Traveling is probably a dream of every single living soul but, not everyone has the money to fulfill such unfathomable dreams – or so you’d think. What if we tell you that you can travel the world without spending so much as a cent from your pocket?
Think we’re bluffing? Well, Michael Wigge’s story may convince you otherwise.
Michael Wigge is a German entertainer who also happens to be a travel writer who got through over 40,000 kilometers and a total of 11 countries by bartering his way across the world. So, of course, who better to look towards for advice than him? According to the traveler, there are a bunch of strategies that travel enthusiasts can follow to live life as he does.
Dave’s Travel Corner | Being on the go for years, Wigge has picked up many tricks
Let’s look at some.
Walking around with a video camera will make you look professional. More importantly, it will increase the chances of getting a stranger (preferably a local) to work with you. Many countries worldwide are known for the warmth and friendliness of the locals towards tourists. You can use this to your advantage.
Michael thinks it is important to carry a notebook to have a list of contacts. This way, you’ll always be able to get more opportunities for bartering through the method of friend-of-friends.
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What could be more epic than working on a cruise ship? You can earn up to $6000 every month and, on top of that, get a room onboard with free meals included. Mostly all ships give opportunities to their staff to explore all the destinations they stop at. Needless to say, this is one of the best options for people who love to travel and see the world – especially if they don’t have any money.
Michael mentions that at the beginning of his journey, he would look for edibles in street dumpsters. Later, however, he figured that there isn’t a need to do that when he could just barter his way through countries. His way to do so was by offering to do the dishes and clean floors of restaurants in exchange for an old sandwich or anything that could be spared.
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As per his experience, the people of Latin America appeared to be quite helpful. He remembers never being turned away when arriving at a doorstep and asking for a place to sleep. He noticed this hospitality in them and figured that because they were poor as well, they understood him without having to hear his story.
