Benefits of budget travel: 5 things we noticed

Benefits of budget travel: 5 things we noticed

There are many benefits of budget travel beyond simply saving money. Here are the ones that make it a worthwhile alternative

"I'm sorry, Estee. I know you don't belong here, but I need you."

If there was ever a sign that you've been roughing it for too long, it would certainly be appropriate to apologize to your eye gel.

We were in Samoa for 15 days, staying in a mix of roadside motels and traditional beach fales, all with cold water baths shared with other backpackers and a variety of bugs, moths and mosquitoes.

As I placed my bottle on a thorny wooden ledge, I apologized for the inappropriateness. Estée Lauder belonged somewhere else.

Me too, I thought sadly. I'm not going to lie: if I had the choice between going to the slum or staying in luxurious places, as I often do as a travel writer, I would choose the latter. (Clean sheets! Hot water! No cockroaches!)

Aside from just saving you money, budget travel offers many benefits. Here are the ones that make it a worthwhile alternative.

Advantages of budget travel

1. You get under the skin of a place

While staying in traditional accommodation, I was invited to: a dinner with a local family, a church visit on Sunday, a charity horse race and the wedding of a firstborn.

This has never happened to me in a luxury hotel - not once. The staff at first-class hotels are always friendly, but also masked by a veneer of professionalism. They seem to care more about decorum; to maintain an appropriate distance from your valued guests. Budget accommodation is much more relaxed.

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At Regina’s Beach Fales in Manase, Leano joined us at the dining table and regaled us with amusing stories as we ate – something 5-star hotel employees wouldn’t dream of doing uninvited.

One of the benefits of budget travel is that budget accommodation encourages local interactions that would otherwise be unlikely or even impossible.

2. It toughens you up

If I arrived at a hotel in London and found cockroaches in the bathroom, I would pack up and leave. In the Pacific they have become almost a fact of life. I say “almost” because some of them are massive (massive) and cannot be ignored. However, I have definitely become more tolerant.

On the 12-hour boat trip from Vanua Levu to Viti Levu in Fiji, Peter and I had our sleeping bags laid out on the ground. It wasn't long before I noticed cockroaches crawling along the walls and occasionally darting across the floor (fortunately not the massive ones, but what they lacked in size they made up for in numbers).

Resigned, I lay down and closed my eyes. It wasn't the best night's sleep I'd ever had, but the mere fact that I did it showed that I was building my skills. Add to that a six-hour hike in melting heat, walking with a heavy backpack, and a five-hour wait after a missed bus, and you'll understand why my tolerance is growing.

3. You value simple pleasures

When we finally had the privilege of a hot shower on our 16th day in Samoa, it felt incredible. Okay, so it wasn't a private dinner on a remote sandbar in the middle of the Indian Ocean, but it was still pretty satisfying. Budget Travel gives you a real appreciation for the simple things in life.

As I said in Poverty Tourism, it changes your perspective and makes you appreciate the things you have - unlike luxury travel, which highlights the things you don't have (like a plunge pool in the backyard).

4. It has a “halo effect” when it comes to saving money

We booked a room for two nights with Elisa in Apia. The hotel consists of two buildings: the first, a clean, air-conditioned mid-range hotel; the second, a simple budget hostel with rooms that reach inhumane temperatures.

The first evening I went to the main reception to ask if I could make a phone call. The receptionist told me there would be a fee. I agreed. After the phone call, she pulled out her big red book and asked me my room number.

When I said it was 11, she said, “Ah, way back?” “Yes,” I replied, reaching for my purse. She waved him off. With a wink, she said, “Don’t worry.”

This doesn't happen often, but it does happen occasionally. When locals realize that you're really on a budget and don't have any money to spare, they'll be more willing to help you, whether that means bartering more than usual or letting you off the hook for a phone charge.

5. You get fitter

Luxury hotels with their three-course meals and rich desserts are simply amazing when it comes to my figure. I'm a Taurus through and through, which means I have an almost sensual relationship with food. I love pasta and potatoes and cheese and bread and cakes and chocolate.

Budget travel eliminates such indulgences, meaning I feel much healthier while on the road. Add to that carrying a backpack a third of my weight and walking miles instead of taking a taxi - it all adds up. I won't get six pack abs any time soon, but I won't get diabetes either.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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