This is a guest post by Sarah Gonski – contact me if you’re interested in writing for Backpackingmatt.com. Pizza is to Naples what the cheese steak is to Philadelphia: Homegrown and perfect; the pride and joy of the culinary scene. When I was on a short backpacking jaunt through Italy a few weeks ago, I [...]

One of the most expensive aspects of backpacking comes from the experiences and activities you take in along the way. Backpacking in New Zealand is an excellent example. A trip here isn’t complete without a bungy jump, a jet-boating tour, a skydive, or one of the many other extreme sports on offer. Each one of [...]

Imagine road tripping with your best friends along the world-famous Eastern Coast of Australia. You have the open road, fresh Aussie mountain air, and endless deserted white sand beaches Throw a surfboard on the rack and I don’t think you’ll ever leave.

As I write this monthly update, I’m on a US Airways flight from DFW – LAX (with a surprising amount of leg room). My 2011 is off to a fantastic start. Fantastic, yet certainly chaotic. I’ve been balancing trips around the US to visit friends and family, with the day-to-day responsibilities of running a travel [...]

Thanks to its near-perfect circle shape, Gran Canaria is easy to drive. A drive down the highway connecting Las Palmas to Maspalomas will average one hour, and the central mountains are accessible by smaller roads.
Through the drives, a jaw-dropping array of landscapes, flora and tradition abounds.

An ideal backpacking trip will take in both stunning scenery, world culture and history, and city life. Some of the top backpacking destinations in the world offer an unbeatable combination of urban life and jaw-dropping scenery. New Zealand has Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’, and also the most diverse range of landscapes anywhere in the [...]

Your first trip long-term trip backpacking abroad will inevitably bring about a wide range of questions and uncertainties. These nerves and fears are all part of the process (and once you get on the road, you’ll find many of them are unnecessary!). You’ll find answers to many of these backpacking related questions all over the [...]

When I first began backpacking almost three years ago, I very often explained my love of traveling and seeing the world by the following phrase: “I love experiencing the unknown.” I often find it’s the unknown – or certainly the unplanned – events in my travels that stand out the most. It’s these experiences and [...]

Many long term backpackers and budget travelers choose to document their journeys around the world through travel blogs. It’s an excellent decision for many reasons; you learn from fellow travel bloggers, meet others who are share your passions, and occasionally are offered free travel. One logical step for many who write travel blogs is monetization. [...]

It’s hard to believe that 2010 is coming to a close – yet what a year it’s been for travel. In 2010, I inadvertently circled the globe. While not your typical RTW trip, my year was a fantastic mix of backpacking, working, and of course blogging. I met like-minded 20-somethings, experienced new things, was challenged, [...]