Why You Should Travel Even if You’re Broke
You don’t need to have 10k in the bank to travel to Europe for the summer. I have lived in 800-year-old estates in Scotland and helped renovate a tower castle in Ireland. I’ve worked on a mushroom farm in the middle of the desert, met and kept friends from all around the world, and had many more unforgettable experiences.
I owe it all to not having enough money to financially support myself.
Now, to be fair, I usually travel solo, and not only my financial limitations but my capability to be selfish have led me to think outside the box when it comes to solutions to monetary issues.
One of those very constraints led me to look into Workaway as an alternative for living abroad (I highly recommend it if you want an out-of-the-box experience). The lasting memories I have from volunteering to get by are priceless.
I met a very interesting man while volunteering in Sevilla, Spain. He was staying at the same hostel as me and I was instantly drawn to him. Now, I am not normally interested in people who appear rich, as he did. It was so much more interesting to me that he was CHOOSING to stay in a hostel, go out at night to underground flamenco shows and drink cheap sangria (although all the sangria is good in Sevilla). He was so clearly capable of staying in finer places, I just couldn't wrap my head around it- this is not how most people travel when they have money.
I have stayed in many hostels in my travels and have rarely found them to be the most comfortable option, but again, decisions are made out of financial necessity. This man clearly didnt need to.
We got to chatting and after a little bit, I felt comfortable enough to just ask him straight, “Why do you stay in hostels when you can afford something much more comfortable and private?”
His answer was profoundly simple.
He said, “I could most certainly find a more comfy bed and I could definitely buy privacy. But traveling that way gets so lonely and boring. If I wanted to spend my time alone, I would stay home. I want to meet people. Traveling is always more interesting when you meet the right people.”
Because at the end of the day, traveling is mostly about people. When you isolate yourself with comfortable and secluded accommodations, it is a lot less likely you are going to meet that family who will invite you over for dinner, or make that lifelong friend who lives halfway around the world. Or learn that skill set that you never saw coming but now appreciate infinitely. You won't know the insider stories and the best places to get a cup of coffee.
These are all experiences I have had and I am forever grateful for them. If I always had enough money to rent apartments and beautiful Airbnbs, I would probably be more popular on social media but I would come home feeling less full than I do when I have to think abstractly about where I am going to stay.
The times I do get to splurge on a nice Airbnb or go away for a weekend to Edinburgh, it is all the sweeter for having had to make sacrifices so I can afford it.
Over this last holiday season, I was staying with an absolutely wonderful family in Scotland. I found them through workaway and in exchange for staying in their *enormous* family estate and being fed wonderful, homecooked meals, I helped them keep their Airbnb business going. They had many different off grid rentals on their beautiful property and my job was to make sure they were ready for the next guests. The job was easy, enriching and 110% worth what I got out of it.
I had a good friend of mine message me while I was staying there. He has his own business and does very well for himself but he wasnt always so affluent. He once took a road trip and had to start a Gofundme to get home! Those are problems of the past for him now and in his message he said,
“I miss traveling poor. You always find yourself in the best situations when youre strapped for cash.”
Long story short, know that there is ALWAYS a way if there is a will. That’s how that saying goes, right?
Have as much faith in yourself as you do your wallet and your path will amaze you!
If you have an interest in hearing more in depth travel stories (I have a bunch) and more pointers on how to have your own “alice in wonderland” travel experiences, just let me know!
