it's a toughie! with that in mind, do not shop at regular supermarkets. Try to find instead whe real marketplaces where fresh produce is sold. It's a LOT cheaper, and a zillion times better (no chef would be cought dead shopping elsewhere). And they're very colorful places too

water bottles can easily be refilled in drinking fountains found on almost all cities and towns in europe (and the water is OK).

Don't go during summer.

Have a blast and I hope you can make it

Someone should create a Vagabonds manifesto or something. Salmo's post should be included, very important point.

I completely agree with Salmo as well. I feel that with this type of travel you should have a good bit of common sense and a good bit of street sense as well. You should be considerate of your host and their culture - and any obligation they may feel for giving you a place to stay/food.

I was raised in north east Texas and am very much accustomed to southern hospitality. I was raised in such a way that if someone has you for dinner or invites you to stay the night - you help do the dishes or you help with some of the daily chores.

I enjoy helping out wherever I can, whenever I can. I think this will add to my potential experiences. I hope that wherever I stay - I can repay my gratitude with some sort of labor.

I would never impose on a family that is needy or wanting - at least not for food. I would have no problem pitching a tent in their yard for a night if they offered.

MB

I know a woman who arrived in Mexico with 1500 dollars and lived there for 4 months travelling around, spending no more than 500 dollars.

She flirted her way around Mexico, getting rides, and getting raped once, she told me. I was with her and it was exhilarating. The owner of a ranch put us up, took us on horseback riding trips, and let her know quite frankly he wanted some alone time with her. She dodged that bullet, I think, but I have to imagine there were bullets she could not dodge.

Still, she was from the Csech republic, had practically no money to travel on, and wanted to keep on travelling. She did what she had to. Its not a path I would choose, even if I was a good looking woman.

It's amazing what people are capable of when put to the test. I prefer to travel very frugally, but always with a saftey net at the bottom of my pack. I have no problem accepting the generosity of others, so long as i always at least offer to pay them back some way. If i didnt offer, then i'd be expecting a free ride. That's just not right. Is it possible to travel anywhere for next to dirt cheap? absolutely. will it be comfortable? perhaps not. will you enjoy it? I can almost guarantee it. hitchhiking, biking, meeting random people - just think of the opportunities you'll get! to see the true culture that surrounds you, normally overlooked by the 'discount' tour booth. Where ever i go, be it 1000+ miles away, or 90 min to nyc, i do all i can to get as far away from the tourist pits. (btw- thx again for the east village barhopping lg!)

yes, sure you can live on $5 a day if u dont:
-go to movies, museums or art (Europe has the best art museums in the world)
-use internet
-have to pay for any transportation in mayor cities (Paris can be pretty damn big by walk or even bike)
-get sick
-meet a girl and want to buy a drink or condoms
-go out to have fun

the truth is that u are going there with the idea of getting to know something, a city, a museum, a culture, but if u are only going to be thinking in the money that u will have to spend u better stay at home with Uncle Sam and watch it on Travel Channel.
man, u are going to cross the fucking Atlantic Ocean and dont pay the $20 that cost the entrance to the Louvre? or go out for a drink with a pretty swedish girl and have sex on the beach with her because u want to "save $"? forget it, not in my time life.
if u are going to do something u better do it right or dont do it at all.

This has been discussed before. It's more of a mental exercise than anything else. The idea is "can it be done?" (without stealing, mooching, begging, etc.) and the answer is probably yes, though it would be difficult. Essentially it's a question designed to stimulate creative ideas on how to save money.

As for me, my general Asian travel budget is set at averaging $20/day ("averaging" being a key word here"). So if I wanted to see, say, an evening of Thai boxing in Bangkok (also US$20 entry fee), I would, theoretically, "save up" for it by surviving on lower budgets for a few days.

Bubbha,
Thats kinda what I was thinking. The biggest thing I think I would regret missing would be some nice dinners out - or of course the Swedish girl thing. I have no interest in the Louvre, Hermitage, or any other art musuem or attraction where I would have to stand in an endless line and then be herded through like cattle. I get enough of that on a day to day basis. So, I agree that if I cut back a little here and there, I could enjoy a nice dinner out once or twice a week. On a side note - I hope to purchase my flight tickets in 1 week. (keeping fingers crossed).
MB

quote:

I would, theoretically, "save up" for it by surviving on lower budgets for a few days.

One more tip...

In some European cities transport can be free. The trams theoretically cost money, but many students don't pay a cent, at least for a while. When someone finds out you don't have a ticket on a random check, the fine turns out to be about the cost of all those unpaid tickets.

Students get together and put about half the cost of weekly transport into a general insurance fund, and when one student is caught, he presents the reciept and gets paid from the fund. This was how it worked in Vienna.

Now, in Budapest they love to find foreigners without tickets, and the fines can be a lot more than not paying. Their checkers look for foriegners, in fact. The same goes in Poland. Heres a hint- in Poland, the fine is stupendous, and there is no free transfer. So if you get on one tram, then get off onto another one, use a NEW ticket. Otherwise, boy, they get you good and like to do it.

Trams in Amsterdam can be free, but buses are on a pay as you enter scheme.

If you're lucky, you can find a place in Amsterdam where people leave trash bikes and 'steal' transport, to leave it outside to be be stolen by someone else. Ask around. This feature may not be valid now.

Thanks TT.

While cycling the Rhine Route (Germany) I have also heard that it is possible to hitch a ride on barges heading down the river. Anyone have any experience with this?
MB

A not so weird suggestion: take a shower at public pools (indoor ones). They all have showers and hair dryers, and if you stick to the regular local pools, the prices aren't too bad (pools run by private companies are pricier). In Vienna if you only want to use the facilities for two hours you pay €2,50.

I've heard of organizations in Europe where people are just excited to share their culture, so they will let you stay for free. If you buy a membership you get access to the contact info and then you just phone a few days in advance to see if they are available. Does anyone know what this organization may be and how to become a member?

Elis - great posts!

LMS - try this [URL=Global Freeloaders]www.globalfreeloaders.com[/URL]

Sorry guys, but I have to weigh in on this idea of hitting soup kitchens set up for the poor as a way of cutting down travel expenses. I think it is total bullshit.

Attention: if you can afford to buy a plane ticket to Europe, you are not poor. Who in the hell ever heard of a poor American who can afford to fly and travel in Europe? If you are that broke, work longer and save before going. IMHO: You are not doing this because you are destitute, more likely because you lack the willingness to work and save enough to support yourself. What you are proposing is no different from illegal aliens coming to the US and pimping us for food and medical care.

That is not not travelling or vagabonding, it is welfare. Americans have enough international travel issues related to the insular way we view the world without competing with the real needy of the nations we visit for free food.

"I never gave people hell, I told them the truth and they thought it was hell"
Harry Truman

quote:

Originally posted by LMS:
I've heard of organizations in Europe where people are just excited to share their culture, so they will let you stay for free. If you buy a membership you get access to the contact info and then you just phone a few days in advance to see if they are available. Does anyone know what this organization may be and how to become a member?

I think you're talking about Servas:
http://www.servas.org/
they work with a membership, just to cover costs. They are a non-profit organisation. Once you join you can get a small book of each country. Inside are the contact details of people willing to host you or show you their town. If you want, your contact details can also be published in the book of your country. It's similar as hospitalityclub and globalfreeloaders, except, they don't arrange things through a website but through local agencies of the organisation in each country. I once went to a small meeting with a representative of our country, but I didn't join because I discovered hospitalityclub a few days later.