My life on a budget vacation has been an invaluable experience
In the heart of winter, in the midst of a cost of living crisis, I bring good news. This low-budget vacation you are resigning yourself to this year? Add a touch of creativity and the result will be much better than you think.
As an author who spent most of his adult life dying starving in an attic, I have almost always had to opt for a cheap and happy holiday. And my experience is that they're not just on par with those that come with a little more toppings, they're very often much more enjoyable and satisfying. Let me explain.
For starters, some of the best memories are made by meeting locals and experiencing kindness, whether at home or abroad. Luxury, on the other hand, tends to insulate you from such encounters. For example, inspired by Shakespeare's many walking trips between Stratford-upon-Avon and London, I decided to celebrate the end of a book (by writing one, not just reading it) by taking a walking holiday. from my east London flat to my sister's house near the Suffolk/Norfolk border. I threw a few things into a rucksack, headed along the River Lea and arrived at a rural campsite in the late evening. That's when disaster struck - I found it closed unexpectedly. There were no other campsites for miles and nowhere convenient for wild camping. Ten minutes later I was in a pub explaining my situation to the owner as she poured me a pint. My story was heard and I was immediately offered a free bed by a local family. I was even given breakfast and a lift to the pub the next morning to continue my walk. Thank you, Bill.
Camping is, of course, the obvious choice for a budget traveler. My investment in a bit of camping gear (there are plenty of cheap options these days) has paid for itself many times over, on bike and on foot trips. Campsite facilities have improved dramatically since the start of the UK camping boom in the early 2000s. And although there has also been a commensurate rise in prices, there are still plenty of perfectly good sites with everything you need. need for less than ten euros per night.
Naturally the most important cheapest camping is wild camping, which is completely legal in some parts from Dartmoor (for now) and across Scotland (with common sense caveats) - although I'll admit it's not for everyone. I make sure to pitch late, break camp early, and leave no trace - and I've never had a problem. Additionally, wild camping has allowed me to stay in lovely secluded places – in the mountains, on top of cliffs and by lakes and lochs – and given me many special moments of connection with wildlife. I fell asleep with badgers prowling around me; woken up by muntjac deer at my tent flap; and ...
In the heart of winter, in the midst of a cost of living crisis, I bring good news. This low-budget vacation you are resigning yourself to this year? Add a touch of creativity and the result will be much better than you think.
As an author who spent most of his adult life dying starving in an attic, I have almost always had to opt for a cheap and happy holiday. And my experience is that they're not just on par with those that come with a little more toppings, they're very often much more enjoyable and satisfying. Let me explain.
For starters, some of the best memories are made by meeting locals and experiencing kindness, whether at home or abroad. Luxury, on the other hand, tends to insulate you from such encounters. For example, inspired by Shakespeare's many walking trips between Stratford-upon-Avon and London, I decided to celebrate the end of a book (by writing one, not just reading it) by taking a walking holiday. from my east London flat to my sister's house near the Suffolk/Norfolk border. I threw a few things into a rucksack, headed along the River Lea and arrived at a rural campsite in the late evening. That's when disaster struck - I found it closed unexpectedly. There were no other campsites for miles and nowhere convenient for wild camping. Ten minutes later I was in a pub explaining my situation to the owner as she poured me a pint. My story was heard and I was immediately offered a free bed by a local family. I was even given breakfast and a lift to the pub the next morning to continue my walk. Thank you, Bill.
Camping is, of course, the obvious choice for a budget traveler. My investment in a bit of camping gear (there are plenty of cheap options these days) has paid for itself many times over, on bike and on foot trips. Campsite facilities have improved dramatically since the start of the UK camping boom in the early 2000s. And although there has also been a commensurate rise in prices, there are still plenty of perfectly good sites with everything you need. need for less than ten euros per night.
Naturally the most important cheapest camping is wild camping, which is completely legal in some parts from Dartmoor (for now) and across Scotland (with common sense caveats) - although I'll admit it's not for everyone. I make sure to pitch late, break camp early, and leave no trace - and I've never had a problem. Additionally, wild camping has allowed me to stay in lovely secluded places – in the mountains, on top of cliffs and by lakes and lochs – and given me many special moments of connection with wildlife. I fell asleep with badgers prowling around me; woken up by muntjac deer at my tent flap; and ...
What's Your Reaction?
