Luxury in Paris…for $40 a Night?

If I told you that you could go 25,000 miles and visit 11 countries in 150 days on a budget of $0, you’d probably laugh. Michael Wigge did just that, and laughed his way around the world for free.

Dream of visiting Hong Kong? Make sure you do your homework first!

His book, documentary and upcoming television series, all titled How I Traveled the World for Free, chronicle the journey in incredible detail and Wigge offers countless strategies and tips for anyone who wants to put life on hold and wander.  Adventurous ideas like sleeping on beaches, eating edible flowers, dumpster diving and story bartering (telling a funny story in exchange for food). Not exactly my idea of a four star vacation, but good for him - with a TV series in the works, hopefully he can now afford to crash at a Holiday Inn every once in a while.

Realistically, very few people have the will (or the stomach) to pull this kind of stunt. If you’re like most people, you won’t be interested in couch surfing your way through Europe, so how about some practical cost saving measures you can take without making a go of it hobo-style?

Sure there are obvious things like Priceline bidding, but fewer folks even consider something other than a hotel for their vacation lodging. For example, there are hundreds of charming apartments in Paris that are fully furnished. You can rent them for as little as a week and as long as several months, with most falling in the $1200 - $1600 per month range (roughly $40 - $55 per night). In contrast, a Parisian 3 star hotel can set you back $250 or more per night. Having laundry and a kitchen on hand can drastically reduce expenses if you’re willing to do some of your own cooking, but the hotel savings are truly gasp-inducing. A simple Google search for apartments in the city you’re visiting will help you price check in advance. Paris is one of the more expensive sites; most South American and Eastern European cities are even cheaper.

The added upside? You get to experience your destination of choice like a native instead of a hotel-bound tourist, all while more money stays in your pocket.