I had very little money while traveling around Europe. The worst (yet best) part was when we got to Ireland. I was getting a biweekly amount of money deposited into my account and it didn't happen! Of course I wasn't ready for it and I think I had, in total, about 20-30 euros for the next 2 weeks. Stupidly used up most of that booking a campsite (we were camping around europe) for a night.

So, ended up hitchhiking around Ireland, which wasn't so bad. A great way to meet locals. People were totally friendly and super helpful. We camped in what Ireland has for a "wild" - which isn't anything... Basically on the side of the road by a farm we stayed one night, the next we actually camped in an abandoned monastery, and the last night we camped in a ditch in the side of a highway... We bought the cheapest food possible - canned beans were actually only .15 cents I think... Though we eventually did run out of food and money... luckily it wasn't long after that we got money again...

Anyways, that experience taught me that you really need a small amount of money to survive (AND ENJOY) your experiences in a country. Sure it wasn't always fun - Ireland was cold by that time and wished more than anything to go inside a warm pub but I couldn't... Missed a lot of really interesting sites that could NOT afford... but I got to interact with locals and see the country at a level I wouldn't have imagined before...

Always, always have the cash to get home even if it is left with family or friends. If you don't then quite frankly as harsh as it sounds I certainly would not be one of the ones handing money over to you so you could keep travelling.

I tend to be in the 'I've worked and saved hard for my trip why should I give my money to you because you can not be bothered or don't want to work.' camp. The girl on the train that was mentioned wouldn't get anything from me either.

What's that fable? The grasshopper and the ant getting ready for winter? The ant does just fine because he's planned ahead and the grasshopper gets the shaft because he only cared about having fun.

I'm of a similar mentality. You have to invest the time and effort to get what you need in life. If someone can't be bothered and wants to hope for the best then so be it, but then they need to handle the consequences if things don't work out.

This might sound harsh, but it's not a fundamental human right to take a round the world trip. You, and only you, are responsible for ensuring that you have the ability to do it. If you don't have the funds, you can't do it.

A RTW isn't an entitlement. You don't see Haitians or Bengalis asking how to do one without any money.

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A RTW isn't an entitlement. You don't see Haitians or Bengalis asking how to do one without any money.

I completly agree with you. By the time I take off I would have spent the last 2.5 years of my life working two jobs and saving everything. I worked my ass off for this money and it sure as hell isn't leaving my pocket unless I feel that it should be.

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if you leave with a small enough amount of cash that you could run out, you should be able and prepared to work. its the difference between being a hobo and a bum.

Wait a sec, what's the difference between a hobo and a bum?

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Originally posted by Felix:
This might sound harsh, but it's not a fundamental human right to take a round the world trip. You, and only you, are responsible for ensuring that you have the ability to do it. If you don't have the funds, you can't do it.

+ 1.

Frankly, I'm a little tired of running into Americans playing hobo in another country. Every time you ask someone for cash, please remember that you are now in competition with the needy in that country (and, unlike yourself, they don't have the ability to walk into an embassy, go home, settle into a job at Starbucks, and make 20k$ a year.)

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Originally posted by AdventurousKate:

Wait a sec, what's the difference between a hobo and a bum?

A hobo is willing to sweep your chimney for room and board. A bum takes money to paint your fence, but never paints it. Neither of these should be confused with a hobum, which is a large German food service provider.

In my experience, the down-and-out are evenly distributed among backpacker nationalities. But yeah, I agree with the foreign beggars. Any first-world citizen caught begging or trying to rely on charity in a place like Thailand or Mexico should be summarily deported.

wasnt me...but when I was in India I met a German girl who had left Germany with 50...or was it 65 Euro!!!...ONLY!!! :O

Her "name" was Parvati....maybe some of u have met her on your trail...what I do know is that when I was making my way through Nepal once again.....there she was two years later!!

She teaches and gives Rieki for food...money or a place to stay...

It isnt for everyone but she was still smiling..

How long do you think it could take to go from say...Fiji, West, all the way to the US with no money. Obviously there are a million variables, like what kind of jobs you find and what rides you hitch, but is it realistic to aim for 2 years?

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How long do you think it could take to go from say...Fiji, West, all the way to the US with no money. Obviously there are a million variables, like what kind of jobs you find and what rides you hitch, but is it realistic to aim for 2 years?

Yes, even less possible. When you have money it will depend on you. You will decide when you will arrive.

But if the money is Not enough, then it is uncertain. You will depend from others and now others will deicde when you should arrive in USA.