For all of those who find it difficult to comprehend how I travel on a student budget:
Though I may not have come from a line of rich fellas, and though my separated family didn’t make it easy to raise 3 kids… there is always something called hard work and determination.
No, I’m not rich. No, I didn’t take out a loan. And no, I’m not taking money from my family.
Every step of this journey I have paid for out of pocket. Every journey I’ve experienced is because I worked hard to get there.
How to Travel Cheap When You’re Not a Blogger
South Africa
I won a blogging competition to blog for Hosteling International throughout my backpack adventure. I spent effort and time working on a long winded essay which proved myself worthy of winning this trip.
Nunavut
It might be a $2,000 flight out of Ontario but what most people don’t realize is that you will make that money back in a week if you play your cards right up in the North. I decided to work a minimum wage job but still… making $15/hour, it was easy to pay off the money I had spent on a flight and then some. All this and also having the opportunity to spend quality time with my nephew.
Thailand
My last semester of school, I knew I wanted to do something memorable but I just didn’t have the budget to do so. First semester I took an intern position close to home which allowed me to save the money I would have spent on rent, groceries, etc. Second semester came along, I didn’t have a rental house, I didn’t want to move back to school and an opportunity came up… for 7 grand I could get a condo, Thai studies and a 4 month trip across South East Asia. I actually spent less money in my fourth year than any of the passed 3 years given that Thailand is much cheaper.
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Hong Kong
These are all countries I had the opportunity to visit while studying abroad. I usually found flights as cheap as $60 so can you blame me? Anyone in South East Asia would.
Germany, France, Switzerland, Netherlands
After an amazing year traveling abroad while studying my fourth year at school, I met some incredible friends and one absolutely incredible man. I’m sure most people have heard that the more you travel, the more people you meet, the more opportunity you have to travel and visit these friends. Well… Paul, Till and Samir were a great catch back in South Africa and since I had the time to visit and a thousand bucks in the bank for a flight, why not? You get accommodation with your friends and get to experience the lives they live.
Like many, I worked hard to get where I am today and I can officially title myself a ‘google whore’. You would be amazed at what opportunities you can find via Google if you dedicate a whole day to surfing the web!
I’m no expert at saving money, I’m not a rich world traveler. I am a normal person, with a small budget, a passion to travel and a talent to travel cheap. It can be done, it has been done. So…. For every one of you that comes up to me and says “I wish I could have come with you.. But I’m broke”… Follow my advice, get off your butt, quit your job and COME WITH ME! There is plenty of time for work when you’re older. I am 21 years old and still on a hunt for adventure!
The first step towards getting somewhere is deciding that you are not going to stay where you are. Offers up! It is possible to travel cheap.
