Are you too old to be a backpacker?

Man and woman hiking bag with gray background.

By Amy Bryant

Aussies are embracing backpacking at any age, throwing out that old assumption it’s only for the twenty-somethings.

Whether you’re Gen X, Y or Z, you can backpack at any age. That’s what 62 per cent of 3100 Aussies said in a survey by InsureandGo.

Seems we’re a pretty adventurous bunch us Aussies when it comes to travel.

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“No matter what age, it’s inspiring to see that all Australians are embracing the backpacker lifestyle and seeing the world,” Head of Sales, Digital & Marketing of InsureandGo, Jonathan Etkind said

“Age shouldn’t be a discriminator in travel, and backpacking is a great way to immerse yourself in a culture, by going off the beaten track.”

If your clients are planning the traveling escapade of a life time or a short trip of exploration, InsureandGo offer a flexible backpacker policy for those travelling for up to 18 months.

“Backpacking is also a great way to see sights that travellers may not necessarily get the chance to on a regular holiday.”

“But it’s important that travellers are purchasing travel insurance to ensure that they have assistance in times of need,” Etkind said.

“Sometimes when travellers are embarking on long trips, they may need to return home earlier than expected due to personal emergencies which can be helped with the right type of travel insurance.”

“A backpacker-specific policy can also allow for one home visit without nullifying the policy if a traveller is feeling particularly homesick, has a special event, or a family emergency and needs to return,” Etkind added.

Young travellers can choose the student loan coverage for one off payments up to $15,000 if they have an accident and are not able to meet repayments.

The policy also covers for high risk activities such as zip lining, bungee jumping, quad biking and more.

For your clients considering a backpacking holiday, here are three handy tips to help them get through longer trips.

Buy a train pass

Europe and Japan have some of the best scenery in the world, and travelling by train through these destinations is an easy way to navigate between cities.

However, be sure to purchase a train or rail pass before you depart as purchasing one while overseas can cost you hundreds of dollars more.

Be mindful in hostels

Hostels are the homes of backpackers around the world due to their affordable and social nature.

Although if you’re arriving late in the night or early in the morning, be mindful of those in your dorm by not turning on lights and wait until the next day to unpack.

When storing your bag at a hostel, take advantage of the onsite lockers to keep passports and travel documents safe while sightseeing.

Most hostels will have padlocks on sale at their reception which can also be used on your day bag.

Be prepared for hostel showers

While hostels are popular due to their shared spaces, with this comes communal facilities such as showers and bathrooms.

Pack a pair of thongs to wear specifically when showering to protect your feet from any unwanted germs.

Also invest in a travel towel, which dry faster than regular towels and are compact for easy storage.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Latest comments

Dan Plante says:

December 9, 2017 at 5:26 pm

Can I suggest a fantastic travel towel called CHAWEL that is not only quick drying, but wearable like a robe, for those times you need to walk from the showers back to your room. And another great use is that Chawel towels can be used as a light weight sleeping bag, or even a pillow.
Happy travels everyone!

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