The first thing people usually ask me when they find out
that I’ve taken a year off to travel is --- “How did you do it?” “How much
money did you need?” or “How did you acquire the money to pay for it?”
I don’t blame them. That’s usually the first thing I ask someone when I find out they’re traveling like me… Some of the people I’ve met on the road have been living a vagabond lifestyle for 2, 4, 10 years even! Now THAT’S impressive!
There have been so many articles and blog posts that come out, claiming to teach you ways on how to “Travel For Free”. In my opinion, that’s false advertising. I mean, come on! Let’s get real! If you want to travel, you’re going to *have* to shell out some cash at some point! Plane tickets, transportation, food, etc…
No, no, no. The question should not be – “How do I travel for free,” but “How can I afford to travel?” Or, “How can I stretch my dollar when I travel?” Or – if you want to get really straightforward about it… “How do I travel on the cheap?”
No, people. I am not rich. Rich in experience, friendship and love… yes. In cash? No. What I am is practical and resourceful. I’ve met so many other travelers on the road who have been on the road for yeaaars… Everyone has a different strategy… Everyone has a different story. And this? This is mine.
I don’t blame them. That’s usually the first thing I ask someone when I find out they’re traveling like me… Some of the people I’ve met on the road have been living a vagabond lifestyle for 2, 4, 10 years even! Now THAT’S impressive!
There have been so many articles and blog posts that come out, claiming to teach you ways on how to “Travel For Free”. In my opinion, that’s false advertising. I mean, come on! Let’s get real! If you want to travel, you’re going to *have* to shell out some cash at some point! Plane tickets, transportation, food, etc…
No, no, no. The question should not be – “How do I travel for free,” but “How can I afford to travel?” Or, “How can I stretch my dollar when I travel?” Or – if you want to get really straightforward about it… “How do I travel on the cheap?”
MYTH BUSTED
People usually assume that I can travel long term like this because I’m loaded. Richie Rich kind of rich. Even my own father thinks I’m wealthy! It’s hilarious, because they couldn’t be more wrong! I’m too cheap to even pay for my own hair cut (I found a salon that cuts bangs for free). As a matter of fact, at this moment, I am writing this blog post on a bus as I am journeying from Cardiff to London. I could have taken the train, which is a quicker, more comfortable option… but I opted for the longer, more grueling bus ride, even if I suffer from motion sickness… because the bus fare was only 3 GBP, as opposed to the train’s 30 GBP cost.No, people. I am not rich. Rich in experience, friendship and love… yes. In cash? No. What I am is practical and resourceful. I’ve met so many other travelers on the road who have been on the road for yeaaars… Everyone has a different strategy… Everyone has a different story. And this? This is mine.
I SAVED
It’s not as exciting as finding out I had a rich great grandfather that magically left me his entire fortune on his will. Really, it was simple. I prepared for this trip, and I saved. In September of 2012, I gave my company a 6 month notice. I said I was leaving by the end of March 2013 to travel. I was completely moved out of my apartment by the end of the month, sold and donated all of my stuff, and I was Couchsurfing with my friend, Wriss, by October.
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| Moving Out! |
The money I would have used for rent just went straight to my travel fund. Add the money I got from selling all my furniture… Plus my tax refund… Plus the little cash I had saved up before I even thought about doing this… Put it all together, and I had roughly --- $18,000.
For a year, that’s not a lot. Research tells me I’d have needed at least $35,000 to survive for one whole year. Well… I wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t a little stubborn or defiant. I was going to make $18,000 work. And so far, 9 months in… I’m still alive! The funds are draining, sure… but I’m still within budget!
I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY ALL OVER
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| The Sydney Clan! |
This is true. I have a BIG family in Sydney, a friend from church in Auckland, a friend from college in Wellington, a friend from high school in Japan, a sister in Japan, friends from college in Dubai, a friend from church in Dubai, and best friends from all over the UK! And now that I’ve been traveling for a while, I’ve made even MORE friends… So when I go to Spain, I’ll be set. When I go to Brazil, I’ll be set. When I visit Peru, I’m golden.
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| With my friend, Tina the Desert Fox in Dubai |
I’m SO lucky to be surrounded by such amazing and generous people in my life. Every single one of my friends and family that I’ve stayed with have been great hosts to me, and I’m so looking forward to the ones I have yet to visit.
When I had my own apartment, I was a really good hostess too. I’d like to believe this is my good karma for being awesome. :)
COUCHSURFING
It’s safe, I promise. Just be smart about it, as with anything else. I’ve only
had very positive experiences in Couchsurfing, and I plan to do more of it in
South America this year! What I usually do is send my requests weeks in
advance. I choose the hosts based on their reviews by other surfers, and I go
as far as contacting those surfers to give me the real deal on the hosts ---
just to be 100% sure. |
| This is the house of my first host in New Zealand. BEAUTIFUL, right? |
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| This is me, my new friend and fellow couchsurfer, Dulce, and our host, Karen. |
Be a good surfer as well by offering to cook for your hosts. It’s just polite… and a great way to show your appreciation for their hospitality. Don’t treat it as just a free bed – hosts hate that. Remember that a lot of these people open their homes to travelers for a reason… and mostly it’s because they like meeting and getting to know people from different cultures too! Swap travel and adventure stories and etc. So be sociable and polite! This earns you great reviews, which will make it easier for you to Couchsurf in the future. :)
HELP EXCHANGE/ WORKAWAY
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| My hosts, Franco and Martina from The Shanti House in Italy |
I’ve had 5 different Help Exchange experiences in those 3 countries and I’ve had an amazing time in all of them. I’ve honestly learned SO much, about the work, about the country and their culture, and about myself… AND I’ve gained SO MANY amazing new friends from it.
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| My friends/fellow volunteers from La Preghiera in Perugia, Italy |
Honestly, it’s the best thing since sliced bread. You work for a few hours a day… you stay and eat for
free… so you therefore save money! I’ve even had instances where my hosts gave
me some pocket money to spend on booze! Haha! How cool is that? :) Seriously though… if
you have time and are willing to just work it… DO THIS. Use HelpX or Workaway…
either one works. Different organizations, same purpose. Go to their website, sign up, pay the fee
(around 25 USD membership fee for 2 years), and start searching for your future
hosts.
Just DO IT. It’s amazing. I promise!
I LOVE staying at hostels. It’s just SO EASY to make friends when you’re there,
especially for solo travelers like myself. They are SO MUCH FUN… There’s always
something going on, like an organized tour… or themed nights… or group
activities… You’ll never be bored. If you do, it’s your fault. And it’s SO
CHEAP. Cheapest hostel I’ve been in only charged 11 USD a night. And it was
decent!
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| With my fellow volunteers at The Overstay Hostel in Israel |
I STAY AT HOSTELS
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| This was my hostel in Santorini. Caveland. 13 euro a night. |
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| These guys were my roommates at my hostel in Rome |
I mean let’s be honest… when you
travel to new destinations, how much time do you actually spend indoors anyway?
In my opinion, as long as the bed and the bathroom is clean, no matter what the
size, and no matter how many people are in the room with me (I’ve been in a 30
bed dorm), all is right in the world.
It is in hostels that I get to jam and share my ukulele-ing skillz with people too! Most of them have common rooms or lounges where people just hang out… I’ve been to a few who have musical instruments lying around for anyone to pick up and play too! I love it when musical numbers spontaneously combust out of the guests… And I love being able to jam or sing along. Music brings people together…
It is in hostels that I get to jam and share my ukulele-ing skillz with people too! Most of them have common rooms or lounges where people just hang out… I’ve been to a few who have musical instruments lying around for anyone to pick up and play too! I love it when musical numbers spontaneously combust out of the guests… And I love being able to jam or sing along. Music brings people together…
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| An impromptu jam session in my hostel in Oban, Scotland |
If this isn’t your style and you’d rather stay at a private room – you can do that at hostels too. And their prices are still cheaper than booking a room at a hotel.
FUN FACT: Just 2 minutes ago, I booked a 3 night stay at a hostel in Portugal. My total cost for three nights was about 8 pounds cheaper than my 5 mile cab ride in London earlier.
I TRAVEL SLOW
It is a fact that if and when you travel slower, you save
more money. It’s the better way to travel anyway, because that’s the only way
you could get acclimatized to the culture properly. I was in Italy for about 6
weeks, a month in Greece and another month in Israel.
When Karen and I did my birthday Eurotrip in March of 2012, we visited 5 countries in 2 weeks. Our money was well spent just on transportation costs alone… and I probably spent more in those 2 weeks all over Europe than I did in all three months of Italy, Israel and Greece combined.
I guess enjoying your trip depends on your travel personality. I used to love the fast paced travel I used to do… One to three days per country, then boom… on to the next. It was exhausting, but it was fun. But then all you ever really get to do is be a tourist.
When you spend a good amount of time in a particular place, you’re not just a tourist – you become an actual traveler… Because then you get to interact with the locals more… learn about their food… their language… participate in their culture… And it’s really great. It’s such a great feeling… to feel like you are included and you belong in a place that isn’t your home. Before you know it, you’ll get invited into their homes for anywhere from good conversation to good food to a nice warm bed (for SLEEPING, ok??)
I’ve definitely been able to hold on to the little cash that I have by spending a longer period of time in the places that I visit. You should try it too!
When Karen and I did my birthday Eurotrip in March of 2012, we visited 5 countries in 2 weeks. Our money was well spent just on transportation costs alone… and I probably spent more in those 2 weeks all over Europe than I did in all three months of Italy, Israel and Greece combined.
I guess enjoying your trip depends on your travel personality. I used to love the fast paced travel I used to do… One to three days per country, then boom… on to the next. It was exhausting, but it was fun. But then all you ever really get to do is be a tourist.
When you spend a good amount of time in a particular place, you’re not just a tourist – you become an actual traveler… Because then you get to interact with the locals more… learn about their food… their language… participate in their culture… And it’s really great. It’s such a great feeling… to feel like you are included and you belong in a place that isn’t your home. Before you know it, you’ll get invited into their homes for anywhere from good conversation to good food to a nice warm bed (for SLEEPING, ok??)
I’ve definitely been able to hold on to the little cash that I have by spending a longer period of time in the places that I visit. You should try it too!
AND THERE YOU HAVE IT
ladies and gents! All the secrets have been revealed! My
life is an open book, and now you know EVERYTHING. It’s anticlimactic, isn’t
it? There’s no stealth here… no foul play… no undisclosed bank account in the
Cayman Islands… Every penny that I used
on this trip, I’ve acquired through perseverance and hard work. No mumbo jumbo
of any kind…
At the moment though, I’m trying to come up with ways to actually make some money while I’m on the road. And there *are* a few options I can explore… I’m just waiting for the right opportunity to come along… Something that I’d be comfortable with, and something that I’d be good at. So if you guys have any ideas for me, please, by all means… Hit me. :)
Meanwhile… I hope this post helped those of you who are thinking of taking a trip… big trip, small trip, doesn’t matter… The point is, I hope this very practical “revelation” has encouraged you to go for it… because now you’ll know it doesn’t really take a fortune to be able to do something like this. If you have some money saved up, even if it’s not as much as what I started with… maybe you can take off just for a few months and see where it takes you.
Just remember… that travel is never a matter of money, but of courage. So be brave, little one. There’s a big and beautiful world out there. Go out and explore. :)
At the moment though, I’m trying to come up with ways to actually make some money while I’m on the road. And there *are* a few options I can explore… I’m just waiting for the right opportunity to come along… Something that I’d be comfortable with, and something that I’d be good at. So if you guys have any ideas for me, please, by all means… Hit me. :)
Meanwhile… I hope this post helped those of you who are thinking of taking a trip… big trip, small trip, doesn’t matter… The point is, I hope this very practical “revelation” has encouraged you to go for it… because now you’ll know it doesn’t really take a fortune to be able to do something like this. If you have some money saved up, even if it’s not as much as what I started with… maybe you can take off just for a few months and see where it takes you.
Just remember… that travel is never a matter of money, but of courage. So be brave, little one. There’s a big and beautiful world out there. Go out and explore. :)
