Obsession: How to travel around the world on $20 a day. How to travel around the world on one salary. We travel cheaply and well Text What to live on

Traveling around the world, seeing exciting places and not paying money for it is the dream of many Ukrainians. However, not everyone will decide to leave everything and go to distant lands without having a penny with them.

Max Burtsev and Leonid Kanter did this more than once. It is the lack of money, they say, that helps open a real country, without tourist routes and breakfasts in hotels.

INSIDER found out from travelers the pros and cons of such trips, where it is better to go and what to take note of when getting ready to travel.

Why go?

“For the first time I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and forget as much as possible about all clients, projects, contracts, taxes, etc. After spending a month in Scotland, I realized that no ordinary trip would give so many emotions, unexpected meetings and scenarios , experience and impressions, like a trip without money,” says Max.

In his opinion, you can immerse yourself much more deeply in the culture of a country if you travel without money. You start communicating with completely unexpected people and find yourself in unusual situations.

“We were traveling without money. Accordingly, we slept wherever we had to. At the Bundestag, in the fields. We ate wherever we had to. There was a case when we slept right next to the Bundestag. I don’t even know why they didn’t “tie us up.” We woke up surrounded by Japanese tourists. First they took pictures of us, then they went to take pictures of the Reichstag. The cleaners walked around us. We woke up in the foliage, and everything around was cleaned up. Very gentle, touching, cool," says Max.

Director and traveler Leonid Kanter traveled almost the entire globe as part of the cultural expedition "With a Stool". One of his journeys lasted for a year - the guys traveled all over North and South America, reaching Cape Horn.

According to Leonid, we are taught from childhood that money is needed for everything. At the same time, most people on the planet dream of two things: traveling the world and having a cozy home in a beautiful place. But lack of money freezes these dreams.

“On my first trip without money, I went for self-discovery. After all, when faced with unknown circumstances, a person instantly sheds the masks he has acquired over a lifetime and begins to see who he really is. It is also an acquaintance with himself and the world in which he has the good fortune to live Drive. Finding yourself without money in a foreign country is a feeling similar to a parachute jump, or rather even a free fall. Every day there is an absolute feeling of “here and now,” says Leonid.

What to live on?

According to Leonid, there are no problems with work. After all, honest, hardworking, self-organized employees are needed all over the world. “Restaurants and cafes pay every day, which is very convenient. But you should remember that it is illegal to earn money without permission. This can cause problems, including deportation,” he says.

During a trip to the Atlantic Ocean, Leonid and his friends showed the theatrical production “The Goat” to local residents. And they, in turn, invited them to eat or spend the night.

Maxim Burtsev sleeps in the park in front of the Bundestag building

Max had virtually no problems with food and overnight stays during his trip to Denmark and Germany. He and a friend caught a car, started conversations with the drivers, who very often then fed them, less often - left them at their place for the night.

“In Scotland, I worked in many ways: a carpenter, a cleaner, a painter, a dishwasher, a snail collector, an advertiser. I even have a letter of recommendation,” says the traveler.

According to Max, all the work was unusual. The worst thing was to be refused when offering your services. “To find one place of work, I had to go through about 40-50 establishments. But hunger forced me. It forced me to meet a homeless person for the first time. But if you don’t know how to find a solution, just start communicating, it doesn’t matter with whom. And it doesn’t even really matter , about what,” he says.

You also need to smile. Even if your back hurts, even if you rub your leg until it bleeds, even if you are angry at the whole world from hunger - smile! “No one enjoys helping a person with a gloomy face,” adds Max.

Leonid Kanter with his wife and daughter. Family hitchhiking

What to take with you?

According to Leonid, you need to take everything. And if it doesn’t fit into one backpack, then you need to take two. The road quickly teaches you what is unnecessary.

“I took a tent, a backpack, a sleeping bag, a mat, a phone, clothes and a battery. Everything else appeared along the way. There are people who travel with small bags or no things at all. But this is aerobatics,” says Max.

Budget

“The decision about Scotland was made in a couple of minutes, and a month later I was already on a plane. We prepared for a trip to Europe and the USA for about a month. For example, a trip to Scotland cost me approximately $450, where low-cost tickets cost $350, + $100 for first breakfast, the way from the airport to Edinburgh and a SIM card. In Europe everything is simpler - there is no need for a plane," says Max.

According to Leonid, costs can be very individual. Some people can’t live without morning coffee, others can’t live without cigarettes or sweets. But if there are no dependencies, then the costs are minimal.

What to see

The world is beautiful in its own way. According to Leonid, of course, poor countries are more unique and authentic.

"I would advise you to see everything. Only when you travel do you begin to appreciate and love your country not for populist slogans, but with your own love. I would advise every Ukrainian to visit the Mongolian Gobi Desert. After that, they would understand that we and our black soils live like in heaven," says Leonid.

According to Max, you should definitely visit the Isle of Skye in Scotland, because the nature there is incredibly beautiful and there are no people. London is also worth attention for its atmosphere and visual culture. Amsterdam - for its canals and atmosphere of permissiveness. Chicago for its dog beaches and lake swimming. Michigan is surrounded by skyscrapers, as well as Georgian Sighnaghi, because it is so damn cozy and beautiful.

Benefits from travel

“For me, all this was a source of new experience and impressions. I can’t name a single minus. For some, the whole trip may turn out to be a complete minus - lack of food, uncomfortable conditions, lack of money, language barrier...” says Max.

Leonid also sees only positive aspects in his trips. After all, there are mostly good people everywhere.

“I travel with my wife Diana and my daughters by hitchhiking and on foot. We sleep wherever we have to, we eat the same, and at the same time we are absolutely happy, because life is beautiful. I have this principle: no matter where you spend the night, the sun will still rise and the morning will come anyway. So don't worry about it," he says.

“Once I swam in the Maronyon River in Peru. Local residents assured me that there were no crocodiles there, but they looked at my swim with caution and distrust. When I returned to the shore, I found out that the river was infested with piranhas,” says Leonid.

Next point

Now Leonid has gone to Africa. Last week he and his family flew to Egypt. My children, feeling the warm wind, took off their shoes and ran barefoot through the airport - towards the sea and Africa. The journey “On a visit to the Hamer tribe” began, Leonid shares.

“Lately I have been fascinated by small communities. A couple of years ago, I lived among the Indian tribes of the Amazon and the Caribbean islands. I learned a lot. Now I dream about Ethiopia. Their experience is not civilized, it is deeper - natural, and this is what I want to embody on our farm in Obirok,” he adds.

Max's plans include a trip to Iceland. “This is a northern country, and I love the north. Besides, it’s small enough that I’m thinking of getting around it on foot,” he says.

Who is this lifestyle suitable for?

“I don’t know who it’s suitable for. I think for those who have had a problem in their ass, for those for whom strong emotions and impressions are the main resource in life, for those who like to leave their comfort zone and see this as a source of their own growth. And anyone can go "The one who likes it will continue. The rest will understand that this is not for them and will do something else," says Max.

He is convinced that dreams must be realized, even if something gets in the way.

“No money, no time, stuck at work, a girlfriend/wife who won’t let go and throws tantrums, a dog who has no one to leave with, an unstable political and economic situation in the country, bad health, depression, opening her own company, bankruptcy, closure your company or stupidly just “it’s not time yet” or “... but it’ll take a while.”

Something always gets in the way. Always. That's why realizing your dreams is as much hard work as the work you do every day. Only in this case it is work to resolve all the issues that stand in the way of making your dreams come true. Dreams must be realized. At least to make room for new ones. And then don’t say, ‘Damn, I’m so jealous of you,’ to a stranger on a bench,” adds Max.

Somewhere in Mexico

In turn, Leonid believes that every person needs self-realization. “Thank God, there is no war, but I want to achieve feats. To prove to myself that you are capable of something. To carry stools to the four oceans... It is a very pleasant feeling when you achieve a goal that seemed like a fantastic dream. After that, you no longer want to be with anyone and nothing to measure against,” says Leonid.

All photos are from Facebook

Traveling for free is quite difficult (but it is possible - there are many people who succeed). If you follow these tips, you'll soon see that wandering around the world can be cheaper than living in one place all the time.

As strange as it may sound, experience shows that people who go on long trips spend much less money than their friends who sit at home and complain that they cannot afford it. You may have different reasons for not traveling (family, work, health problems, etc.), but “lack of money” is not a reason (especially if you live in a developed country).

It's very simple: it can be done on the WorldNomads website for a certain period of time and for a citizen of any country. The best place to find cheap tickets is on the SkySkanner website.

Use your local equivalent of Groupon

If you have to splurge on something or want to treat yourself to something, find the local equivalent of sites like Groupon or Livingsocial. These sites are very popular in many countries. There you can find coupons for visiting gyms and trying out various sports, discounts for expensive restaurants, cheaper excursions and other great offers. If you can't find such a site yourself, ask locals or the Thorn Tree travel forum for advice.

Some countries have their own sites with similar offers, so read on the forums or ask locals what sites they use (this is a new trend, and not all countries know about it yet).

Learn to understand and speak the local language

By following this advice, you can save a lot of money. Unfortunately, most travelers do not want to get rid of their fears and make even the slightest effort to learn to speak the desired language, and prefer to make do with only English.

If you know the local language even a little, you won't have to pay the "foreigner tax" and be limited to only those expensive tourist places where English is spoken.

Ask locals for help (even if you have to pay them)

If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask locals on the couchsurfer forums. Don't be afraid to ask for advice from a hotel employee or the owner of the apartment you're staying at. They will tell you how you can have a good time without spending a fortune. Some tips cannot be found in guidebooks or the Internet - only local residents know them.

And if you really don't know what to do, why not pay a local who will solve all your problems for you? After all, his help will probably cost you less than the help of a travel agency.

Do not rush

If you want to go on an unconventional vacation, why rush and try to travel around the country in less than a week or 10 days?

Forget about the list of things you want to do before you die! It’s better not to rush anywhere and enjoy each country. This is the only way you can feel like a local and save money.

With some smarts, you can probably find a way to make money while you travel. It's not as difficult as it seems - especially if you can work on a computer or don't mind teaching English or your native language.

Stay in one country for a long time. This is the only way you will be able to study local life more closely and look beyond the mountain of stereotypes and superficial impressions. And in another two or three weeks in the country you can learn the basics of the local language.

Stop drinking and smoking

Many travelers spend 50 percent of their budget on nicotine and alcohol.

If you smoke, remember how bad cigarettes are for your body and stop giving yourself and those around you lung cancer. Quitting smoking is hard, but it will be the biggest gift to your health and bank account. The same goes for alcohol.

Travel for health and pleasure! Everything is possible!

On October 10, 2013, 34-year-old Danish resident Thorbjorn Pedersen left his house and promised to return only when he had traveled all over the world without ever setting foot on an airplane. Wanting to complicate the task, Thor pledged to spend at least 24 hours in each country. And in order not to leave the race halfway due to lack of money, the former logistician set himself one more condition: not to go beyond the budget - $20 a day.

In his blog, the traveler calls himself the first to dare such an adventure. Formally, you can argue with him. In 2015, Artemy Lebedev ticked the last item on the list of 193 UN-recognized countries - however, he was not so limited in funds, took breaks between trips and used air transport. Even earlier, in 2012, news spread around the world about the end of the journey of Briton Graham Hughes, who visited 201 countries without using an airplane. But Graham counted countries no matter how long he spent in them—even if only for one minute. In 2013, the title of youngest person to visit every country in the world was won by Norwegian Gunnar Garfors. He saw 198 states while traveling on weekends.

203 - how many countries Thor will see before he can visit Denmark again.

Thor does not plan to take breaks and intends to strictly adhere to the conditions he has set for himself. Having excluded most of the territories with a disputed status from the list, he settled on the number 203 - this is how many countries he will see before he can visit Denmark again. According to the traveler himself, he will return to a settled life in his native kingdom as a 40-year-old Viking who has gained experience - a difficult test for his girlfriend, who has to go to a new unfamiliar country every time she wants to see her loved one.

Thor uses public transport or free rides (sometimes even a pie can be a ride), prefers to spend the night with new acquaintances he makes on the road, and is not picky about food. But his most effective way to save money is by avoiding air travel. The idea seems especially sensible if your trip has been going on for three years, during which time the modest $20 per day limit has added up to a daunting $21,900.

But what if the next point on your route is on the other side of the Earth? Over the years, Thor has traveled long distances on container ships nine times. Thanks to cooperation with the Red Cross, of which he acts as an ambassador on his trip around the world (he talks about the organization’s work to journalists and shares the stories of its volunteers on his blog), almost every time he was able to negotiate free loading onto the ship. However, on one of the trips he still had to spend $60 on insurance, pay for lodging and meals on board ($15 per day) and, in addition, promise a cheerful article about the delights of this trip. And although this method of crossing, say, the Atlantic may take two weeks instead of a tolerable 10 hours by plane, Thor does not regret the experience. “The entire time this project lasts, I have almost no breaks. I sort out visas, figure out how to cross the border, make new friends, meet with the Red Cross or the press. When I travel on a container ship, it's like I'm taking a vacation,” he explains in an interview with Vice.

The traditional name for the boats of the Indians and peoples of Oceania. Derived from the name of boats common off the coast of the Caribbean islands, South America and Africa in the 16th–19th centuries.

During the journey, Thor suffered from malaria, almost got lost in Greenland and was preparing to say goodbye to life on board a container ship during a storm.

Sometimes these trips even turn out to be luxurious. Some ships offer Wi-Fi, and most recently there was even a sauna and indoor pool on board. Among the added bonuses Thor lists is the chance to see dolphins, whales and the northern lights, although "most of the time you only see water."

During his travels, the Dane suffered from malaria, became closely acquainted with the bureaucracy that flourishes on the borders of some African states, almost got lost in Greenland, said goodbye to life on board a container ship during a storm in the middle of the ocean, attended a Muslim wedding in Sierra Leone and a funeral in the Adventist Church seventh day in Sao Tome, met with Pentecostals in Nigeria, attended a synagogue service in Nairobi and proposed to his beloved at an altitude of 4,985 meters - on one of the highest peaks in Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa after Kilimanjaro (by saying “yes” ", she began to cry and was immediately afraid that the tears would freeze right on her face).

One of Thor's main goals in this project is to show that the world is better than the news headlines make it seem.

Thor explains the decision to devote several years of his life to this project for several reasons. First, tired to death after years of office work, he one day decided to do something that no one had ever done before and inspire others by his example: “I’m not sure that at the beginning of this project I was driven by anything other than a thirst for adventure. I really liked what mountain climber George Mallory said when asked why he wanted to climb Everest: “Because it’s there!” Secondly, as an ambassador for the Red Cross, he cites disseminating information about the organization’s activities as an important part of his mission.

But one of Thor's main goals in this project is to show that the world is better than the news headlines make it seem. “Although the world is full of horrors, most of those we share this planet with are good people... And every country in the world has the right to be considered the best.” Thor does not hide the disappointments that are inevitable for a traveler with a very modest budget and the goal of visiting even the most unpopular corners of the Earth. And although sometimes, he says, he wants to give up everything, order a good steak and relax, he has come too far to give up.

Participant of three British expeditions to Everest (in 1921, 1922 and 1924), he is considered the first person to attempt to climb its summit. He went missing during the ascent on June 8, 1924, along with his teammate Andrew Irwin.

MR asked three project participants to give advice to those who decide to travel without visas.

“The situation may change unexpectedly”

Photo from the personal archive of Valery Shanin.

Valery Shanin:“Before going to any country, even a visa-free one, it is useful to clarify the current situation. For example, Myanmar decided to issue visas at the border. And at first they were actually processed upon arrival. But then this practice was suspended due to the upcoming elections. But the elections passed, and they forgot to lift the ban. Therefore, formally a visa to Myanmar can be issued at the border, but in practice this is not yet possible.

In many formal visa countries special visa-free zones are being created. For example, without a visa you can enter resort areas or free economic zones of China, Korea, Egypt, and Jordan. At the same time, I paid money to leave Jordan, since I entered through a free economic zone - without a visa and free of charge, and left from another place.

You can get an Egyptian visa upon arrival- for 15 dollars. This is what millions of our tourists who come to relax in Sharm el-Sheikh do. However, they might not do this. In Egypt, the Sinai Peninsula is in a special position - you can enter it without a visa, which means it’s free. Problems can only arise when trying to travel to the African part of Egypt - for example, to the pyramids in Giza or Luxor. But those who do not intend to leave the hotel premises can not pay for an Egyptian visa, but receive a free Sinai stamp. At the border, border guards do not impose it on anyone, preferring to collect money for a visa. But they don’t refuse to bet if you ask.

I encountered problems while traveling on the Malaysian part of the island of Borneo. Formally, there is a land border between the states of Sarawak and Sabah - in impenetrable jungle. The only road passes through the territory of independent Brunei. I didn’t want to deal with even a transit visa to this country - it would take a very long time. From Sabah I got to the island of Labuan by ferry, and from there I had to fly to get from one part of the country to another. Everything is nearby though.

There are countries that give preference to those who comes from Russia. For example, only those who fly from our country (and then fly back to Russia) are allowed into Tunisia without a visa. And I managed to enter there from Morocco and leave for Egypt. But formally they might not have allowed me in. It was just luck.

It is better not to violate visa formalities. But if you really need it, then you can. For example, in London transit is only for 24 hours, but I was there for three days and nothing. In Lebanon, I also overstayed my three-day visa-free transit. And again, the border guard was not a boring one and did not cling to such “trifles.”

Be prepared for surprises. I had a major puncture while trying to cross a very small section of Chilean territory that wedges into Argentina. An agreement on visa-free entry has already been signed between Russia and Chile, but it turns out that it has not yet been ratified. They turned us around at the border and sent us back. I had to fly over the Chilean section by plane.

Visa situation may change completely unexpected. Therefore, keep an eye on the news while traveling. For example, during my second trip around the world there was a case - when I left Moscow, Costa Rica was visa-free. But in the months it took to get there, she introduced entry visas for Russians. I had to apply for a visa on the way. I went to the Costa Rican embassy in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and filled out a form. And I received it already in Lima (Peru).

Visa-free countries for Russians(I include those where a visa can be issued at the moment of crossing the border) is much more than is usually thought. There is nothing utopian about traveling around the world without visas. Problems may only arise in Western Europe, North America and Australia with New Zealand.

First of all, I would advise you to go to Turkey (plus Northern Cyprus) and Thailand (plus all neighboring countries in Southeast Asia except Myanmar and Brunei).

More unobtrusive border guards, than Albanian ones, I have never met. They did not stamp my passport either at entry or exit. Despite the fact that Albania is an interesting country in itself, most Russians use it to “renew” their Montenegrin entry stamp.”

“Read all terms and conditions carefully”

Photo from the personal archive of Alexandra Bogomolova

Alexandra Bogomolova:“There are often misunderstandings with a visa to Cambodia. It can be done online on the official website for $25, only $5 more than at the border. But on the ground, travelers can be illegally asked to pay $40 for a visa - I’ve encountered this twice. So it’s much easier to apply for a visa on the website and put it in your passport. But there are also intermediary sites that write in small print in the notes that the registration fee is $25. Please read all terms and conditions carefully before entering your credit card information.

When traveling without visas, you need to be careful prepare and learn all the bureaucratic details. Have several photos with you for documents. Find out in advance how much it costs to enter or leave the country, and in what currency it is better to have this amount. Know what's going on with land border crossings.

You can get visas in other countries. For example, I applied for a Brazilian visa (when it was still needed) in the Argentine city of Mendoza. I just went to the consulate, submitted documents, and two days later the visa was in my passport. You can also get a visa to Myanmar while staying in Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. That is, on a long trip, the lack of a visa is not a reason to change plans or avoid the country.

There are nuances regarding transits. You can spend four days in transit in Singapore. But it is important that you have flights to and from different cities. You also need to make sure that you have a printed hotel or hostel reservation.

You should start traveling from Montenegro, since the peoples of the Balkans are very close to us in spirit, and it is possible to communicate with them without knowing English. Of course, you need to go to Southeast Asia - Thailand (30 days without a visa), Vietnam (14 days), Malaysia (30 days), Singapore (four days). This entire region is a paradise for independent travelers, even a girl is safe there. South America is a little more difficult due to expensive flights and the environment. But Argentina and Brazil are worth it.

I was pleased with the debunking of myths about Turkey, Egypt, Thailand, as primitive tourist places with exclusively hotel holidays.”

“There will be a lot of surprises”

Photo from the personal archive of Oleg Semichev

Oleg Semichev:“When you get to a new city, you feel like a child, when everything is new, you constantly solve different problems - from “Where to eat?” to “Where to go next?” Every journey will have a lot of surprises, and the main thing is to get positive feelings from it all.

In this case, you need to check in advance details and requirements for entry, otherwise there is a risk of losing purchased air tickets, time, money and nerves. Many countries have made entry very easy. But some come up with obstacles - from the size of photographs to the requirement of host invitations, tour operator vouchers or hotel reservations. To Iran, for example, an invitation from the host party is required. We booked a hotel for one night, they sent a confirmation email, this was our invitation. And inside the country, we moved every day from city to city and, out of necessity, looked for housing - this includes hotels, and spending the night in a tent, and visiting guests; the people in Iran are very hospitable, as in the entire Middle East...

Remember, some countries charge bribery on the road. In Venezuela, when we had spent all the local currency, they demanded tribute from us upon departure; we had to urgently exchange dollars at an extortionate rate.

Try to bypass customs checkpoints And I don’t recommend entering countries without visas (if they are required) and without stamps, jokes with the laws are bad, especially in a foreign country.

Some visa countries give permits for visa-free stay in case of transit. So we spent three days in transit in Bosnia, two days in Singapore, and more than a day in London.

Top countries without visas where I would recommend going: Thailand - 30 days without a visa, Nepal - visa on arrival for up to three months, Iran - visa on arrival for 15 days (an invitation from the host party is required), Mexico - online reservation on the migration service website, Vanuatu - without a visa."

Reference« MR»

Travel budget in the project“World without visas” is planned at the rate of $20-50 per day for general expenses (transport, accommodation, food, attractions) - depending on the countries. Additionally: air tickets; extortions at the borders; medical insurance - for the entire period.