Deciding Where To Go?

[Bishop81]

How do you figure out where to go on your travels? I mean, how do you know where, around the world, you'll get the best prices and travel for less, while still getting maximum enjoyment? Does it just take a ton of research, or is there a certain book or site that you use to figure it out?

Specifically, I've seen where you can go to Thailand and live well for hundreds a month, but nearby, it can cost quite a bit more. How do you choose your trip?

[foulmouth]

There are a number of available options out there.

If you are feeling a little adventurous you can try out: couch surfers -- stay at peoples places for free and get to hang out with the local under 35 years old crowd, you can check out who you're staying with before hand and see if they're a nice group of people

If you want to stay for free and possibly get paid a tiny tiny bit and really live like the locals you can check out: WWOOF (Word Wide opportunities on organic farms) This can be a bit challenging but I have seen some really cool opportunities like working on a wine farm in Italy or growing pineapples and living in a tent by a river in costa rica.

Then there are always the craigslist ads that can help you find a cheap apartment abroad. The benefit to craigslist is that a lot of the properties are owned by expats so they are a bit more accomodating to the english speaking traveller. The drawback is you might run into scammers if you deal only online. I wouldn't recommend paying for any lodging in advance.

If you want to just pick up and go and try out the options when you get there I would recommend picking up the "on a shoestring" series of the lonely planet travel books. They offer up some real reviews that are really down to earth and in my experience have always been spot on.

Once you get to your destination you can ask around at hostels if there are any apartments or houses available for cheap. I found a two story three bedroom house in a small coffee town in costa rica for around $200 US a month. They filmed Jurassic Park the movie in this area so imagine living in Jurassic park minus all the dinosaurs and mayhem and you get the picture.

[liam75005]

I am getting this newsletter from Kathleen Pedicord regularly and it gives advices on cheap places to stay and retire.

Maybe this would help you out ?

[mlconsulting]

I am having similar problems. I have freed myself from the work place and am making almost double what I was making a year ago building Facebook apps for companies, but I find my self living in the same city I was a year ago. I want to travel, but I guess the problem is I don't want to go anywhere I don’t know people. This adds on to the already posted question of where to go, but also how do you get to know people where you go? I would be happy to climb the Himalaya’s as long as I have good company but the thought of doing anything that would keep me away from people scares the s@#* out of me. Maybe I am just weird like that. Let me know if you have any suggestions. Thanks!

[Bishop81]

I'm currently reading through "Vagabonding" by Rolf Potts. I suggest you check it out, mlconsulting. I think it will address your questions.

[mlconsulting]

Thanks Bishop81, I think I will. I am also loving couch couchsurfing.org right now.

[RootlessCosmopolitan]

There are any number of interesting places in the world where a dollar will take you very far. For instance, in order of priority, my plans (hopes) look something like:

China - where everything costs as much as in the US but in yuan; will also pay to establish commercial / manufacturing contacts for muse development.
Argentina - great since the default, and to relax.
The Caucasus
The Indonesian archipelago