closer Shot Of Flamingos. Chile Northern Altiplano

6. Backpacking isn’t always excersise

We initially thought that this trip would really get us into shape.  In reality, it is hard to get exercise while you are on the road.  Our treks are often weeks apart, creating new breaking in pains each time.  And in Latin America it takes great effort to eat healthy on the cheap.

Jason After 6 Hours Of Hiking. Torres del Paine, Chile

7. Always have fun

Be sure to leave room for fun and silliness and don’t take yourself too seriously.  We meet travelers that have forbidden technology, are the authority of good music, know the solutions for developing countries, feel as though they are always getting scammed, negotiate everything and truly hate all Americans.  Please, everyone, relax, have fun and enjoy life.

Jason Hanging Through a Hole in a Suspension Bridge. The People in the Back Probably Thought He Was Crazy. Quilotoa Loop Hike, Ecuador

8. Never under estimate the power of nature

The wind in Patagonia can blow you over.  Your backpack goes first and you follow.  You can’t climb on ice with regular boots.  Rain can create flash floods in minutes.  And glacier water is naturally delicious.

Aracely Being Blow Away In The Patagonia Wind

9. Your body is different abroad

I got an allergic reaction to ceviche while in Peru.  I’ve eaten ceviche all my life and I have never reacted to it.  Perhaps I ate to much of it in a short period of time or maybe there was a high concentration of pollution in it.  I won’t ever know.  Just be careful with what you eat and drink when you travel.

10. When traveling with a partner, make sure you are patient with one another

There will be good days and bad days.  You are with them 24/7, all the time, night and day and the next morning.  Okay, you get the picture.  Just be sure to have fun together and share the experiences you both want to have.

Aracely Carrying Jason. Maragua, Bolivia

And now for some more fun pictures just because we are celebrating our 9th month of travel!  Read about our 6th month travel summary here.

Jason In His Sleeping Bag. Torres del Paine, Chile

Aracely Sleeping In Mosquito Net. Mancora, Peru

Jason Spining Aracely (He obviously forgot what happened in Nazca.) Northern, Argentina

Jason Running Down Huge Hill With Camera. Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Aracely In Volcano Surfing Suit. Leon, Nicaragua

© Aracely for Two Backpackers, 2024. | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | Permalink | 38 comments |

Border Crossing Related Items

With ten land border crossings under our belt, it’s time to share our experienced check list.  Our first land border crossing was from Guatemala to El Salvador and it involved a boat ride, two bus rides and a walk across a long bridge separating the borders.  We admittedly were nervous.  It was in a less developed country and we had heard frightening stories.  Ten countries later and we have yet to have an incident.  So what should you know when crossing a land border?

1. Know The Exchange Rate

In Central America, currency exchange is very informal at the land borders.  There are men standing around with a wad of cash on hand waving a calculator.  The calculator is to calculate but also to imply that you should trust them.  Don’t be fooled.  Make sure that you know the fair exchange rate, know how much you need to exchange and how much you should receive.  The good thing about this is that there is room to negotiate.  Make sure that you do, but remember that this is how they earn a living so you should allow them a small commission.  In South America, currency exchange practices are more formal and conducted in banks and money exchange kiosks with no room for negotiations.  It’s a good practice to still be aware of the exchange rate so you can at least note how much money you’ve lost in the exchange and be sure to remember to document that in your expenses.

2. Have Passports and Documents Accessible

Have your passport and tourist card easily accessible and not stored away deep in your bag.  This may be obvious but it will help you expedite the process and possibly avoid stalling a bus inspection.  Also remember to store you immunization records with your passport.

3. Know the Border Crossing Area

Do your research on the specific location of your border crossing.  Become familiar with the town or streets you will be traveling on, where your destination is and how you will get there.  Lonely Planet Guides and other travelers can be good sources of information. Border crossings can get very confusing in less developed countries and you should know where you are at all times.  Some borders are more isolated and dangerous than others.  If you know that to expect you can be more in control of the situation.

Border Crossing: Ecuador to Peru

4. Immigration Fees and Visas

Depending on what country you are from and what passport you hold certain fees and documents may be required.  Visas can sometimes be purchased at the immigration center, but research the requirements.  In South America, US citizens are required to purchase visas for Brazil and Bolivia, both of which require you to pay in either US cash or the local currency.  Some countries also require entrance or departing fees.  Have enough cash on hand to cover any border fees and visa costs.  When flying into a country, different fees may apply.  Visit the US Department of State website for detailed information on specific countries.

5. Transportation Planning

If you are crossing the border with a bus company in a developed country they will most likely arrange and assist you with the entire process, but don’t expect the same in developing countries such as those in Central America.  In South America it is part of the service the bus company provides.  If you are crossing from Guatemala to Honduras on a local school (chicken) bus you will likely be crossing the border on foot or cycle rickshaws.  Know how far it is to the other side and how long before you can pick up another bus.  You may have to hire a shuttle bus, taxi or local school bus.  At customs, expect to be approached by many taxi drivers offering you a ride.  Take your time to make a decision, don’t be afraid to tell them to give you some space and back off while you organize your things and thoughts.   Include transportation in your research of the border crossing.

Border Crossing: Colombia to Ecuador

6. Avoid Offers From Non-Officials

In Central America, where the process is less organized, sometimes common people will pass out custom forms to you while you are in line.  It’s not out of kindness; they will charge you.  Do not accept these forms which are usually outdated anyway.  Some other strange fees may arise.  Research what you should be paying for in advance.

Border Crossing: Peru to Bolivia

7. Staying Safe

Border crossings in Central America and parts of South America can be sketchy.  Take precautions with your possessions.  Do not store things of importance in your pockets or walk around filming and snapping photos with your expensive camera.  Customs officers usually won’t like it and robbers will spot you.  Look confident, don’t pull out a map, and always spot customs or law officers.  Greet the officer and ask them questions on how to get to your destination and anything you should know about crossing the border. You may get some valuable safety information.  When possible, don’t cross a border alone find another traveler on the bus and cross with them.  Traveling with someone is always safer.

If you have additional tips or experiences please share them with us in the comments section.

© Jason for Two Backpackers, 2024. | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | Permalink | 5 comments |

Ecuador to Peru Border Crossing

On August 27, 2024 we boarded a plane to Guatemala City, Guatemala, the beginning of our year long round the world journey. As of today we have been on the road for 180 days, half our planned trip. Below is a summary of interesting statistics and experiences from our travels through Central and South America.

Aracely Posing With An Alpaca

Floating Steps of the Moray Inka Ruins in Peru

Grand Plaza at the Tikal Mayan Ruins

Inca Ruins at Sacsayhuaman

Celebrating Christmas With Aracely's Family & Peter & Scotty

Traveling on Long Bus Rides

Distance Traveled

We’ve traveled an estimated total of 8,734 miles through 10 different countries.  We maintain a Google map which tracks the roads we’ve traveled and although it’s not 100% accurate, it’s a good indicator of the total distance we have covered. As you can imagine it at times feels like a life time on the road. The cheap flights we got to a few places made the distance seem less. It is however, the time on the road that helps you get a feel for the place and gives you time to reflect on your travels so far.

Lodging

In the past six months we’ve stayed at 53 different hostels and learned they are not all the same.  There is a wide range of hostels offering different levels of comfort and service and not always at the same price or a fair price.  We feel we’ve become good judges on what makes a good hostel versus a bad one and often consider being hostel consultants.  That’s only half a joke.

Transportation

We have traveled on 79 different individual buses.  In Central America buses are dirt cheap, but uncomfortable; typically old American school buses.  In South America transportation is definitely more comfortable, with the option of bus cama (bed seats), but it comes at a price, especially in Chile.

Documenting Our Travels

We currently have 2,500 pictures saved on our laptop and estimate that we have taken over 7,000 pictures in total since we delete the not so great ones.  Of these, only 819 have made it to our on-line galleries.

Jason has filmed over 39 hours of video.  Creating and uploading our HD Videos has proven to be a very time consuming and difficult task.  It is challenging to find a non-intermittent internet connections for uploading 2GB files.  Therefore, we still launching videos from our first country, Guatemala.

We’ve published 69 blogs and 10 travel videos.

Experiences

One of the most rewarding parts of our trip so far is that we have built great relationships along the way and now have friends (and free places to stay) in England, Wales, Holland, Norway, Guatemala, and Colombia.

Traveling in this way brings us many new experiences.  We’ve had the opportunity to learn about different cultures, peoples, see amazing sights, do fun and exciting activities and get a new perspective of the world.  It all hasn’t been wonderful, however.

Interacting with children who don’t go to school because they have to work all day, witnessing the pollution problem due to lack of resources (or maybe poor investment in infrastructure) in this area of the world, and seeing the drastic gap in the distribution of wealth has all been very eye opening.

These experiences make us reflect about the things that are important in our lives.  We now have different expectations and standards than before.  During our journey we have lived in very basic accommodations including hostels and guest houses, yet we remember how picky we once were during our apartment search in Hoboken, NJ.  We’ve taken local transportation throughout the 8,700+ miles we’ve traveled.  While living in the U.S. we couldn’t imagine not having a car even in a state that boasts great public transportation.  It’s interesting to see how we’ve grown both individually and as a couple.

We are really looking  forward to the next six months of our journey as experienced backpackers.

• 9 Month Travel Summary

© Aracely for Two Backpackers, 2024. | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | Permalink | 9 comments |

Enjoying Dinner at El Solar in Cali, Colombia

Celebrating Valentine’s Day while traveling with your significant other reminds us how important it is to treat each other as loved ones and not just traveling buddies.  It’s not easy spending every living moment with each other and still remembering to be romantic occasionally.  Traveling as a couple will test the strength of your relationship, something I suggest doing before you venture out on a 3 or more month journey.

Having a significant other, or spouse and living at home can be a challenge in itself, but that doesn’t even begin to compare to traveling with someone.  For those that have not done long-term travel, it may seem like an extended vacation, but it’s not.  It’s a new lifestyle, that still requires some planning, effort and patience.  Articles often tout the many benefits of traveling solo, and there is good reason to do so.  You can go where you want, when you want, how you want.  Basically, the same benefits of being single.  However, you can’t easily share those experiences.  Photos can’t even begin to capture what we see with the naked eye, the goosebumps felt on our arms or the sound of wind or animals surrounding us.  I always think of the movie “Into the Wild” when I imagine traveling alone.  Everyone has their own preferences, but I confidently know, mine is to travel with Aracely.

A Night Out at The Magic Circuit of Water in Lima, Peru

1. Don’t Test a Relationship On the Road

This is not the place to test your compatibility.  Be confident of your relationship, before planning your long-term travels with them.

2. Discuss Travel Preferences

If one of you enjoys traveling in local buses and broken down roads in order to have a local experience, make sure the other does too.  Are you an adventurer seeking high peak climbs or would you prefer to relax on a beach.  Can you tolerate a communal dorm room, or you do prefer your privacy?  Are you willing to experiment with food?  This is probably one of the most important topics to spend time discussing.  You may not have the same desires, but you have to come to a compromise before departing from home.

3. Budget & Spending Behaviors

Agree on what you each intend to spend and stick to it!  Even in your stable lives in suburbia, one of the top reasons for divorce is financial disagreements.  Understand how your desire to see certain places or do specific activities will impact your budget.  I like to spend money on beer, Aracely would rather enjoy a nice meal, but we both are okay with it.

4. Inviting Friends & Family

Often when traveling long-term a friend offers to join you, or maybe even a Mother-in-Law!  Expect to receive a few self-invites and know whether or not you have agreed to have company.  Granted, a Mother-in-Law may not have been discussed.  When traveling with friends or family the travel decisions, sleeping arrangements and transportation arrangements all become more difficult.

5. Dedicated Together Time

Your probably wondering, “Don’t we have together time all the time?”  My answer is, “Not the kind of together time I am referring to.”  Much of our time is spent planning, eating, traveling and unfortunately waking up early.  I know, I didn’t think I would have to wake up early either, but most buses and adventure activities start early in the morning.  As travel bloggers and on-line consultants, whenever we get free time, we do work.  In order to stay lovers and not just travel buddies, dedicate some personal time with each other, just as you might do at home.

As I mentioned in the opening of this article, it’s important to know when to be a travel buddy and when to be a lover.  It’s easy to forget the second role, always getting caught up in the busy planning and traveling chores.  It shouldn’t just be Valentine’s Day when we decide to enjoy a nice dinner and hit the sack early, but Valentine’s Day can be a reminder to do that.  It’s not only more difficult because we are often busy, but it’s a challenge because we are together constantly.  There isn’t much escaping for some personal time, especially in our case.  As we travel in Latin America, I am entirely dependent on Aracely’s Spanish speaking skills.  The only escape I can do is walk around the block.

You will be together constantly with your significant other while traveling, but not the kind of together that brought you together.

Just a friendly reminder for you and ME TOO!

© Jason for Two Backpackers, 2024. | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | Permalink | 15 comments |

It’s suggested that you first list all the countries you may consider visiting.  You will need that list to research the following:

Country specific entrance and length of stay requirements

Costs associated with each country (lodging and food, entrance and departure fees)

Recommended immunizations/vaccinations and prescriptions

Transportation options (flight, train or bus)

Weather and environment (what to pack)

Depending on the type of person you are, you may choose to do a more detailed search relating to each country.

Aracely and I did not purchase a round-the-world flight ticket, we do not have any reservations or tours booked, and we have not decided on the exact countries we plan to visit.  This is how we choose to travel.  Honestly, it’s a challenge for me, but not so much for Aracely.  Part of this journey is learning to let go; live in a way that is completely different from the way we currently live our lives.  Today, we spend a significant time planning and organizing because we only have a weeks’ worth of vacation from our jobs.  And often those vacations are meant for rest and recuperation from your job.  When traveling long-term, you aren’t escaping the stress any longer.  Now, there is no need to crunch everything possible into a week, plan extensively or recuperate.  You can do what you want, when you want, on your own terms for as long as you want.  It’s exhilarating just to say those words.

Central and South America and Southeast Asia were chosen because they are cheap and offer adventure.  If we visit Western Europe we will blow our budget and the length of our journey will be shortened.  Instead we have decided to travel on a budget for an extended period of time while passing on Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

Letting Go

We have written down places we want to visit and things we want to see, but not much more.  We have created a spreadsheet with each country we may or may not visit and what in that country we would want to see.  The lack of commitment allows us to be flexible enough to spontaneously join other travelers for a trek or road trip.  The experience is more than just seeing new environments; it’s about meeting people from varying cultures and countries, it’s about full immersion, but most importantly, its about being free.

© Jason for Two Backpackers, 2024. | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | Permalink | 12 comments |