SPONTANEITY IS THE BEAUTY OF BACKPACKING, but to maximize your time, money, and experience abroad, you must first put in a little planning legwork. This section sorts out everything you need to know about getting your shit together to make the most out of your trip. You’ll need to figure out where you’re going and for how long; construct a budget (and loosely stick to it); book the flight out; and pin down some initial sleeping arrangements. From there, you’ll get your backpack, necessary docs, and vaccines. To make this process easier, we’ve laid out the practical essentials and added some useful tips to get you the fuck out of here as fast as possible.