Passing Thru - For the Curious and Thoughtful Traveler

For the Curious and Thoughtful Traveler

  • Home
  • About
    • About PassingThru: Travel Resources and Inspiring Insights
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Blog
  • Places
    • Africa
      • South Africa
    • Asia
      • China
      • India
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Australia & Oceania
      • Australia
      • Fiji Islands
      • The Philippines
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Bosnia and Herzegovina
      • Bulgaria
      • Croatia
      • Czech Republic
      • England
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Hungary
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Latvia
      • Liechtenstein
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Serbia
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Alaska
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Florida
      • Hawaii
      • Illinois
      • Iowa
      • Kansas
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Missouri
      • Montana
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • North Carolina
      • North Dakota
      • Pennsylvania
      • South Dakota
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
    • General Travel
  • Resources and Tools
    • Gift Guides
    • Luggage and Packing
      • Luggage Tags
      • Passport Security
    • Technology
  • Contact
  • Opt-out preferences

3 Alternatives to Hostel Hopping for Savvy Budget Travelers

By Betsy Wuebker 1 Comment

(Last Updated On: February 4, 2020)

Hostel hopping is an all too ubiquitous travel scenario for people of any age on a budget. But there are definitely alternatives to consider if the hostel travel lifestyle is wearing you down.

alternatives to hostel hopping

Photo by Christine Roy on Unsplash

For those who dream of traveling, the reality often manifests in lugging backpacks (or in our case, dragging suitcases) the size of yourself onto buses or trains, out of buses or trains, into hostels and then from there another hostel and another hostel, one after the other until trip’s end. This kind of hostel hopping is a ubiquitous travel scenario.

Hosteling is popular with budget travelers for a reason. Hostels are cheap, you get to meet interesting people, and you can generally find something to do. Many travelers love the unique atmosphere you can find at hostels – you’ll encounter other travelers only too willing to share their stories, pair up with a new drinking buddy, get word on which attractions are worth seeing, and perhaps even find romance, if you’re in the market. However, hosteling is not the only way to travel on a budget. Now that more and more people are searching new ways to see the world at their leisure, other methods have surfaced. Perhaps one is right for you:

The Open Ocean

If you feel traveling by land is limiting, then a nautical alternative may be just the solution. Opting to sail from port to port across an inscrutable body of water is a form of wanderlust that has historically been a siren song for many an explorer traveler. There is a unique aspect to approaching a new destination from the water that land travelers miss. Ports teem with activity, and depending upon your destination, amenities to serve sea travelers will be awaiting when you disembark.

Whether you are traveling as a family, a student blowing off steam after exams, or for a romantic couple’s vacation, researching the top sailing holidays will provide you with unique options. If you love seafood, snorkeling, and sunbathing, sailing will provide an unforgettable travel experience.

Work and Play

Choosing to see the world and work at the same time can balance expenses and stretch your savings for longer while you fulfill your globetrotting dreams. There are so many side hustle options that allow you maintain location independence that this has become a viable consideration for those who’d like an extended period in which to travel.

Digital access allows you to work remotely anywhere in the world there is an internet connection, as we do. We’ve developed a diverse number of income streams which radiate from the hub of this blog. Other travelers elect to obtain a TEFL certificate to live and work in the country of their choice teaching English and becoming wholly immersed in a completely different culture for an extended period.

Go Your Own Way on a Road Trip

The road trip is often considered the ultimate in freedom. It has been romanticized in print and film for good reason. Road tripping is simply an excellent way of seeing the world on your own terms. Whether you want to rent a car with friends or purchase a motorbike in places such as Vietnam and travel the open road, you will make unforgettable memories.

A road trip is the antithesis of package deals and transportation timetables. Stay as little or as long  as you like wherever you stop. Move on to the next destination or stay put to enjoy the current location, the choice is yours.

In summary, while hostel hopping has its social and budgetary advantages, this travel lifestyle can be tiresome. Exploring alternatives to see the world on your own terms can lead to opportunities and experiences you’ve never considered, while leaving room for serendipity and flexibility to pivot from your plans. Embrace the freedom of the seven seas, the open road, or supplement or replace income with location independent work and don’t look back!

Pinnable Image

3 alternatives

Tips for Trip Success

Book Your Flight
Find an inexpensive flight by using CheapOAir, a favorite of ours because it regularly returns less expensive flight options from a variety of airlines.

Book Your Hotel or Special Accommodation
We are big fans of Booking.com. We like their review system and photos. If we want to see more reviews and additional booking options, we go to TripAdvisor.

You Need Travel Insurance!
Good travel insurance means having total peace of mind. Travel insurance protects you when your medical insurance often will not and better than what you get from your credit card. It will provide comprehensive coverage should you need medical treatment or return to the United States, compensation for trip interruption, baggage loss, and other situations.

PassingThru is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

To view PassingThru’s privacy policy, click here.

Filed Under: Travel

Trackbacks

  1. How To Give Your Next Trip A Fun Foodie Focus | Passing Thru says:
    February 20, 2018 at 2:03 pm

    […] How you travel is personal. Some people will head out on their annual vacation and stick to familiar things. Others will do things differently every time to  get a variety of experiences. There is no right or wrong way to travel. We all have our own travel goals. Sometimes it’s to relax. Sometimes it’s to explore. And there are some that want to eat their way around the world! There are many interesting and incredible cuisines around the world. Wanting to taste them all is only natural. Consider taking a foodie trip when you next travel. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

 

Hi, I’m Betsy. I traveled the world full time for close to four years and have visited more than 50 countries. If you’re a curious and thoughtful traveler, you’re in the right place. No matter if you’re new to travel or an old hand, I can help you refine your bucket list!

Here’s to a happier, travel-centered life!

Offbeat Experiences in Italy to Create Better Memories

Bucket List Ideas

  • Things You Will Learn About Yourself While Walking the Camino de Santiago
  • 10 Unmissable Attractions in Bhutan
  • Biggest and Best Oktoberfest in Germany: Munich 2023

More Bucket List Ideas

Privacy Policy

Click here for PassingThru’s Privacy Policy.

Disclosure

PassingThru is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Click here for PassingThru’s complete Disclosure Policy.

Copyright © 2023 Passing Thru · Designed by Blue Sun Studio, Inc. on Genesis · Log in

Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}