The answer is simple, YES. If youre like me, I leave all my stuff out when I stay in a hostel. I rarely use the locker. I say the same thing to anyone who asks me, “everyone is in the same boat”. Why would you steal from someone who is staying in the same dorm as you? For whatever reason we were all put together in the same dorm. We should all be on the same wavelength. Whether its travelling alone or with friends, the aim is to meet new people and enjoy the city.

The only advice I can give you is look after your passport and use your common sense. Happy travelling.

In Hong Kong I stayed in a hotel for 7 nights on Hong Kong Island. It was worth starting the trip with a bit of luxury as I knew there would be far worse places to follow.

I then moved on to Australia, where me and my mate spend 2 months in Sydney in an apartment with 2 girls we knew from the UK. The place was complete with swimming pool, sauna, gym and roof terrace. We then bought a car and drove 26km around the country staying in hostels in the cities and campsites win the desert.

We then did the hostel thing in New Zealand when a couple we were travelling with decided they wanted a bit of privacy and got a camper van and drove round both islands.

In Singapore, and Malaysia it was hostels all the way, and then to Thailand where we ended the trip in a beach hut on Ko Pha Ngan. Although we were pretty skint by this point even the cold water showers didn’t dampen the spirit. It’s well worth going backpacking – even on a shoe string budget.