Traveling doesn’t always have to be an expensive activity. Indeed, low-cost travelling in the form of backpacking now gives more people the opportunity to travel the world within their means. Backpacking started as a popular concept in the hiking and trekking communities, where people set off on foot with their essentials in a backpack to get to destinations inaccessible to vehicles. Slowly, the idea of packing light and fitting all your essentials in one bag caught on and has since made travelling more affordable and flexible.

Jewel Chiangi Rain Vortex – Wikimedia Creative Commons – By Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=136922004
If you’re planning to go on a backpacking trip, then you should definitely have Singapore as one of your stops or ultimate destinations. The Lion City has plenty to offer, no matter what kind of traveller you are. To better enjoy this unique destination, follow the tips listed below to make your journey much more convenient.
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1. Book Things in Well in Advance
Securing your flight and accommodations in advance not only saves you money but also makes the trip less stressful as you don’t have to deal with last-minute changes. Buying your plane ticket months ahead can net you huge savings, especially if you time it with ongoing promotions. It also lets you better map out the itinerary of your backpack journey, as you’ll have specific dates and times to work with to plan your stops in more detail.
Likewise, booking accommodations in advance means you just have to head straight to the hotel once you land instead of scrambling around for a place to stay. Singapore’s Changi Airport hotel, in particular, is a good fit for backpackers as it is located right in the airport. With flexible check-in and check-out time, 24 hours availability, and comfortable amenities, travellers can just quickly check in to their room after a long flight to get ample rest before they start visiting more places.

Singapore River front
2. Get Travel Insurance
While you certainly don’t want anything untoward to happen during your trip, being prepared still beats having to shell out extra money for medical fees should an accident happen. So, be sure to get travel insurance for your backpacking trip in Singapore. The insurance should cover medical emergencies, as well as typical travel disruptions such as flight delays or cancellations. With travel insurance, you get the peace of mind of knowing you’re got a backup in case any medical or travel issue occurs.
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3. Lighten Your Baggage
Backpacking requires you to be extra strict when it comes to packing for the trip. While it admittedly takes extra effort, it does make your luggage easier and more convenient to carry around.
In short, try not to squeeze your entire wardrobe in your backpack. This goes for bringing along multiple toiletries as well, given that you can just buy many of the things you need in Singapore. Pack sensibly and keep it to the essentials only—including multiple sets of clean underwear—so you won’t have a backbreaking experience as you carry your bag during the trip.
4. Bring Comfortable Shoes and Clothes
In connection with the previous tip, bring clothes and shoes that are comfortable to wear for long hours. If it’s a reasonable distance, backpackers usually choose to travel by foot from one itinerary to another to save on transportation costs. Should you plan to go the same route, then it’s a must that your shoes fit well and won’t give you blisters; in the same vein, your clothes must be suited for the weather. Singapore is a tropical country, which means it can get hot and humid, especially during March to August. Make sure you’ve got breathable clothes that won’t feel suffocating on your skin.
5. Carry Reusable Bags
While having everything in your backpack can be convenient, it can also come with drawbacks—namely that everything you’ve got is more or less mixed inside. This is where reusable bags can help. If you’ve got dirty clothes that can’t be washed at the moment, just stash them in a reusable bag before putting it in your backpack so it doesn’t mix with your clean clothes. Moreover, reusable bags can be used to conveniently carry supplies or souvenirs that won’t fit in your backpack at the moment. If you want something more stylish, you can opt for collapsible packing cubes.
6. Memorize Your Itinerary
This doesn’t just mean knowing where tourist attractions are located, but also researching how to get there, whether through walking or which form of transportation to take. Singapore is a small country and has a world-class public transport system, so it’s easy to get around, but you still want to be as efficient as possible to maximise your time visiting more places. Getting lost or going through an inefficient route can take much of your time that could’ve been spent elsewhere. A simple map app in your smartphone can help you in figuring out the optimal routes for your utmost convenience, although checking out travel blogs beforehand could also be useful.
Make your backpacking trip to Singapore much more enjoyable and convenient by doing the necessary preparations beforehand. Let this article be your guide in ensuring that your travel experience remains hassle-free throughout its duration so you can just focus on making fun memories.
Adventure on!