Tourism is undoubtedly one of the most thriving industries and important sources of income for most countries: around one billion people travel abroad every year for leisure reasons, and neither pandemic outbreaks (such as Avian flu or Ebola), nor international conflicts or the recent Islamic terrorist threat seem to have discouraged tourists in the least.
However, the intersection between a gradually higher cost of living and a steadily lower standard of living (due to unemployment, limiting family expenses, government cuts and worse working conditions) has rendered tourism almost an unaffordable luxury for the average Joe (many a time we have heard someone say- or said ourselves- "man, I simply don't have enough money to travel")
Anyway, even if you're one of those who have given up on the idea of travelling- or at least, travelling widely-, it's time to change your mind, if you are willing to do without certain commodities. Yes, my friend, welcome to the concept of shoestring-budget travel.
Low-cost airlines and increasingly diverse accomodation options (youth hostels, Air BnB, etc.) have made domestic and international travel considerably cheaper, but even if that is too expensive for you, there are countless ways to travel around the world for virtually NOTHING:
Want to reduce accomodation costs to the minimun? Why not house-swap? Or, if you're not too picky about sleeping tight, intimacy or complete comfort, why not trying couch-surfing? These two options have something in common, though: you need something (i.e.: a place of your own) to offer in return. If that is not the case, and your assets are practically none, you can always house-sit (if you cannot afford a vacation, just watch someone's house while they go on theirs), volunteer (through some NGO, teaching languages, etc.) or work abroad (popular jobs include Au-pair, hotel worker, waiter/waitresses or, in some places, farm worker).
You can also save in travelling costs in several manners: hitchhiking (or carpooling if that sounds too risky), crew a yacht or cruise ship-provided you have any skills the seamen could actually take advantage of) or- one of the most creative ones-, transport other people's vehicles.
Once in your desired destination, and in trying to keep faithful to the spirit of a genuine shoestring-budget traveller (that is, spending as little money as possible) you can benefit from free-walking tours and not miss must-see spots. Cooking your own meals (most guesthouses, camping sites and hostels have kitchens) or packing sandwiches, salads or whatever does not require actual stove cooking will suppose a considerable saving (from 70 to 90% of money spent on eating).
As you see, there are numerous alternatives if you're broke or short on money. The thing is that most of them are not likely to sound extremely attractive for the majority of would-be travellers. "The problem is that for many people, travelling is not a priority and they have not still realized" says Andrea Gourgy, an experienced low-budget traveller, "I have an average paying job, yet I manage to save enough money to travel, because I made travelling a priority, sacrificing going shopping clothes or the latest electronic gadget, which, next to the lifelong experiences that travelling and knowing other cultures and meeting great people everywhere provide, do almost nothing for me". Andrea has learned as well to enjoy all the modest means inherent to shoestring-budget travel "accommodation or transport are just a means to a greater end, which I mentioned before: travelling and knowing, and meeting...".
If you, like me, are not ready to take your pleasure for travelling that far and demand at least some minimum standards of comfort (one is miserable enough at work, right?) to be able to disconnect during your holidays it's probably because we're more of a tourist than of a traveller type.
The older I get the more of a tourist I become !
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