The Boiler Works folks laid out a very organized plan and it will certainly work for some. But I'm not sure this approach fits many younger potential travelers.


Both had good jobs for years, owned a house, owned lots of vehicles, had good medical insurance (you have to pay A LOT in USA for this), and had family support.

I asked in my first post (over a year ago) what jobs they had ... they never answered or posted again on HUBB.

This couple were able to rent out their house, which obviously financed most of their trip. Nice, if you own a house.

But how many young, novice travelers own a house AND ... have years of savings, 401K's, investments built from years of steady employment? Answer: Very few.

Yet somehow young, nearly broke travelers DO manage to travel. NO, they won't have full cover insurance when on the road like out Boiler Works folks, nor will they have the ability to fall back into their steady job at any time. Or start on new bikes and fancy gear. Nor will they have medical and evac cover.
I wonder if Boiler Works know most countries in S. America have free medical care ... (or very low cost), even for foreigners? Guess not.

Young travelers often rely on family to Top Up their depleted funds from time to time. That's what I did back in early 70's. (I paid the money back) But I took off with about $1200 and made it 10 months in Mexico, Cent. Am. and S. America. I was topped up $1000 to finish my trip and finance my business.

I started a business in Guatemala and got a job in Argentina to help finance further travel/survival.

To me, a more interesting thread would take a look at what poor people and students do ... how do they manage to go anywhere in today's world? You can work and save ... but most won't have the head start the Boiler Works couple had ... and most don't want to wait into their 40's to travel. :help smilie:

So, how do the kids do it these days? (not the rich ones)