The one important thing you forget or you suppress in your statement of a modern world is that you are only able to travel your way because you personally benefit from money or financial power of your hosts.

So money will always be a necessity and drive hosts and their hospitality and as well all travelers equal how old the world is. Sometimes for shure less your money and more often money of others you run into and who are hospitable and generous to share their personal purchasing power with you as a traveller.

And btw when I travel I like of course to recieve and to enjoy hospitality but I also like to be remembered as a guest, as a representative of my country who spends with a smile and fun his own money to demonstrate respect and thankfullness to hospitable people I met. So in my view money is still a necessity for traveling.

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In my experience, the most welcoming and helpful hosts have the least money. I don't know what you mean by the "modern world", but I have never traveled because of the "financial power" of a host. We exchange things of value. At times that involves money, other times it does not.

Believe me or not as you like. I only share my own experience from travel.

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Traveling The World Since: 2011
Blog: The Seductive Life (General Travel)

Perhaps the real truth is something more along the lines of "There is always money involved." We can all probably think of people who traveled without money (or with very, very little): I've met people in Africa who traveled remarkable distances across multiple borders and cultural boundaries while absolutely penniless, and this was not uncommon just a few decades ago in the USA. This is generally made possible, however, by those who do possess either money or items of equivalent value--clothing, transport, food, shelter from inclement weather, etc.

There is room to debate the obligation of those of us with access to relative wealth--that's you, me, and probably everyone else on this thread--to those we encounter who lack such access. The debate seems particularly acute when we're accepting food, lodging, transport, entertainment, or goods from those others.

Personally, I feel strongly obligated to give back in the forms available to me but not to them, and rather often this means money--not my stories or friendship, not rides on my bike for their children or photos of their families, and not even their own belief in the eternal rewards which accrue to those who help travelers.

This is in part because it is largely by exploiting those others that my country and culture have made it possible for me to travel in the first place; that's where, in the final analysis, much of "my" money and power come from. Even if I never leave home, I owe them. I believe this holds true for all of us.

Mark

Yes, often people who don't have much are proud to extend their hospitality to others. If anyone is intentionally targeting them as a means to extend their travels for free, I would say it's exploitative.

Now I'm wondering how many mobile phone providers take payment in barter.

You are right. That type of behavior is despicable and unforgivable. However, consider that there can be other types of interactions than exploitation.



A better question: why do you need a mobile phone? I traveled for years without one. Even now, I often have no sim card. No sim card, no provider, no problem!

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Traveling The World Since: 2011
Blog: The Seductive Life (General Travel)

It would be interesting to know which device you write your postings with? And who provides you with data or wifi to surf and post on the internet along the road? Or do ask random people you meet otr to use their phones and data?

Also it would be interesting to know how you get free fuel along the road, not to talk about tyres and chain/sprockets? Is it really so that if you just have a good story or some skills to share you can obtain such nececceties along the road? It must be some decent stories and or impressive skills…

By all means - I also got hosted by some extremely friendly people for free during my RTW trip, especially in «western» countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Usa and Canada - places where decent accomodation would have taken a huge impact in my daily and monthly budget. And also I was given many a free meals - but I could never base my travel upon such freebies. I always have tried to give something back - buying a chocolate cake or something similar - and those few places I didnt get to do that I still feel a bit ashamed.

Its all about take and give I guess, and if money isnt directly involved its certainly indirectly involved.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. I’ve just had confirmation that I won’t be getting VR, pretty gutted as I reckon I would’ve gone travelling early 2023. I’ve spoken to my gaffer and asked about the chances of a 12 month sabbatical. He said he can’t see it being a problem, so I revert to plan B!

Best of luck with plan B, Once there is a plan....

I loved this thread, it's pretty deep! As to the original question, to go or not go, I think your at the most difficult stage, making the decision to go, Thats the hardest part of any trip, making that decision as so many things appear to be huge issues. Once you decide to go, all those huge issues get downgraded to logistical problems to solve or just go around. Once you do decide to go, everything else changes to a "how" question, How do I ship here, How do I ask for Petrol in Spanish etc.

Sarah and I decided to roll in 2011 (at a Hubb meeting in Enskillen), and we were on a ferry and rolling by the end of 2011. We lived on the road in a 4x4 camper till mid 2014 when we decided to call it quits for a while. We went back to Ireland. We were in late 40's at that stage, and got working again, and are currently saving + planning for the next trip. Bloody Covid makes it very hard to plan anything.

We're not wondering if we can afford to go again, we're wondering HOW we can afford to go again. Our financial plan involves what we did with our garage at our house, we had a double garage which we converted into a little apartment, and we plan that this will be our future home base while we come and go on our travels, and we will rent out our house as our travel income. We got this plan from others that we met on the road, and it's going to work out well. The wee apartment is is done, and rented out to help our savings fund build up. It's a weird having a neighbour in our garage, but it's working out just fine. Just means I've to keep the bike in a shed :-)

What did you mean with "modern world"?
I picked your own words from #31

Correct but I wanted to make clear that we as travellers couldn`t state that money isn`t an essential for travel.

Often we as travellers benefit from a hospitaly and help of a foreign cultural behavior which is given to us from hosts despite their financial and life difficulties. These peoples only share and show the best and proud moments of their lives with us. Due to the traditional rituals of hospitality they never burden us with their every day problems - often they hide them carefully!

I have this always in my mind and I try to be sensible and prudent in my perception of the given circumstances. Thats why I like to forget some money under the pillow or why I buy things for school or food or just toys for the kids.

I like to give back in thankfulness with respect and a smile, to honor hospitaly as an ambassador of my country, to value the moments and insights given to me as a traveller suddenly jumping in other lives. It is a privilege and not a duty to give equal if you are host or traveller. And therfor money is always needed as a necessity from both sides.

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