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Getting from San Cristóbal to Guatemala by chicken bus

A colectivo (chicken bus) is the most budget friendly option to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala. For those not familiar with colectivos (also often referred to as chicken buses), these are mini vans that don’t have a fixed schedule, but instead leave when the bus has filled up. Note that colectivos only accept cash! Here’s how to get from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Guatemala by colectivos:

• Take a colectivo from San Cristóbal to Comitán (the bus terminal in San Cristóbal is located next to the ADO terminal, exact location here). Cost: 70pesos (3.5 USD)
• Take a colectivo from Comitán to Ciudad Cuauhtémoc. Cost: 75 pesos (3.75 USD)
• Get your stamp to exit Mexico. Note that if you arrived in Mexico by plane, the exit tax is included in your ticket. If you arrived another way, you may be charged the exit tax of $1150 pesos (around 58 USD).
• Catch a taxi to the Guatemala border. Cost: 15 pesos (0.75 USD) per person with a full taxi
• Get your stamp to enter Guatemala.
• Catch a tuktuk to the colectivo stop. Cost: 3Q (0.4 USD)
• When you get to the colectivo stop, tell the drivers where you want to go and they’ll help you.

Expect the journey to take 10-12 hours if you’re headed to Lake Atitlán, and closer to 12 hours to Antigua.

Shuttle bus from San Cristóbal to Guatemala

In case you aren’t quite up for making the journey by chicken bus, another pretty affordable, but more convenient option, is to take a shuttle bus. These will cost more, but in return will make the journey much simpler as you won’t need to be changing buses all the time, as well as providing door-to-door service. Tickets can be purchased from one of the many tour operators in San Cristóbal, you’ll find plenty around the center. Prices are pretty steep, around $1500 pesos (75 USD), and I’d recommend purchasing a ticket 2-3 days in advance just in case. The process will look something like this.

• You will be picked up by your shuttle bus and drive to the border.
• Once at the border, you’ll hand over your passport and get your exit stamp from Mexico. Note that if you arrived in Mexico by plane, the exit tax is included in your ticket. If you arrived another way, you may be charged the exit tax of $1150 pesos (around 58 USD).
• Get back on the bus and drive to the Guatemala side of the border. This is where you’ll get your stamp to enter Guatemala.
• After getting your entry stamp and entering Guatemala, another shuttle bus will be waiting for you and will take you to your final destination in Guatemala.

Read also: 5 Amazing Places to Visit in Guatemala

Find your accommodation in Guatemala here!

Final thoughts

If you’re still not sure which transportation options to choose, here are my thoughts on each. Although it may sound complicated to make the journey by colectivos (chicken buses), it really isn’t. This route is frequented by backpackers and you are very unlikely to encounter any problems, especially if you speak Spanish. Just make sure to start your journey early so you won’t arrive too late. The main inconvenience, in my opinion, is that the colectivos don’t have A/C and tend to get very crowded. If that sounds like a nightmare to you and you aren’t on a strict budget, I’d go with the shuttle bus. The shuttle buses normally have A/C and don’t get overcrowded, so it will be a much smoother ride. For those on a budget, colectivos (chicken buses) are the obvious choice.

You can of course also make the journey by a rental car, just make sure to read the find print and familiarize yourself with the possible extra charges for renting a car in one country and returning it in another.

The post How To Get From San Cristóbal to Guatemala appeared first on Sóldís Alda.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

Is San Cristóbal worth visiting

San Cristóbal is absolutely worth visiting! It’s not only the perfect base to explore all that Chiapas has to offer, the city is also an incredible destination on its own. The fact that it’s largely inhabited by indigenous people makes it unique and unlike anywhere else in Mexico. What’s more, it’s full of trendy coffee shops as well as restaurants. Furthermore, Chiapas is one of the most affordable regions in Mexico.

Is San Cristóbal save

Like with many places in Mexico, safety seems to be a concern for many, mostly due to negative media coverage of Mexico. Hence why I felt this San Cristóbal de las Casas travel guide wouldn’t be complete without addressing this matter.

San Cristóbal, like most of Mexico, is considered save. The only exception is the unstable situation on the road between Ocosingo and San Cristóbal, which is a known Narco territory where roadblocks and robberies are known to occur. However, you do not need to pass this route to get to San Cristóbal, so there’s no need to worry. I just want to mention it so that you know to avoid it! Even though San Cristóbal is safe, you should still take normal precautions, just like you would anywhere else. Avoid flashing your valuables, wearing expensive jewellery and walking around late at night.

For more practical tips to stay safe, I recommend that you read these 14 tips for staying safe while traveling!

When is the best time to visit San Cristóbal

The best time to visit San Cristóbal de las Casas is during the dry season, from November to May. In this period you get warm temperatures and little rain. Note that due to the high altitude, it can get pretty cold, or I might even say very cold, when the sun goes down. So regardless of which time of year you visit, make sure to pack something warm to wear in the evenings!

During my visit which was in February, the day time temperatures were pleasant, around 22°C (72°F). At night it cooled down significantly to around 12°C (54°F), but due to the humidity it felt much colder. Luckily, our apartment had some ponchos that we could use in the evenings.

Where to stay in San Cristóbal

I would recommend staying in or close to the historic centre (Zona Centro). It’s the most convenient way to explore the city as way you will be close to all major attractions. You’ll also have the best coffees and restaurants within walking distance. Here are some of the best accommodation options for every budget:

Best hostel in San Cristóbal de las Casas: Kotantik

Best budget hotel in San Cristóbal de las Casas: Casa Azabache

Best mid-range hotel in San Cristóbal de las Casas: La Estancia

Best luxury hotel in San Cristóbal de las Casas: Collection O Casa de Familia

Here you can see reviews and compare prices of accommodations in San Cristóbal

How to get to San Cristóbal de las Casas

If you are traveling to San Cristóbal from within Mexico or Guatemala, it’s possible to get there by bus. It’s likely to be a very long ride though, depending on where you’re coming from. Check bus routes, schedules and prices here.

Alternatively, the closest airport to San Cristóbal de las Casas is Tuxtla Gutiérres (TGZ), which is located roughly 80km (50 miles) away. To get to San Cristóbal from the airport you can take a taxi, a public bus, a private shuttle or you can rent a car.

Taking an OCC/ADO bus

Those traveling on a budget will probably prefer to take an OCC bus (from the ADO company) from the airport. This is a convenient and affordable way to get from Tuxtla airport to San Cristobal, it’s a direct bus and the journey takes around 1,5 hours. Tickets are $250 MXN pesos and can be purchased at the ADO counter in the airport, or online. When booking online just make sure to put in Aeropuerto Ángel Albino instead of Tuxtla airport, as the system doesn’t recognize it.

Taking a taxi

Taking a taxi is the most convenient way to get from Tuxtla airport to San Cristóbal. Taxi will cost around $800 MXN pesos, which can be split between whoever you are traveling with, or even a stranger. It might seem strange to some to share a taxi with a stranger, but it’s a common practice among locals. If you are a solo female traveler, I’d recommend you to approach a fellow female traveler and if she wants to share a taxi. I have actually made a few friends this way during my travels!

An important thing to keep in mind when taking a taxi from Tuxtla airport to San Cristóbal is to make sure to take an official taxi! After you pass baggage claim and make your way toward the exit, you will see taxi counters on your right just before exiting the airport. Head to the counters, where you will book and pay for the taxi. You will then be handed a ticket that you will give to the taxi driver.

Renting a car

If you are planning to do a road trip in Chiapas, I would recommend that you rent a car directly at the airport. This will be significantly cheaper than renting one once your in San Cristóbal, plus it saves you the hassle of figuring out how to get to San Cristóbal from the airport. You should also keep in mind that it’s difficult to rent an automatic car in San Cristóbal, which is important to know for those that don’t know how to drive a manual. Use rentalcar.com to compare prices to make sure you get the best deal!

Although roads in the state of Chiapas aren’t in the greatest condition, driving is considered safe. Just make sure to avoid the road between Ocosingo and San Cristóbal, which is a known Narco territory where roadblocks and robberies are known to occur.

How to get around in San Cristóbal de las Casas

As long as you are staying in or close to the historical centre, San Cristóbal is very walkable and all major tourist attractions can be reached by foot. Taxis are easy to locate and very affordable, should you need them. We paid $80 pesos ($4 USD) for a 10 minute ride from the bus station to our apartment, just to give you an idea of the price you can expect. Make sure to always negotiate the fare upfront and have cash for the fare, as taxis in San Cristóbal generally do not take cards!

Although San Cristóbal is walkable, it is not built for dragging around luggage, especially if it’s heavy. Sidewalks are very narrow and usually made of cobblestone and/or have holes in them. So believe me when I tell you that if you are carrying a suitcase on wheels, you will want to take a taxi if you need to move your luggage from A to B. When we arrived in San Cristóbal, we had planned to walk to our apartment which was about 15 minutes away. We gave up on that after just about 2 minutes, sat down at a local restaurant where we had tacos and margaritas, and then asked the waiter to call us a taxi This might just be the most important thing you take from the San Cristóbal de las Casas travel guide :)))

There is no Uber or Grab in San Cristóbal.

Things to do in San Cristóbal de las Casas

There are a ton of things to do in and around San Cristóbal de las Casas.

Join the free walking tour

The free walking tour is a great way to begin your trip in San Cristóbal. Discover the history of the city, learn about the culture, traditions and customs and get to know the city from a local perspective. The tour is interactive, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and make comments.

The tour starts here, in the heart of the city, at Plaza de la Paz. The tours take place every day at 10am and 5pm. They are in English and last about two hours.

Explore the many Artisan Markets

San Cristóbal de las Casas is home to a range of interesting markets that are worth browsing through.

Mercado de Artesanias de Santo Domingo, is a market full of colourful indigenous crafts, such as textiles, jewelry, baskets and weavings. It’s located next to Templo de Santo Domingo and is open every day from 9am to 8pm.

Mercado de Dulces y Artesanias Ámbar is an indoor market where you’ll find sweats, baked treats as well as clothes and handmade items. It’s open every day from 8am to 9.30pm.

Mercado José Castillo Tielemans is the most traditional market in San Cristóbal, over 50 years old. It’s a lively market where can buy local products, handicrafts, all sorts of foods, including baked goods. It’s open every day from 7am to 8pm.

Visit a museum

As the cultural capital of the state of Chiapas, San Cristóbal is home to a number of interesting museums. They focus mostly on textile and the ancient Mayan culture & traditions. Here are some of the most popular ones.

Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya (Maya World Textile Center)

Inside the Ex-Convento de Santo Domingo, you will find the Maya World Textile Center. A museum that focuses on Mayan textiles and embroidery techniques, displaying over 500 examples of handwoven textiles from throughout Mexico and Central America. The museum features permanent exhibition rooms where you’ll see videos explaining the production process of clothes and textiles.

Note that Maya World Textile Center is closed on Mondays.

Entrance fee: $65 pesos ($3.25 USD)

Museo Mesoamericano del Jade (Jade Museum)

One of the things that Chiapas is famous for is its jade, a precious stone used by ancient Mayas. The museum showcases replicas of Mayan jade jewelry and other jade objects found in Mexican archeological sites.

Entrance fee: $35 pesos ($1.75 USD)

Museum Casa Na Bolom

Casa Na Bolom, which means House of the Jaguar, is an historical building that is now a museum dedicated to the protection of Chiapas’ indigenous culture as well as the environment. It was once the home of Danish archaeologist Frans Blom, and his wife Gertrude Duby Blom, a Swiss photographer. The couple were among the first foreigners to contact the Lacandon indigenous group, which are the only ethnic group to manage to escape the Spanish conquest. Among things you will see in the museum are photos of the Lacandon culture and hand drawn maps of the entire Chiapas rain forests, which used to belong to the Lacandon group. Today Casa Na Bolom operates as a hotel, restaurant, museum and a research center.

Note that Na Bolom is closed on Mondays.

Entrance fee: $60 pesos ($3 USD)

Take a walk down Calle Real de Guadalupe

Wandering the pedestrian street Calle Real de Guadalupe was honestly one of my favourite things to do in San Cristóbal. It’s essentially the main promenade, a lively street where you’ll see street vendors and performers. Real de Guadalupe is lined with trendy coffee shops and restaurants, as well as many arts & crafts stores.

Admire the view from Iglesia de Guadalupe

At one end of Calle Real de Guadalupe you’ll find Iglesia de Guadalupe. You will need to climb a few stairs to get there, which is certainly worth it for the views you get from the top!

Try a cup of Chiapas coffee

This San Cristóbal de las Casas travel guide wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Chiapas coffee! Mexico is one of the top 10 coffee producers in the world, with the state of Chiapas making up 40% of the Mexico production. There are a number of trendy coffee shops all around San Cristóbal, almost too many! Our favourite one was Ki Múul, which is located on Real de Guadalupe.

Go on a day trip

San Cristóbal de las Casas is a popular base for doing day trips to the many places worth seeing around the state of Chiapas. I can highly recommend visiting Sumidero Canyon, which is just over an hour’s drive away. We did an amazing day trip that included a scenic boat ride through the canyon as well as a stop in the picturesque town Chiapa de Corzo.

Other popular day trips include Palenque, Agua Azul waterfall and Misol-Ha waterfall. Note that these are roughly a 5 hour drive from San Cristóbal, so it will be a very long day.

For those that aren’t up for so much time on the road but want to visit a waterfall, there is a more manageable option. El Chiflon waterfalls are only a 2.5 hour drive from San Cristóbal. The easiest way to visit El Chiflon is on an organized day trip. However, these usually include a stop at Montebello Lagoons, which may or may not interest you. If you’d rather visit on your own, the easiest option is to rent a car. To make sure you get the best deal, use rentalcars.com to compare prices. It’s also possible to take a combination of a bus and a colectivo. Take an ADO or OCC bus from San Cristóbal headed to Comitán de Domínguez (around $96 pesos), and from there take a colectivo to El Chiflon ($30 pesos).

Visit some of the churches of San Cristóbal

With the state of Chiapas being one of the most religious part of Mexico, it might come as no surprise that there are many churches in this area. Some of the ones worth visiting are:

• Cathedral Santo Domingo
• Iglesia de Guadalupe
• Cathedral de San Cristóbal de las Casas
• Iglesia de San Cristóbalito
• Saint Lucias Temple

I hope you found this San Cristóbal de las Casas travel guide helpful and that is answered the questions you had about visiting San Cristóbal. If you’re planning to head over to Guatemala from San Cristóbal, check out this post about how to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala.

If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, you might also want to read:

• How much you can expect to spend per day in Mexico
• Four day Tulum itinerary: Things to do in Tulum
• Visiting Izamal: The yellow city in Mexico
• 5 Must visit places in Mexico
• Where to eat in Bacalar
• Your guide to visiting Isla Mujeres
• 10 Things to do in Mexico City
• Best cafés to work from in Cancún
• How to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala

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Being smart and savvy with your funds is the key to extending your travel budget. This means getting out of your vacation mode and into the backpackers mode. More hostels, less hotels. Less eating out, more cooking. People value different things, so figuring out where you’re okay with cutting back, is essential. It’s all about finding the balance between budgeting and enjoying. The balance between becoming so focused on saving every penny you possibly can and having pasta for every meal, and splurging money on hotels and fancy restaurants. After all, the purpose of traveling is to experience new things! Of course you want to treat yourself once in a while.

If you love having a good coffee, saving money by drinking instant coffee probably feels like too much of a sacrifice, but perhaps you’d be okay with cutting down on cocktails and alcohol. Depending on what you value – figure out where you’re willing to cut back and where not. I would for example not be willing to give up a good cup of coffee for an instant coffee, but am perfectly fine with walking for 20-30 instead of taking a taxi.

Use these 16 travel tips to save money while traveling!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

1. Eat the local food

The phrase do as the locals do, is classic for a reason. Eating the local food will be far cheaper than going to a touristy burger or a pizza place.

2. Stay in hostels

One of the best ways to save money while traveling is to stay at hostels. They are a fraction of the price you’d pay for a hotel, take advantage of that. Staying in hostels is not just a great way to save money while traveling, it’s also one of the best ways to meet other travellers.
If you haven’t stayed in a hostel yet, or if you haven’t had much luck with previous hostels – this blog is for you: How to Choose a Hostel

3. Do some research

I’m not talking about spending days and weeks doing a thorough research, but just a quick google search can go a long way. Planning on visit a popular tourist attraction? Have a look and see if they offer online discounts, or if it’s cheaper to visit during specific times of the day or week. Many places have a small discount if you book your tickets online, take advantage of that. This will also save you time since you don’t need to queue at the ticket office.

The same thing goes for accommodation! Check booking.com, hotels.com, Hostelworld, Expedia… Sometimes it can also be cheaper to book directly through the hostel/hotel, so once you’ve settled on a place – see if they have a website and book directly there if it’s cheaper!

4. Have a picnic instead of eating out

Head to a grocery store and get some fruits, croissants or whatever you feel like having and have a picnic on the beach or in a park, instead of eating out. Not only will this help you save money, but also, picnics are fun!

5. Don’t go out for drinks every day

I get that you want to go out with your new hostel friends, but try to limit the times you go out for drinks, cause even if drinks tend not to be very costly in many countries, if you end up getting eight of those throughout the night, well it’s not so cheap anymore. Yes it’s tempting to go out when seemingly every person at the hostel is going out, but it also happens to be a very quick way to burn through your savings :)))

6. Choose cheaper countries

How much you spend during your travels, will of course depend greatly on which country you’re in. Iceland would for example not be an ideal destination for someone looking to stick to a tight budget The same would apply to popular cities such as Paris, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London… Some of my favourite budget friendly countries include Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Peru, Slovenia, Portugal, Croatia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Dubrovnik, Croatia – not the most affordable city in Croatia but definitely possible to do it on a budget.
Would highly recommend this hostel if you’re looking for an affordable place to stay

7. Get a local sim card

It’s usually way cheaper to purchase a local sim card, than to purchase some sort of travel pack or whatever from the phone company in your home country. This especially goes for Central and South America, as well as Asia. The cost of a local sim card with 10GB can range from 5$-10$ and can easily be refilled at any supermarket. I understand that a lot of people from the US have a locked phone, and hence can’t change the sim card in their phone – in that case, try getting your hands on a used phone that you can use as a “hot spot” for your actual phone

8. Avoid eating in the touristy areas

A good rule is to never eat within three blocks from tourist attractions. The further you get from touristy places, the more you’ll get for your money. I get that it can be tempting to have lunch at La Rambla if you find yourself in Barcelona, but that will mean paying an excessive amount of money for an average meal at best. Instead, you can grab a drink there and then head somewhere else to eat.

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9. Take a bus or a train instead of flying

A relatively easy way to save money, is to avoid flying and instead take a bus or a train. Yes it’s tempting to get an hour flight instead of a long bus or train ride, but it comes at an extra cost. I’m not saying you should avoid flying all together, but if you take a flight rather than bus/train every time you get the chance, it’s gonna add up quickly. Lets say a bus will cost you 15$ and a flight 90$, plus you’ll need to add in transport to and from the airport. While it may not seem like a lot each time, if you do this four times during your trip, it will cost you an additional 340$, which is the equivalent of 20-30 nights in a hostel.

10. Be selective

Do I really need this? Can I do without this? Can I perhaps get this cheaper somewhere else? Don’t be impulsive when it comes to shopping. Before purchasing, ask yourself if you really need this. And depending on the situation, consider if you can get it somewhere else for less.

10.Get a reusable water bottle

Don’t waste money (and plastic) on buying multiple bottles of water each day. They might not cost so much, but guess what, even though it’s just a few dollars a day, it quickly adds up! Get one of those refillable water bottles and fill it up. Tap water is save to drink in most countries, just make sure to ask at your hostel/hotel if it’s ok to drink the water. Additionally, many hostels have filtered water available for free. Alternatively, you can buy those big 5L bottles which will be way cheaper than buying all those smaller ones.

11. Visit during off season

Before booking your trip, do some research to find out when the peak times are. If you’re looking to save money (which you probably are since you’re still reading this post ) – avoid traveling during those peak times. Traveling off season might mean occasional rainy afternoons or even some rainy days, but it also means less tourists and better deals on flights and accommodation.

12. Walk!

Don’t jump in a cab whenever you need to get from A to B. Unless it’s the middle of the night and/or you have a ton of luggage, consider walking or taking a bus instead. I almost never take taxis, with the exception being if I need to get to/from the airport after dark in a city that I’m not very familiar with and/or doesn’t have a reliable public transport.

13. Avoid using ATM’s & currency exchange at airports

In both cases, you’ll get a shitty rate and pay a ridiculous amount of fees. Currency exchange offices might have one of those “no fees” signs, but don’t let those fool you. It just means you’ll get that much worse rate.

Get great deals on accommodation and get genius discounts by using booking.com!

14. Be flexible

When it comes to purchasing flights, flexibility is key. Both in terms of dates and destinations. Here I’m talking about long haul flights, for example a flight from Europe to Asia, or from Peru to London. Plane tickets can be one of the biggest expense of your trip, and when it comes to those, flexibility is everything! If you’re set on flying from Bangkok to Stockholm on the 6th of September, well guess what, you don’t have that many options. The more flexible you are, the more options you have, and the more chances you have of getting a cheaper flight. Let’s say you want to visit Laos, Thailand and Vietnam – check flights to/from those countries around the dates you’re planning to go, and then decide where you’ll start and where you’ll end.

15. Bring your own airport snack

Lets face it, airport food has some of the highest mark ups on the planet. Avoid having to get one of those 12$ cheese sandwiches and 5$ juice, and instead get some snacks at a grocery store before your flight.

16. Ask locals how much you should expect to pay

In many non-western countries, things don’t necessarily have a fixed price. Instead, prices are determined by whatever the seller believes you can afford to pay. And if you look like a tourist, the price is gonna be higher than what a local would pay. If you’re going to a market, taking a taxi or purchasing whatever else that doesn’t have a clear price tag, ask at your hostel/hotel reception how much you should expect to pay. Here I’m obviously talking about when making larger purchases, I’m not suggesting that you consult with a local if you’re buying fruits at a local market When taking a taxi, make sure they have a meter or negotiate the price up front to avoid getting ripped off.

I hope you found these tips useful and that they will allow you to travel more for less money!
PS if you want to get notified when I publish new blog posts, just click the red bell in the bottom right corner or follow me on instagram where I usually announce new posts :))

If you are planning a backpacking trip, you might also want to read:

• How to Choose a Hostel
• Common Mistakes To Avoid When Backpacking
• 14 Tips For Staying Safe While Traveling

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I left Iceland with a one way ticket to Milan, Italy, and pretty much no plan. I had booked three nights at a hostel in Milan, but that was it. I didn’t really have any intentions to stay in Milan, I just found a cheap flight there, hadn’t been there before, so I figured I might as well just book it

In a perfect world I would have gone to Asia, but yeah not an option at the moment So I figured I would spend a few months traveling around Europe since even though I’ve been around Europe a lot, there are still some interesting countries I haven’t been to. Originally I wanted to start by traveling around Italy for a while, visiting places like Cinque Terre, Rome, Positano, Venice, Sicily, and then continue to Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia. This all should have been easy enough given that I have an Icelandic passport so no visas needed, and since I’ve already had covid, was just one email away from getting the EU Covid Pass. Or that’s what I thought :)) After about 20 emails and various phone calls, the Ministry of Health just didn’t quite feel like issuing it even though I had two certificates stating I’d had covid, since I wasn’t in Iceland when I had it so they couldn’t see it in their “system” :))) I could write a whole blog post about this process and how ridiculous it all is, but won’t bore you with that haha. I wasn’t too thrilled about all this, so a lawyer at the Ministry of Health is looking into this atm

Given I don’t have this pass, I’m not as free to travel around Europe as I should be.I could still go to Italy, just couldn’t eat inside restaurants, go to museums or go on long distance trains or buses without getting a rapid test :))) I still had a good time in Milan, I wasn’t really planning on going to museums or eating inside restaurants anyway so it didn’t really affect me. But still would have been nice to have the option lol. So I explored a lot of the outside, not so much of the inside :)) kinda felt like a dog, not allowed anywhere inside lol. But yeah, I still a had good time in Milan. I stayed at a super nice host and spend a few I spend a few days exploring Milan, eating pizza (outside :))) ) and drinking Aperol Spritz :))

However, I quickly found out that I kinda had too much luggage to be staying in hostels, I had a really hard time just finding things in my suitcases and it was just annoying. Hostels in Europe are also kind of expensive, so in the end it’s cheaper to find a room or an apartment to rent than to be staying in hostels. So I did a little research and decided that Split, Croatia, would be the perfect place to stay for a month or two. Unfortunately, a lot of other people seem to have reached the same conclusion, as just about every decent apartment seemed to be booked out for the next couple of weeks :))) I ended up booking a super cute apartment close to the beach from the middle of October, for a ridiculously low price, just under 600EUR per month. I’m super excited to be able to unpack my bags and not have to drag my luggage around every couple of days And also to be able to use whatever stuff is at the bottom of my suitcase, up until now I’ve kind of just been using whatever happened to be on the top. I will definitely do some shorter trips from Split though, but won’t need to bring all my stuff along lol.

But yeah I think the lesson learned from this is that when I’m planning to stay a month or two in the same place, I might need to book it more than a day or two in advance lol. So now I’m trying to decide where I’ll want to stay after christmas Mexico is pretty high on that list. So is Costa Rica haha.

After spending a few days in Milan, I started making my way towards Croatia. All this planning was happening very last minute, I was literally sitting at my hostel in Milan looking for flights departing the following day, which isn’t ideal when it comes to prices lol. So I decided to just go a little slower and started by booking a train to Venice. Not a bad place for a little stopover I hadn’t been there for a few years so was excited to visit once again! Although my hostel in Milan was nice, hostels in europe don’t really have the same backpackers atmosphere as the ones in asia and central/south america. I can’t really pinpoint why exactly, it’s just not the same. And after someone turned all the lights on in the middle of the night in my room, I immediately promised myself that I’d get myself a hotel room in Venice Which I did. I will say it was pretty damn nice to have my own room. Especially being the only one in control of whether or not the lights were on :)))

Originally I booked two nights in Venice, but pretty much immediately after I arrived there, I just knew I wanted to extend my stay. Venice is seriously so beautiful. Even though it was kinda raining the first day, I still loved it haha. It’s one of those places where everything is pretty. If you haven’t been yet, do add it to your list! The best time to visit I would say is just before or after the high season – April/May, maybe June is okay, or September/October. When it’s still warm but not too hot or as packed with tourists as in July and August.

I spent two days in Venice – mostly just wandering around, having aperol & pizzas and taking lots of photos. Most of the tourists tend to stay around the main canal, where the Puente de Rialto bridge is. That’s sort of the most iconic part of Venice, kind of like the Opera house in Sydney. But as soon as you get away from that area, you will quickly have the streets almost to yourself. So if you’re planning to go to Venice, make sure to not just stick to the main tourist attractions. I would still recommend visiting Puente de Rialto and those more “touristy places”, but they were definitely my least favourite part. It was so crowded with people that it just took away from the experience. Just felt way too touristy

After wandering through Venice for two days, it was time to leave Italy and head over to Croatia. I booked a bus from Venice to Pula, Croatia – which before covid would have been a smooth ride, requiring nothing but my passport. Those were the days lol. But yeah I needed to get a QR code, not in order to enter Croatia but in order to board the bus in Italy. In Iceland, and probably most countries except Italy, this is a straight forward process. You take an antigen test and then get the QR code emailed to you about 30 minutes later. But in Italy there seems to be no such thing as a smooth process. After a bit of confusion about where I could take an antigen test as a non Italian resident, I found a place that was supposed to do just that. There were lots of confused foreigners waiting in front of it, which I kinda thought was a good sign, cause at least I knew they were accepting non Italians

After a chaotic process of registering, handing over my passport and waiting, I got the test done and had the results like 15 minutes later. So not too bad, I thought, until I looked at the “certificate” I had just received. It was nothing more than a piece of paper that I had filled out, with my name and passport number, and all they had done was checking a box that said negative :)) Knowing that no person in their right mind would accept this piece of paper as a travel document. I expressed that concern to the women working there in a mix of english and spanish as her english wasn’t very good, all I got was “yeah look, negative” and I was like yeah I know but I need a QR code, but all I got was “no QR code”.I might as well have handed over a handwritten note from my mom stating that I didn’t have covid :))) Then she pointed me to a piece of paper on the wall, that looked equally as official as my “certificate”, that stated that the QR code system wasn’t working and that I should receive it within 24 hours. Which would have been too late for my bus, but that wasn’t my biggest concern.

They didn’t ask for my email or my phone number or any other contact info, so my biggest confusion was how they planned to send me the QR code :))) The women didn’t offer any clarification on that and was kinda done with me at this point, my phone was at 3% and my charging bank was empty, so I decided to just go back to the hotel and figure something out. I spent the night on various Italian websites trying to somehow retrieve my QR code certificate, by putting in some random codes that I found on my “certificate”. None of them worked as I always needed some form of an Italian identification number, which obviously I didn’t have :))) This was getting kinda stressful, and at this point I couldn’t wait to leave Italy and be done with this bullshit. I had heard about people getting their QR codes from pharmacies, so I visited two of those the next morning. At the first one they told me they couldn’t get it cause I wasn’t Italian. At the second one they at first told me they couldn’t get it, and I was like yeahhh you can :)) and she was like no we can’t, and I was like yeah please check it :))) After some back and forth she finally went to the computer, and then I heard her print something and I was just like omg I finally have it!! But it wasn’t actually the QR code, but it was a slightly more official looking certificate, not handwritten :))) So at least it was something haha.

When my bus arrived I saw there was a sign saying that you needed a QR code to board, so not too good news for me at this point :)) I just tried to play it cool, put my bags in and went to my seat, hoping that no one would ask me for it. The relief when the bus finally took off omg. We still had two border controls to pass (exiting Slovenia/Schengen and then entering Croatia), but neither of them required a QR code so I wasn’t too stressed about those. At the end no one even asked me for my certificate haha, just needed to show my passport so it was all good! Felt so great when I finally arrived in Croatia, knowing all this QR code bullshit was behind me, as they aren’t required in Croatia :)))

I arrived in Pula in the evening and checked into the private room I had booked. At this point I was getting kinda spoiled after my hotel stay in Venice :))) The hostels in Pula just didn’t look very good and this room actually was pretty cheap haha. And it was just super cute, and right in the centre!

I didn’t really know anything about Pula, I just knew it was on my way to Split and a few days earlier someone I’m following posted a photo of a “colosseum” in Pula. It looked very much like the one in Rome and I just thought that was kinda cool so I decided to stop there haha. Pula is a pretty small town, with a nice eastern europe feel to it. Very colourful, reminded me a lot of Slovenia and Italy. And then there is the colosseum! I spent two days there which I felt was just enough.

Continuing to make my way to Split, I got on a bus to Zadar, another pretty small town, located on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast. My favourite part about Zadar was probably the coffee place where I had breakfast – it was right next to the ocean, and just had this “local” Croatian feel to it, as it was a bit out of the centre, which was perhaps why there were only local people there. And then me It just really felt like I was experiencing the real Croatia haha. Zadar, like many other cities in Croatia, has a very cute old town that I loved wandering through.

After two days in Zadar, I took a bus to Split! That was kind of my “destination” as I had already booked an apartment there from the middle of October, so I was super excited to get there :))Split is the second largest city in Croatia, located on the Adriatic coast. I had heard nothing but good things about it, which I guess was enough to convince me to book an apartment there haha. Luckily I really loved it and am excited to get back there!

Since I’m gonna be staying in Split for at least I month, I figured I’d explore other parts of Croatia until then. This is when I bought a ferry ticket to Hvar, a small island about an hour away from Split. Hvar has been on my bucket list for years, so this felt like the perfect time to finally explore it. I was so ready for the island life so I booked a room for a week through Airbnb. (Airbnb tip – most hosts offer a discount of you stay for a week, or a month).

This week on Hvar has been a dream. Beginning every day by wandering through the island and having breakfast at one of the many restaurants that overlook the ocean.

It’s just something about waking up on an island, so peaceful somehow. I usually bring my laptop to breakfast, check on the stock market and whatever else I might need to get done, then spend the rest of day living the island life :)))

Hvar is very “seasonal” – the season runs from around May through September, this is when the island gets loads of tourists, all restaurants are open and tons of activities are available. Many restaurants and shops then close at the end of the season, and will then open back up around May – so the island gets very quiet, with mostly locals around, during off season. Since it’s the end of the season now, the island is pretty quiet, there are certainly tourists around (including me :))) ) but it isn’t packed, as I’d imagine is the case in July and August. The weather is still nice and warm, and the sea is warm enough for a swim! And as you’ve probably seen if you’re following my on instagram, the sea is so clear! With the island being pretty quiet now, finding your own little private spot on one of the beaches is not even remotely challenging.

The only negative thing I could say about Hvar is that it’s a little expensive, as islands tend to be (Iceland for example lol). It’s nowhere near as expensive as in Iceland though, but meals cost around 10-20 euros, but for the most part they seem to be profiting off of the drinks, most likely counting on the fact that you’ll order them without looking at the menu :))) It’s not uncommon for food to be decently priced, then you order an orange juice, only to find out when you get the check that the juice was 5EUR haha. Which actually, now that I think of it, is more than you’d ever pay for a glass of juice in Iceland.

My next stop is Korcula, another island about an hour away from Hvar! I don’t think I can get enough of island life haha. So more beach days to come! My plan is then to take a ferry to Dubrovnik and from there take a bus to Bosnia and stay there for a few days, before checking into my apartment in Split <3 It feels so weird sometimes to think about that this is really my life, that I can just go wherever I want and pretty much do whatever I want. At this point I can’t imagine showing up to work five days a week and it feels so strange that I used to do just that.

I think that’s it for now – PS if you want to get notified when I publish new blog posts, just click the red bell in the bottom right corner, or follow me on instagram where I usually announce new posts :))))

The post Life update: more travels, exploring croatia & new apartment appeared first on Sóldís Alda.

Despite the negative media coverage of Mexico, most of the country remains save for visitors. You should still take normal precautions, just like you would anywhere else – avoid flashing your valuables, wearing expensive jewellery and walking around late at night.
For more practical tips to stay safe, I recommend that you read these 14 tips for staying safe while traveling

As opposed to most other countries in Central America, getting around Mexico by public bus is easy and affordable. The buses are modern and tickets can be booked online. You can find all information regarding buses here
Note that even though they use the $ sign, the prices are in Mexican pesos.

While many people visit Mexico to stay in one of the resorts around Cancún – the country has so much more to offer. Here are five must visit places in Mexico!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

1. Isla Holbox

Isla Holbox is a small laid-back island, located just off the north coast of Yucatán Peninsula. When you arrive you will immediately feel the island vibes – locals selling tropical fruits on the streets, the unpaved sandy streets, and all the colourful houses. You will also notice that there are no cars on the island, only golf carts, which really adds to the whole “island vibe”. The town itself is small and as such is easily accessible by foot. Holbox definitely still has this “untouched” local vibe, which can be hard to find with all-inclusive resorts popping up all over Mexico’s Caribbean coast. It’s the perfect place for relaxing and to experience island life.

The miles long white sand beach and the turquoise blue water makes for a perfect place to relax, enjoy a cold drink or two, or even do some snorkeling. The sunsets on Holbox are not to be missed, I recommend watching it from the beach. After the sun goes down is when you can observe the bioluminescence, a magic phenomenon that occurs when waters of the seashore gets illuminated by certain micro-organism that emit their own blue light. You will find plenty of travel agencies around the island offering these types of tours. It’s worth noting that this is dependent on weather conditions and might not occur every day, the months from July to January is when you’ll have the best chance .

Internet connection, both wifi and 3G/4G, on the island is very unstable and definitely not something you can rely on. So it’s not the place to go if you need to finish a project or do anything that requires a stable internet connection. During my four days there, the internet was gone for about 24 hours straight.

How long to stay in Isla Holbox:

I would recommend staying for at least three nights. That will allow you enough time to explore the island, spend time on the beach and do some activities. If you want to spend a few days on the beach, I’d suggest to stay for additional two to three nights.

Where to stay in Isla Holbox:

Despite being a small island, Holbox has lots of options when it comes to accommodation.

If you are looking for a quiet hostel with chilled vibes, yoga classes and good atmosphere, I would recommend this one. It’s located just two blocks from the beach and just a minute or two away from the centre of town.

For those that are looking for more of a party hostel and wanna do some day drinking while hanging out in the pool, this one might be just what you are looking for.

You might also like: How to Choose Hostels

How to get to Isla Holbox:

The best/cheapest way to get there is to catch an ADO bus from wherever you are, to the ferry port in Chiquila, and from there take a ferry to Holbox. The bus ticket costs around 15-20 USD, depending on where you’re traveling from. There are two ferry companies operating between Chiquila and Holbox, they offer the same service for the same price, about 11 USD. The only difference between the two is that one runs on the hour while the other runs on the half hour. The journey time on the ferry is just under 30 minutes. There is no need to buy the ferry tickets in advance, there are ticket offices at the port.

2. Tulum

Tulum is located on Mexico’s Caribbean coast and is home to white sand beaches, Mayan ruins and a large number of stunning cenotes. Tulum consists of three areas – Tulum town, Tulum beach and the Tulum ruins, that each has its own charm. I loved the fact that you can bike pretty much anywhere, and wherever you go you are surrounded by palm trees. You have lots of cenotes, the beach and the ruins within 30-40 minute bike ride from Tulum town.

Tulum beach, sometimes referred to as the hotel zone, is a long strip of pristine beach just about 20-30 minute bike ride away from Tulum town. Along the beach runs an extremely picturesque street that has a very bohemian vibe to it, lots of palm trees and is home to a number of trendy restaurants. This is also where you will find the famous “follow your dreams” sign, as well as other similar signs. Renting a bike and riding along this road is something I would highly recommend.

Tulum town offers a more local experience than the beach zone. This where you’ll find authentic Mexican restaurants and plenty of taco stands. You can also find some trendy smoothie bowl places, my favourite ones are Matcha Mama and Del Cielo. In Tulum town you will get a lot more for your money than you would in the beach area. Tulum town also makes a great base for visiting the cenotes, many are just a short bike ride away from the town.

The Tulum ruins are located about 4km from Tulum town. While these are certainly not the largest Mayan ruins in Mexico, their location on the edge of a cliff overlooking the white sand beach and turquoise blue water, makes it a pretty spectacular sight. The ruins are accessible by bike and by car – the entrance fee is approximately 4 USD.

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How long to stay in Tulum

To say you need a certain number of days in Tulum is difficult, since there is a lot to see in and around Tulum. It depends on what you really want to do and see – but I would recommend at least 4 days. That will allow you enough time to visit the ruins, have some beach time, eating plenty of street food and visit some of the many cenotes in the area. With that being said, you can easily spend a couple of weeks in Tulum.

Where to stay in Tulum

If you want to have a lot of beach time, are not on a budget and want more of a luxury experience- I would recommend staying at Tulum beach. There are plenty of trendy hotels in that area, here you can check out hotels in Tulum.

For backpackers, those on a budget and for those looking for a more authentic experience – I would recommend staying in Tulum town. You will be a bit further from the beach, but closer to many of the cenotes.
I stayed here during my two weeks in Tulum and it’s honestly one of the best hostels I’ve stayed at. It has friendly and fun atmosphere, offer lots of activities and they also have bikes that you can use free of charge. It does not have a swimming pool though. If you’d rater stay at a hostel with a pool – I can recommend Maka and Mimosa.

How to get to Tulum

To get to Tulum you can rent a car or take a bus. The nearest airport is in Cancún, from there it’s just about a two hour car ride to Tulum. You can catch a bus to Tulum from pretty much anywhere in Mexico, prices and timetables can be found here.

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3. Valladolid

Colour lovers will feel like they’re dreaming when wandering the streets of Valladolid, a charming colonial town on the Yucatán peninsula. With its pastel coloured colonial buildings and old historic churches, Valladolid is probably what you would picture when thinking of the typical Mexican town. What I love about Valladolid is that it’s really authentic and gives you a taste of real Mexico, making it one of the 5 must visit places in Mexico. Contrary to Cancún and Playa del Carmen, instead of being crowded with people on spring break, in Valladolid you will encounter locals just living their every day life. The best way to explore Valladolid would be to simply wander around aimlessly with a camera in hand. A part from stunning architecture, there is even a cenote within the city, called Cenote Zaci, located just a couple of blocks away from the centre.

With plenty of cenotes and places such as the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, one of the new seven wonders of the world, at its doorstep – you should certainly allow for some time to visit the area around Valladolid. Cenote Ik Kil is located just a couple of minutes from Chichen Itza, making it an ideal place to cool down after exploring the Mayan ruins.

How long to stay in Valladolid

Valladolid can make for a great day trip if you’re short on time. You can spend a couple of hours wandering through the centre and then visit Chichen Itza. Such day trips are available from any of the major cities, including Tulum, Cancún and Playa del Carmen.
However, if you’re not in a rush, I would recommend staying at least 2 nights . Depending on how many of the cenotes you want to visit, you might want to add in a couple more nights. 

Where to stay in Valladolid

With Valladolid being a pretty small town, just about anywhere is a good place to stay. There are plenty of accommodation options that range from high end resorts to Colonial style boutique hotels and hostels.

For those on a budget and looking for a nice, affordable hostel – this one would be a perfect option. A Colonial style family run hostel, located right in the downtown area. Offering plenty of hammocks, air conditioned rooms and even has breakfast included.

If you want a little more luxury but don’t want to spend the kind of money you’d be paying for a high end resort, Casa Daniels is worth checking out! For just about 35 USD you can stay in a private room and cool down in a pool in a tropical garden after a day of exploring.

In Valladolid you will also find variety of high end hotels, most of them being Colonial style boutique hotels. Accommodation in Valladolid is pretty affordable, with luxurious hotels ranging from 50USD per night, here you can have a look at hotels in Valladolid. With that being said, if you are planning to treat yourself to a fancy hotel once in your trip, which I often do, this would be the ideal place for it.

How to get to Valladolid

Just as other cities on the Yucatán peninsula, Valladolid is well connected by the ADO busses. From the bus station it will only take you a couple of minutes to walk to the centre. If you are planning to rent a car, Valladolid is just about a 2 hour drive from Cancún and 1,5 hours from Tulum.

4. Bacalar

Close to the Belize borders you will find Bacalar, a quiet lakeside village that sits on the shore of Lagoon Bacalar, which is the main attraction of Bacalar. The lagoon is the reason most people decide to visit Bacalar, and was certainly the reason for my trip there :)) It’s a must visit for anyone that loves turquoise blue water. The lagoon is also known as Lagoon of the Seven Colours due to the many shades of blue the water will have throughout the day.

The best way to discover Bacalar is to take a boat tour. Most of them last for about 2-3 hours and will take you to the best parts of the lake, including Canal de Los Pirates, which is considered one of the most beautiful parts of the lake. The mud there is also believed to be full of minerals, so you can do whatever you want with that :)) Bacalar is also the perfect place for all sorts of water activities – paddle boarding, kayaking, scuba diving, you name it. There are of course a few cenotes in the area – the most famous one being Cenote Azul. in For those looking for a bit of culture, a visit to Fort San Felipe is a must.

A little tip before visiting Bacalar – bring enough cash (pesos, not USD) to last for the time you plan to stay there. Bacalar is not very developed, there are ATM’s but these can be working one day and not working the next, so you never know. Some places do take cards, but you absolutely can’t count on it.

Check out this post for where to eat in Bacalar!

How Long to Stay in Bacalar

I would recommend spending at least two whole days in Bacalar. About half a day to do a boat tour, then you’ll have a couple of hours to walk through the town and enjoy some of the delicious local food. Then you will have day to relax at the lagoon, go kayaking or do any of the other water activities. With that being said – I ended up staying there for almost two weeks

Where to stay in Bacalar

Bacalar offers plenty of options for all preferences and budgets.

For backpackers looking for a very social atmosphere, The Yak Lake House would be the perfect option. Located next to the lake, offering gorgeous views and lots of events.

If you’re looking for a bit more relaxed place, this brand new very stylish hostel is probably what you are looking for. A cozy little place with a gorgeous pool and super pretty spacious rooms.

How to get to Bacalar

Getting to Bacalar is relatively easy. Like the rest of the Yucatán Peninsula, it’s well connected by ADO buses. From Tulum the bus ride is just under 3 hours, while from Cancún it take a bit over 5 hours. If you are renting a car, Bacalar is approximately 4 hours drive from Cancún and 2,5 hours from Tulum.

5. Puerto Escondido

Located on Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, Puerto Escondido is a relaxed beach town. Unlike places like Cancún and Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Escondido, it’s definitely not famous for all-inclusive luxury resorts. Instead it’s known for it’s surf scene and beautiful beaches. In Puerto Escondido you can spend your days catching waves on a surfboard, relaxing at the beach, enjoying the sunset and admiring turtles. After spending a day in the sun, I recommend taking a trip to Laguna de Manialtepec, where you can observe the bioluminescence. A magic phenomenon that occurs when waters of the seashore gets illuminated by certain micro-organism that emit their own blue light. You will find plenty of travel agencies around town offering these types of tours.

One thing you need to know before visiting Puerto Escondido is that cash is king. ATM’s tend to run out of cash frequently, so make sure to have plenty of cash before getting there. Some businesses accept cards, but don’t count on it.

How long to stay in Puerto Escondido

It’s not unlikely that you’ll never want to leave Puerto Escondido. With that being said, you should be able to get the hang of it in 4-5 days. That will leave you with enough time to explore a few beaches, try some local food, walk along the Adoquín and experience the nightlife.

Where to stay in Puerto Escondido

Due to its popularity among young travellers and backpackers, Puerto Escondido has an abundance of great hostels.For those planning to surf, you’ll probably want to stay close to Zicatela, which is where you’ll find the best waves. Close by La Punta de Zicatela is popular among backpackers, that’s where Villa Bonobo a boutique hostel, is located. Featuring a big rooftop with plenty of space to work out or do some yoga. Oh, and they have free coffee all day!

Closer to the centre of Puerto Escondido you have Puerto Dreams, a hostel that has everything you could need, including a co-working space. It’s surrounded with plenty of nice restaurants (Cocofam is a must try!) and about 20 minute walk from the beach.

Here you can check out hotels in Puerto Escondido. I recommend using the filters to filter out places that have a rating below 8, as those usually turn out to be a disappointment.

How to get to Puerto Escondido

The quickest way to get to Puerto Escondido is by flight. With direct flights only from Mexico City, you will need to transfer in Mexico city if you’re traveling from elsewhere in Mexico. You can also catch an ADO bus, but depending on where you’re coming from, it can take a long time. If you plan to rent a car, you can of course drive there as well.

I hope this post has inspired you to visit Mexico! If you want to get notified when I publish new posts, just click the red bell in the lower right corner, or follow me on Instagram where I usually announce new blog posts :)))

If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, you might also want to read:

• How much you can expect to spend per day in Mexico
• Four day Tulum itinerary: Things to do in Tulum
• Where to eat in Bacalar
• Visiting Izamal: The yellow city in Mexico
• Your guide to visiting Isla Mujeres
• 10 Things to do in Mexico City
• San Cristóbal de las Casas Travel Guide
• Best cafés to work from in Cancún
• How to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala

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If you are planning your first backpacking trip, you might also want to read these 14 tips to staying safe while traveling. These are things I’ve slowly learned through my travels, and are applicable around the world.

You can consider this your beginners backpacking guide – your backpacking 101. So if you are planning your first backpacking trip, or if you simply feel that you haven’t really mastered the art of backpacking just yet, this post is for you. Now let’s get into some of the common mistakes to avoid when backpacking!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

Bringing too much stuff

Be very selective about the things you bring, especially clothes. It can be tempting to pack every piece of clothing you feel like you might possibly wear – been there, not a great idea Eventually you will just be dragging around extra weight and you’ll have a harder time finding the stuff you are actually using. You probably don’t need to bring that t-shirt you haven’t worn for a year. Nor do you need to pack multiple pairs of sneakers just because you can’t choose one. 

There is also no need to be carrying huge bottles of shampoo, conditioner or any types of toiletries, so go ahead and put those into smaller travel-sized bottles. You will be carrying your backpack through airports, to and from bus stops, what have you – so believe me when I tell you that you want it to be as light as possible. 

Planning too much in advance

Unless you are traveling during easters, christmas, or other public holidays when things tend to get busy – there is no point in having accommodations lined up weeks or months in advance. You can book hostels from your phone in a matter of seconds through the Booking, Agoda and Hostelworld apps.

You might also like: How to choose a hostel

This especially goes for booking hostels in places where you haven’t been before. Let’s say you are planning a trip to Colombia. You can’t possibly know in advance if you will only want to spend two days in Cartagena, or if you will love it (like I did) and want to spend three weeks there. So lining up accommodations in advance is essentially just guessing how long you want to stay in each place, instead of deciding when you’re already there. You also might meet people that are planning to do something really cool and you’d love to join, but oh, since you have already booked all your accommodations for the next three months, you don’t really have the flexibility to join them.

In my experience – you don’t really gain anything from booking and planning every little thing far in advance. But you lose is the ability to go with the flow and go on spontaneous adventures, which for me, is what backpacking is all about.

Bringing the wrong type of backpack

This is one of the common mistakes to avoid when backpacking! You will want to travel with a backpack that opens like a suitcase, not one that only opens at the top. Why? 
Picture this: You have been laying on the beach and eating tacos for three weeks, and have now decided that you would like to change that. So you need to find that one set of workout clothes that you’re pretty sure you brought, and are probably sitting somewhere at the bottom of your backpack at this point. You will most likely end up having to empty your backpack to find it, oh and then put everything back in. This can of course apply to just about anything, not just workout clothes :))

What I’m saying is that you do not want to travel with a backpack that only opens at the top, you want to bring one that opens like a regular suitcase.
This is the backpack I’ve been using ever since my second backpacking trip. I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a backpack for their next trip – it’s super convenient to travel with. It does indeed open like a suitcase, and the straps can be zipped away which is important when bringing it on a flight or on a bus, preventing them from getting dirty when thrown around by airline staff or when loaded on a bus. It also has a side handle so it’s easy to carry around even when the straps are zipped away.

Traveling too fast

This is a very common beginners mistake. I get that you want to see as much as possible during the time you have, so it might be tempting to squeeze in as many places as you possibly can. Visiting three countries in a month may seem like a great idea at first glance, but what you will discover is that running from city to city, from one attraction to another, will quickly become exhausting. A part from becoming tiring very fast, the biggest disadvantage of traveling too fast is that you won’t really get to know a place. Yeah you might tick lots of countries off your list and snap a photo or two in front of the main attractions, but you won’t really experience the countries and their culture. 

You might end up spending half your time on busses or trains, which lets face it, is just not very pleasant way to spend the day. It will also be more expensive because you’ll be getting on some sort of transport every few days. You will also find yourself taking flights instead of a bus or train to save time, but will of course cost much more. Instead of enjoying exploring and taking in the culture, you’ll end up running around trying to stick to your packed schedule.

If you are planning backpacking trip, you might also want to read these posts:

• How to choose a hostel
• How to save money while traveling
• 14 tips for staying safe while traveling

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The post Common mistakes to avoid when backpacking appeared first on Sóldís Alda.

Having stayed at hundreds of hostels around the world, let me walk you through how I choose and book hostels. When it comes to booking both hostels and hotels, you can’t just make a decision after looking at a few photos. The fact that the photos look great, doesn’t mean that the hostel is any good. It could even be straight up awful. The most common reason would probably be that the photos are very old and the place hasn’t been maintained since it was build. The pool you might have seen on the photos might not have been in used for years and the place could be falling apart.

Hostels are a great way to save money when traveling, while also giving you the chance to meet new people. In my experience, choosing a good hostel can be the difference between having an awesome or just an average time. 

Here I will list things you need to consider when choosing a hostel.

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Filter out the not-so-good ones

Just like with hotels, there are all sorts of hostels out there. Some of them have their shit together, while others don’t. In my experience, hostels with above 80% rating will have their shit together. With that being said – the first thing I do when looking for hostels, is to filter out hostels that have a rating below 80% on booking.com or hostelworld.com. This will help you stay clear of hostels that might or might not have toilet paper, those that haven’t been cleaned for weeks or those that have a broken air conditioning that they’ve been meaning to have fixed but just haven’t gotten around to it. Unless you’re on a very tight budget, don’t choose the cheapest hostel. Spending an extra 1-2 dollar per night can make a HUGE difference in terms of what you get. 

Set your priorities straight

Once you have filtered out the not-so-good ones, you can start figuring out what your priorities are and what type of hostel you are looking for. Here I will list a few factors you should consider.

Party hostel or a quiet one

Are you looking for a party hostel or do you prefer a quiet one? Do you mind loud music playing until late or would you rather have the chance to go to sleep before midnight? Party hostels tend to attract younger guests whose sole purpose of the trip may or may not be to see the inside of as many nightclubs as possible, rather than to explore anything else. If you are more interested in chasing waterfalls and going on day trips, you might not find your type of people at a party hostel. You can usually tell from the negative reviews from angry travelers that were not looking for a party hostel but got one, whether or not a hostel is a party hostel. 

Air conditioning

Are you from a cold country and traveling to a tropical, hot and humid country? If so, having an air con in you room is definitely an important factor when choosing a hostel. Believe me when I tell you, you do want to spend whatever amount needed to have an a/c in your room. I once ended up spending a night in Nicaragua in a room without an a/c due to series of unfortunate events (mainly, we forgot it was Easters so our only options were to sleep on the street or in this very crappy hostel which sure did not have a/c, nor running water) – it was not a pleasant night I spent the entire night awake, not sure if I was about to fall asleep or if I was about to pass out from a heatstroke. You will want to avoid this at all cost

Plug-ins next to the beds

Things like having plug-ins next to the beds, is something that can be easy not to pay attention to, but once you’re in bed and your phone is at 8%, you will wish that you thought of this sooner. So if you are person with a phone, having a plug-in next to your bed is something you want to keep in mind when choosing a hostel.

If you have a power bank (get one here) this probably won’t affect you that much. The same goes for plug-ins that aren’t working. Once again, you can tell from angry reviews from travelers that woke up to their phone at the same 3% as the night before. 

Check-in times

Make sure to look at the check-in times, especially if you will be arriving late. Not all hostels have a reception that’s open 24/7, so always make sure you will be able to check in at the time you arrive. You don’t want to be standing outside with your luggage at 11pm only to find out that you can’t get in. 

Lockers

Almost all hostels have lockers of some sort. Make sure to bring your own padlock (get one here) as most hostels don’t provide one. Some hostels only have small lockers that would fit things like your phone, wallet, passport, etc. Depending on how much you value your stuff, you might want to make sure that the hostel has large lockers that will fit all your things. 

Common areas

Chances are that you are not looking to spend a whole lot of time in your room – and that you want to meet new people. If that’s important to you, make sure that the hostel has a common area where you can hang out.  

Reading the reviews

Once you have narrowed down your choices based on your preferences – you will want to go through the reviews before booking. Reading reviews from people that have stayed in the hostel can give you a lot of valuable information that you can’t find elsewhere. These can be things like if there is a construction going on next door that starts at 6am every morning, are the beds comfortable, is it a party hostel or a quiet one, how the atmosphere is – basically lots of things you will want to know before making a decision. Read the negative reviews and check if the things people are complaining about is something that would be a deal breaker for you. 

Here you can search for hostels and read reviews:

I hope this gave you an idea about how to choose a hostel, and perhaps more importantly, will help you to stay clear of the not so good ones.
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If you are planning backpacking trip, you might also want to read these posts:

• Common Mistakes to avoid when backpacking
• How to save money while traveling
• 14 tips for staying safe while traveling

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