Begpacking. It’s a word you may have seen floating around social media over the past few months. What it refers to is the phenomenon of young people begging, busking, or selling holiday photos and small, hand-made crafts to fund their travels. The phenomenon appears to be spreading across Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia and has attracted both derision and defence from commentators.Generally, pictures are posted by locals pointing out the hypocrisy of people wealthy enough to pay for airfare to Asia asking for money from impoverished communities.
Those in the pictures are frequently labelled as ‘gap yah’ travellers who have been reckless with their parent’s money and must beg to fund their next Full Moon Party. Indeed, some may be actively choosing to beg to fund their #Wanderlust Instagram posts. These people forget that poverty and begging is not edgy and there are ways to travel across the world using your talent or funding-as-you-go (for example, working visas) while being considerate to the communities you’re visiting.
However, it has been pointed out that those passing judgement don’t know the context of the pictures and the circumstances of those begging so, rather than mocking, I want to offer some tips on how to avoid resorting to begpacking. One of the most important things to do before you travel is to set a budget and make sure you have enough money to cover your trip, plus a little extra in case an unexpected situation arises. This includes researching food, travel, and accommodation options and making at least a rough itinerary so you know how much you need to cover all the basics. At the very minimum, you should have a return ticket booked or funds set aside to travel home if you’re feeling very adventurous.
Secondly, having comprehensive travel insurance will also protect you from the very worst situations. I absolutely understand that the unexpected happens, and that’s what insurance is there for. So, before you back up your bags for your next adventure, remember to takeout insurance that covers you for any activities you plan to do and pre-existing medical conditions. Spending a small amount on insurance before you head off on your travels could save you tens of thousands in the long term.There are plenty of ways to make money if you find yourself broke abroad, like selling some of your possessions to fellow backpackers or taking advantage of free breakfasts in your hostel. If you’re really struggling, then you should consider taking to social media and setting up a GoFundMe or contacting friends and family at home instead of relying on the kindness of strangers.So, this summer make sure you have enough money for your trip (or at the very least a way to make money like casual work) and comprehensive travel insurance. Not only because it will stop you being ridiculed on social media, but more importantly because it will keep you safe and happy on your travels.