Freedom over rigid packages
Travel should give you room to choose, not automatically lock you into rushed schedules or commission-driven stops.
ABOUT BACKPACK STAYS
Asli Ground Reality. Zero Bakwaas.
Backpack Stays was built by two lifelong travellers to help Indian travellers make better decisions abroad — with less confusion, less unnecessary kharcha and more confidence.
50+
countries explored each
10+ years
travelling with Indian groups
3 filled, 4th running
jumbo passports each
Built from years on the road
We have travelled across more than 50 countries each, spanning Europe, the Americas, Central Asia and beyond — dealing with border crossings, overnight trains, unfamiliar public transport and the small decisions that rarely make it into glossy guides.
Years of international travel have filled three 60-page jumbo Indian passports, with our current passports continuing the journey. Thailand and the surrounding region are places we have returned to repeatedly, while both of us continue to travel with and manage Indian groups.
WHY WE BUILT THIS
Nobody needs another poetic paragraph about a Phuket sunset.
- • "Bangkok airport immigration par hard cash kitna dikhana hai?"
- • "Phuket mein Indian driving license chalega ya police fine karegi?"
- • "Mummy-Papa ke liye pure veg bina hidden fish sauce kahan milega?"
- • "Agent ne ₹65,000 ka quote diya hai — rip-off hai ya sahi rate?"
Backpack Stays combines real boots-on-the-ground experience with constantly verified rules so you don't overpay or get scammed.
What we believe
Vegetarian means asking better questions
No meat does not always mean vegetarian in Thailand. We explain what to check and useful Thai phrases for ordering.
Costs should make sense
We show useful prices in Thai Baht (THB / ฿) and Indian Rupees where appropriate, so first-timers can budget without constant mental maths.
Famous does not automatically mean worth it
We explain who an experience suits, what it costs, what to avoid and when another option may make more sense.
Spend where it improves your trip. Save where it doesn’t.
The people behind Backpack Stays
Swati Balasubramanian
On-Ground Lead & Community
The face, voice and street-smart networker behind much of our on-ground work. Swati continues to travel with Indian groups, test routes and understand what happens beyond the booking screen.
Ashwin Kak
Tech, Data & Research Lead
Ashwin combines extensive international travel with research and technology — turning on-ground experience into structured guides and checking changing rules against reliable sources.
Where we’re going
Thailand is where we are starting. As Backpack Stays grows, we may also organise carefully designed small-group trips built around the same philosophy: fewer unnecessary stops, transparent costs and more freedom to experience the destination.