How to See the World on $25 a Day or LessARTOFTRAVEL.COM

 

 

How to Save on Travel Expenses


Of course many backpackers aren't going anywhere unless they go dirt cheap. Harken the Earl of Somewhere: "It is much, much better to traveleth cheapeth, than to traveleth not-eth at all."

If you have a low budget don't spend a big percentage of your wad on gear. You'll be happier without expensive stuff that may be lost or stolen, and have more money in your pocket for what's really important, like food, accommodation, and beer. You can probably get by with whatever you have.

I imagine there are many would-be travelers who spent so much on gear they didn't have enough left for the trip. Besides, in the budget backpacker subculture the cheaper you go, the higher your status.

My First Pack

...was a cheaply-made external frame bought at a garage sale for two bucks. Its brand new, full retail price was probably about $19.99, so it was no great bargain. But I knew if I spent money on gear I wasn't going to have enough for travel, and I didn't know what I wanted anyway.

Its frame broke five weeks into the journey, but I fixed it just fine with rope. (I didn't have any duct tape.) While it wasn't exceptionally pretty to look at, I had few worries about anyone stealing it. After three months of grand adventure its seams were busting and the rest was fraying, so it was retired with honors, a heroic, cheesy-little-backpack if ever there was one.


Photo: Age-old footpaths are the greatest!

Age-old footpaths are the greatest

 

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How to See the World on $25 a Day or Less is copyright © John Gregory 1995, 1996, 1997. Except for personal use (like showing to a friend), it may not be reproduced, retransmitted, archived, or altered without author permission (
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