Indie Travel Challenge Round Up: Tips, Manifestos, Planning & Packing

Today marks the end of the second week of the Indie Travel Challenge and we’re off to a great start! With tons people participating, so far, we’re getting lots of great responses shared on Twitter. Search #Doyouindie and have a look at all of them for yourself! There’s some great material here that we know you’ll want to connect with and share.

Each Friday of the ITC we’re going to share the questions for the week and some of the responses we loved. If you want to be considered for next week’s round up, be sure you’re using the hashtag: #doyouindie when you share your post on Twitter. That’s the only way we’ll know you’re in!

This week we asked:

What are your top 5 travel tips?

#doyouindie challenge question: what are your top 5 #traveltips for any new traveler? 1. Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t get too comfortable too fast. 2. Share your culture wherever you go, whether it means swapping a recipe or teaching someone your native language. 3. Go for the experiences rather than the stuff. 4. Always have a first aid kit with you. 5. Trust your instinct. If you have a bad feeling about something, don’t do it.

A photo posted by Suzanne (@suzanneausha) on Nov 6, 2015 at 7:15am PST

Anna Taylor, 5 Tips for First Time Travelers

“3. You are your most reliable resource. Trust yourself. Never tell yourself you’re overreacting. If you feel safe—then do it. If someone is freaking you out, leave.”

#DoYouIndie Day 6 — Top 5 Travel Tips 1) Talk to everyone. 2) Stay alive 3) Try something new 4) Get off the smartphone 5) Talk to everyone
— Greg Rodgers (@vagabondinglife) November 6, 2015

Gretchen, Roaming Jones

“Tip #4: Think hard about what “living in the moment” means to you and do whatever it takes to make that possible. “

#DoYouIndie 1st time travel tips: 1) getting lost is a good thing, let it happen; 2) do what matters to you, not others; 3) have a financial plan, preparation eliminates anxiety; 4) respect differences, be open to seeing diverse views; 5) pick the right bag for you and pack ultra – light.

A photo posted by Karen Marshall (@dancer98221) on Nov 6, 2015 at 12:42pm PST

Angela, Anges Voyage

“3. Prepare for Culture Shock”

Create your own indie travel manifesto

A photo posted by Suzanne (@suzanneausha) on Nov 7, 2015 at 10:40am PST

Thea Wingert, Zen Travellers

“1) Practice travel gratitude:
Travel is never something to be taken for granted and those who get to travel need to recognize that they are tremendously privileged.
4) Spread your wealth around:
It can feel easy and safe to stick to the heavily-trafficked tourist areas, but branching out and spending money in the local economy is an excellent way to give back to the communities that host us when we travel.
8) Make what inspires you a priority:
It can be very easy to get sucked into the rat race and keep up with Jones mentality, but staying true to what’s most important to you will bring you the most happiness.”

A travel manifesto #travel #travelmanifesto #DoYouIndie pic.twitter.com/FJUYj4fg3B
— Postcards & Places (@postcardsplaces) November 9, 2015

Marie-France Roy, Big Travel Nut

“10. Let yourself be enthralled

I live for those “wow” moments. You know when you round a corner, cross a road, go through a gate, and there it is: the Blue Mosque, the most turquoise water and whitest sand you’ve ever seen, Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal. Or just those “I can’t believe they’re doing this” moments when you see a motorcycle piled high with furniture or carrying a family of five, or people eating large fried insects!”

@bootsnall have have got me thinking about about my intentions, beliefs and motives for travel by challenging me to write a travel manifesto for their #doyouindie series of questions. Dance on tables, under the stars, with bare feet; lie in hammocks and on rooftops. Say yes more often, stop counting the days and countries but write down the memories in diaries and document through photos. Share stories, explore, smile at strangers, spend as much time as possible in water. Eat – on buses, from carts, with your neighbour, from sticks, with your hands, alone, in temples, around fires, surrounded by people. Say thank you, be grateful, be fearless and fun. Take lessons from the road. Show respect, keep your eyes open and your heart even more so. Travel light in luggage and light in your heart. Look in the mirror less, stop brushing your hair. Take it slow; remember to breath. #travelmanifesto #traveldeeper #oman #salalah #travelstoke #lifetothefullest

A photo posted by Rachel Walmsley (@worldbeneathyourfeet) on Nov 10, 2015 at 7:01am PST

Where did you go on your RTW? Or… plan your dream trip!

Cristina, LooknWalk

She created a great map of her dream trip, including Budapest, London, NYC, San Francisco, Auckland & Sydney. Check it out!

Currently on around the world journey! Started in Asia to Latin America, no regrets! #DoYouIndie pic.twitter.com/L97rCI3MpL
— Two Monkeys Travel (@2MonkeysTravel) November 8, 2015

OK, I like water #RTW Gidelim mi @miskbay? https://t.co/ikD2btmVrs thanks @BootsnAll it looks real! <3 #DoYouIndie pic.twitter.com/o6YTJp7RPZ
— Aysu Erdoğdu Miskbay (@aysuuu) November 9, 2015

World4Family

This Australian family not only has a route, they have some rules, including (but not limited to):

• “Spend two or three weeks travelling with short stays, then stop for three or four weeks in one place to catch up with schoolwork, banking, home life and family. Don’t rush
• Once on a continent, travel by land as much as possible.
• Eat local. If we have visited a place before we will have knowledge of local cuisine and order accordingly, but if it’s our first time we will ask locals what the National dish is and try it.”

How can you practice travel caution without becoming paranoid?

Travel-Safer

“How to Practice Caution

• Research first. You need to know the environment you’re visiting.
• If pickpocketing is a problem wear a money belt.
• If it isn’t safe to walk the streets at night, don’t walk the streets at night.
• If you’re going to the bar, bring a buddy. Don’t drink alone with strangers.
• Lock the door to your hotel/hostel.
• Figure out the general prices of things so you’ll know if you’re being ripped off.
• Don’t keep your wallet in your back pocket.
• Always know where your passport is.

Generally employ the same safety strategies you use at home, being abroad is not that different.”

#DoYouIndie I always keep my wallet in my front pocket to be cautious but never paranoid enough to use a money belt. pic.twitter.com/6antoc06fE
— John & Heather (@RoamingDaWorld) November 9, 2015

Danielle Bricker, WorldSmith

“After all, being prepared for a wrong turn isn’t the same as expecting it.”

Caution=Not riding the bus in Bogota while wearing earphones. Paranoia=Not visiting Colombia at all. #DoYouIndie
— Mojito y Cafe (@mojitoycafe) November 9, 2015

How can you #travel with caution without becoming paranoid? I experienced this firsthand in #India. When I arrived in #Kolkata, initially I was skeptical about the food. However I spent a week eating delicious food without getting sick. However when I got to #Bangalore, the opposite happened because I got too comfortable. Always trust your nose. If it smells off, don’t eat it even if you’re starving. #doyouindie

A photo posted by Suzanne (@suzanneausha) on Nov 9, 2015 at 5:10am PST

How will you manage your money when traveling?

Dani Blanchette, Going Nomadic

“Pay Yo’ Damn Bills”
She lists 3 Ways to be a Badass Travel Budgeter. I loved this!

Research & pay accommodation ahead of time, prepare food vs eat out. Use credit card within budget. Don’t run out of cash! #DoYouIndie
— Mojito y Cafe (@mojitoycafe) November 10, 2015

Anna Taylor

She offers 11 great tips, including (but not limited to):

• 3. Remember to inform your bank you’re going abroad
• 5. Have a backup fund for when something goes wrong
• 6. Get a budgeting app to keep track of where you spend your money
• 10. Always carry cash

One of the best ways to save money on a #rtwtrip is to #buylocal. For example, you’ll save money and meet more locals if you book local accommodation instead of staying at international chain hotels.#doyouindie

A photo posted by Suzanne (@suzanneausha) on Nov 10, 2015 at 10:56am PST

Hallie O’Reilly

“insert the laughing/cry face emoji here. honestly, any question about money and traveling just make me laugh. mostly because i managed to {mostly} not manage my money well while traveling, but that’s the brilliance of AU and a working holiday visa…you can make that cash while you’re there to fund further exploration.

because i was on the “no plan, plan” and i booked a one-way ticket, i had literally committed to going when i was going. i gave myself about 7 months before d-day. i managed to save a modest amount to take with me, knowing i’d have to stretch it pretty far and then get a job in AU to move myself along. disclaimer: Australia is bloody expensive! i was fortunate enough to get some help from dear old dad when i needed it and pay him back when i could.”

What’s your #1 thing you CANNOT travel without

Steph, Quarter Life Epiphany

“A Brazilian canga is a multipurpose, multitasking miracle. Once you buy one, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without it. Even if you’re a minimalist like me (confession: I’ve got three… and a week doesn’t go by that I don’t use all of them)”

Another iguana! These guys are a highlight of our time in Mexico so far. #doyouindie Q11: What’s your #1 thing you CANNOT travel without (besides your passport or money)? My answer: good walking shoes. We walk a lot when we are travelling, and good shoes (and socks) are an absolute essential.

A photo posted by Craig and Linda (@indietravel) on Nov 11, 2015 at 4:10pm PST

Zascha, According to Zascha

“I wish I could give a really cool answer to this question. Like I can’t travel without this old, ancient map of the world that I found up in the attic at my grandmother’s house as a kid, and that said map had been in my family for generations…

Or maybe an old, dusty book with travel stories from all over the world that my great grandfather was given as a gift by a tribe in Peru…

Those two things I mentioned above sounds so much cooler than the answer I’m gonna end up giving. My answer would be something as boring as my smartphone! “

Indie travel challenge 11 My PocketMonkey is my essential travel tool. #fixeverything #DoYouIndie

A photo posted by Karen Marshall (@dancer98221) on Nov 11, 2015 at 3:42pm PST

My wife,she has the money & passports. Otherwise a multi-tool, that way you can earn food, shelter and/or money being handy. #doyouindie
— Global Squatters (@GlobalSquatters) November 12, 2015

Day 11 #DoYouIndie: #1 thing I CANNOT travel w/o is my smile & good attitude… the rest is secondary @BootsnAll pic.twitter.com/ak2L3ojTEJ
— Nellie Umutesi (@Adven_Chica) November 11, 2015

Pack for a 6 month trip

Global Squatters

“We decided to not over-think the initial packing situation and looked at what we had, where we are going first and reminded each other that there are jackets, pants, shorts, etc… available to buy in other parts of the world.”

#DoYouIndie Day 12: What’s in my pack? Afraid to look. It’s probably full of these obscenities #theYucatanExperiment pic.twitter.com/8NdXec5He1
— Greg Rodgers (@vagabondinglife) November 12, 2015

Danielle Bricker, WorldSmith

“All in all, I’m actually really glad I bought a backpack that was too small for everything I initially wanted to bring. The second I saw it wasn’t all going to fit, paring things down was easy,”

#DoYouIndie Travel Challenge Day 12-My wife and I took 2 undies, 3 socks, 2 shorts, 1flipflop, shoes for 9 mnth trip https://t.co/YJK3HeIqrO
— tulsatrot (@tulsatrot) November 12, 2015

Join us as the Indie Travel Challenge continues: [/section]

Photo credits: Sidarta , Tolikoff Photography , javarman , Konstantin Yolshin , spectrumblue , Kudla , Peshkova