How to Travel the World for Free: One Man, 150 Days, Eleven Countries, No Money!

by Michael Wigge

Michael Wigge is on an adventure of a lifetime. The reporter and journalist has traveled to many countries before, but this time he decided to make it more he would travel twenty-five thousand miles around the world by foot, bus, train, ship, and plane and not spend any of his own money.

The journey was full of What would he eat? Where would he sleep? How would he get from place to place? Every day, those questions occupied his thoughts, but he always came up with creative solutions. He tried dumpster diving, eating flowers, couch surfing in the homes of strangers, sleeping under the stars, working on a container ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, offering to pillow fight strangers for a dollar, and after 150 days, he reached his destination. For this, Elite World Records named him the First Person to Travel the World Penniless, and the documentary he filmed about this trip won best feature in the 2011 Accolade Awards.

As much a guide as a travelogue, How to Travel the World for Free will give readers ideas for alternative ways of traveling and will inspire many to go on new adventures. This book is full of surprises, some more pleasant than others. Nevertheless, it’s a journey you won’t want to miss! Traveling can be expensive—why not do it for free?

Genres: Travel

197 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2013

Reviews

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book and seeing how he made his funds. However, I was not keen on some of his actions, which was against the law. However I found it inspiring.

[MJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. Kind of an asshole, really.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is both apty and inaply named, at the same time. Quite a feat, and relevant to discussing the book.

Aptly: it's not titled "How *you* can travel..." because you can't. It takes a very certain amount of chutzpah and moxie to go about his journey the way he did, on multiple levels of brass testes.

Inaptly: um, he didn't quite do it with no money. He made his own along the way (see paragraph above), and used that to move forward on his trek. Had he actually not had money, he likely would have starved to death somewhere along the way.

The book should be taken for what it is: a madcap adventure, filled with gumption and guts, but kids, do not try this at home, or away for that matter. You'll either die, or reach for that credit card, whichever comes first.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for the 52 books mini challenge Nonfiction november. I also used it for hpootp flourish and blotts reading challenge. I used 2021 reading challenge prompt read a book with an ugly cover. I found the book to be interesting, entertaining, and at times funny. I was happy for him that it worked out so well.

[Rodrigue Ronald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the concept, and wanted to find out how one does travel the world for free and write about it. It an easy read a bit underwhelming, but none the less if you’re looking for something different than this should do it.

[Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what to expect going into this book but I ended up loving every bit of it! It’s a true story of how one man travels from Germany to Antarctica with no money. There were so many cool stories and I just loved how stripped back it was.

[Ronit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Apparently the answer is having a research prospectus that legitimizes one's begging.... And not a little of what is arguably theft

[Karen Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like traveling, but I don't have the chutzpah to do this. I also don't have the athletic ability to be a porter traveling up a mountain.

[Heather Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept. Only ok writing.

[Rich · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Kellie Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been listening to this on and off via audiobook. It’s not something I would normally go for, but It was certainly an interesting listen; hearing about how the author managed to fulfil his journey. I’m glad I gave this one a shot.