I’ve been a backpacker for two decades. Here are 20 things I’ve learnt
The author, a travel writer, reflects on 20 years of backpacking experience, sharing lessons learned from their travels. The reality of backpacking is often less glamorous than expected, with challenges such as navigating unfamiliar places and dealing with health issues. The author has compiled a list of 20 lessons from their experiences, including tips on staying healthy and making the most of travel time.
- ▪The author started backpacking at the age of 18 and has been traveling for 20 years.
- ▪Backpacking can be challenging, with risks of getting sick from food and other health issues.
- ▪The author has learned valuable lessons from their experiences, including the importance of being open-minded and flexible.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-05-28T19:00:00Z","datePublished":"2026-05-28T19:00:00Z","description":"Overnight buses are never worth it, hostels still suck, you always pack too much and the greatest luxury you’ll ever need is time.","headline":"I’ve been a backpacker for two decades. Here are 20 things I’ve learnt","keywords":"Travel tips, Opinion, For subscribers, South-East Asia","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Paul Marshall","jobTitle":"Travel…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at SMH Traveller.