For 30 years I’ve had chapters in my ETBD guidebook about hitching and camping. Do any of you still do that? Should I just drop both chapters?
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18 Replies to “Question of the Day: Do back door travelers hitchhike or camp?”
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Drop it to make room for other things
Drop it, I avoid camping in my own country and wouldn’t do it in Europe. You might want to add some more detailed info about weekly apartment rentals for families that travel. The cost of renting an apartment for a family of 4 is significantly less than a hotel and you can make meals (after shopping at wonderful markets) and save money on food (or splurge on a real fancy place if that floats your boat). We rented apartments in London, Paris and several places in Italy and had a wonderful time.
Drop them both.
I am a big fan of you, and I am roughly your age. My 22 year son prefers ‘Let’s Go’ books, as money is a huge concern, and they state the price of things (apparently) better. We travelled as a family to France this summer, and his focus was definately different. Therefore, I feel your books are well suited to people around your age, but not the younger crowd. Thus, camping and hitch hiking are not my age groups “thing’ anymore. I vote to drop it.
I (60+ solo female traveler) hitch-hiked on the Isle of Skye in 2004, as otherwise I would have had a LONG wait for a bus, but it felt very safe there. In general, I wouldn’t try it these days, and I wouldn’t recommend that others try it.
Camping would be a good solution for a couple or family renting an RV, but that may be too specialized a market for this book.
Hitch-hiking and camping are far behind me (58) but I think a word or two on Couchsurfing.com is worthwhile. Similarly Airbnb.com. Each offers a way to connect and possibly lower cost lodging.
I often use your recommendations then go to Trip Advisor to check them out. In the process, I sometimes find a lodging that better suits my needs and may well be less expensive. I also find that the rates quoted in your books tend to be high. We have had good luck getting better rates on the hotel websites, especially off season.
Off season travel is also a great way to save some money. Just spent December in Italy and there was no down side for us. Great weather for walking, great rates, little rain (less than Portland!).
I don’t think that hitch-hiking and camping are what the majority of your readers are looking for. I think that more information about apartment stays and longer-term rentals would be helpful for most readers.
I would drop it. I know quite a few people who have been to Europe and I only know of 1 couple out of probably 40 who has either camped or hitchhiked. It just isn’t really done anymore in Europe from what I can tell.
I think you should definitely drop the section about hitchhiking and camping and dedicate more space to B&B’s and hotels. Guidebooks such as Let’s Go and Lonely Planet to provide sections for readers interested in camping.
I think the space would be better used on something other than camping or hitchhiking.
Rick, I’ve been reading your stuff since I was 23 (now 41 – eek!). I’ve camped in Europe and done a little hitchhiking too. I don’t do it now because I’m a bit older and wealthier, but I liked those sections back then. So my advice would be to listen to the young people. If they’re interested, then please keep them in the book.
Please, keep them! I trust your opinion more than anyone else’s, and your descriptions of camping and hitchhiking made me feel confident about trying them. I don’t get anywhere near as much reassurance from what Lonely Planet says, and I don’t even bother with Let’s Go. I find it frustrating when budget travel is equated with being in Europe just to drink and see the Mona Lisa. I love your town and museum tours, Back Doors, and honest evaluations, and then I love knowing where I can eat and sleep without spending a fortune. My 20s may be long over, but I still don’t have an unlimited travel fund.
I’m 27 and have been traveling to Eruope for 10 years, and even among the “younger crowd,” I don’t know many people who consider hitchhiking a legitimate transportation option — certainly not for young women, at least. I think that section could definitely be dropped.
Camping, to me, still warrants a mention as an alternative accommodation option, though I agree with Holly that detailed info on apartment rentals or homestays would be more helpful.
I’m a 57 year old woman and I hitchhiked in Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Montenegro. Granted, I speak some of the language, though am far from fluent. I use your guidebooks to plot out good places to go, and fill in the blanks. I’ve also camped, but not alone, only when travelling with others. I think a mention of camping and hitchhiking where reasonably safe and appropriate is valuable. I rarely rent a car and rely on local transport, and have only stayed in a hotel once or twice ever on a European trip. My income is not such that I could ever afford a RS trip.
Probably your better focus might be on less expensive lodgings. Not all your readers are couples. Many of us are single. Plus, if I travel with my teenage daughter I couldn’t possibly afford hotels. It would have to be hostels or B& B’s and the like. And local transport.
I think that most travelers even those on the cheap like me, don’t hitch unless they are really trying to stretch that budget. But with the availability of so many other affordable modes of public and private transportation, I think hitching is not as popular as it may have been in the past. Plus, with the negtive stigma associated with hitching (think: “i’m going to get kidnapped and murdered if I hitchhike), fewer people are inclined to do so even though it is typically very safe in most countries.
As far as camping goes, I think most people traveling through the back door are going to stick to hostels or B&Bs or family run hotels. I think those people going to europe to camp, are looking for a much different trip and will according find a much different travel skills/travel guide to get camping information from. I wouldn’t say eliminate the section (it helped me on my first trip to find safe places to “camp” for some nights) but I would shorten to up to state camping is possible, and then point to some online referneces.
In order to be relevant for as many as possible (including your younger readers), I’d suggest leaving some information about camping, but be sure to point out the pros & cons. I’ve noticed that some campsites are somewhat “distant” from the historic city centres, so that could present a transportation problem for those that stay there. Having to pack along a sleeping bag, tent, cooking gear, etc. is not my idea of a “fun” way to see Europe!
On the topic of hitchhiking, it might be prudent to suggest this is not a safe method of travel in current conditions. I’d be strongly against any of my Sons travelling around Europe via hitchhiking, and it’s most definitely not something I’d ever do!
I hitchhiked in the late 60s when I attended college but I haven’t since and have never done it during my travels in Europe. Getting around by hitchhiking is too difficult and unreliable to spend valuabe travel time. There is also the issue of personal security. I rarely drive in Europe, preferring to travel by train or bus, but when I do drive, I rarely see hitchhikers and would not pick up those that I do because of the risks in permitting a stranger to enter my rental car.
I have also never camped in Europe. For my first trip to Europe for 6 months in 1985, I took along my sleeping bag and used it once.
I’m 22 have used several of your books while traveling. Though I haven’t camped yet – I plan to on my next trip. Please keep these sections in for your younger readers!!!