I told him to his face that I was jealous of his plan. But in the same breath, I urged him to keep us updated on his progress. You see, we can learn from John, and hundreds like him out there stretching travel budgets without missing the thrill of exploration.

More of this Feature • Part 2: Extended Trip Resources • Part 3: Other Trekkers

Related Resources • Around the World in about $1000 • Be a Courier • Links for Backpackers

From Other Guides • Adventure Travel: Backpacking Adventures • Greece: Hiking and Backpacking • Walking: Ten Essentials

Elsewhere on the Web • There Goes John

John is not wealthy, and his trip will not be cushy. He plans to overnight in a lot of $7 hostels, a fact that alleviates some of my envy!

John has his own Web site, appropriately titled There Goes John. He posts a daily diary entry and pictures from his location du jour. It is not a budget travel site by definition, but reading through the entries on a site like this can definitely save you money.

It is highly unlikely most of us will ever attempt such a journey. But John will write about places in the next year or so that many of us will visit sometime in our lives.

Unless you keep that in mind, the information might seem obscure and unimportant. One example: John traveled from Panachel to Antigua, Guatemala, and encountered a new, comfortable bus he rode for 90 minutes on that trip for the grand sum of $2 USD.

There are thousands of similar travel bargains out there. Some you must discover on your own. Others have been uncovered for you.

Consider how a trip like John's is possible--it's fun, and it might help you plan a shorter adventure of your own at a fraction of the costs you'd expect to pay.

Next page > Cheap Flights and Overnights > Page 2, 3

Photograph courtesy John Sanders and ThereGoesJohn.com