You can travel the world for less money than you spend each month to fill up your gas tank.
Photo by Gina
World travel is cheap and easy. In fact, with a little practice and effort, you can travel the world for free.
The idea that travel is expensive and difficult is bullshit peddled by tour companies, hotel chains and corporate media.
The tourism industry wants you to buy cruise packages and stay at all-inclusive resorts.
They want you to choose a travel experience the same way you would choose a new jacket at the mall. They want your Credit Card number.
The tourism industry doesn’t want me to reveal the simple secrets of free travel, but I’m going to share them with you anyway.
It can be scary to venture into the world with nothing more than optimism and good-will, but personal freedom begins with a leap of faith.
1. Embrace the Simple Joy of Travel
The joy of new experience is the most wonderful thing about travel – and new experiences are free.
Travel frees you from the grind of daily routine. You will explore new places, meet new people, try new foods and learn things about the world – and yourself – that you never imagined were possible.
The joy of new experience is the most wonderful thing about travel – and new experiences are free. Walk the streets of a city. Stop and chat with a local. People watch in a public park. Climb to the top of a hill and watch the sun set over the ocean.
The simple joy of being in a new place is just a matter of…wait for it…going someplace new. No tour package required.
2. Keep Your Needs To A Minimum
The modern American economy is built on the false premise that people need to buy new goods and services all the time. Again, I call bullshit.
People need fresh air, healthy food, clean water, exercise, creative stimulation, companionship, self-esteem and a safe place to sleep.
All of these things are simple to obtain. Most of them are free.
For fresh air, go outside. For exercise, take a walk. For creative stimulation, go somewhere new. For companionship, make a friend. For self esteem, turn off your TV, breathe deep and open your spirit to the basic goodness of the world.
Things like food and shelter are much cheaper once you get outside the United States. See # 5 below for ways to obtain food and shelter for free.
3. Go Slow
Cambodian Coast . photo by Ryan Libre
If you live in New York and want to take a 2 week vacation to Africa, it will be very difficult (though not impossible, see number eight) to travel for free.
Indeed, as long as you believe that time is money, you will spend money all the time.
Time is not money. Time is free. You have all the time in the world.
Instead of buying a plane ticket, catch a ride out West, or remodel an old sailboat, or just hop on your bike and ride away from town. The slower you travel, the less money you will spend.
4. Leave Your Possessions and Obsessions Behind
When you travel, you don’t need to pay rent. You don’t need a car. You don’t need an oven, a washer-dryer, electricity, Cable TV, a gym membership, a sofa and loveseat or a closet full of clothes.
You don’t need a suit and tie to wear to your job because you don’t need a job. You don’t need to worry about paying the bills, because there are no bills to pay.
You are free.
5. Trust People and you will Receive Free Food and Lodging
Many people are willing to open their homes to travelers. Chip in with a few chores, and they will give you a free meal, too.
CouchSurfing and WWOOF are two phenomenal online networks that help travelers connect with local hosts. CouchSurfing members are willing to give travelers a place to sleep for a night or two. WWOOF connects travelers with organic farmers who want to trade room and board for an extra hand.
Many members of both CouchSurfing and WWOOF are seeking an alternative to high-impact consumer culture.
6. Learn a Useful Craft or Skill
If you have a skill, such as cooking, animal husbandry, massage, musical ability or basic carpentry, you can barter for free food and accommodation as you travel.
The slower you travel, the easier it will be to work out a mutually beneficial arrangement with a local community or host.
Universally appreciated skills like cooking are best, though niche skills that are in high demand, like website design, are also useful. Native English speakers can often travel the world for free by teaching language classes in each destination they visit.
The slower you travel, the easier it will be to work out a mutually beneficial arrangement with a local community or host.
7. Get Out of the City
Although it’s possible to travel for free in a big city, it’s damn difficult. Cities are built on money, and necessities like fresh air, clean water and a safe place to sleep are difficult to come by in cities.
Go to the country, where people are more relaxed, food is plentiful and there’s ample room for one traveler to lay out her sleeping bag under the stars.
8. Find A Job You Love That Entails Travel
If you need an income in order to pay off loans or support a child, find a job that calls for extensive travel. There are millions of jobs available in the global economy that demand travel.
Of course, some jobs are easier to love than others, and much work that involves travel also involves the destruction of local ecosystems and traditional ways of life. Avoid unethical work if at all possible – it is bad for your health and worse for your soul.
For job ideas, check out the Travel and Adventure jobs section here at the Traveler’s Notebook.
9. Embrace Serendipity
Traveling the world for free requires a blend of advance planning and the willingness to seize opportunities and go with the flow.
Does your new CouchSurfing friend want company for a drive across the country? Grab your pack and ride along! Does an organic farm in Thailand need a farm sitter for the rainy season? Get in touch with Christian Shearer!
As Kurt Vonnegut wrote, “Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.”
Go Dancing.
UPDATE: How does $1,200 per month to travel in summer 2009 sound? There’s no catch – check out The Roads Scholarship, which Matador is co-sponsoring with The Digital Vagabond.
UPDATE: Read a response to this article at Brave New Traveler – The Tao of Vagabond Travel
What are your tips for cheap or free round the world travel? Share in the comments!
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220 Comments... join the discussion!
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Janice,
I’m assuming you have never been to northern Canada either, there are hostels and jobs aplenty. Especially in the northern British Columbia and Alberta region, people are kind and friendly as most jobs can be simply procured by walking into a shop or restaurant. If you travel eastward you will find rural communities Native American reserves and many people willing to show you the “Canadian way” of being polite and welcoming.
As for sleeping under the stars all you need is basic survival skills, ie. how to make a fire how to catch game if you don’t bring your own sustenance and how to cultivate fresh water. Also a great thermal sleeping bag. Winter camping is an amazing activity and really helps you realize how much we can overcome by just facing our fears.
By the way this can all be done whilst having a secure job at your home base, an affordable flat to store belongings, and a leave of absence from your employer.
Try it out sometime you may realize life is a lot easier and more enjoyable than you make it up to be.
Good Luck↵ -
great advice tim i am going to try it out when i get some stuff together in a rucksack but i was just wondering how do i start to travel for free in the uk cos i am in edinburgh and it will be my first time doing something for myself for the first time let me know thanks
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It is really hard especially after you have kids.
I would say go traveling the world before you get married!Richard
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What an interesting article.
To address the issue of having a family and traveling, I would say it can be done – not as easily but you can still travel very cheaply, if you are organised and keep alert to what is going on around you.
I am a travel writer and have been traveling with my children since they were six weeks old. While I do travel for work and some of this is covered or contra-dealed, I have often traveled under my own finances with my children, including China, Spain, UK, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, NZ, etc.
Children break down barriers – the other side of the coin is that people feel safer to invite you – and we get asked to share meals, stay in places, travel in vehicles and so on, far more than when I travel alone.
I don’t always accept (and I don’t couchsurf with kids) as I consider and evaluate everything carefully in regard to safety. But we have shared priceless moments, laughter, shows, activities, meals, trips and visits with people from all over the world and in the process saved money and traveled cheaply.
I do have a partner and he stays at home:-)
So don’t use kids as an excuse. Children learn more from travel then in classrooms. At school? Pull them out for month or a year – they will return to formal study with applied knowledge of geography, maths, anthropology, botany, geology, economics, mechanics, society, social studies, zoology, food, sharing, relationships and the world.
Travel with them, be sensible and let them lead at times – you will be amazed!
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Great ideas…
Where’s the part that tells me how to get rid of my student loans so I can be free and travel without worry?
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You actually wouldn’t be getting rid of your student loans but if you call the provider and tell them that you need a forbearance, you can put your loans on hold for up to a year. I’ve had my student loans on forbearance ever since I graduated in 2004.
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does anyone know how i can start my travel from the uk in edinburgh cos i am stuck on how to travel from the uk
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So basically, do what I do.
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Travel for free means a very frugal existance , it also means getting rained on , sleeping in the same clothes you wore for a week , going hungry at times and freezing your arse off ion cold nights !
I live in Australia , I have travelled ALL over australia for free , but hey I know this place , it is my home ,country now .
Freegans are people whom eat for free by doing ” dumpster diving ” behind supermarkets when they throw out end of use by date food.
Hare Krisna welcome travellers to their comunes in exchange for labour , one gets free vegan nourishment and free accomodation. They are in almost every concievable location in A ustralia tourists would want to visit , even in the capital cities .
Homeless shelters like St Vincent De Paul and Salvation Army give free meals and accommodation with free laundry services,free telephone calls , free travel vouchers an limited cash when available and most importantly free medical !!!
Womens services are harder to come by as every one expects them to have a male companion to look after them . Single women are at peril of falling to vice to get by here , believe me Australia is not a good place to be with no money , they won’t even let you past customs at the airport if you cannot prove you have sufficient means to support yourself financially !!
Shipping lines offer free or paid travel in exchange for duties . Livestock carriers are always going to Arabic nations and Japan .↵ -
Tim.. thank you so much for your tips..
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Well, how can have a real practice? I like travel very much as some bad nights tryto go to sleep in dream of a travel. I think we can have a small group that members freindly help each other to travel to thier country. for example make invitation for visa, give a place at home and food and show the placesand beauties. I am really interested to share this possibility with whom has same opportunity. I think by this way it will be just the cost of travel that can be a flight or bike! you may feel interest please write me at aref@consultant.com I live in Iran (Tehran)
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I’m 16 and all I want to do with my life is travel, routine is something I can’t stand. All the way through my secondary school years I dreamt of leaving the classroom and travelling, obviously being too young and in compulsory schooling it just wasn’t possible. But now I’ve left school and I’m in college out of choice, everyday I think about quitting. It feels like the only time I’m happy is when I’m somewhere I’m not usually. The whole time I’m at home, on the train to college or in college I just day dream of being somewhere else. If I had someone who felt strongly about leaving this life for a life adventuring with no money with me, I would up and leave tomorrow but there is no one. Everyone’s very set on sinking into working and universities. I just wouldn’t feel comfortable travelling on my own. Any suggestions as to what I could do… or a way of finding a travel companion?
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Hey Robyn, I feel the exact same way. I just finished my Associate’s degree at community college and I feel that by continuing on that I will never get to be free and travel like the travel that is mentioned here, because after college I must find a job to pay off the student loans, etc etc. Getting caught in the mundane cycle of mere existence. I too wish I had someone that I could trek the globe with and be without a care, just as it is mentioned in the article. I would love to have friends all over the world that I could travel and visit and oh, man. This would be a dream come true, to just up and leave, and see the world as it really is, not a world through a travel agency.
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It does seem hard to find people to travel with, but if you jump out there on your own, its pretty easy to meet like-minded people at hostels etc and find others to travel with. And once you start travelling and meeting people, you’re set up for life – you’ll have people all over the world to visit and come visit you. But if you’re a bit freaked out about setting out on your own, try getting a job in your local area that attracts foreigners (the tourism industry, fruit-picking….) and you’ll probably meet people to travel with that way. Also, those are the kind of jobs that you don’t need to be tied down to for long.
I’m an incredibly shy 27-year old from NZ who has only done two 3-month stints of travelling but I have friends in Canada, the States, the UK, Ireland, Japan, Korea, China, and Argentina. These are friends I have made from travelling on tours together and working for a local tourism company.
I know this forum is about travelling on the cheap, but the money part is the bit that freaks me out the most. Maybe because the only travelling I have done is with a tour group, it has been very expensive and I spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about whether I can afford to do what I’m doing. I’m currently working as a teacher at home for 2 years to pay for my student loan, then plan to work my way around the world, probably as an English teacher. Big ups to those living the dream and already out there in the big wide world!!
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Hi Robyn
I think it’s great you have this adventurous spirit. But trust me when I say, don’t quit college, I’ll tell you why. Actually the best time to travel is while you’re in college, you get perks where ever you go with student discounts and offers. To me, the best approach is to plan.. very important to plan ahead. First I would finish a bachelors degree and give myself a travel reward – go backpacking somewhere new to you. After that, come back finish a masters if possible and do it again, reward yourself with traveling.
Now, why a degree is so important? The “key” is that a career will give you options that you wouldn’t have otherwise. Trust me, you want options and a safety net if you eventually decide to settle down.
By the way, there are hundreds of really cool careers out there that are fun, can help change the world and give you lots of travel opportunities.
Hope this helps↵ -
im a 25 , , i had to move from peru at 17 cos my parents desided to move to australia, it took 3 year for me to have the courage to make my backpack and actually travel back home to backpack for 3 months, sometimes if you have never done it , is better to do it at your country , or somewhere where they speak your language too.Since then i have being back 2 more times and have done 2 months in central america, plus up north here in australia in cairns,and i am hooked on it ,there are soooo much people out there doing it for years at a time, in groups, married couples, seniors,singles, young and old, i think there is no discrimitation of who can or cant do it,if you want it so badly take that first leap of faith and just go for it, you will never regret it, my friends always tell me they could never do what i do , that is to work for one year and then just quit and go traveling,but i see them 25-28 year olds working making money , to buy things they dont really need and up to the neck inresponsabilities to enjoy it, go out into the world and travel around cheaply(you will enjoy it more) till your broke, there will be other times to be be a responsible adult.enjoy
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Robyn,I could be ur travel mate,seriously
contact me if u like,friend
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Robyn,my email : babykilany@gmail.com
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Robyn, what country are you in?
The best advise anyone can give you is your own, don’t feel pressured into anything you don’t want to do. Get out of the system and enjoy your youth but stear clear of anything that can put your life in danger.
Dean↵ -
One better and easier..
Want to get paid doing it?
Join the Navy.↵ -
What about 66 old diabetic in retirement
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I really liked Point #2 — Keep you needs to a minimum. I totally agree with this. Point #5 about trusting people may be difficult for some people given what is going on in the world today. As long as you have a great attitude and a positive “vibe,” you’ll be all right.
If you want to travel for free, you could enter a ton of contests and hope you win. You could go on a game show like the Price is Right or Wheel of Fortune and try to win a trip! What about going on a walking tour? How about hopping in your car and just driving? I think about doing that all of the time. Then again, I would need gas in my car, so technically I would not be traveling for free.
Jono — How can you start your travel from Edinburgh in the UK? Have considered “house or flat (apartment) swapping?” BTW — I love the UK! Been to Edinburgh a few times…
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Lets get real here traveling around like a bum or hobo is not met with open arms these days. The worlds become a scary place to live and trust has to be earned big time, Id let a stranger stay with me Like id invite Charles manson to spend the night and any stranger could be just that .
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Hi Tim!!!
U really inspired me.
Let’s dance.Thk’s.
XOXOX. From Mexico.↵ -
Tim, fabulous post! Very thought provoking, as seen by the massive amount of comments haha.
I love your concept. And I’d love to try it sometime. Or at least adopt part of the ideas. I worked in the hotel industry for nearly a decade in my 20’s and travelled around British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba doing that. Learned a lot about local scenery and places – met some really interesting and colorful people. And of course I have some very fond memories of that time. I didn’t go to school and live in a dorm – instead I lived in staff housing and worked for big resorts. And I saw more of my own country than most do in their entire life. What a bang-on comment that was made in that regard. Most people don’t go further than a few hours from the very spot they were born and raised in anymore. And that’s true for Canadians as well. My own husband is a point in case there. He’d never been out of the Toronto area in his entire life until we went to visit my family in BC.
I think the point here to remember is that there is another way to travel. For the brave and the frugal-minded you CAN travel for free. The majority of your vehemant nay-sayers here simply refuse to admit the fact that you CAN do this, if you wanted. There is no “right” or “wrong” of it – as they seem to feel the need to point out (risks, dangers, disease and other havoc). Sure, there are risks. But Tim says his “reward” was experiencing a more vibrant and “true” local culture. And isn’t that his own opinion to have? Back off and smell the flowers people. Tim did.
Thanks for sharing Tim! Excellent article.
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Great travel tips here…oh, I do love to see the world, thanks.
Anyways, this is my first comment here.
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I am a school board member. I recently attended the National School Boards Association Annual Conference in San Diego. Because of the economic ownturn, many school boards (like mine) cannot afford to send school board members way across the country for a conference. I struck a deal with my school board that I would take care of the expenses (huge conference registration fee, hotel, food) if the board would take care of the transportation (mainly airfare). They agreed. To reduce transportation costs I drove to my sister’s house (near the airport) and had my brother-in-law take me to the airport (it costs 9.00 a day to park there and I would be gone 5 days). I found a hostel in downtown San Diego where I could stay for 22.00 a day (most hotels in the same area were charging 150.00 to 250.00 a night). I am not a picky eater and managed to eat virtually free, by taking advantage of sponsored luncheons at the conference, free breakfasts (cook your own pancakes at the hostel, and all the free coffee you could want, good coffee!). My total cost for the conference was the 100.00 approximately, for the hostel. I did have to drive 100 miles to my sister’s house each way. Downtown San Diego is spectacular. I live in the country but find cities fascinating, but costly. I believe living frugally should be the goal of all, since resources of the world are limited. I recorded a song and posted it on youtube about a guy losing his job. The current recession is causing everyone to adjust and think about living on less. Here’s the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7ThxgMGJBI
Scariest part of the hostel was a slighly demented roommate who babbled a bit. My wife was worried that my throat might get slit. I recommend travelling in twos whenever possible, the world is a dangerous place. The craziest things are happening everyday, things hardly imaginable.
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I forget to mention that I was able to attend the confernce without paying the expensive registration fee, I did it by going to the press room for the conference and explaining that I wanted to attend the conference as a freelance writer. I was granted a press pass which allowed me to attend all the conference activities. I took notes and pictures at every event I attended, and I am writing articles to be sent out to newspapers and magazines for publication. If I make any money from these articles, I will send the money to the national school boards association foundation.
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How about some moderation? Sleeping under the stars (or rainy clouds) isn’t for everyone but there are options – a middle way, if you will.
I have traveled many times in all parts of the world. I’ve stayed at the finest 5 star hotels and slept in a farmer’s bier (fortunately, the yak slept outside that night). I know the range of possibilities and here is my recommendation:
Stay at the low end, not the brothel or sleeping in the park until the cops come and kick you out low end, but the inexpensive traveler’s hostel, guest house, B&B, etc. Sure this will cost more than the ‘free’ route suggested but you can mix in the free opportunities as they emerge.
Avoid the middle whenever possible. These are usually hotels catering to local business travelers and are a marked step down in cultural experience. Skip the AC room hotel and stay at the guest house instead.
If you have the money, splurge for a special hotel from time to time, not the Hilton or other brand name, but say for the Lake Palace in Udaipur, India.
Work that extra month at home so you can afford to go to the museums.
I think Tim is mostly suggesting that you connect with local people and accept their hospitality. In exchange you should offer something back – usually something other than money is more comfortable for them but play it by ear.
For example, I stayed for free, along with several companions, in a long house in inner Borneo. We came unannounced and without a plan as to where to stay. Our contribution was to pay for liquor so the party was on essentially in our honor. While some of the clan got drunk the rest engaged us in various conversations using sign language (works everywhere except China for some reason). The stories I remember from this one night will never leave my mind.
Find a balance, be prepared to pay for inexpensive lodging and meals some of the time but be open to being someone’s guest.
Great suggestions, Tim!
Oh, as to the safety issue, pay attention. If your gut is giving you a warning, LISTEN to it. In general, however, on one trip of 14 months of continuous travel the only time I really felt at physical risk was once I was in London and back in the US. The rest of the time I only felt that my wallet was at risk.
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Robyn, I feel the exact same way like a million % of the time! i too, am a 16 year old longing to travel. i would love to travel with you!!! only, i dont know you, or where you live, or where you would travel.. so thats hard.
email me some time!↵ -
Some nice ideas and concepts, but some countries, including mine, are not safe enough for sleeping outside. The trouble with travelling like that is that you only take from the countries you go though without really giving. What incentive do poor local communities have to encourage tourism unless the tourists are prepared to pay their way? I do hear you about the bullshit consumerist culture though, but there is a middle road..
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Dean – I’m in the UK..
I’m also not very good at judging danger..
but thankyou.↵ -
thanks for your information.. i suggest you to travel to Indonesia especially to Bali island and yogyakarta cultural city, you can feel a heaven land beneath your feet..please check the beautiful bali island and yogyakarta.on internet and call me or contact me via facebook at
iwayansamayoga.fkugm@gmail.com
if you want to travel to indonesia. i will accompany you and make your travel like you are the indonesian people. make it very cheap and easy. thanks.
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Done this already, travelled from late 80s to late 90s. Wouldn’t advise anyone to try it nowadays as it is far to dangerous. If you are serious about travelling on your own get yourself recent editions of guide books such as rough guide and backpacker. They’ll give you a heads up on places to avoid for your own safety.
Plan for everything up to and including a first class flight ticket back home. Learn to speak at least one other language well enough to get by on. Eine grosse bier, deux croissant s’il vous plait or talking English slowly and loudly will get you nowhere very fast.
First thing to forget – it will not be romantic or fun 90% of the time, mostly it is tedious walking around finding somewhere to sleep or hanging around bus/train stations at really odd hours because that’s when the cheap tickets go.
You WILL get sick badly enough to need a bed for at least 3 days, you WILL run out of money for food/bills, you WILL be robbed and you WILL get bored out of your mind.
Expect to need a minimum of 30 American dollars a day, some days you”ll spend nothing others you’ll spend way more.
Make sure you have deposited a couple of thousand dollars in an internationally accessable account. Do NOT take credit cards or debit cards.
Your mobile will be the first thing to break followed by your laptop then your walkman/MP3 player whatever.
I loved my experiences, and would do it again at the drop of a hat. Met my future wife while travelling and am now settled in Hungary with two lovely boys and my own business. Everyone should travel but… never never think it will be sunshine all the way.
Anyone how thinks I’m being negative here needs to get their head examined.. I’m just stating the facts. As to the advice above (not comments) take them with a pinch of salt, most of them, from experience, are not true/realistic or viable. My favourite being the old chestnut about teaching English as you travel.. well yes you can do this and it does work. I did it as did both my two brothers and many other fun people we met while travelling.. we all had a few things in common though –
University degree, TESOL or TEFOL or TESL qualification (6 months to get or more, 1200 dollars) and experience of teaching
If you have all that you are set. Anyone who says different is lying to you or got a job at the shittiest language school getting paid peanuts for bad hours.
Good luck to all who travel.
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Travel is about expanding your horizons, both personal and geographical. This article presents ideas about how to do that. The people here who are trying to disparage the article/author obviously don’t understand that. It’s not a bad philosophy just because it can’t be applied by everyone.
I appreciate and embrace the messages of this article. Actually, most specifically, “time is free. you have all the time in the world”. While I don’t have quite that much time, I have rethought traveling to work and now go by bike & bus because I realized that I really don’t have to zoom back and forth, grinding gears and my soul the whole way. Now I just sit back and enjoy the scenery around me and if calamity or a rainstorm strikes, I will have a chance to test your theory about the kindness of strangers. In a way, by choosing this form of travel, I already am relying on the fact that the world will provide for me should I be in need.
It’s a lifestyle decision, to go more slowly and thoughtfully through the world and this is what I choose for my design.
Off on another tangent, the people who suggest an inverse proportion between distance from a city center and cultural awareness, education and hospitality are, statistically, correct. Nevertheless, simply allowing their own haughtiness and prejudice insulate them from a world of possibilities is not contributing anything to the world.↵ -
great article, thank you!
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Tim, FANTASTIC article, thank you! I have another good way to travel, and that is GETTING PAID! When I was 21, I left Canada on a Grey Hound to Florida to work on cruise ships. This was a great introductory to travel, having been to many of the islands, and to Mexico, Central America, and Alaska. Several years later, I am back in Canada working towards a BA with a double major in English, and Rhetoric, Writing, & Communications, in preparation for a (what I hope to be a life long) career teaching english overseas. I admit, it is not a rough method such as described in the article, but many of the tips are still applicable. It is a way to travel the world living in a different country every year, while at the same time stashing away a few dollars. For people who think that it is an impossible dream, it is not. It is all in the choices you have made your yourself, and your own life. You chose to have a career that allows your to travel or not, you chose the responsibility of owning a house and car that needs to be paid (if this be your situation), and you chose to have kids, and to travel or not travel with them. There are many ways to travel (as one response had pointed out), this is just one of them. If this method it not to your preference, then don’t send out hate comments, just go to a different travel site and do your research from there. Not everyone prefers the same thing, this is just one of the many options out there. Good luck to everyone who wishes to go somewhere and experience something new, I wish you all the best of luck!! Safe and happy travels to all!!
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Great!That article opened my eyes. I can’t wait summer holidays!
Thank you Tim!↵ -
I WANT TO TRAVEL TO UK TO LEARN BUT HOW CAN I GO THERE EASIER
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Good tips! Very insirational post!
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Very Very inspirational post. Thank u.
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Great article and very inspirational. I’ve traveled vagabond style to Panama and Costa Rica and have to say it was wonderful. I just got rid of 30 years worth of worthless stuff I’d been packing around and went to Florida for 4 months. It was great and I’m home in San Francisco saving up money to go again to somewhere. Great book to read is Vagabonding by Ralf Potts and also The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris. I wish well to all extended travelers.
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This is an interesting article that has many points people often look over. Life on the beach, fishing by day and hanging out with friends and family by night, is not so bad. Funny that so many pay for it, when you could just move and change your lifestyle to live in a vacation world all the time.
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Hello to allz! I love your post man! And this idea makes me feel good.I’m from Romania,i have 19 years old.If anyone thinks that can shelter me i will go by tomorrow
) . I’m looking for a companion to travel in nice places,and to discover great adventures. You can find me at vetriceh@yahoo.com Bye!↵ -
i love traveling. specially to new places that i’ve never known before. and i wanna do travel while i still alone. i wish to see western part of the world, like Russia, Turkey, Middle East countries. because i come for eastern country, i heard that those countries are beautiful. Has anyone been traveling there before?
how do i get visa for entering? can anyone help? thanks.↵ -
Me and my hubby love travelling and are planning to backpack in some countries soon. I find your site a big help for us. Thanks a lot!
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This was a good one.
I especially liked that: “Time is free” part.
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These are simple, obvious yet beautiful truths a la Huckleberry Finn. Would go well with some hard, practical advice like how to get around the world working on container ships or private sail-boats, flying courrier flights on the cheap, etc.
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Nice article. Thanks for the nice tips. I agree to all your points. You need not join the tour package. Learn to trust people when you are on a journey. The 8th point is very good.
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Hey, Dear one
it’s a great topic about travel the world. and I really want to travel the world with someone. but there’s no body around me. i am 28 years old. male. i am live in Suzhou China, I really want to quit the job and go travel. travel the world. I don’t know how to start and I have no much money and glad to read this article. I am afraid to travel alone. so i want to find some one to go with me, any one of you is welcome~
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I’ve recently started to do a little research on traveling around the world. this becomes especially ture when i think about how i’m tied down to my job. i really just want to just sell everything, pack everything i own in a backpack and go. i especially want to travel around asia. i want to stay long enough in each city to fully experience the culture, the language, and the food. how awesome would it be to not be tied down to a schedule.
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I love making friends and I wanna travel the world for free,anyone who has the same idea please contact me at any time,maybe we can make it come true together cos we are intelligent
my email : babykilany@gmail.com
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Thats Great!
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Very true about the American media portraying travel as an expensive luxury. Save some more expensive pockets of the planet (mainly Western Europe and Japan), traveling the world is possible for a tiny fraction of what it costs to live in a major U.S. city. Here’s a quick monthly breakdown:
Typical American City Living
1. Monthly rent in NY/Boston/Wash D.C.: $1200 minimum! (usually higher)
2. Cable/Interent/Utilities: $200 (To watch people on T.V. traveling, and read this)
3. Entertainment/Eating Dinners/Going out :$500(An $8 beer in Manhattan tastes the same as a $1 beer in Thailand)Typical travelers budget in a low cost country:
1. Monthly Rent $300 (Hostels are CHEAP!!! and usually very comfortable.
2. Cable/Interenet Utilities: FREE (Save the once in a while trip to the internet cafe)
3. Food $150. (And that’s not just street food. A nice sit-down meal in most countries is a fraction of he cost in a major U.S. City.)
4. Enertainment: FREE!!! Like the author says, just being a new place walking around, engaging all of your senses, is all you should need.↵ -
Thanks for tips
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great advise i want to try it out its just none of mates want 2 they all want 2 get jobs and go 2 college and i dont really want to travel by myself im a 17yr old male from the uk but i guess i should just take a leap of faith and go see the world even if it is by myself
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ashley…take the leap! if it’s not for you, you’ll know quickly…but, i’m sure the sense of discovery will keep you on the road. i got caught up for WAY too long in thinking careers and leases and land and dirt were something to be owned and identified with. that’s complete illusion. the treasures and wonders of the world are there for a reason…for us to enjoy, use, behold. to lock yourself up in an apt. in say, new york city for 27 years, isn’t necessarily the best thing for everyone.
since i let go of holding on last year or so, i haven’t felt so alive and at liberty FOR REAL…maybe ever?
hope this helps…if it’s not for you you’ll come right back…there’s always coming back. i can’t count how many people are waiting for me to come back … but, to what? they have no idea what the world’s got for us…go find some for yourself. you’ll always wonder what if, if you don’t.
kevin (on the road)
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Thats exactly how i felt when i read this article and i showed one of my friends, who tbh was most likely to like the idea but she said she wants to go uni before she does any traveling so thats in about 4 years time she’ll be done studying. i can’t wait for her.
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yea it is nice traveling the world without transportation but there are some places you cant get to by just walking. traveling from north america to europe is gonna require a boat of some sort. and if you live in the united states you would either travel by plane or boat as i mentioned before since its just more easier seriously. transportation is not a bad thing its there to help you out. its may not be the nartural way but some things in life you just gonna have to deal with.
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