The Realistic Backpackers

Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers podcast! 

It’s the final episode of season 2!! Abi is starting to get itchy feet, and Shireen is so excited for her upcoming trip to India and Iran. 

This week, the girls are answering all your questions. 

They’re talking about everything from their arguments, travel safety and where they’re most looking forward to travelling in 2025. 

It’s been such an incredible season, with some amazing guests, and the girls are already excited to get cracking on season 3, see you then! 

Helpful Links:

Connect on Instagram: 

Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on Tiktok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers 

This week the girls are chatting to Paige who’s currently living in Bali and running her group trip business, Becoming Solo.

Discussing all about how Paige started travelling and why she’s such an advocate for people going solo travelling. 

There’s nobody better to discuss group trips with, and Paige gives a real insight into her business, why she designed it as she has, and all the work that goes on behind the scenes.

This conversation was amazing, and one that anyone thinking of travelling needs to listen to.

Thanks so much to Paige for coming on the pod, this chat could have gone on for hourssss! 

Helpful Links:

Connect with Paige:

Instagram: @becomingsolo

TikTok: @paigeecopeland

Connect on Instagram: 

Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on Tiktok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers

Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers podcast! 

The girls are really leaning into what’s on their doorstep this week, with Abi heading up to the peak district and Shireen hiking her local area. 

This week, the girls are chatting all about backpacking Guatemala, a country they fell in love with while exploring it.

Discussing their favourite spots and activities, and all about the history of the country. 

Abi loved their hike from Xela to Lake Atitilan, while Shireen loved spending 2 weeks in Spanish school. 

Thank you as always for listening!

Helpful Links:

Connect on Instagram: 

Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on Tiktok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers 

This week the girls are chatting to Marissa, while she’s on a work exchange in a surf town in Sri Lanka.

Kicking it off by talking all about Marissa started travelling in the first place. 

Marissa is a huge advocate for doing work exchanges while travelling, specifically through Worldpackers, and is the perfect person to discuss them with.

Covering everything from how to find the best ones, things to look out for and her favourite work exchanges. 

And of course, wrapping up the episode with a chaotic story. This one involves driving the wrong way down the highway in Morocco on Christmas day…

It was so fun having Marissa on the pod!

Helpful Links:

Marissa’s Worldpackers discount: Code: MARISSAMCGARR

Connect with Marissa:

Instagram: @risstravels

TikTok: @marissamcgarr

Connect on Instagram: 

Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on Tiktok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers

Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers podcast! 

Abi has just been to Luxemburg for the weekend, and is catching us up on how it was, what she did and where she stayed. Definitely somewhere to consider for a short weekend break! 

This week, the girls are chatting all about backpacking New Zealand, one of their favourite countries (even if they say that about everywhere). 

Abi travelled New Zealand in a camper van in 2016, and Shireen did the Kiwi Experience in 2023, so the girls have tips and tricks for both. 

Discussing their favourite spots and activities, and all about New Zealand beautiful nature.

Thank you as always for listening!

Helpful Links:

Connect on Instagram: 

Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on Tiktok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers

Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers podcast! 

This week the girls are chatting to Chloe, who has been travelling and working in Australia for nearly 3 years. 

They chat about everything from solo travelling, working holiday visas and awful house shares. 

Chloe gives her advice on living and working in Australia, and discussing why she created her new community Backpacking for the Plot to help those moving to Sydney connect and make friends. 

Wrapping up with a chaotic backpacking story involving a boy (obvs) and transatlantic flights. 

It was so awesome to chat to Chloe, and she was the perfect first guest on the pod!

Helpful Links:

Connect with Chloe:

Instagram: Backpackingfortheplot

TikTok: Chloesgapyear

Connect on Instagram: 

Shireen:⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

Abi:⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on Tiktok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers 

This week the girls are chatting all about Australia, where Abi lived for a year, and Shireen spent 2.5 months on the East Coast. 

Kicking off with the East Coast, discussing activities, highs, lows and how to get around. 

Then heading over to the west (which is best in Abi’s opinion), Abi discusses her road trip with a random Dutch man she met online. 

Finally, the girls discuss working holiday visas, and making friends in Australia. 

Shireen wraps up the episode with how she almost moved to Australia for a boy!! 

Thank you as always to everyone that listens, and if you have any questions or comments, shoot them over on Instagram or TikTok!

Helpful Links:

Connect on Instagram: Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on Tiktok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers 

Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers podcast! 

This week the girls are chatting all about backpacking the Middle East (or at least where they’ve been).

They recently travelled to the UAE, Qatar and Oman (as well as Turkey and Jordan, so make sure to listen to last week’s episode to hear about those!)

As always, the girls are completely honest when talking about their travel experiences, good or bad, and whether they really enjoyed visiting these countries. 

Discussing Formula 1, the joy of not planning things when travelling, and comparing their favourite parts of the region. 

Thank you as always to everyone that listens, and if you have any questions or comments, shoot them over on Instagram or TikTok!

Helpful Links:

Connect on Instagram: Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on Tiktok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers 

Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers podcast! 

This week the girls are chatting all about backpacking Turkey and Jordan.

Kicking off with Turkey, the girls discuss their route (which Shireen somehow remembered), their favourite places and the iconic hot air balloon ride.

Moving on to Jordan, Abi’s new FAVOURITE country, from the iconic Petra, to camping in Wadi Rum and all the tips and tricks to make your trip as successful as possible.

And who knew the dead sea was extremely salty? 

Thank you as always to everyone that listens, and if you have any questions or comments, shoot them over on Instagram or TikTok!

Helpful Links:

Connect on Instagram: Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on Tiktok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers 

Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers podcast! The girls really missed recording and chatting to you all, and are so excited to be back for season 2!

It’s been a crazy couple of months since the last episode, and the girls go through what they’ve been up to and everywhere they’ve been. 

Abi is now employed in the UK, and Shireen’s currently at home planning what 2025 travel is going to look like.

Seeing as it’s the first episode of 2025, the girls discuss plans for the year (although they’ll all definitely change) and some goals.

It is so good to have a big catch up, before getting back to topic episodes from next week. 

Thank you so much for supporting the podcast, it means so much!!

Helpful Links:

Connect on Instagram:

Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on Tiktok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers