Accommodation

Never stay in a hotel, unless you really have to. It’s really just against the whole backpacking method. Why backpack and stay in expenses hotels, when you can save so much more money on other things and meet other backpackers? Hostels aren’t only cheap; they are safe, and fun. Another way to save money in staying at a hostel and staying in a dorm, not a single room. Single rooms are generally more costly.

Avoid luxurious tours

Many new backpackers start off with an expensive tour. Now they can be a great idea if you choose the correct tour such as Gap Adventures. But traveling to exotic countries with so many resources to travel independently, it really is just a waste of money. Yes, you might feel more comfortable, safe, and with no worries, but really you don’t meet as many backpackers who share the same love for traveling as you do.

Bargain

Every country is different with cultures and traditions and there are many approaches in how to achieve the correct price on an item. First figure out and understand how the pricing works in the country. Next always think of the best price in your head and never assume that there is a flat rate. Play with the price a little, make a judgment, and feel confident about the price your are offering.

Activities

From going to a museum to sky-diving. Find out the cheapest route to purchasing the tickets. Use your student card, passport, or even try to pass as a local. Every method in trying to save a dime is always what backpackers are looking for.

Airfares

Airfares aren’t always cheap and there is always a large gap in prices. Make sure you do your research, look online, go to a travel agent, book ahead, and even try booking in the middle of the night. I find most of the time the prices go down 20-30% due to it being in the middle of the night.

Now these are only a few quick tips in how to save money. Once you start backpacking often you realize there are small ways in how to save a penny here and there. Trust me you will get the hang of finding routes to save money.

Money

Traveling with cash is easy and easy to lose. Think about your options, like consider using an international bank. There are a few banks that you can use without paying lots withdrawal fees. Also, consider your safety. Using international banking is the safest and easiest way to keep track of your funds.

As a previous competitive swimmer, water was my best friend. I practically lived in it so I definitely had no fear of it . I foresaw no issue with going white water rafting in la Riviere Rouge, a river close to Montreal. The day started like any other fun day. We all arrived at the site, laughed and joked about signing our life away before putting on our life jackets and heading to the water.

Rafting on Rivière Rouge

As 9 of us got in the raft, I was sitting in the back near our guide. The water level were low that year due to a dry summer in the province so we were warned that it would be easier to get scrapes from the rocks at the bottom of the river.  I didn’t really think anything of it because of the “It’s not going to happen to me” syndrome. So as we went off in the water, we soon reached the Bear currents (Mama and Papa Bear) where the Papa Bear was rated as a 4. If you’re not familiar with the current levels, the currents go from 1 to 5, 1 being a mild current and 5 being a strong current.  So as we successfully went through the Mama Bear section, the Papa Bear was a different story! Since I was the last one to the right in the raft, I caught a wave and went flying into the water. I didn’t panic too much at first because I felt comfortable in the water. I felt comfortable until I realize that I was stuck under the raft! As I remembered to hold on to my paddle (as they explain before starting the adventure), I kept on swimming towards the light but unsuccessfully. In the meantime, I was in a current of a level 4 so I kept on tumbling until I went down this little hill under water and finally reached an area with minimal current. By then, I had swallowed a fair amount of water and I was indeed traumatized by the time I went back to the raft. My friends didn’t understand what I had just been through and having no option to go back to the site, I had to continue the adventure.

Feeling uneasy, we then caught another small wave which made me fly off my seat but into the raft this time. I managed to hit my mouth with the paddle which caused me to have a swollen lip for the rest of the week! So as we continued the adventure, we finally reached the Washing Machine section, an area of the river that is known to make rafts flip over. At this point, I had the option of come off the raft. Did I get off? No… I figured, I made it this far so I’m going all the way! What a bad, bad decision! Half the people on my raft got off, which made us a lightweight raft. That is not a good thing when you need to overcome another strong current of 4 or 5, I cannot recall. And so, with only a few of us in the raft, out we went in the current. Only a few seconds later, our entire raft flipped over completely. All of us fell in the water. Most of the group was fine because they managed to swim over where the guides were. Unfortunately, myself and another person were stuck underneath a raft- again! This time, I was also stuck near rocks, which caused me to have scraped legs for the rest of the month. At this point, I was ready to accept death. I was lucky the first time but didn’t consider myself lucky enough to make it out alive a second time. While all these thoughts were going through my head, one of the guides turned the raft which allowed me to finally breathe. That was unfortunately followed by swallowing more water but I finally made it back into the raft alive. While all of this was happening, I had no idea where I stood. Watching the video of the adventure made me realize the situation I was in.

As the tour we took included two runs, I decided to forfeit and accompany another girl to the hospital instead. This girl had a rock penetrate her leg so she needed stitches. I must admit that white water rafting will never be on my list of things to do again. While most adventures are positive ones, this one was definitely a negative one!

Birthplace of the Confederation

Charlottetown, the capital of PEI is where everything began in regards to the Canadian Confederation. In 1968, a meeting took place between representatives of British Colonies to discuss the Canadian Confederation. After much talking, Canada was born!

The 12.9 km (8 miles) Confederation Bridge is the World’s longest bridge on ice-covered water. It links PEI to New Brunswick, another province located in the Canadian Maritimes. Riding on the bridge was an exciting and experience one of those things you can check off the list. Must see if you visit PEI!

Pink Beaches

I’ve traveled to many places and let me tell you, I’ve never experienced such a vivid scenery as I did in PEI. No matter which part of the island you visit, you’ll notice two things: beautiful rich red soil and green, green grass. The explanation behind the red soil dates back to history. PEI was formed on a bedrock of soft, red sandstone where the presence of iron minerals is conducive to a red soil, even after so long.

Cavendish Potatoes

Did you ever wonder why one of the most popular brands of potatoes is called Cavendish? Because the soil is so rich in minerals, PEI is an ideal place to grow potatoes. Cavendish is a town in PEI, where potatoes are harvested. Let me tell you, I was all potato-ed out by the end of my trip in PEI but I must admit that it was THE best potatoes I ate so far!

Cows & Anne of Green Gables

We’ve all heard about the delicious gelato in Italy. But to my surprise, not only is Cavendish popular for potato cultivation but it’s also the home of one of the best ice creams in the world, COWs. COWs all began in 1983, where it was producing old-fashioned ice cream. Make sure to visit a COWs when in PEI. You can take a tour to see how the ice cream is made and the best part of it all is the ice-cream tasting! YUM!

Growing up, most of us read the books or watched the shows of Anne of Green Gable. Did you know that PEI is where the character was born?

Outdoor Activities

From canoeing, to cycling, to golfing, PEI is a great place for outdoor activities. When you need to take a break from the activities, you can consider sunbathing or simply enjoying the beautiful scenery. Trust me, you won’t get tired of it!

Get into winter activities. Rule number one if you want your winter to fly by is to actually enjoy the winter season. Yes people! You can actually enjoy it by getting involved in winter activities. Anything from ice skating, to skiing, to indoor climbing, to tubing, to snowmobiling. Gather your friends and try a new activity or sport every weekend. Yeah, you’ll probably really suck at it at first- especially if you’ve never done it in the past but that’s the fun part! Invest in some warm gloves, jacket, hat and you are ready to go!  If you already practice a sport but don’t go often, consider investing in a season pass. That will somewhat force you to practice your sport every weekend and next thing you know, you’ll want winter to last a little longer! Ok maybe not, but you know what I mean!

Get Informed. Most cities organize winter festivals so get informed! Check out the Winter Carnaval in Quebec City (Quebec, Canada) where you can visit or spend the night in a ice hotel. Find out if your city or a city near you organizes a lights festival. Buy a mask and go to the Carnaval in Venice (Italy). Enjoy Mardi Gras in New Orleans by partying on Bourbon St. Fly into the sky in a hot air balloon in the Swiss Alps at the Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival. Of course, these are international festivals and you probably won’t attend half of them but keep in mind that major cities around the world do plan winter events. Get informed and GO!

Experience summer activities but in winter. Ever thought about going to a spa in winter? Or about making an outdoor fire and roasting marshmellows? Or organizing an outdoor barbecue? Find a way to do your favorite summer activities in the winter! 

Relax. Finally, it’s ok to take some time to yourself and simply relax. Read a book by the fire. Take nice long baths. Organize a theme cooking night with your friends. Watch movies in good company. Take some time for yourself!