A woman who spent £16,000 on a backpacking trip says it wasn’t as glamorous as you might think.
For 10 months, Chloe Conor spent ten months backpacking through Central and South America. Although the 27-year-old managed to make stopovers at some of the world’s most impressive sites, she walked away from feeling a little aggrieved.
Despite spending the mandatory amount of cash for a deposit for an average Scottish house (£188,000 in August 2023 according to the ONS) during the trip, Chloe ended up staying in cockroach-infested hostels.
The social media manager at Wandsworth, London, said she had a budget of £45 a day. That meant staying in places with moldy toilets and bugs, enduring 30-degree air conditioning, and sharing 12-bed hostel rooms.
To save money, he took overnight buses instead of flying, didn’t buy new clothes while travelling, and shopped in supermarkets, spending as little as £1 on a meal.
Despite the unglamorous conditions, Chloe insists that “the worst is the bad” and that those reports made her affair “special. “He said, “It’s all part of the experience. Negatives are inevitable, especially when traveling to economically volatile countries.
“When you think about all those disgusting places, they become the funniest memories. They make amazing destinations even better. A lot of the backpack is rarely very glamorous, but that’s what makes it special. “
Chloe dreamed of traveling the world, but her plans were put on hold due to Covid. After saving £15,700 over four years of postgraduate work, she finally embarked on her adventure in October 2022.
Starting in Mexico, Chloe’s adventure took her through Central America, Colombia, Peru and the Galapagos Islands before returning home in August 2023. Despite some setbacks due to budget constraints, she described the experience as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. life.
“When we landed in Mexico, I felt very overwhelmed,” she admitted. “You’re being harassed by other people looking to get you into a taxi. “
He temporarily adapted to the hustle and bustle, traveled through Central America and ended his adventure in South America. “It’s surely an amazing experience. I love the slow-living atmosphere. “
Despite the lack of luxury, Chloe embraced the backpacking lifestyle. “The £45 a day would cover my transport, accommodation and all my meals.” she explained. “You can’t go backpacking if you are not willing to be uncomfortable. Looking back the good does outweigh the bad.”
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