How to Travel the World on Less Than $33 a Day!
With no phone, internet or air transport involved!
8 Countries, 54 Days, £26 a day budget ($33) - No phone, internet access or air travel.
This was the challenge given to 5 couples in season 4 of one of my favourite UK shows - ‘Race Across the World’.
So far there have been 4 ‘civilian’ series and 2 ‘celebrity’ series. They’re all absolutely fabulous and as a seasoned nomad I LOVE THEM!
In each series, contestants are given the equivalent of £26 a day for their entire trip, a map and their first checkpoint.
Phones are confiscated and the intrepid pairs head off, carrying their worldly wears on their backs, hoping to reach each checkpoint ahead of the other players.
The goal is to be the first couple to reach the final checkpoint and win the £20,000 ($25,500) prize money and serious bragging rights.
Each season has been a phenomenal effort with contestants traversing from the UK to Singapore, the length of South America from Mexico to Ushuaia, Canada coast to coast and the season I’ve singled out here, from Sapporo in Japan, to Lombok Indonesia.
In just 54 days, the couples made up of friends, relatives, spouses, travelled 15,000 kilometers by land or sea only.
Just to hammer home how far that is, check out this map.
Along the way, they get to experience as much of the countries as they can and pick up a job or two on the way to supplement their lowly budget!
It’s also a deep dive into human behaviour and how friends and couples react under immense pressure, sleepless nights, managing budgets etc.
But for the purposes of this post, I’m sticking to the amazing budget travel lessons we can take from the show.
If money is holding you back from following your nomadic dreams, here are 5 top lessons the show has taught me about traveling like a pro on a daily budget that’s less than a night at the movies! (Plus a few extra tips of my own)
1. Overnight Buses and Trains
There are many instances where the couples have to travel long distances to reach the next town or city and their only option is an overnight bus, train or ferry.
This is a fantastic way to save money! It won’t be the most comfortable ride, but not only do you cover distance, you also get a place to sleep for the night.
2. Volunteering for Accommodation
While most of the contestants are looking to earn a few extra bickies to help them along the way, there are times when a night’s stay is thrown in or exchanged for a days hard graft.
Websites like Workaway (.info) or HelpX (.net) are online listing sites for host farmstays, homestays, ranches, lodges, hostels and even sailing boats, which give you the opportunity to trade a few hours of work per day for a free bed and sometimes even meals.
3. Hitchhiking or Carpooling
Series 3 is the one to watch if you want to learn how to (and how not to) hitch hike! It’s clear that this is something Canadian people are used to!
This isn’t such a safe option in all countries though, so a great alternative is an app like BlaBlaCar which facilitates shared rides for a fraction of the cost.
On this note, for cheaper car hire try Turo.com which is everyday people renting out their cars, and for taxis, always find out the local cheap app as opposed to Uber, which has become very pricey in many countries.
For example in Thailand InDrive or Bolt is far cheaper than Uber or Grab. In Australia DiDi is the cheaper version.
4. Low-Cost Hostels and Budget Hotels
There’s a great scene in the most recent ‘celebrity’ series where Kelly Brook loses it with her husband, because she wants the luxury hotel and he books the cheap one across the road.
“Well, you now have a miserable wife’, she says to him as he points out their lack of funds! 😂
But unfortunately, when travelling on a shoe string, sacrifices have to be made, and I myself have stayed in some extremely ‘basic’ hotels along the way to save a few pennies.
Most are at the very least clean and functional these days, so use booking.com in conjunction with google maps to find your best option. Or if you’re happy to share hostelworld.com could be the site for you.
(As a side note, at 52, I’m past sharing, especially bathrooms, and secretly I sided with Kelly. At my age I like a bit of comfort! 😂)
5. Traveling During Off-Peak Hours
In the show the contestants have to travel as and when the next bus or train comes. But many times this isn’t until later in the evening or super early the next day.
Undoubtedly if you travel during the less busy times you’ll likely get cheaper tickets. This will obviously vary across the world, but it’s always worth asking the question.
Plus, in many countries, particularly in Asia, all prices are very fluid! So whenever quoted a price even for a bus or train, always reply ‘what’s your best price?’
You’ll be amazed at the discounts you’ll get!
A Few Extra Budget Tips of My Own
Street Food and Local Markets
Not only is this the cheaper option is usually the most delicious!
It’s also a great way to experience the local culture.
House Sitting
Sign up on platforms like TrustedHousesitters to stay in someone’s home for free in exchange for taking care of their property or pets.
We just did this in the UK (of all places), through the summer. It’s a bit strange living in someone else’s home, but the pets are lovely and the accommodation is free! Saved us thousands!
Free Walking Tours
Many cities offer free walking tours where you only tip the guide at the end if you enjoyed it. It’s a great way to explore cities on a budget.
I also enjoy doing my own using the app GPSmycity.
Using Public Transport or Bikes
Instead of taxis, use local buses, trams, or rent a bike to get around. It’s cheaper, and you get a more authentic experience.
While it’s extremely challenging to survive on just $33 a day, the amazing couples who take on the ‘race across the world’ challenge prove it can be done.
No excuses!
As Paulo Coelho said so eloquently;
Travel is never a matter of money, but of courage.