As the rest of the world’s growth is finally starting to outpace the US economy’s growth, most of the new huge building projects are happening overseas and we tend not to hear about them, at all. Well these projects are massive, elaborate, beautiful, gaudy, and seem to be a fixture in future urban landscapes and urban tourism internationally.

So are these projects sustainable? And will they be budget friendly? Well probably not too nice on the pocket book, but that is yet to really be determined. But for theses massive building projects going on…

Kazakhstan - Entertainment Center

Norman Foster is bringing Kazakhstan (yes, the Borat kazakhstan) up to speed amongst it’s Asian neighbors with this entertainment center meant to show off the country a bit. Featuring retail space, a massive park, and some “entertainment center” Kazakhstan is looking to tap into some high end tourism. Maybe they’ll have some budget hostels in the normal part of the city so a day trip wouldn’t be too impossible.

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They used to be referred to with extreme reverence. Lonely Planet, Fodor’s, Frommer’s. Every independent traveler had a guidebook in their backpack, like a gunfighter had a gun in his holster. It was as if the prices and places listed between the covers were stamped with the approval of the travel gods.

But what has happened to the institution of the guidebook?

Lonely Planet is now part of the BBC empire. Backpackers are using the pages of their Let’s Go guides as fire starters or rolling papers.

They are asking the same question: Why lug around a five pound book when you can get the most up to date information off of a web site? Why trust one guidebook writer when there are travelers’ forums online with tens or hundreds of different opinions on a country’s sites and sights?
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Backpackers, budget travelers, and those simply seeking unique experiences have long been traveling to islands off Thailand’s west coast. Alex Garland’s cult classic, The Beach, gave the eastern Andaman Sea a wider audience.  But these islands have always had appeal.

What’s not appealing about sitting on a beach all day taking in the near perfect balance of sand, surf, sun, and tropical foliage? What’s not to love about partying with like minded tourists and fun-loving locals before returning to a pleasant but spartan bungalow that’s so cheap it might as well be free? For the same as it would cost to stay in Cancun for a week, you could stay on Koh Phi Phi for six. Maybe 8 if you decided to forgo the banana pancakes and eat local food.

Thailand’s islands WERE the budget island Mecca. But are they still? (more…)

I guess I would consider myself a budget traveler. I’ve done the whole backpacking thing in Asia. I’ve even laid my head in a couple of dodgy roadside motels in the American midwest. And I always take a discount air carrier unless it is geographically impossible or JetBlue is the only option. All that qualifies me as a card-carrying budget traveler, right? OK, I said yes to an upgraded to business class once. No one except a hemp-wearing, Robinson Crusoe-esque backpacker purist would blame me for that. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not an expert traveler. But I am an enthusiast, and usually prefer the advice of other enthusiasts to that of an expert.

Since I’ll be posting here weekly, I want to introduce myself by giving you a few bytes about traveling on the cheap:

1. When backpacking around Asia, I was taken aback by some fellow travelers’ extreme take on traveling on a tight budget. They’d haggle over prices with local people whose yearly income did not allow them to buy clothes without holes in them. Budget travel means that one travels cheaply, not that one acts cheaply. (more…)

The following is a very informational and helpful guide/overview to the world’s budget airlines. With airlines that are operating at record level efficiencies, budget airlines are growing worldwide and are a necessity in many international trips. This uber comprehensive budget airline guide was written by Giles from Travel Independent, which a very good backpacking travel resource. In his own words, it’s a site about everything you need to know about independent budget travel, aka. backpacking. But I present to you, the world budget airline guide.

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This will be the home of my Budget Backpacking Quest to Europe in 2008 since it’s easier to browse than the categories. Basically, Budget Globetrotting will be providing a glimpse into my preparations and planning for my trip in May of 2008. Below are the posts in the series in a chronological order.

1 - The Rough Guide to my Backpacking Quest - I reveal my plans to travel through Europe in 2008. The post includes information about how I will finance my backpacking trip and a rough calendar including deadlines that I must meet while planning the trip and raising money.

2 - How to Travel Within Europe while Backpacking - This post discusses the different options that are available for backpackers to travel within Europe. An overview of European budget airlines, the rail system, and bus tours. **Includes prices**

3 - Creating Europe Backpacking Itineraries

UPDATE!!!

I had so much potential and so much research invested in this trip it was disgusting. However, I quickly realized my financial situation would not allow for such a trip, or atleast I didn’t plan well enough to make it happen. But I learned a lot about planning what it takes to make things happen and I’m moving on.

I have some other trips in the works that can be read about on my about me page. I’m about 70% confident that those trips will actually happen.

In the mean time, read my blog and stay tuned for updates.  I’m going to try to figure out why a high profile travel company or newspaper would not want to sponsor 100% of my trip abroad. I mean, really?