![\"Preparing](\"http:\/\/motorcyclemojo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/DSC06818-2-300x200.jpg\")
I\u2019m often asked, \u201cHow can you afford to keep going?\u201d This always catches me off-guard, as I\u2019ve long since stopped worrying about it. At least, I don\u2019t keep a record. How do I manage it? I guess I must be achieving a healthy work\u2013ride balance. The memories created are priceless and cost becomes negligible.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all very well being romantic,\u201d I hear you cry, \u201cbut we all have to eat!\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s true \u2013 one cannot live on memories alone. So, here are some tips for keeping that road-trip budget low and the experience high. Remember, great memories are made from interacting and problem solving. This philosophy will enrich your adventure in a way that hotel rooms won\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Imagine yourself hot and tired in the middle of a strange country somewhere in Asia. Riding through traffic is like playing Grand Theft Auto on acid when you have just about run out of adrenaline. Your face is black with diesel fumes and now you need somewhere to sleep. You yearn for a soft pillow and a cool vanilla milkshake. You want nothing more than a fluffy dressing gown and a cockroach-free hotel room where you can wash away the grime of the day. You stand on the side of the road mentally counting your pennies and wondering if you should \u201cjust this once\u201d treat yourself, or whether you should find a campground and start the task of setting up your tent before it gets dark.<\/p>\n
Your brain is screaming \u201cJust get a hotel. No one will know. Tomorrow I\u2019ll go back to budget travel no matter what the day throws at me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course, I\u2019m inclined to believe that it\u2019s important to say \u201cto hell with the budget\u201d occasionally. Your senses can sometimes get overloaded and you might just need a quiet room and four walls to stare at. I call this my \u201creset\u201d time, and that\u2019s okay. However, be aware that this really is just going to be a no-brainer night. Your story ends here for the day and it comes with a hefty price tag. Instead of giving in immediately to your overstimulated brain \u2013 take five. Find a nearby street stall with a plastic chair on the pavement where you can sit and people watch for a half-hour with a glass of something cold. Rehydrate, cool down and relax. It\u2019s amazing what can happen in that short 30 minutes.<\/p>\n
The Kindness of Strangers<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ve stayed with every religion, every race, rich and poor, on my travels so far. I have slept in soft beds, with \u201cservants\u201d bringing me breakfast in the morning; slept on floors that I\u2019ve shared with five members of the family; washed from buckets of rainwater in the backyard; and peed in just about every type of toilet imaginable.<\/p>\n Be open to feeling uncomfortable. Try a different style of comfort. Forget what you have learned and be open to another way of life if you really want to take value from your journey. Don\u2019t think like a tourist. Immerse yourself in the local way of life and, in return, share your stories, entertain as you go. Keep in mind, you are a window to another world that some people can only dream of. Making the Most of Your Budget<\/strong><\/p>\n An inexpensive stove is fine. For the fuel, use blow-torch canisters; they\u2019re a lot cheaper and you\u2019ll find hardware stores everywhere.<\/p>\n There are many great camping spots out there that are free or cheap with basic facilities. Check out apps like iOverlander, where other travellers mark on the map and share information about great spots great spots. If you know you\u2019re going to be camping and it\u2019s been raining or damp, pick up some wood from the local town for a fire or, if it\u2019s dry, go into the woods and pick some up for free (only use dead or fallen wood). A fire can really make a difference to your state of mind, and your freezing butt and hands after a hard day\u2019s ride.<\/p>\n If you love your coffee, carry a small espresso press, so you don\u2019t have to compromise on taste. When in coffee-making regions, buy local beans, choose a pull-off with a great view and immerse yourself in the local flavours. Make every pit stop special with small yet inexpensive treats. A Break from Camping<\/strong><\/p>\n If a hotel is out of the question but you need a break from the old tent, surf the net. There are more and more websites for travellers these days, offering free or cheap beds for the night. Possibly the most commonly recognized is Couchsurfing.com, but there are many more out there. Check out biker forums, too \u2013 Horizons Unlimited (horizonsunlimited.com) and Adventure Rider (advrider.com) have local bikers offering \u201ctent space\u201d all over the world. This often means a spare room and a hot meal. Housesitters.com offers long- and short-term opportunities worldwide as well. You may find yourself cat sitting in a free house overlooking a beautiful lake for the winter, or alpaca herding on a ranch in darkest Peru. Be creative. Budget-life on the road doesn\u2019t have to be painful!<\/p>\n Bike Choice<\/strong><\/p>\n There is no right or wrong when it comes to bike choice, but consider an economical motorcycle with good fuel consumption if your budget is tight. Remember, small and light can save you money on shipping costs, too, while reliable can save you money on parts.<\/p>\n And Finally . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n Buy a local SIM card \u2013 it will save you a fortune in roaming costs. They are very easy to pick up, with airtime and data often extremely cheap. Just make sure your phone is unlocked before you leave home.<\/p>\n Make money as you go: sell your photos on iStock, write travel articles, tell your story to local groups for a fee (or a donations tin). If you can sing \u2013 busk! If you have a trade \u2013 trade it (there are many websites for this, too).<\/p>\n Mostly, keep an open mind and an approachable manner. Return favours whenever you can before you move on. Whether you believe in karma or not \u2013 roll with it! You\u2019ll be amazed at the rewards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A master class in making your dreams come true. How much does it really cost to travel the world by motorcycle? How long is a piece of string? A wise person once said, \u201cWork out what to take with you and how much money you will need, then halve what you take and double your […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":51267,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1409,228],"tags":[591,731,1033],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Preparing](\"http:\/\/motorcyclemojo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/IMGP5186-300x199.jpg\")
On more occasions than I can remember, in just those circumstances, a far more interesting and cheaper solution has presented itself to me, often in the form of a kind stranger. The kindness of strangers is important, and you quickly learn that there is often a helping hand when you need it most. Explore, safe in the knowledge that people are generally good. Learn to say yes to offers of hospitality. Trust your instincts. Some of my favourite nights have been the ones where I have accepted an invitation for dinner and found myself staying overnight on some spare floor space, well fed and further educated in the amazing and endless hospitality afforded me by some of the poorest people in the world.<\/p>\n
\nBeing a biker also gives you the added bonus of a built-in worldwide community. You\u2019ll be surprised at how often your bike draws in new friends. Again, practise saying yes to offers of hospitality. Be prepared to change your plans at the drop of a hat.<\/p>\n![\"Camping](\"http:\/\/motorcyclemojo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/IMGP9501-300x253.jpg\")
You\u2019ll save the most money by carrying camping gear, and especially cooking equipment. Even if you\u2019re in a hotel room, you can make your own dinner with the equipment you carry. I call this \u201chotel camping.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nIt might take a bit of practice to get your routine going \u2013 loading and unloading the bike, remembering where you put everything (\u201cArgh! It\u2019s getting dark and I can\u2019t find the headlamp!\u201d), and, of course, feeling safe out there on your own. However, you\u2019ll soon find that camping under the stars with the songs of crickets all around and the gentle sound of the river nearby could be one of the most rewarding experiences of your trip. Wake up to the sunrise and smell the flowers.<\/p>\n
\nVisit local markets and buy the local produce. It\u2019s cheap and fresh, and you\u2019re contributing to the local economy at ground level. If you don\u2019t feel like cooking, then eat street food. It\u2019s inexpensive, yummy and often a gastronomic education. Don\u2019t be frightened to step out of your comfort zone.<\/p>\n