Summary of "How to travel the world with almost no money | Tomislav Perko | TEDxTUHH"
Traveling the World with Almost No Money
Insights from Tomislav Perko
Tomislav Perko shares his experience of traveling the world with almost no money, emphasizing that such travel is accessible to many if they adopt certain strategies and mindsets.
Key Lifestyle and Travel Tips
Overcoming Fear
You don’t need to be brave, just have a little courage to start traveling.
Major Travel Expenses
Focus on minimizing three main costs: - Transportation - Accommodation - Food and other daily expenses
Transportation Tips
- Hitchhiking: Free, fast, and adds adventure to the journey.
- Walking: Simply take your backpack and walk.
- Cycling: Requires initial investment but is cheaper than conventional transport.
- Work-for-transport: Exchange labor for rides, e.g., working on a boat crossing the Indian Ocean.
Accommodation Tips
- Couchsurfing: Stay with locals for free and gain authentic local experiences beyond tourist spots.
- Camping: Use tents or sleep outdoors in parks with sleeping bags.
- Volunteering: Work in exchange for accommodation and sometimes food, often in unique settings.
Food and Other Expenses
- Supermarket Shopping: Buy cheap food and eat on the street.
- Cooking with Hosts: Share meals for cultural exchange and savings.
- Dumpster Diving: Recover edible food thrown away by supermarkets.
- Avoid Bars/Restaurants: Drink in parks to save money.
Earning Money While Traveling
- Busking: Play simple music on streets with a story to engage passersby.
- Writing: Maintain a blog or social media page; potentially write a book.
- Temporary Jobs: For example, working as a “professional traffic diverter” in Australia, earning enough in two weeks to fund eight months of travel.
Life Lessons and Insights
“In twenty years from now, you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did.”
- Don’t Trust Media Horror Stories: Most fears about dangerous places are exaggerated.
- Universal Humanity: Despite cultural differences, people worldwide are fundamentally similar.
- Prejudices: Encountered many warnings about different countries but experienced kindness everywhere.
- Post-Travel Adjustment: Returning home can bring mixed feelings; options include settling back, continuing to travel, or finding a balance between stability and adventure.
Challenges of This Travel Style
- Possible loneliness, hunger, sickness, homesickness.
- Requires trusting your gut and willingness to face discomfort.
Encouragement
If you feel inspired to travel like this, overcome fear and financial worries and just start.
Notable Locations and Experiences
- Hitchhiking across multiple countries including Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey.
- Sailing across the Indian Ocean from Australia to Africa.
- Working in Australia as a traffic controller.
Notable Platforms and Tools
- Couchsurfing: For free accommodation and cultural exchange.
- Dumpster Diving: Food recovery.
- Blogging and Social Media: For storytelling and income generation.
About the Speaker
Tomislav Perko is a Croatian traveler and former stockbroker turned world traveler.
Category
Lifestyle
