The Realistic Backpackers – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to the first episode of the Realistic Backpackers podcast. After just arriving home from a backpacking trip, the girls catch up on how life is back in the UK and Ireland, especially since Abi was away for 2 years!

The girls explain who they are, and what their backpacking history is. They're both huge lovers of travel, but Shireen explains what it was like before she took the plunge to start travelling in September 2022.

Shireen and Abi met by chance in a hostel in Bangkok, and when Shireen was a brand new traveler, Abi really took her under her wing, and showed her the ropes. And what was a chance meeting, turned into so many experiences.

It may be September, but the girls both still have HUGE travel plans for the rest of the year, getting to see family after 5 years, going to an F1 race in the Middle East and ticking another of the 7 wonders of the world off the list.

As with every episode, the girls wrap up with a chaotic story they've found themselves in, this time including a storm, an lawnmower engine and flying cockroaches.

Helpful Links:

Connect on Instagram:

Shireen: @shireenaroundtheworld_

Abi: @abi_chapman

Conntect on Tiktok:

@therealisticbackpackers

Welcome to the Realistic Backpackers podcast. We're Backpackers and Digital Nomads that met travelling South East Asia. On this podcast, we talk about all things backpacking and digital nomad life, as well as the chaotic situations we've found ourselves in, while keeping it as realistic as possible. 

If you enjoy the episodes, we'd really appreciate you leaving a review, and subscribing, it helps so much! 

If you want to ask us any questions, or share some chaotic stories, we're @shireenaroundtheworld_ and @abi_chapman on Instagram, and @therealisticbackpackers on Tiktok.

Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers Podcast. This week the girls discuss the ridiculous goings ons in Abi’s home town, from town crier competitions to learning about crabbing. 

The topic this week is Solo Travelling, a topic close to both the girls’ hearts. Discussing what solo travel is and that you don’t need to start solo travelling by going on a huge backpacking trip.

Both Shireen and Abi give their tips on solo travelling, covering off safety, keeping your plans loose and how great it is to meet new people. 

Shireen discusses solo travel as part of the LGBTQ+ community, and some extra safety tips to think about.

There are a lot of different groups out there to meet other solo travellers either before you head off travelling, or while you’re there.

Here are some of the top ones that the girl’s know of: 

Meet other solo travellers: The Travel Squad

Meet other female travellers: Gals who travel

Meet other LGBTQ+ travellers: LGBTQ+  Backpackers

The girls wrap up with a chaotic story, involving Abi and Egyptian airport security.. 

Thank you so much for your support after episode 1, it honestly means SO MUCH!

Helpful Links:

Connect on Instagram: 

Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on TikTok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers 

Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers Podcast, where Shireen is having a crisis about turning 31, and the girls are slowly settling back into home life after their last backpacking trip. 

This week's topic is one of the girls’ favourites, South East Asia. A region that holds a special place in both girls’ hearts. It’s where they both went on their first backpacking trip, and where they met! 

Discussing the region, and the route they did, and any hints and tips for how they would plan it differently in the future. Both girls discuss their favourite countries in the region. 

There are so many amazing activities to discuss in South East Asia, but the girls whittle it down to their top favourites, and Shireen, very excitedly, gets to talk about Scuba Diving (her entire personality when travelling). 

Wrapping up with some hints and tips, as well as not being put off the region because you’re a bit ‘older’ than the normal age of backpackers. 

This weeks’ chaotic story involves 3 dogs in Guatemala and appendicitis. 

Helpful Links:

Connect on Instagram: 

Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on TikTok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers 

Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers Podcast where the girls are discussing life at home and big birthdays.

This week's topic is backpacking Morocco and Egypt, where the girls have just spent a month travelling.

Moroccan food got a big tick from the girls, and they had their mind blown in Egypt by the vast SIZE of everything they visited.

Covering everything from best places to go, how to get around, food (obviously) and their favourite experiences.

Keeping it as realistic as possible, the girls discuss their honest opinions on backpacking both, and how they would do it differently next time. 

Wrapping up as always, with a chaotic story, this time around how Shireen ended up stuck in 3 typhoons in 4 months in 2023 (she IS the problem). 

As always, if you have any questions on this week’s topics, send a message on any of the below socials! 

Helpful Links:

Connect on Instagram: 

Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

For all things Digital Nomad: @aroundtheworldvirtual

Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on TikTok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers 

Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers Podcast where the girls are discussing 2025 travel plans (if they actually ever go to plan).

This week's topic is accommodation, specifically hostel life .

The girls LOVE hostel life, and are on a mission to dispel the perception that they’re awful, encouraging everyone to try them at least once.

From tips on how to find the best hostels, what to bring, and hostel etiquette, the girls have you covered. 

Discussing both their favourite, and least favourite hostels, naturally, there’s some chaos in there. Sure isn’t a snake chasing a rat and getting peed on by a bat normal???

(Hostels are great, honestly).

Wrapping up as always, with a chaotic story, sticking with the accommodation theme, in Giza, and a hotel with no electricity in 50 degree heat. 

As always, if you have any questions on this week’s topics, send a message on any of the below socials! 

Helpful Links:

Connect on Instagram: 

Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

For all things Digital Nomad: @aroundtheworldvirtual

Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on TikTok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers 

Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers Podcast, where Shireen has just booked her first ever group trip to India in March with @craicontravels!

This week’s topics are budgeting and safety while travelling, two hugely important ones! 

Kicking off with budgeting, covering everything from how to plan your budget, tracking spending and managing money while travelling.

Shireen has finally accepted that she is indeed, extremely type A and what that means. 

Safety is a topic the girl’s really wanted to cover, and is it the most important thing while travelling. Both give their top tips such as always having access to your phone and being aware when going out at night. 

As always, wrapping up with some chaos, the girls discuss the different things that were shouted at them as they walked down the street on a recent trip to Egypt.

As always, if you have any questions on this week’s topics, send a message on any of the below socials! 

Helpful Links:

Connect on Instagram: 

Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

For all things Digital Nomad: @aroundtheworldvirtual

Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on TikTok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers

Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers Podcast, where Abi kicks us off with a very exciting story… if you managed to continue listening, well done! 

This week’s topic is Digital Nomad Life. Abi has been a Digital Nomad for 2.5 years and Shireen for 18 months, and they have a wealth of knowledge to share. 

The girls get into some honest conversations about making friends, backpacking while working and how the way they want to travel in the future is going to change. 

Sharing their tips for both finding work to do while travelling, how to set yourself up to be as successful as possible, and their favourite Digital Nomad hubs (Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand).

As always, wrapping up with a chaotic story. This week they’re in Malaysia, ab sailing down a building site and getting a hickey from a leech. 

Helpful Links:

Connect on Instagram: 

Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

For all things Digital Nomad: @aroundtheworldvirtual

Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on TikTok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers 

Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers Podcast, where the girls discuss Abi’s sober journey over the last couple of years, and how that’s played out while travelling. 

This week's topic is backpacking, a general overview and tips for planning your trip.

Discussing the perception of backpacking, a new wave of backpackers, and making sure you’re doing exactly what YOU want on your trip, and not listening to others opinions. 

The girls discuss how to plan your trip along with things to do before going and how having some flexibility with your route can end up with the most amazing experiences. 

Wrapping up with a discussion on backpacking culture and must bring items. 

This week’s chaotic story brings it right back to the girls' first bonding moments, a gutter in Bangkok and an acoustic experience, enjoy! 

Helpful Links:

Connect on Instagram: 

Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on TikTok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers 

Welcome back to the Realistic Backpackers Podcast, where the girls are discussing the realities of being back home between trips, and how that can feel different for everyone after being away for a long time. 

This week's topic is Mexico and Central America, where the girls have just come back from, and had such an amazing time. 

Discussing the region, the route and history of the region, as well as their favourite countries. Nothing makes Abi cry more than having to pick ONE favourite country. 

There’s incredible activities in Central America, from the blue hole, climbing an active volcano and a 5 day sailing trip. 

Wrapping up with some hints and tips, as well as not being put off the region because of perceived safety issues. 

This weeks’ chaotic story involves Morocco and a cow pat, enjoy. 

Helpful Links:

Connect on Instagram: 

Shireen: ⁠@shireenaroundtheworld_⁠ ;  

Abi: ⁠@abi_chapman⁠ 

Connect on TikTok:

⁠@therealisticbackpackers