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JUST THE FACTS |
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| Budget Travel, Where Do I Start? | |||||
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by Helene GoupilA friend and I were talking not long ago about budget travel. Although Omar Shafqat, who is originally from Pakistan and came to live in the United States as a teenager, loves to travel, he said that he is still intimidated by the thought of leaving on a trip for several months with a very limited budget. As an ex-study abroad advisor and a dedicated traveler, I like to convince people to travel, so I thought I would write a list of things you can do to prepare for a trip on a budget, whether you want to start with a few weeks or you’re ready to go for a few years. Planning a trip without a tour guide is easier than you think. All you need is the desire to explore. Well, that and a few other things, but first things first. |
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Firsts are always intimidating so I can understand why some people who have never traveled on their own feel nervous about going backpacking. When I finished my contract in Japan and left for Thailand with a two-month ticket, I wondered how long I would really last. I wasn’t traveling alone so that was a comfort, but two months is a long time. What would we do all that time? As a couple, would we be able to put up with each other 24 hours a day or would we end up traveling back on our own and never speak again?
Now that we’re back and still speaking, I can tell you that two months is way too short and there was not one time I got bored on that trip. However, I’m happy we thought about all these things before we left. So, here is my advice for all the “backpacker virgins” out there. |
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