Probably not as relevant in this age but touring nealy 40 years ago went like this: Camping was cheaper as 1/2 the time was in the brush (wherever including porches, ski hills, dugouts, hobo camps, rest areas, and fields & forests along the way) and 1/2 the time in campgrounds. 6 people in one camping space made accommodations cheap as did hostels. Didn't stay in hotels, motels or eat in restaurants, thus we were essientially backpackers on bikes. Probably didn't eat as well as I should've as I lived off raisins, nuts, chocolate chips, bananas, apples, peanut butter, bread, ice cream, honey, milk, for weeks (sounds tasty now that I think about it). Travelling out of mainstream routes meant folks we met considered us unusual, interesting, thus we were invited into homes, given food, rides, drinks, hot showers and...a big part was travelling with the ladies as womenfolk were sympathetic to them. Return trips (bus & air) and ferries were the largest single costs as where some bike repairs.