How To: A Cheap, Cheap Trip Around the World

I did the grad school thing. I did the work thing. But at 25 I was feeling restless and incomplete.  Already two years into a career path that would chain me to a life of florescent lights, flimsy cubicle walls, and a daily routine that twenty years down the line, everyone seemed to be miserable with, I decided enough was enough.

I spent a few hours at a local bookstore browsing the travel section and dreaming of adventures in far off countries that most people had never heard of. But it was the title of a Rough Guides book that got me really excited. The title, First-Time Around the World, called out to me and without even thinking, I bought it.  The universe had just dropped fate into my lap.

Two months later, I was on a flight to Bangkok.

I had $6,000 in my bank account, a one-way ticket to Bangkok, no plan, and no ticket home. In a nutshell, here’s how I did it.

Food
Food is a central part of travel and I’d never suggest skimping on meals. However, when you’re on a tight budget you might find yourself gorging boxes of stale crackers and bananas to get you by. Many places around the world have exceptional food sold from vendors on the streets, on trains, and at bus stops for a fraction of the cost charged at a restaurant.  Choose a vendor that is popular with the locals and you’ll likely have some  food that tastes like its worth a whole heck of a lot more.

Most villages and towns will have a market at least once a week and so I’d make sure to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables that I could munch on for a few days. Apples, carrots, and oranges travel well.

Bring a Frisbee. I kept one strapped to my pack and used it just about everyday. It makes a great plate and there’s nothing better than a breakfast of fresh tropical fruit salad from a plastic Frisbee plate. Plus, tossing a Frisbee around with local kids is a great way to win some smiles and laughs.

Transportation
Look for independent transportation options. Some places like South East Asia are well developed for backpackers and it’s hard to find a better deal than Vietnam’s open bus tickets that can get you from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi for just $20. Rent a moped. Hop on a local transport boat. Stick out your thumb.

Hitch hiking is a great option in many places where public transit doesn’t exist or where your tiny budget just isn’t quite cutting it. You’re guaranteed to meet some colorful local personalities, exchange a few laughs, and while it might take you a few extra hours or days to get to your destination, you’ll meet lots of great folks along the way.

Non-Traditional Accommodations
I found alternatives to hotels and hostels as much as possible. I decided against bring camping equipment with me since I didn’t want to deal with the bulk and extra weight. Many hostels and smaller hotels offer a camping option for considerably less than a dorm or private room and some even let you use their equipment. I used Couchsurfing more than anything else. Hospitality Club is a similar program, but I found that there were CouchSurfers just about everywhere I went, so I never bothered signing up.  With a bit of planning (hosts like to have a few days advanced notice), you can stay with locals pretty much anywhere in the world for free. Also check out CrashPadder for inexpensive home-stays around the world.

WWOOF
Being on the move constantly can get exhausting, and I found that after a few months, I began to crave routine. Work exchange programs, like WWOOF and Help Exchange, provide free accommodations and meals in exchange for a few hours of work. Plus it’s a nice a break from the non-stop backpacker lifestyle. Many of the places with available placements are in great locations that are easy to explore during your time off. Because you don’t actually earn money, you shouldn’t need a work permit, but double check to be safe.

Ditch the Guide Book Advice and Get Lost
Rather than hopping on a Lonely Planet suggested tour or paying a company to show me around, I’d get my hands on a map of the area (sometimes!), rent a bike, and go. This would typically involve getting lost, but many of my best memories are of the times I spent with strangers who I met while wandering through a village, tromping through a banana tree plantation, or at the local temple.

Talk to People
This one seems obvious, but I was surprised at how many backpackers stick together, follow the quide book’s suggested itineraries, and don’t ever really leave their comfort zone. Talk to the young mother sitting next to you on the bus, or that university student who engages you in conversation wanting to improve their English.  It can be easy to get jaded by the touts trying to sell you tours and hotel rooms and crappy bracelets. But the people you meet when you offer up a friendly hello!, may very well change the course of your travels. I stayed with a family in Vietnam for a week after meeting them on a bus, went to a wedding in Tanzania after striking up a conversation in Swahili over tea,  and spent a few days rock climbing in southern China with local climbers after offering to share my plate of snails. Friendliness will really take you places.

Budgeting
Learn the art of budgeting. After a few days in a country you’ll figure out what’s realistic, set a budget and stick to it. I kept all of my money in a credit union back home, and pulled out a couple hundred dollars every few weeks. I’d usually keep the majority of my money buried deep inside my backpack, and only carried in my wallet what I’d need each day. I also kept $100 in US currency duct taped to a hidden pocket on the inside of my bag, just in case I got into trouble, ran out of money, etc..

Check with your bank to see how much they charge for international ATM withdrawals, and find a bank that charges less than $2, otherwise you’ll waste a lot of money paying stupid administrative fees every time you need money (Credit Unions are usually a good choice).

Country by country, this is what my daily budget looked like:

Note: These numbers include the basics, like food, accomodation, and transportation, as well as visas, camera repairs in Thailand, scuba diving in Mozambique, white water rafting in Uganda etc….

Intercounty Flights

• San Francisco – Bangkok: Cathay Pacific Flight $554
• Bangkok – Calcutta: Jet Airways $247
• Mumbai- Nairobi: Kenya Airways Flight $512
• Nairobi-San Francisco: Qatar Airways Flight $1,236

Post Tagged with Africa, budget travel, India