As a general rule, the more adventurous your travel, the less money you’ll spend. Why? Because the adventurous traveler will forgo comfort and convenience and instead seek experience and adventure. Clearly, experience and adventure are far less expensive than comfort and convenience. Let’s take a look at some specifics…
Shunning “packaged tours,” the adventurous traveler will opt to make his own travel arrangements. Also, he’ll avoid the upscale hotels and upscale restaurants – preferring instead to experience local places catering to local customers. I recall, on a trip to Italy’s Lake Como about a decade ago, Wendy suggested, “Let’s not eat in any restaurant which has its menu printed in English.” Since that day, whenever traveling in a non-English speaking country, we’ve followed Wendy’s suggestion. Our dining experiences have, as a result, been more fun-filled and interesting. We’ve eaten some very delicious food, met many interesting people and enjoyed wonderful experiences. Like the time we met Berta in a coffee house in Huanchaco, Peru. The bank she worked at was financing the excavation of a newly discovered ruin. She took us on a private tour of the ruin which had not yet been open to the public.
The adventurous traveler will also step outside of his comfort zone regarding foreign language. Often, he’ll study the language in preparation for foreign travel. And he’ll look forward to the “communication struggle” as part of the adventure. He’ll thus experience the joy of the locals’ appreciation of his attempt – however clumsy – to communicate in their language.
The more adventurous traveler will opt to travel with the locals. While in Latin America, for example, Wendy and I travel by public bus. We find that doing so is both economical and adventurous. Some years ago, while traveling by bus in Central Mexico, we sat next to a fellow who was a dog breeder. Not only did he invite us to visit his ranch, he also offered us the pick of the litter, a golden retriever pup.
These choices which the traveler makes to “hang out with the locals,” assure that his costs are quite reasonable. For he’s avoiding the costly aspects of travel – staying in upscale hotels, eating in upscale restaurants, and being led around by tour guides. The only costly aspect of adventure travel which cannot be avoided is air transportation. Even if you plan to “hang out with the locals” when you arrive in Bolivia, you’ll still have to fly to get there. But all in all, you’ll save a wad of money as an adventure traveler. And you’ll enjoy a heck of a great experience.
When working with a travel agent, be careful. For not every travel agent understands adventure travel. Some years back, Wendy and I were planning a trip to Central Mexico’s colonial cities. When we asked our travel agent to book our flight to Zacatecas, Mexico, she asked about booking hotel reservations. We explained that we’d travel by bus from Zacatecas to Guanajuato to Patzcuaro and find a hotel room upon our arrival in each city. She seemed bewildered by our plan and explained that she could get us a great rate on an airline/hotel package to either Acapulco or Cancun. “Wouldn’t you rather stay in one of those beach resort cities?” she asked.