Travel the World.... For Free (Part 2)

Anyone who knows me even a little knows I have an obsession with culture. I am fascinated by the different ways people think, dress, act, move, eat, sleep, work, play, etc. And yet I have never been out of the country.

But we all know travel is expensive. I see it all the time; my fellow students saving up for years to go on study abroads. Hotels, food, airfare, souvenirs, attraction entrance fees, taxis, all require huge sums of money it takes months or years to save.

But I have decided I'm going to see the world for free (or incredibly cheap ;) )

Presumptuous! yes. Bold! definitely. Unsafe! probably. Impossible! no.

How? You ask! Well I'm still working out the details. But I will give you the frame work I have come up with.

Bethany's 5 Principles of How to See the World for Free

1. Travel with Purpose

The first and most important question you need to ask yourself is "Why do I want to travel?" If your answer is "I want to see all the major tourist attractions of Europe in 7 days or less" than I cannot help you. You will fork out thousands of dollars. If your answer is "to learn", "to have adventures", or "to experience a new way of life" than just maybe, you could pull it off.

2. Move Slowly

The slower you travel the cheaper it is. plane > train > taxi > bus > bike > foot . As long as you believe that time is money, you will spend money all the time. Time is not money. Time is free. You have all the time in the world.

Instead of buying a plane ticket, catch a ride out West, or remodel an old sailboat, or just hop on your bike and ride away from town. The slower you travel, the less money you will spend.

3. Leave Possessions and Obsessions Behind

Redefine your needs and wants. Physical needs are as follows.

1. Clean water
2. Healthy Food
3. Clothing
4. Safe place to sleep

Nothing more. Nothing less. Everything else is a want.

4. Embrace Serendipity

You will not stick to your itinerary, and all your nicely planned days and tourist activities will probably not work out. But you will have adventures.

As Kurt Vonnegut wrote, “Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.”

Go Dancing.

5. Trust in the Inherent Goodness of the Human Race

If you don't talk to strangers you will die. Talk to strangers. Contrary to what you learned in first grade most of the people of the world are inherently good, are trying to do their best, and will be willing to help you if you let them.