On the Road: Splurging on a Budget
When traveling long-term, you are usually watching every penny in your budget. But sometimes there are experiences or amenities that you are willing to splurge on like sailing in Europe or surfing lessons in Bali, or a 5 star hotel in Bangkok. And sometimes you just miss the most basic of creature comforts. So we asked “Traveling on a budget? What’s the one thing you did or would splurge on?” and you answered!
[singlepic=680,300,,,right]VIA TWITTER:
@EmilyRHarris - I'd splurge on going to see the one "must-see" natural/cultural attraction of each place I visited.
follow-up:
@EmilyRHarris - Sapa in Vietnam by overnight train from Hanoi - both beautiful and culturally fascinating.
@TransAmericas - SCUBA diving
@travoholic - Flights to the other side of the world to do fun things. Last year Haiti - Australia. This year Asia - London - Pakistan?
@solitarypanda - Sadly, shoes
@thom_sean - truly once in a lifetime stuff; helicopter over grand canyon, train from Beijing to Moscow etc
[singlepic=1749,300,,,right]Brian Peters - A fancy hotel room, at least for a few nights
Sarah Girard - A fitted backpack
Angela Petitt - A great authentic meal!
Martin Withington - A hot shower, with lots of water pressure and no time limit
Darren Wells - Private transport to go literally anywhere...
Charles J Forsythe - I think the nice hotel room. We've been traveling for 4 months and try to get a night or two in something decent once a month.
SO WHAT WOULD YOU SPLURGE ON?
9 Responses to “On the Road: Splurging on a Budget”
Other comments
9 Comments on "A Year in Paris"-
Leah on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 8:12 am
I really enjoyed reading your post. I am thirty-two soon and have itchy feet that are ready to try out foreign soils.
It is a fear of leaving the security of the day to day grind of paying the bills and living a safe and non-challenging way of life that has put me on hold for some time.
I hope (as it has I) your post will inspire others to go and follow their bliss – Leah 🙂 -
Patricia GW on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 8:54 am
Travel and experiencing a new culture really has put it into perspective, and filled that void with purpose (and joy).
In three weeks I’ll be moving to Paris myself for one month. I have the same feeling – the incredible surreal realization that I’m going to be living there…. it’s thrilling!!
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Abby on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 2:11 pm
Oh, Jenny! Escargot isn’t palatable — it’s delicious! I love your writing style; it’s so fun and energetic. Can you believe how far we’ve come? Everyone, Jenny and I were in the exact same industry and have known each other online and via work emails for years and years. But we’ve only met once, many, many years ago. And one of those jobs she was sleeping next to her BlackBerry for was one I’d just left. And now she’s 33 and living abroad, just like I was last year. Kindred spirits. Jenny, you’re a true inspiration — I can’t wait to see how your adventure unfolds!
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Debbie Beardsley on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 3:22 pm
Your life in Paris sounds ideal. It is nice to read about people who follow their dreams instead of wishing they had! Enjoy the rest of your journey.
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Terriaw on Tue, 7th Jun 2011 1:40 pm
Wow, fabulous and well said! I love your new outlook on like. After experiencing career burnout and feeling a little lost and purposeless lately, you have encouraged me. I look forward to seeing Paris someday!
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Jenny on Tue, 7th Jun 2011 6:50 pm
merci for all the sweet comments! @abby we are soooo kindred spirits! well except when it comes to our differing feelings on escargot…;) and congrats patricia on the move! thrilling indeed!
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shawna on Thu, 9th Jun 2011 1:32 am
you’ve reawakened my travel bug. must. return. to. france. (someday.) eat a croissant for me!
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Weekly Travel Blog Links — LandingStanding on Mon, 13th Jun 2011 6:16 am
[…] how badly I want to go to Paris… If only we could afford living there for an extended period of time during our travels! Any […]
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G. Michael Schneider on Sun, 19th Jun 2011 3:36 pm
I am a firm believer in living and working overseas, just as you described. However, many of us actually like our jobs and our homes and are simply looking to renew and refresh our lives, not change it. However, you can have the same type of cultural experience without having to reach into your own wallet and without having to quit your day job–by taking what I call a “working vacation.” My wife and I have done this 15 separate times, from Australia to Zimbabwe, Turket to Tibet, Mauritius to Mongolia. I describe how to do it in my blog otherguysdime.wordpress.com and via Twitter at @otherguysdime. Learn how to have fun without having to have burn any of your bridges behind you.
2010-04-14 06:55
Hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, Turkey. In six months it was one of the bet things we did, even if it is a budget buster.
Read more here: http://www.greenaroundtheglobe.com/2009/10/25/pictures-from-our-hot-air-balloon-ride/
2010-04-14 13:14
Sailing lessons in Italy...pure bliss for 3 days!
2010-04-14 17:17
Whitewater rafting on the Soca River in Slovenia.
2010-04-14 18:47
It is important to go to a great restaurant in every city at least once.
Also, a new MacBook Pro is on the shopping list this week because of the recent upgrades.
I am extremely frugal for everything else.
2010-04-15 00:18
The one off adventure for sure. eg hangliding in Rio. But in general
I'd say a good meal. I love cuisine. Sometimes I just need a diva type
dish....
Stay adventurous,
Craig
2010-04-15 00:24
Agree with John and Craig. A good meal at a pricey restaurant on the road can really make for a special night in a new destination.
2010-04-15 11:53
From time to time, a private room at the hostel, or maybe even a hotel. Sometimes you just need a calm quiet place to escape the crowds...before you go back out to be a part of it again.
2010-04-17 14:09
Oh I definitely plan to spend on a single, private room on occasion. Will make things less stressful, for sure.
2010-04-19 10:50
@john A Macbook Pro is on my list as well but still very much on the fence. I might wait until my current PC dies but it might notbe far off.
On a smaller scale than flights, I would also splurge on a nice hotel or meal now and then, especially when I've been working as a volunteer. I'm on a break at the moment and pampering myself but it'll be totally worth it once I get back to work shoveling rubble six days a week in Haiti.