The Broke Backpacker by Will Hatton

How To Travel The World On $10 / Day by Will Hatton is a travel e-book written by the founder of popular travel blog The Broke Backpacker.

It all started when Will was 19 years old with no cellphone. He flew to India and ended up staying 18 months hitchhiking, camping, couchsurfing, and working on farms. After over 11 years of experience going around the entire world, Hatton reveals his secrets to maximizing your finances & travel time so you can have the best experience possible!

Today, his home base is in Bali where he opened the Tribal Bali hostel for “digital nomads” to relax and get some work done while abroad.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. ” – Mark Twain

You can download a free copy of the e-book from his website by clicking the link here!

Enjoy!

Let’s Talk About Travel
Travel Inspiration
Planning
Finances
Broke Backpacker Tips
Staying Safe
Health = Wealth
Making The Connection
Solo Travel
Travel Forever?
Returning Home

Let’s Talk About Travel

Anyone Can Travel with Intention
- Travel is possible for anyone willing to work hard and make sacrifices
- It’s the ultimate investment in yourself – independence, flexibility, communication, courage
Time Is Your Most Valuable Resource
- If time is limited, ask how you truly want to use it
- Travel teaches you to value experiences
- If you want it enough, you’ll make time for it
Overcoming Fear and Regret
- The life you paused will still be there when you return
- Travel builds confidence – you’ll realize you’re more capable than you thought

Travel Inspiration

Figure out WHY you want to travel to determine WHERE you want to go and HOW to go about it
Don’t ignore developing countries
- Rich Culture + Low Prices = More Fun & Flexibility
Travel SLOWLY
- Don’t “do” a country in one week
- Appreciate the culture, food, and language by settling down for second
- Travel is a personal journey of growth, not a checklist competition

Easy Peasy	Thailand, Philippines, Turkey, Europe, Japan, Nepal, New Zealand, South Africa, Greece
Cultural	Iran, Ghana, Bolivia, Georgia, Ethiopia, Mali, Laos, North Vietnam, Philippines
Religious	Rome, Israel, Nepal, Tibet, Punjab / Varanasi India, Labella Ethiopia
Overland	Istanbul – Cairo, Cairo – Cape Town, Mexico City – Panama City, London – Hong Kong, London – Istanbul, London – Morocco, Bangkok – Bali, Istanbul – Kathmandu
Beach Bum	Mozambique, Cuba, Thailand, Philippines, Australia, South Africa, Turkey, Greece, Honduras, Brazil, Portugal
Great Introduction	Guatemala, Costa Rica, Gambia, Israel & Jordan, Thailand and Cambodia, New Zealand, Uganda, Sri Lanka
Mountainous	Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Chile, Bolivia, Nepal, Tibet, Pakistan, Afghanistan
Super Popular	Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia & The Philippines, Guatemala & Mexico, Israel & Jordan, South Africa, Turkey, Greece & Egypt, India, Nepal, Brazil & Argentina, New Zealand & Australia
Off The Beaten Path	Anywhere in the Middle East – Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan & IranEastern European countries – Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia, Georgia, Central Asian countries – Tajikistan, Mongolia & Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Uganda,Ghana, Mozambique, Cameroon & Zimbabwe, Venezuela
Natural Beauty	All major mountain ranges, especially Alps and Himalayas Stunning islands including Jamaica, Fraser Island in Oz and most of the Caribbean Antarctica, Alaska, The Caucasus, USA National Parks, Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Patagonia in South America, Chile & the Bolivian Salt Flats, Iguazu Falls, Galapagos Islands, Iceland, Colombian Coast, Indonesia, Amazon Rainforest, Sahara desert in Morocco
Adventure	Drive a rickshaw across India, Cycle the Silk Road, Patagonian Expedition Race, Bagging Peaks
Great Journeys Of The World	The Silk Road, UK to Bangkok, Alaska – Tierra del Fuego, UK – Kathmandu, Mexico – Panama, Brazil – Venezuela (around SA), Interrailing Europe, All Around India, Southeast Asia Loop, Moscow – Beijing on TransSiberian, Africa East Coast (Cairo – Cape Town)

Planning

The best plan = No plan
- Your plans will change on the road
- You’ll find a deeper understanding of what you enjoy, new people, and new opportunities
Flexibility makes the experience more enjoyable
- Quicker you give up control → Quicker you’ll slow down & enjoy it
Travel Bloggers > Guidebooks
- More up-to-date, researched, authentic information

Finances

Neds depend on expectations
Expensive American-type travel ≠ more immersive & fun experience
Don’t let ever-evolving financial goals be an excuse to delay your dreams
Minimize Your Life
- Get rid of unnecessary things
- Lower expenses (used car, work out at home, etc)
- Sell extra stuff ($70 = another week of travel in some countries)
You don’t need as much as you think to travel

Broke Backpacker Tips

Accommodation
- Airbnb — for couples or when sick / need to recharge
- Hostels — social perks & cheapness
- Camping — environment, flexibility, & free
- Couchsurfing — free & local help
Food → follow where the locals go
Haggling
- Research average prices
- Stay calm & nonchalant
- Keep your money hidden
- You will always pay a little more, which is reasonable
Other Tips
- Alcohol is expensive
- Wear your wallet in the front
- Have emergency cash
ALWAYS GET TRAVEL INSURANCE

Staying Safe

The world is safer than you think
- People want the same things around the world
- Usually any trouble is your own fault
Precautions
- Photocopy documents
- Back-up money in 2+ separate places
- Make your stuff less accessible
- Have backups in case
- Always lock your stuff up
- Don’t walk the streets in shady areas / after dark
- Don’t leave gear unattended

Health = Wealth

Health is super important but easy to forget when traveling
ALWAYS purify water
Traveling slow is better for your health
- GO GO GO exhausts your body + you don’t have time to take care of it
Do no-equipment workouts 3x a week
- Minimum time investment, keep your immune system up
Stay up-to-date with needed vaccinations

Making The Connection

Growth Comes from Discomfort
- Constant travel pushes you beyond your comfort zone
- Build confidence and self-reliance through unfamiliar experiences
- You return changed — more adaptable, braver, and capable
Relationships on the Road
- Friends or family may not be ideal companions due to clashing habits or priorities
- Friendships form quickly and can lead to future reunions around the world
Respect and Communication Abroad
- Make an effort with the local language
- Hand gestures with a smile go a long way

Solo Travel

Traveling Solo = Ultimate Freedom
- Want to do something? Do it
- Does not mean traveling alone – you’ll meet plenty of travelers
You’ll have a lot of downtime → learn a new skill, read, get fit, journal
Disadvantages → FOMO, Security, Expenses (can’t split them)
First Week Of Travelling
- Relaxxxx — you know it’s going to be a wild experience
- Humans ability to adapt within a few days is incredible

Travel Forever?

Travel will change your life if you give it a chance
- Go for a decent duration, challenge yourself, get off your phone, and live in the moment
The change is drastic and many get an itch after returning

Returning Home

Reverse Culture Shock
- Often worse than original culture shock
- Harder to connect with people since no one can relate to your new perspectives
- You have changed but return to the same places / people that haven’t
Don’t let your newfound skills you learned traveling go to waste — keep them up

Check out more Travel posts!

Table of Contents