Chatbox

I would like to find out how much an average person usually spend while touring on the road and how you spend it (hostel, camp, shower, no shower, cooking, fast food...etc).

Basically, I've saved up some money for touring purposes, and I plan on doing it in the cheapest way possible that would last me the longest time possible (yes, I really hate going back to work).

Would anyone like to share their experience?

Gordon P

For 5 months in Europe I spent about $7000.00 Canadian and that included the return flight. I camped 2 out of every 3 nights and stayed in youth hostels, hotels and guest houses when in large towns and cities.

raybo

Saving money on tour is not a concern of mine and I don't track expenses.

But, one way to save money on a bike tour is to use hospitality sites to get places to stay for free. The sites I've used are www.couchsurfing.com, www.hospitalityclub.net, and www.warmshowers.org.

In addition, this page has 2 links to discussions at crazyguyonabike.com about touring costs.

This page is a discussion about the costs of a two-year round-the-world trip: https://www.mark-ju.net/juliette/planning.htm

Good luck,

Ray

Thulsadoom

For me, food is the biggest expense. I enjoy stealth camping, and cheap campgrounds with the occasional fleabag motel thrown in. I don't need the absolute latest and greatest hi-tech gear, so I don't spend much on that. But I don't really like to scrimp on food. To me, how well I feel and how much I'm going to enjoy the trip, is always directly proportional to how well I'm eating. I eat a big breakfast, hopefully in a little Mom&Pop restauraunt, or cooking out if I'm in nowheresville. Then I snack all day as I ride. Bagels, bananas, wheat-thins, clif bars, orange juice, Snickers bars, apricots, apples, etc. Then I like another large, high protein/high carb meal at night that will "percolate" overnight while I'm sleeping. Sometimes in a restaurant, sometimes not. But I estimate that I spend $20-$30 a day just on food. (that's considering last summers food prices, plus I tip well)

I met a guy last summer who was going across the US on $10 a day, total. He looked disgusted when I told him that I was spending close to 3 times that much just in food. I asked him how many miles a day he was riding and he told me: "sometimes I ride up to 40 miles in a day! But usually about 30." I thought, sure, if I was only riding that many miles I could probably get away on a much lighter diet, but I was riding around 3 times that many miles, so it makes sense that I was spending 3 times as much in food.

Other than food, bicycle touring is pretty freakin inexpensive.

Carbon Ken

When I did my last tour, the thought of having a big feast at the end of the day was my greatest motivation. Of course I ended up gaining weight after my one week ride but at least it was fun.

I think you should budget at least $20/day for food but accommodations will easily exceed that, especially if you stay in motels. IMHO, a budget of $50/day is a good guideline as long as you throw in some stealth camping to offset your hostels and motel costs.

Speedo

I recently started a thread on touring economy and had some interesting responses which you should find useful.

For last summer's week long tour in the Finger Lakes region of New York, where we camped, and had a vehicle carrying our gear, our per person, per day cost was $36.11. The breakdown is in the economy thread.

Speedo

staehpj1

If I count buying a lot of my gear, airfare, racks, panniers, a new bike, and also all daily expenses; I still spent a lot less than $50 per day for a Trans America tour. I wasn't really pinching pennies either, but did share expenses with my companions, avoid motels, camp in free places (no stealth camping though), and cook a good bit of the time. A good portion of the expenses were food and cold sports drinks. Lodging was less than $5 per day because we stayed in city parks, with hosts, or other free places as much as possible.

thecrunge

I did a 5 day tour in September. I stealth camped and only brought with me bagels, PB&H, a bag of oatmeal and got water from taps at various places. It cost me about $15 for the trip: ~3 bucks a day. Even less actually, because I skipped 2 dinners; I didn't feel that hungry, I felt perfectly fine. I wouldn't do this for a longer trip though. And no I didn't eat from any dumpsters!

Camel

Remember to factor in expenses for things you like to do, and things which you might like to do. Entrance fees can easily add up, as an example.

JohnyW

Hi,

I don't track expenses. But I calculate 40 EUR per day for "developed" countries (North *******, Europe, Japan, Korea) and 20 EUR per day for "Third World countries". With this amount of money you can travel convienent. I make a mix of cheap hostels/campgrounds, Eat one warm meal per day in a restaurant, supply myself during the day in supermarkets and visit nearly everything (entrance fees).

Of course it's possible to travel cheaper, but's not my way. At Christmas Eve 1998 I was in a nice restaurant which offers a 3 course Christmas menu. To other travellers come to restaurant open the menu, discussed and left the restaurant. The prices were to high. The menu costs (incl. 1 drink) 3-4 USD... sometimes you have to allow yourself something

Thomas

zeppinger

I just finished the touring the PCH and was attampting a $10 a day budget.... After about a week of trying to live on that and get frustrated, upset, and angry when I failed.... I said screw it. For me, I enjoy touring a lot more when I am not pinching pennies. However, thats me, Im a $25 a day guy apparently. Everyone is different!

Chatbox

Thanks guys! That's great help for me to try to set a budget for the trip. I do have some concerns as to how well suited will I be to the camping lifestyle. All my friends are saying that I will fail before the 90 days is up, but I'm staying optimistic and really want a change of lifestyle.

BigBlueToe

There are a lot of variables to consider. One is where you will stay. I pretty much always stay in campgrounds. The cost of public campgrounds varies. If they have bicycle or hiker/biker sites the rate will usually be $3-5 per night. Washington used to have hiker/biker rates, but two summers ago I was up there and the hiker/biker sites were called "primitive" and cost the same as regular sites - $14. Some Forest Service sites with limited services are $10 and regular state parks can be $15 or more. Private campgrounds usually start around $20 per night. Then there are the occasional motels I stay in which average around $50. If you stealth camp your per/night camping charge will drop.

The one thing you can count on is that you will eat far more on tour than you do at home. So take whatever the normal cost is, based on where and what you plan to eat - all restaurants, restaurants mixed with cooking, cooking and sandwiches with no restaurants, etc. - and add perhaps 50% more (I'm not kidding. Most bike tourers report ravenous appetites. "Eat to ride, ride to eat!")

I don't bother figuring my cost per day. I think it's about the same as car camping, but much less than resort travel or rv travel.

Thulsadoom

Just by virtue of the fact that you crave the change in your lifestyle probably separates you from your friends. Most people are uncomfortable with anything they don't understand and can't relate to, and therefore they will usually try to discourage it. Stay true to yourself and your beliefs.

MadMabel

You have camped out before, right? The tone of your question suggests not. If not maybe you should take a few overnight or long weekend bike tours to state parks or the like first to see what you are getting into.

MadMabel

Machka 

I've spent anywhere from about $30-50 a day, plus flight costs.


Have done your weekend test tours? Have you gone camping? If not ... get going! It's better to test the bicycle, the load, the equipment, the camping techniques, etc. etc. in your local area before you do your big tour.

Weasel9

You need some new friends!

Coming from a hitchhiking background, I think I travel pretty cheaply.

$10/day if I'm traveling in the US. Between dumpster diving for food, stealth camping most of the time and couchsurfing.com every once in a while for a shower(or just a dip in the river) I keep my costs minimal. Also, an amazing array of parts can be found in bike shop dumpsters. I don't expect very many people to be able to do it as cheaply as that, though. I'm just part hobo.

Seriously though, tell your friends to stuff it! Camping can be hard to get used to for some people, but if you just keep at it, it becomes just as comfortable as home. More so, for some of us.

Good luck on your trip, have fun out there!

tacomee

The real question isn't *if* you touring on the cheap-- believe me, it's been done.

The real question is *why* would you want to?

Spending money in holiday is a good thing. The veiw is 100% free, but everything else costs some money.

Chatbox

MadMabel, you're right about that! I've only been camping when I was a scout about 20 years ago...damn, that's such a long time. However, I've already made plans on going on a short tour (12 days) with some friends who are experienced tour cyclists. So I'll learn from before I head over to Australia.

Weasel9, I heard about dumpster diving for food when I was in Canada (volunteers were doing it for a food bank for the homeless on a regular basis). For me, I would like to try it as well, it'll be a good experience to have. Plus, I do feel that developed counties do waste a lot of food, especially supermarkets...all just because of the expiry date.

tacomee, the why would be so that my savings will last me the longest period possible for me to get a permanent IT job (or something that's not IT related...looking for a change in life) in Australia. I'm currently an IT technical consultant working for an IBM Business Partner, the pay is ok, people within the company are quite alright, but I just don't like HK that much for me to stay here for the rest of the career. The second reason is that I would like to experience a simpler life. Having been in the UK, Canada and now HK, I think people in general (myself included) are too focused on things like the latest car on the market, large LCD TV, big house...etc. Chasing after all these stuff is very tiring (for me at least), and I'm trying to tell myself that I can be happy from just appreciating the simple things in life. For example, right now, I know I WILL miss the warm showers (twice a day) and my bed.

Machka 

How old are you? Older than 30 or younger than 30?

Weasel9

Depends on your lifestyle. If you're on holiday more than you're working, traveling cheap is necessary. Besides, some of us enjoy the challenge.

I don't think most people really realize how much food is thrown away in this country on a regular basis. When you find your first dumpster that has far more food than you and your 3 friends can haul away in an evening, you realize just how much there can be out there. It's my little way of recycling.

Chatbox

Right this moment, I'm 29y7m old. I'll be 30 in mid July. I hold a Working holiday visa (for now) and it'll be valid until 5th Feb 2010.

JohnyW

Hi Machka,

that's unimportant. It's not a work and travel visa. I was as a tourist for 4 weeks in Australia and 2 person heard that I'm an IT professional - they ask me to immigrate because there was a lack of IT guys in Australia (it was 2006). If a country needs educated persons (e.g. doctors in the UK) the resident permit won't be a major problem. Even as tourist you can apply for a job - but you're not allowed to work. If you get a job I think the employeer will then assist you to get the required papers.

Thomas

Machka 

Yes, but from what I've heard and read during the initial stages of my immigration process, it can be a long and expensive journey. Australia operates on a points system ... points for education, qualifications, relationships, etc. If you have an employer willing to sponsor you, that definitely helps, but the world is in a little bit of a recession now, and employers might not be so willing to go through all the hoops of getting someone from another country.

If you're under 30, however, Australia has the Working Holiday Visa which Chatbox mentioned, so he (she?) can go over and work without all the hoops.