Destinations

Destinations

Favored

Classically, Western Europe is a very common backpacker destination because of the availability of public transport and the large number of hostels and other budget accommodations. However, since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet states, Eastern Europe has become a rapidly growing destination for budget travelers. Originally this meant cities such as Prague and Budapest, but more recently Croatia, Slovenia, the Balkans, and the Baltic Republics have become a popular stops on the backpacking circuit

Long-term backpacker destinations are places with low costs of living such as Goa (India), Essaouira (Morocco), or Thailand. Australia's East Coast is also a very popular destination for many backpackers, and many travel and work in the area long-term in order to finance other travel, most notably to New Zealand where a plane ticket between the two countries can be procured for as little as $100. South America is quickly becoming a hot-spot for backpackers, who are drawn to the continent by the often very favorable exchange rates and unique culture and beauty. Machu Picchu, Patagonia, the Triple Frontier and the cities of Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador are often the highlights for travelers to this continent.

Certain destinations are so popular on the backpacking circuit that some cities house "backpacker ghettos," whole districts where large numbers of travellers congregate to find cheap accommodation, street food, and share travel information. The most famous of these is the Khaosan Road area of downtown Bangkok.

Avoided

While largely a matter of nationality, personal taste and the current political situation, some generalizations can be made about the destinations many backpackers avoid. For example, a fair number of backpackers, like many other tourists, avoid countries where obvious tourists are repeatedly accosted to purchase merchant goods or are otherwise known to be harassed.

High Costs

Regions with a high cost of living, such as Scandinavia for example, are avoided by many long-term backpackers because of the expense. Other destinations have high costs for transportation, such as Polynesia, and are also avoided by the majority of backpackers. This rule applies to a lesser degree to many destinations in Western Europe, where costs are generally high enough to discourage extensive (three months and longer) budget travel. Travel to popular but extremely expensive cities such as New York City or London is generally limited to just several days, and backpackers tend to try and fit as much daily sight-seeing as possible in such locations.

Infrastructure

While not an absolute, countries without developed infrastructure, especially in the form of public transportation, are more difficult for backpackers to travel in because of the serious limits on mobility. This includes many African countries and the greater part of Central Asia.

Some travellers also avoid the United States of America for similar reasons, because of the general lack of public transport, the expense of renting a car and the lack of hostels in many destinations, which are largely relegated only to the most major cities, the California Coast, parts of New England, and parts of Florida. Hostels in the United States are also generally expensive in comparison to many other countries, often between $US20-30 per night. This has given the United States a reputation for being relatively 'unfriendly' towards backpacking culture even though it is a highly desirable, varied, and generally safe country to be explored for foreign backpackers. The prevalence of motel chains, catering primarily to private motorists, may contribute to the relatively small number of backpacker hostels in the USA.

People who wish to travel the United States extensively and as cheaply as possible often decide to purchase an economical van with improvised bedding within the vehicle. Even this option is becoming increasingly expensive however, as oil prices in the 2000s remain stubbornly high. This lifestyle also may discourage many solo backpackers, as they must pay many bills entirely by themselves and establish few social connections.

Instability

While the desire to travel at low cost and the desire to travel with convenience and security are often at odds, some countries are generally avoided by backpackers because of the general political instability. In the most extreme cases, such as Iraq, Somalia or North Korea opportunities for travel may be severely curtailed or an outright impossibility. Other areas are avoided by many backpackers because of the perceived general hostility of the political climate, including some parts of the Middle East and Central Asia, Myanmar and parts of Central Africa.

These are generalizations made by the majority of the community and are disputed by many others (Myanmar being a recent example of debate), especially travelers drawn to “dangerous” destinations.

Crime and victimization

Some countries are largely avoided by backpackers due to a substantially increased risk of being kidnapped or mugged of their possessions, to the point where the benefits of travel may not compensate for their dangers. Colombia in South America is a notable example, which has the unfortunate reputation of having one of the highest number of kidnappings per capita in the world. African cities such as Johannesburg or Nairobi are also discouraged on the backpacker circuit due to their very high crime rates.

Crowds

Many backpackers try to avoid crowds of other (ordinary) tourists. The first rule is to avoid traditional package holiday destinations such as Benidorm or Cancún because it goes against the backpacker's image. Such places may also be undesirable because of high costs, inauthentic culture, limited sightseeing options and exclusively prebooked accommodation.