Where to go next
You decide that you have seen everything you want to see and
it’s time to find your next destination. Like most backpackers,
you travel without a preconceived plan or itinerary. The big
question is: where do I go next? The good news is that you are
now in an environment where you have all the accurate and
free information at your disposal. This information is more
accurate and relevant than what you would have got at home
when you first thought that making a detailed itinerary was
actually a good idea.
At this stage of your backpacking tour, being shackled to an
itinerary is unthinkable. It becomes a burden to follow a
preconceived timetable that you made in another country.
Here you start to find out where all the interesting places in
the world are. A lot of them cannot be found on the Internet or
in a travel guide.
Before you start to choose where you want to go next, just
remember that: you may love it or your may hate it, but you
never know unless you go there. You will never have perfect
information on you next destination.
When deciding, don’t be overly picky about your next stop.
Each place offers something unique and new. Every time we
go someplace else, it’s a small controlled leap into the
unknown. This is all part of the adventure and fun of
backpacking. I have been surprised and amazed at what a
small insignificant village could have so much going for it.
Based on everything I saw, it was a dot on a map and a
convenient spot to spend the night. And always, if you decide
you don’t like where you are, just leave the next day.
Your guidebook will give you a general overview of what is
offered. The information contained is from other backpackers
and traveller writers who had previously visited the area and
submitted write ups. They try to be as accurate as possible and
cover most of the major features of the area that would interest
you.
Your fellow backpackers at the hostel are an excellent source
of information. They are travelling and staying in the same
places you are and usually are checking out the same things
that you are interested in. They can give accurate information
on where to stay, where to eat, what to do, and things to avoid.
This is by far your best source of advice.
The hostel staff are pretty knowledgeable as well. Catering to
backpackers on a day to day basis and being from the local
area they know the types of places we like to go to. Sometimes
the hostels offer special travel packages customized for us at a
decent price. It is sometimes worth checking into.
Tourist information is a good choice as well. They are mainly
focused on dealing with requests within the local area or city.
So if you are travelling some distance, their information could
be limited. However, they can provide you with information
on getting out of the city and the transportation schedules.
Locals are a good source of information but are sometimes a
little bias. They want you to see the most and best of their
country and would give you an entire run down on all the
places you should visit. When I was in Spain for my first time,
I started talking to a local and he started listing off every city
in my guidebook explaining how I could not miss any one.