Showerthought: I just spent 17 days in Portugal for under $800 total

I tracked every cost and was shocked to hit that number, mostly by staying in hostels, cooking meals, and using local buses. Some friends say that's too extreme and you miss out on real experiences, but I felt more connected to the place by living cheap. Where do you draw the line between a good budget hack and just being too cheap?

3 comments

3 Comments

davidkim17d ago

Cheap travel forces you to meet real people.

cole54916d ago

So you're saying a bigger budget just buys you more distance from everyone?

aaronsullivan17d ago

Wait, you think cheap travel is the only way to meet real people? That's a wild take. It sounds like you're saying anyone who spends more is just stuck in a fake bubble. I've stayed in hostels and also saved up for a nicer trip, and the people were just as real both times. The price of your bed doesn't magically make the locals or other travelers more authentic. That logic feels pretty snobby, honestly.