If you think you travel cheap, this young backpacker will make you think again.
After 9 months of wandering around 19 European countries, Romain spent the incredible amount of 3’000£ in total, which is approximately equivalent to one month of expenses back home, in France. His secret? Finding every possible way to save money- because each coin counts!
Romain uses the Couchsurfing website for free accommodation and travels with his longboard, but his main mode of transportation is by hitchhiking (looooads and loads of it). The traveller explains that during his childhood, he used to be afraid of everything. As he grew older, he decided to put an end to this problem by taking more risks in life and face his deepest fears. After graduating university, he took the challenge to travel by himself without spending a single pound in transportation.
The 26 year-old purveys the activity of putting your thumb up by the road, proclaiming that hitchhiking is a safe mode of travel, despite the negative connotations attached to it. Being skeptical about it is normal, but Romain confirms that his trips usually go surprisingly well, unlike what is shown in the movies. The worse that ever happened to him was to get stuck in a car for hours with someone that stayed quiet during the whole trip. As a matter of fact, the backpacker is often overwhelmed by the kindness of his drivers. Once, a local insisted that the hitchhiker had to try the regional food and ended up inviting him for a meal at a traditional restaurant.
Although this type of transportation is less common than it was during the 70’s (when people would literally queue to hop in the next car), it remains a great way to wander for cheap. In addition to saving money, Romain is able to extend his stay however long he pleases. While travelling in Greece, he stumbled upon refugee camps near the Macedonian border. Although aware of the current situation, the hitchhiker admits that he did not expect such an encounter. Moved by this mass of homeless people, he decided to get involved by distributing them food for a couple of days. When he left, he was torn by the fact that he could cross the border so easily when all these refugees were struggling to do the same.
With the help of his longboard, Romain entered Macedonia where another surprise awaited him. The highway was closed, which meant he could ride his board along the road and obviously, he did. The police stopped him, convinced that he was a refugee who had escaped from the camp but eventually realized he was just a crazy backpacker.
In total, the hitchhiker managed to travel 10’000 km for free. To him, it is the best way of going around for as long as you remove those negative thoughts in your head. Romain recommends to try hitchhiking with a friend for the first time to see what it’s like. You can also take pictures of the car’s plate number or driver’s face if it reassures you, but in the end, the best way is always to follow what your guts tell you. Yes, the one and only instinct hidden in all of us will be the best companion for this sort of adventure.
Through this experience, the young traveller acknowledged a change in his personality. Now, talking to strangers is a piece of cake for him as he got used to breaking the ice with casual small talk. Also, thanks to this unusual mode of transportation, money is never an issue for Romain, allowing him to travel wherever he pleases while accumulating the most outrageous stories to share on the road. After all, the cheapest thrills often lead to the craziest experiences.