The Professional Hobo

Brian Peters recently gave me a copy of his new e-book: No Debt World Travel: The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the World – Even in an Economic Downturn. The fact is, I knew about the e-book long before its release. Why? Because I had a small part to play in its creation.

First, the e-book. If you are planning a round-the-world trip, or just want to go backpacking for a while, this book will arm you with the essentials to do it in a graceful and (relatively) stress-free manner. (Because let’s face it, travel has some stressful moments, but it’s all part of the adventure).

Layout

With 18 Chapters, Brian covers the gambit of Round-The-World travel with the following topics:

• Why?
• Travel Myths
• Deciding Where to Go
• Cash and Credit Cards
• Choose your Method of Transportation
• Travel Insurance
• Passports and Visas
• Your Health – Shots, Needles, and Pills
• Your Safety
• Hostels
• Food
• Travel Tech
• Language
• Before you Leave
• Quick Checklist
• So What are you Going to do Now?
• Resources and References

The e-book is peppered with anecdotes, stories, and sidebars that bring the concepts to life and inspire readers towards the amazing things that can happen on the road.

The biggest chapter by far is about Hostels. You get an overview of what hostels are like, common myths are dispelled, and a huge array of selection criteria or questions to ask are provided to ensure each hostel fits your needs. Costs are addressed, as Brian shares his own cost of accommodations when he traveled.

Once you’ve selected your hostel, Brian explains hostel etiquette – like getting your gear for the next day ready the night before to save waking everybody in your dorm room up while you rifle through your belongings, or (heaven forbid) turn the light on!

The package includes a truly fearsome (in a good way) list of resources, audio interviews, and even how-to videos. Unfortunately, it entails a fearsome download size at 97 megs – zipped, so beware if you have a limited internet plan.

But that’s also where my involvement in the project comes in: I am one of the lucky audio interviewees! Brian chatted with me for 20 minutes about how to earn money while you travel, ways to get cheap/free accommodations, and how to conquer pre-departure anxiousness.

Highlights

Here is a sampling of the tips and subjects that the No Debt World Travel e-book covers:

• Good tips about using ATMs abroad, avoiding extra bank fees, and setting up your accounts. For example, carry a bank card that is associated with only one account; if your card is stolen or PIN number compromised, you won’t have multiple accounts at risk.

• A summary of the round-the-world flight carriers and their basic rules with links to good resources.

• Precautionary advice on topics like travel insurance, immunizations, and first aid kits, as well as street sense matters like not drinking an open drink (like a cocktail) unless you see it made, and how to avoid being a target for pickpockets.

• Overview on how to buy a backpack, (complete with sizing conversions between cubic litres and cubic inches)…and then how to fill it, with tips on what to bring, and Brian’s own packing lists and experiential advice.

• How to eat on the road and not go broke (hint: eating where the locals do helps).

• How to navigate the complex arena of technology and communication while you travel: laptops, netbooks, Skype, cell phones, and Twitter.

• Ways to tie up your life before you leave (which is, incidentally, at the end of the book)

• Checklists of things to be done, starting at 6 months before your trip and guiding you straight to your first adventure abroad.

Who This E-Book is For

“You’re reading this because you’re planning a trip of two weeks or more…or maybe you’re even scared to start researching”. (page 7)

If you want to try your hand a backpacking around the world but are daunted by the very prospect (from taking time off, to organizing it, to staying safe, to what to pack), then this e-book will gently take you by the hand and guide you through he process. You will be inspired, comforted, and empowered.

Limitations

While this e-book is helpful, it will only be helpful to those with minimal overseas travel experience and a lack of desire to figure it all out from scratch. Although the interviews were informative and inspirational, there was little in the e-book’s content that I didn’t already know. (Of course, I’ve been traveling for almost three years now, so I should hope so)!

This e-book will, however, be eye-candy to eager travelers-to-be, and might even have just the right stuff to get you there quicker than you had intended. It could also be a great gift to the wannabe-traveler in your life.

No Debt World Travel: The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the World – Even in an Economic Downturn, by Brian Peters

Pages: 80

Cost: $37

Included: Almost a dozen bonus interviews and videos with seasoned travelers (including me!) on topics such as solo travel, choosing a backpack, finding a hostel, couchsurfing, finding cheap airfare, teaching English, working abroad, traveling with children, etc.

Guarantee: If you aren’t satisfied, you can get a 100% refund within 60 days.

Editor’s Note: There are affiliate links in this post, and I received a copy free of charge. (I am IN it, after all)!

Tags: e-book review, No Debt World Travel, round-the-world