Trip Saving Spots for Backpackers
Backpacking means travelling around countries with just your backpack. With nothing really planned and only looking for the best bargains on pretty much everything. And without worrying too much about comfort and fanciness. It is just soo much fun!
Unfortunately it is not always easy, especially for those trying to stick to a really really low budget. Luckily, even in the places where saving money seems trickiest, you can easily find some Tripsaving spots
Those are my favorite ones:
Public Libraries
useful for: pretty much everything!
I know they can seem like a place only for books geeks. But libraries surprisingly also feature many useful facilities, especially for travellers.
With the due differences between one place and another. Most of them offer, especially in western countries:
free and averagely clean restrooms
fresh drinkable tap water
free wi-fi internet connection for your devices. Or the possibility to use their computers if you don’t have one. Sometimes you will only have a limited amount of navigating time (usually around 1 hour) or data to use. But always enough for the basic planning and researching tasks
a quiet and comfortable corner to relax. Reading, planning or well.. even taking a cheeky nap hiding behind the books!
The possibility to print or make copies. Especially useful for bookings and flight tickets. Or making copies of your resume to spread around the city
a nice and fresh spot where having your own meal sitting on a table, if and where food is allowed. Sometimes also featuring inside snacks and drinks shops
free events and classes to attend
I ended up in LA public library right before the start of a free mindfulness meditation class. The perfect restoring break on a tiring walking day!
Art and Architecture hidden gems. Some libraries worth to be explored just like a (free) museum. Especially in big cities, you’ll find lots of possibilities to enjoy artwork masterpieces in the most historical ones. As well as impressive the modern architecture of the newest
least but not last, BOOKS. All the possible knowledge on every topic just waiting to be explored. If yo have the time
it can also be a good chance to learn or practice the local language, as the very most of the books will obviously be local
The only downside is that they’re not always open. Even if some bigger places don’t mind weekends and late evenings. You also need to be very quite while there.
Something I really love for taking a good break during a long exploring day. But maybe not the best place to talk with people or making calls home.
I try to always check out the libraries I find in my way. One of the most remarkable I’ve been to is Helsinki’s newest public library Oodi. An huge modern construction featuring 4 floors of the most performing computers, gaming rooms for any possible console and video game, funny designed studying (or working) spaces, printers of every size, cafes, and so much always going on
Cafes
useful for: finding a quiet corner to work or plan your trip in front of a comfy drink. Especially if featuring free wi-fi and restrooms
Obviously not a totally free option for really broke backpackers. But neither so expensive. At least as long as you are not looking for fancy drinks, pastries or.. egg something for breakfast!
Look for bigger places more Working space oriented. The tiniest “quick Espresso” Italian coffee shops will not be so happy of having you sitting there for hours. Unless you don’t keep drinking and eating of course!
Bigger places are also more likely to offer Wi-fi and restrooms, and accepting credit cards. But ask or check for the sign outside just to be sure
Cheeky tip: their wi-fi usually works also from outside and do not require a password. So no need to drink coffees all day long!
not sure of which coffee to get during your Italian trip? Check my Italian coffee guide
Train Stations
useful for: Toilets and quick stops in smaller or
more remote towns, especially around Italy and Europe.
Another place where you are quite likely to find free toilets are the Train stations. Sometimes a bit abandoned and not the cleanest. But in case of emergency are still better than nothing I guess.
Other than the obvious, with emergency I also mean finding a changing room to wear a swimswit when you randomly end up in that beautiful coastal town!
It happened to me just last week: I went on a work trip to Framura, a tiny village not far from the 5 Terre, in Italy. Since I live and work in Genoa and around the Ligurian coast, during the good seasons I always have with me my sea-break kit: bikini, asciugamano and goggles. All ready for a luch-break or after work swim! I admit I became pretty good in mastering my changing skills directly at the beach. But that day I also forgot the towel. And the station literally saved my swimming break!
Unluckily not really every station has a restroom. Especially those not so big but within the city area. But in case you need you can still head to the main station and surely find all you need. Just note that most bigger cities will charge a fee ti use it (usually around 1 € or less). But at least it means they are more monitored, and usually clean.
Another good thing about train stations is that they mostly are always open. And usually also host vending machines with water, snacks and coffee. In case you end up needing a late night bite. Sometimes they even have ATMs.
Remember that for pretty much the same price you can also head to a cafè and get a coffee or something to drink. But sometimes there’s not much available in the area. Or you just don’t feel like getting something.
Public parks
useful for: escaping the city bustle. Especially for a relaxing lunch, nap, daily exercise or just for breathing some fresh air. And possibly also to find drinkable water fountains and restrooms.
Unmissable stop along busy exploring days, especially in big and busiest cities, are surely the city parks. From the biggest and best equipped examples, like the massive Central Park in New York. To the smallest corners with only a few benches and plants.
I always find enjoyable see an hint of green among the concrete jungles! The bigger ones offers toilets and sometimes also wi-fi. Other than bike rentals, lakes, botanical gardens, zoos and so on. But pretty much everywhere you will surely find a quiet grass corner for a nap or some yoga under the trees, sitting benches and useful water fountains.
Just note that the best kept often close at some time. So remember to check the opening hours on the gate.
Fast Food chains and Service Stations
useful for: 24 hours open stops. For food, drinks, and restrooms. Sometimes also free wi-fi.
Especially useful for roadtrips and late night stops. Other than big burgers lovers, obviously.
Highway gas stations are always open and with the coffee machine on. And also offer a wide choice of food and drinks, books, journals, souvenirs and various stuff. Other than usually clean restrooms with sometimes even showers!
You don’t really need to buy something to use them, and the entrance is also often located from outside the shop. But some places charge a small fee for the cleaning
Cheeky story: during the past Covid lock down in Italy, those places were the only ones able to work after 6 pm. Guess what happened? Some people started to head to the highways for evening meals and beers!
Big fast food chains are the Big City alternative to the Gas stations. I specify big cities as not everywhere you will find them open 24/7. But they will still be more likely to be open than many other places. Even if only with their unhealthy food offer.
If you don’t like anything, in some bigger places you don’t (really) need to consume for using the restrooms. I mean no one will check. But you can still just get a coffee or something to drink.
Cheeky tip: I didn’t try it (yet). But in case of really extreme emergency, like if you haven’t been able to find an accommodation for the night. You get to city very late at night. Or have to leave in very early morning. They’re still a better option than sleeping on a bench outside or at the train station. And just for the price of a junk snack or some breakfast
Unless you are not arriving or leaving by plane. In that case the Airport will always be the safer place for the night.
I got the advice from a girl I met during one of my travels, But I surely won’t advise it as a way of travelling.
Shopping Malls
useful for: a warm (or refreshing, depending on place and season) resting place. Toilets, ATMs, a bit of entertainment and possibly cheaper shopping opportunities.
I’ll start this part saying that I don’t usually like shopping malls (local markets are way better!), and doing shopping in general. But sometimes big malls can be very useful, and not only because of their wide offer of stuff.
They are one of the few places around the city where you are basically sure to find free toilets. And you can head to their food arcade to grab a cheap bite. Or even just find a spot where enjoy your own lunchbox. Especially when the weather outside is not the most welcoming.
People usually go there for spending money, so it is very likely to find ATMs and currency exchange houses somewhere. And at least a supermarket, for cheaper groceries.
Also, if you have some spare time and there is nothing more to do around, you will probably find something to do. Even just wandering around the shops.
So this is the list of the places I usually find very helpful during my trips. But please, let me know if you have any other suggestion. And enjoy your Travels!
Thank you for taking the time to read this post!
Feel free to leave a comment below or share it with your friends, if you liked it. I would really appreciate it 🙂
Now keep exloring one of the related posts here, or pick another site area!
