Big Travel, Small Budget: How to Travel More, Spend Less, and See the World Kindle Edition

I have been following Ryan's blog, Desk to Dirtbag, since I discovered it over a year ago. I became fascinated with him because of one article in particular, which included a detailed description of how he was living out of the back of his early 90's Toyota Pickup truck while exploring the American West. This article detailed how he outfitted the bed of his truck to include everything he would need for an extended road trip. I used to own the same model truck, and always dreamed of doing a similar cross-country road trip with a small budget.

A few summers ago, my girlfriend and I drove from GA to CA in a 1997 Honda Civic and were on the road for over a month. We went to so many different places on this trip - New Orleans, Dallas, Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, Roswell NM, Alamogordo and White Sands, Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Sedona, the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco, up the coast, and finally ending near Crater Lake, in Oregon. We were able to utilize his principles while on our journey. Over the course of our trip (lasting one month and three days), we personally spend a little over $1,000, not including gas. We could have made it less, but we splurged on some "luxuries" (fancy buffets in Vegas, some hotel night, etc).

Ryan paints an accurate portrait of what life on the road is really like, especially when you are trying to make your money last as long as possible. While most people go on a week vacation and spend over $1,000 easily, Ryan has managed to spend less than this in a month's time. I find it interesting and helpful that he fully discloses his travel budget, and invites his readers into his world by being completely transparent in his travels.

I was extremely excited to hear that he would be writing a book. I had already spent hours clicking through the various articles on his site, and loved that his same passion for low-budget, extended travel would be wrapped up and organized into an e-book. The advice within has been gathered from his various travels, experiences, and research. He is an advocate of using whatever method possible to keep the adventure going. Whether you are looking to spend a few weeks in the backcountry of the American West, or you are going to experience a different country altogether, Ryan has tips and tricks which actually come from his first-hand experience in those situations.

If you are passionate about his principle that "Life is too short to watch it pass by from a desk," and you are serious about doing something to change your situation, then this book is for you. Many of us are waiting for the "right" moment to take a journey like this - the moment that all of the pieces seem to fall into place, and the world somehow lets us know that "it's okay - go ahead and explore". However, if you fail to take decisive action, then there will always be something that will hold you back, whether it's waiting to save up just a little bit more money, or waiting for that next promotion, or whatever it may be. Ryan emphasizes that if this is really something that you want to do, then YOU need to do it. He shows different ways to help get you energized, get you planning, and most importantly, reach your goal. This is a very inspiring read that will make you want to go outside, pack your car with the essentials, and hit the road!

This is a gem of a book. It's packed with real life experiences, practical advice on how to travel cheaply, and lots of links so you can follow up for yourself. Be aware - this is not for the luxury traveller, or the person who wants everything for nothing. Ryan's main message is to work out what you want, go for that, and mercilesslessly cut other things from your life. He has been able to travel on a tiny budget because his goal is to enjoy the beauty and wonders of the world, without being hung up on staying in five star hotels. The suggestions in his book will suit the traveller who is open to new ways of doing things and who is prepared to invest some effort in being organised. Even if that's not you, it's worth getting the book for other useful tips (eg frequent flyer points hacks) which anyone can benefit from. Oh yes, and it's a huge vicarious pleasure to be able to read about someone who has Done It - the descriptions of his travels are wonderful to read.

Since I have retired three years and living in Costa Rica, I am ready for a new adventure. Amazingly, I had started working up notes and ideas when I discovered this book. Many of Ryan's ideas are sound and workable. With my retirement income I have crafted a strategy that makes it possible for me to save three things for a one month adventure away from Costa Rica: my airfare, a month rental of an apartment under$400 per month on airbnb in my city of interest, and one month of my expenses of my small rental house in Costa Rica. I am sure the plan will require fine tuning in the future. But now I am using many of Ryan's ideas for five weeks back in Portland, Oregon in October/November and Medellin, Colombia next May. Then thereafter, I can have a new adventure somewhere in Central and South America every six to seven months. Which suits my retirement goals just fine.

Loved the practical and down to earth tips in this inspiring read. Granted, I'm as different as possible from the author, he is young, single, free to live life on his own terms, while I am female, 46, and in the midst of raising kids in the suburbs. So still, I can dream, can't I? And this book is full of tips and ideas to use... in my case it's that dreaded someday... but I can start making little changes now, and this book helped me see the possibilities. So a good thing. Worth it for a truly different perspective on life! Enjoyed.

It was okay and did not help with what I was looking for. But possibly helpful for people that want to travel..... not a vanlife kind of book. I was not impressed with the credit card advice in the book, I think it could have been left out.

Wow. While many will no doubt praise Ryan for providing so many tips that will save money and time, I'm blown away by the quality of the writing that just compels you to take action. Just read this single sentence from the book, "You could take the equivalent of 26 years worth of vacation time in one amazing gap year." BOOM. If you're 20-something years old and didn't just decide to quit your cube-dwelling job to hit the road, well check your pulse. It ain't ever going to get easier as you get older. And when you ARE ready, Ryan's book will tell you exactly how to travel the world on a lot less than you think.

Picked this up on Kindle and then promptly bough a paper copy after I finished. Really like Ryan's writing style. Simple and to the point. Some ideas I had heard before, but he tells you EXACTLY how to take advantage of those deals and trusted places that he himself as tried. I'm not ready for a year long overland, but there were so many good ideas to grab for every age and budget. Really enjoyed it and am looking forward to putting some of it into action.