Frugal Travelling around the world
JoeD
I am planning on retiring between 6 and 9 months from now and I would
like to do some safe international traveling. I have been working all my
life and and except for my early 20's European adventures, I haven't
taken any extensive vacations since only those "escape from work"
vacations. I was wondering if anyone would know what the average daily
living cost might be for a single male age 55 who does not mind a
roughing it a bit. I could either backpack it or even travel by bicycle
to get around. I do that now to get to work (20 miles) and shop. I will
have an annual budget of 15to 17K. I was hoping to travel 3 to 5 months
months a year for the next 4 to 6 years. I would love to see Europe
again, as well as South America, Australia and New Zealand, India and
Southeast Asia, Japan, China and possible Africa, to name a few. The US,
Canada and Mexico will come later. I am not interested in travelling to
any country with serious and dangerous political turmoil even if one can
live on $1 a day. I'm not that frugal.
Thanks for any helpful suggestions.
Joe
jo...@noemailreply.com
JoeD
I am planning on retiring 6 and 9 months from now and I would
like to do some safe international traveling. I have been working all my
life and except for my early 20's European adventures, I haven't
taken any extensive vacations except for those "escape from work"
vacations. I was wondering if anyone would know what the average daily
living expense might be for a single male age 55 who does not mind a
roughing it a bit. I could either backpack it or even travel by bicycle
to get around. I do that now to get to work (20 miles) and shop. I will
have an annual travel budget of 15 to 17K. I was hoping to travel 3 to 5
Barbara Bomberger
For starts
Get a hostel membership
Look at rail passes like Eurorail and multi country passes (you can do
like 20 days in two months between four consecutive countries
Read the lets go travel books. Yes, the lonley planet and the rick
steves are okay, and yes the lets go are written by college kids,
but.........they still tell it the way it si for the most part.
I suggest choosing one city as a "base" for a time and taking trips
from there - ie from Paris one can go to chateu contry, NOrmandy,
Provence and so on, often in a single day. If you did that you could
get a tiny place with a kitchen and then travlel cheap. Doesnt have to
be a major city
Treat yourself on occasiona and get a real room with a real bathtub
and a really soft soft bed.
AS I tell my kids, make sure you have the money for the return ticket
put away.
Consider traveling to the east, Prague, Budapest, Poland..these areas
are not "westernized" yet and are unique. The economy is such that
money goes a long way, as the employment is high and they want
tourists.
Remember that europe in general is furhter north than most of the us
and as such has longer summer days and shorter winters. I can play
golf in daylight at 9:30 pm right now, but it is dark long before I
leave work at christmas time . So in terms of biking, and so on your
"safer hours" are shorter.
EAt what the locals eat, its always cheaper.
Make sure whaatever health insurance you have will cover you over
here, or get some kind of travelers policy.
Barb (who lives in germany so she alreay has a "base"
jo...@noemailreply.com
Bobby
news:8U0Bc.7227$bs4....@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
You can travel by bicycle in europe for less than $15 a day if you free
camp.
Setting up a base in a major city like Paris or London will be very
expensive. The
vagabond approach is much more frugal.
Eastern europe is much more frugal to travel than the west. Countries like
Hungary and Czech Republic have
very low prices for food, lodging, and sites and they are just as safe.
If you take the train you will zip past everything and all you see are the
tourist crap in the
mjor cities that the train stops in. If you travel by bicycle you get to see
all the interesting
culture in between. Belgium, Netherlands, Demark, and Germany are most
suitable suitable
for bicycle travel with well established bicycle routes and flat terrain.
France has good roads
and accomdating drivers but no bicycle lanes. If you take a train anywhere I
would recommend
Spain, as the distances between towns can be long and if you're there in the
summer it can get very
hot.
Barbara Bomberger
That depends on the city, and where you look. Both places have
frugalp places to hang out, been there done that. Plus, I did not say
it had to be a major place. Additionally one will have to be carrying
camping equipment, which adds wiegh, and there are places you may want
to go which is not ?camp friendly".
>
>Eastern europe is much more frugal to travel than the west. Countries like
>Hungary and Czech Republic have
>very low prices for food, lodging, and sites and they are just as safe.
Agreed
>
>If you take the train you will zip past everything and all you see are the
>tourist crap in the
>mjor cities that the train stops in.
I live here, and traisn stop in the small towns and villiages as well.
There is virtially nowhere you cannot get to by train. You can just
get a pass and stop off when something looks good.
Tom Welch
starting point for international travel.
Another website is http://www.onebag.com.
Tom Welch
Bobby
news:ikaad09juu1moajtq...@4ax.com...
True, some trains do stop in little towns but all the 'EuroRailers' don't
bother getting
off. Express trains between majors cities do not make many stops.
Barbara Bomberger
>> I live here, and traisn stop in the small towns and villiages as well.
>> There is virtially nowhere you cannot get to by train. You can just
>> get a pass and stop off when something looks good.
>> >all the interesting
>> >culture in between. Belgium, Netherlands, Demark, and Germany are most
>> >suitable suitable
>> >for bicycle travel with well established bicycle routes and flat terrain.
>> >France has good roads
>> >and accomdating drivers but no bicycle lanes. If you take a train
>anywhere I
>> >would recommend
>> >Spain, as the distances between towns can be long and if you're there in
>the
>> >summer it can get very
>> >hot.
>> >
>
>
>True, some trains do stop in little towns but all the 'EuroRailers' don't
>bother getting
>off. Express trains between majors cities do not make many stops.
So you just dont get an express train (and save a bunch of money).
There are regular trains out there that go almost everywhere.
>
>
>
Barbara Bomberger
>
>
>True, some trains do stop in little towns but all the 'EuroRailers' don't
>bother getting
>off. Express trains between majors cities do not make many stops.
As a follow up, I am not advocating giving up the bike idea. I just
think that one can do both, and as a fifty something broad, although I
might camp for PART of the three or four months discussed, it would
not work every day.
Barb
>
>
>
JoeD
inexpensive pensions where possible.
I thought I might use a good touring bike to either travel from town to
town or load the bike on a train for longer distances.
I would enjoy using my bike to get around the towns or cities. This way
I can avoid the expense of renting a car and filling it with very
expensive (European) petro.
I have a lot of research to do to get organized.
Thanks for all the great advice.
Miguel Cruz
> I hadn't planned on camping as a rule but rather find relatively
> inexpensive pensions where possible.
> I thought I might use a good touring bike to either travel from town to
> town or load the bike on a train for longer distances.
> I would enjoy using my bike to get around the towns or cities. This way
> I can avoid the expense of renting a car and filling it with very
> expensive (European) petro.
It depends on where you're going, I guess, but as a general rule of thumb,
drivers outside the USA and Canada are much more aggressive, so be prepared.
On the other hand, public transit is often much more practical, and in some
countries there are excellent networks of bike paths.
Are you just looking at Europe, or the interesting parts of the world too?
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Barbara Bomberger
>JoeD <jo...@noemailreply.com> wrote:
>> I hadn't planned on camping as a rule but rather find relatively
>> inexpensive pensions where possible.
>> I thought I might use a good touring bike to either travel from town to
>> town or load the bike on a train for longer distances.
>> I would enjoy using my bike to get around the towns or cities. This way
>> I can avoid the expense of renting a car and filling it with very
>> expensive (European) petro.
>
>It depends on where you're going, I guess, but as a general rule of thumb,
>drivers outside the USA and Canada are much more aggressive, so be prepared.
However, most western european countries at least, are much more bike
friendly. Bikes often have their own lanes, sometimes their own
right of way lights, and are considered part of the road. Many, many
peopel ride their bikes to work, to the store, and anywhere else in
europe, even littel old ladies like me going to and form the store.
>
>On the other hand, public transit is often much more practical, and in some
>countries there are excellent networks of bike paths.
I would suggest looking at public transit to get across the wide
areas, and using bikes within the cities, towns that he is visiting
Barb
Barbara Bomberger
>I hadn't planned on camping as a rule but rather find relatively
>inexpensive pensions where possible.
>I thought I might use a good touring bike to either travel from town to
>town or load the bike on a train for longer distances.
>I would enjoy using my bike to get around the towns or cities. This way
>I can avoid the expense of renting a car and filling it with very
>expensive (European) petro.
>I have a lot of research to do to get organized.
You can load the bike onto most trains.
I migth also suggest , I blieve the title is Frommers train guide to
erope?
It also gives some major ideas for routes, you could train and then
bike. WE are alooking at a seven day scandinavian quickie by train -
Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen and Stockholm in eight days (may get rid of
copenhagen)
Barb
Todd
I don't have too much to offer in the way of additional advice, but I
did feel the need to reply just to say:
WOW! GOOD FOR YOU!
I'm impressed with and more than just a little envious of your plan to
dive back into travel after retirement. Little doubt you'll find the
experience was worth the wait.
Congratulations again,
Todd
www.wonderninja.com
Buy and Sell YOUR Personalized Services!
P.S. Okay, maybe two quick words of advice:
1. Obviously, you're going to have to do a lot of research, but there
are many decent "around the world" travel guides to get you started,
not only with practicalities (planning, preparation), but destination
descriptions to spark your interest. And speaking of destination
choices:
2. While most of the previous replies have centered on Europe, you
might want to give Southeast Asia some serious consideration. While
more "spread out", it's every bit as interesting as Europe, especially
if one of your purposes in travelling is to experience different
cultures. And depending on where you go, it can be just as safe, too.
Finally, there is the additional (huge) bonus that it's MUCH cheaper
to travel for extended periods of time in Asia, especially with the
Euro sky-high right now against the dollar. In many parts of Europe,
you may feel cash poor, but in many parts of Asia, you may feel like a
cash king. Anyways, worth considering.
JoeD <jo...@noemailreply.com> wrote in message news:<8U0Bc.7227$bs4....@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net>...
> Hi,
>
> I am planning on retiring between 6 and 9 months from now and I would
> like to do some safe international traveling... a single male age 55 who
> does not mind a roughing it a bit...
JoeD
I was hoping to get over to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand,
Phillipines, India and China and others.
Regards,
Joe
John Chapman
with, a purchase/repurchase arrangement with AutoEurope can be very
economical for travel to almost everywhere in Europe (incl Turkey and
Morocco). Last year, the average cost for our little but reliable
Peugeot 106 was less than CAD 25/day (about USD 18/day), incl all
taxes and insurance. Sure, petrol/gas can be expensive but you don't
need to drive far each day, and try to stay off the toll motorways.
With a car, it is often easier to search out great budget
accommodation in out-of-the-way places, so there is a potential cost
savings here. Also, it's much easier to schlep around camping
equipment, bags and a picnic cooler, though we found it hard as the
devil to find block ice in most of Europe. Wife and I are both in our
mid-50s and we had a blast. Hope you do too. JOHN
Amit
Let me know when u plan to come to India, I can help you plan your
holiday at a modest budget. I have a travel co. based out of Bombay
called Travel Bug.
Feel free to email me if you are interested in having me organizing
treks, hikes, rafting, mountaineering, camping, sightseeing, hotel and
travel bookings etc or simply for more info about India, what you can
expect etc.
Cheers and good luck with all your travels.
Amit
Travel Bug
trav...@vsnl.net
JoeD <jo...@noemailreply.com> wrote in message news:<5c1Bc.7238$bs4....@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net>...