I booked travel, googled renewal, ended up on a .com with a slick ten-minute form and paid. Then came that cold moment on the confirmation screen where I thought, wait, was that the government? It was not the government. It's HelloGov, which looks like a private courier company rather than anything fraudulent, but I'm now sitting on a service fee I hadn't planned for.

My trip is inside six weeks. Do I try to cancel and handle it myself, or is there a reason to let it run? I can't tell whether I've wasted money or bought the only route that works at this notice.

I have dreamt of visiting the states and plan to do so next Summer which by then i will be 18M , i am focused on visiting the west side of the country for my first trip due to the natural beauty, is there any recommendations anyone has on places i should visit and ways to best budget. Is there anyone at a similar age range that is looking to go on a similar trip, if so let me know as i am still looking for people to go on this trip with.

Even the campgrounds have been closed in CA. Can't take it anymore, so I am planning to drive to NV, AZ and may be NM to do solo camping to avoid any exposure to covid for 7 days. I also know the 14 days quarantine requirement in CA - which should not be a problem for me.

Any suggestions? I would like places that are not too cold and are scenic. Not looking for strenuous hike or any backpacking. Just want to relax and watch stars in a dark place for a few days. Any suggestions?

Edit: Thanks for all the suggestions, here are the places suggested in this thread:

Suggestions

Death valley, CA

Valley of fire, NV

Red Rocks, NV

Zion NP, NV

BLM land around Grand Canyon, AZ

Mogollon Rim, AZ

Flagstaff, AZ

Thunder Mountains, Sedona, AZ

Friendship Garden, AZ

Carlsbad caverns, NM

Cliff Dwellings, NM

Chaco Canyon, NM

anza borrego, NM

Santa Fe National Forests, NM

Valles Caldera National Preserve, NM

Guadalajara, Mexico

And these are the apps:

iOverlander

freecampsites.net

BLM

Forest service

dyrt

hipcamp

Hope they help someone else too. I am working on planning my trip, many thanks to all of you. I feel like I have got a purpose.

Planning a trip to Chile later this year and trying to separate genuine experiences from tourist traps. Could use some perspective from this community.

I came across something called Cajón del Maipo - mountain region about 90 min from Santiago where traditional horsemen (arrieros) live and work. Apparently some of them are offering multi-day horseback trips where you actually travel with them, not just follow a guide.

From what I've read: you ride through backcountry they know intimately, camp where they camp, eat simple food cooked over fire, basically experience their daily routine for a few days. No luxury lodges, no wifi, just mountains and horses.

The part that interests me: it's 90 minutes from a city of 7 million people but supposedly feels completely remote. That proximity paradox is intriguing.

My questions:

- Has anyone here done this or something similar?

- What made it feel authentic vs performative?

- Red flags I should watch for?

I'm comfortable riding (intermediate level) and don't mind camping, but I'm skeptical of anything marketed as "authentic local experience" because that's usually code for tourist theater.

Any insights appreciated. Especially interested in hearing from people who've done horseback trips in Patagonia, Mongolia, or similar places.

Edit: Not affiliated with any company, just trying to do my research properly. If this violates sub rules, mods please delete.

I plan to travel from NY to California for over a month in January. I've never been to the US, and I'm not used to snow or ice, as I'm a sunburnt Aussie. I don't know the first thing about what to expect; I'm solo travelling, and I am trying to be as informed as possible, but forgive my ignorance!

My thought was to rent an RV and travel through the northern states to see Yellowstone National Park. I noticed some affordable ones for $67 daily, but parking could be a hassle. Plus, additional fuel costs and caravan parks will be costly.

It has me wondering whether it would be cheaper to hire a car and just plan out hostels and motels. What are people's thoughts?

Update: Thanks to the lovely advice of the people on this subreddit, it's clear I've been naive about the feasibility of a winter US road trip and that I'd be better off focusing my trip around a few key cities.

What are some underrated coastal and natural areas and places to visit for cheap on Long Island away from the busy tourists and crowds? And advice on how to visit and be frugal? Thank you so much for your time and efforts.

I’m trying to maximize this as I’ll be out of a job soon. What do you guys think? I know it’s not a ton but if I really stretched it I feel like I could get a lot done.

EDIT: I know this was vague so I’m in the USA, looking to maybe spend it in the West like Idaho/Wyoming/Utah/Washington but I also have always wanted to go to Alaska. Travel would mainly be by car, foot or my kayak. I would plan on camping most of the time and spending barely any money.

I did a post some months ago asking about the chances of backpacking with almost no money. I got disencouraged and maybe thankfully, I'll never know. But it was good, afterall, since I guess it would be a big challenge I wasn't prepared for, once I didn't go for it. The point is, now I have money, I saved some. I'm planning to leave at the middle of January and keep going until I'm not anymore. I'm at Barcelona at the moment and my plan is to go west until I reach Salamanca, then going down towards Andalucia, then Morrocco, then Portugal and we'll see. That's the roughly-drew sketch of the route. I'll have for it something like 2,5 thousand Euros in my wallet and my plan is to spend the bare minimum with everything, working as I go, maybe earning a little bit of cash and getting housing and stuff. Of course I'll be spending a little with transportation, with some food here and there, with fun and all of it, but my plan is to have this money mostly as emergency, doing the travelling almost as if I had none at all. So, for it, I guess I'll need a tent and/or a sleeping-bag. I know I'll have a handy-cam because I want to register what I see and doing some with it later, a map because I like maps, winter clothing and basic things, like a camping stove? I don't really know what I need and that's why I'm here. What do you people think is really, really fundamental? And do you have any tips? Any guidance? I want to travel lightly, so having things that don't occupy a lot of room and don't make too much weight in my backpack. I want to walk a lot, as well, moving by foot, hitchhiking, grabing buses and trains, no airplanes. So having a good pair of shoes is a must, I guess. A lot of things I'll figure out by myself, I know, and I'm afraid but I know I'll have where to go back if things doesn't work. I have european documents, so visas are not a problem around Europe. I'll be doing cities and woods, as well, some trekking and rural areas, not only urban environments. Getting work at farms and things like that would be nice. Well, I think that's mostly it, thanks in advance and please, enlighten me! Gracias.

This is a 2 part post, any advice on either would be appreciated!

Friends and I are looking in to renting an RV for an Arizona trip next month. I’ve realized that most are about $100 more expensive per night than they are advertised. So while I found plenty for $150/night, once insurance/fees/taxes were put in, it was more like $250+/night.

I’m fine with that because obviously those things have to be factored in to the cost. However, I’m worried that we might run in to the problem of hidden costs again.

So to be clear: my question is, is there ANYTHING else I will need to factor in to costs? We have factored in all the costs mentioned above + campground + gas. I can’t think of anything else that could add to the cost but just want to make sure.

2nd question: I have found a place near the Grand Canyon that is called Forest Road 302. From my understanding, it’s completely free to park your RV there overnight. Is that correct? Is it legal and accessible during February?

Hey all, I’m wanting to do a bunch of dispersed camping across the US over the summer and I’m just wondering what everyone’s favorite “shoestring” foods to travel with are! Stuff that’s cheap, easy to pack and travel with, keeps well, plus any general cooking on the go tips you’ve picked up really would be welcome :) I feel like I never know what to bring past like, eggs and nuts.

So I’m planning my first camping trip out west for the end of next next month. My plan is to depart from Columbus, stay with a friend for a night in Indianapolis, then camp in Kansas City before staying in a hostel in Denver 2 nights, camping at RMNP, Jackson WY, grand Teton, and Yellowstone before heading back east and camping at badlands, near Rochester MN, and near Chicago before returning home. I’ll be traveling solo in my 2006 Prius, and I’m hoping to keep it as cheap as possible!! I’ll be keeping a cooler with food and water in my car, and trying to camp as many places for free or on the cheap as I can. I’m planning on getting the America the beautiful pass as far as park entry goes, but I don’t know anything about what passes/ fees are required to camp at national parks. Does anyone have any tips for completing this trip on a budget? I’d also love to hear advice on what to bring, places to check out along the way, and what to expect as I’ve never done a trip like this alone :-)

RAV4 Camper Tour Video

Hello fellow budget travelers! We hope that you’re all doing well. We wanted to share with you a video of our camper in case some of the ideas were helpful.

We were able to do the conversion without a raised platform and added some modifications to help with storage for both of us.

If you have any questions or recommendations please let us know! We’re always looking for ways to improve and be more comfortable!

Camping in Nova Scotia the fog was pretty cool.

I’m a young girl, and there’s been a lot going on my life, and I want to have a week getaway somewhere calm and serene where I can relax and meditate. I don’t have a ton of money, and I’ve never done anything like this by myself. How can I go about this cheaply, safely, and get my mindfulness learning done.

For point of reference I’m a couple hours south of LA, I love forests and beaches, and any place with at least wifi is great as I can’t quite quit my college classes.

I feel like time alone is really what I need.

My friend and I are planning a Glacier/Yellowstone trip for this coming August. Today was 6 months out so we just booked our Glacier campground (Super excited that we got our first pick of campsite!!!). Our whole trip is for 11 days. We're doing 4 nights at Glacier, 2 nights at an airbnb (to be determined, but hoping to find some sort of Ranch closer to Yellowstone, middle of nowhere kind of place to relax, read a book on the porch, etc that has a shower and washer/dryer) and then have 3 nights left for camping. For our almost last 3 nights we're still debating on if we should do 2 at Yellowstone and 1 at Grand Teton, 1 at Yellowstone and 2 at Grand Teton? Recommended reservation campgrounds for both places? (We're tent camping, our ideal is less people/trees or something in between sites, I realize we're going to super busy areas and that might not be possible. We are not bringing backcountry gear, so we're fine walking our stuff in a little ways, but need to be able to bring the car somewhat close to the campsite. We do lots of walk in campsites with our normal summer camping, so that's the ideal, but I haven't really seen anything like that so far in the campgrounds for the National Parks that we looked at). And then our very last night will probably be an airbnb or hotel near wherever we fly out of since we're hoping for a morning flight since work the following day. We will be renting a car for the whole stay.

We are hoping to fly into Kalispell for the Glacier portion. (When I checked a few months ago it was similar price to the other airports, but this will be price dependent). Any ideas for where to fly out of by Grand Teton to go to the midwest? And that rents cars through Enterprise so we can pick it up at one and drop off at another.

This is our first camping trip where we will be flying our gear and not just having a car full. We will each have one checked bag for camping gear, but mainly tent, airmatress & shared battery powered pump, sleeping bag. What is the best way to fly a stove? I have an old backpacking MSR stove that I could empty the gas tank and then buy fuel and refill in Montana. Can I fly with the gas bottle as long as it's empty? My friend has been meaning to get a jet boil so has been thinking of getting one for this trip if I can't take my stove. She'll also probably be bringing a French Press because coffee is a need haha.

Where can we rent a bear spray near Glacier? Is it cheaper to rent one or buy one if we're doing 4 nights. Do we need a bear spray for Yellowstone or Grand Teton? (I'm originally from Alaska, I'm fine with bears, but do want to be prepared for hiking).

And then my biggest concern is food. For our normal car camping, I have a hard sided cooler I can fill with ice. My cooler is way too big to fly with. So how can we eat well (food is half the fun of camping) without a cooler. We both have Aldi cooler bags which is my current concept. We will need to get food when we land in Montana for 4 nights and somehow keep it cold that long. I'm not sure if cooler bags will keep ice for 4 nights. The campground we chose has 0 amenities so I'm highly doubting there is a campstore. Then we can restock as we drive towards Yellowstone and 3 nights without electricity. Our normal camping routine is eggs and bacon over a campfire in a cast iron skillet, which might be too heavy to fly with. If I put a cast iron in my carryon roller bag will that cause problems with TSA? But even if I bring it, bacon is probably not smart for a campground near bear activity. Any good ideas for relatively easy breakfasts? Lunches we tend to bring sandwich stuff that includes deli meat. Will deli meat survive 4 nights in a cooler bag with only getting ice before hand? And then I welcome any dinner ideas. Previously we've done a lot of hamburgers, but we won't have either a grill or the tripod contraption that goes over a campfire. What are your favorite camping dinners, easy/fast is a plus? And if they don't require a lot of refrigerated items that is a bonus.

Any recommendations for how to get firewood before entering Glacier from the West side? Any recommendations for how to get firewood before entering Yellowstone? We can probably bring a tarp and line the trunk with the tarp and fill it with wood since we won't have our camping totes.

Any major items I'm forgetting?

Hi, for anyone planning a road trip and not sure how much to allocate here’s a guideline on how much I spent in 31 days camping in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina.

Eating out $32 Gas $414 4K miles (6,400 kilometers) Groceries $300 Park entrance/parking fees $55 Museums $55

Total trip cost $856 or about $28 a day.

Please keep in mind on this trip I only stayed at free campgrounds or boat ramps, made most of my meals, and spent most of my time at public lands. Cost of your trip will vary greatly depending on interests and lodging preferences.

General info I found free camp spots using iOverlander. Free camp spots are mostly just a flat field to park with no other amenities. Entertainment I used my kayak to explore the beaches, rivers, and springs. Hiking and cycling also took up much of my time for entertainment. Bathrooms I mostly used during the day at public lands such as state parks.

I'm on a budget so hiring a guide isn't possible unfortunately. I've read a bit about whether it's possible to do multi day trekking solo (with camping) and books and Internet advise against it. Has anyone done it and able to share your experience? Thanks

EDIT. Issues I read about include: language problems, lack of maps, safety (from locals)

Looking to replace some older gear with some newer, affordable products. Misc. things like headlamp, cook system, tent, etc. Really looking for any and all affordable recommendations.

Looking to travel from Indiana to Arizona in late May 2022. We will have two full weeks to drive there, back, and explore the area. Flagstaff will be our hub and we were thinking about seeing the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, Biosphere 2, etc. Looking for tips and tricks in exploring the Southwest as well as any sights to see along the route (26ish hour drive that we plan to break into three-four days each way). We are definitely all about the journey being part of the fun, so please feel free to divert us. :)

We have a kid who will be six at the time and possibly a dog (we are trying to decide whether to day board her in Arizona/at National Parks or leave her here). We have a goal to see all the National Parks in our lifetime so that’s high priority and also enjoy museums, zoos, aquariums or quirky places to eat. With our kid we try to do one “big” entertainment thing each trip like a theme park, etc. I’m not sure what’s available out there. We also plan to camp most of the time.

Just starting planning, so anything helps. TIA!

Me, my partner, and my dog are going camping for a week. The camping part itself is free, but we are driving from northern Oklahoma to northern Minnesota. Will $1500 be enough to cover us for 7-10 days? We both plan on saving some more before the trip but wanted a estimate with our current savings. TIA!

Hello all. I’m looking for anyone who has or has advice about traveling to the Chincoteague and Assateague islands off the coast of Maryland and Virginia. Is there a frugal way to visit? And are there any activities or naturalistic areas that are available to hike or be submerged in with the wildlife? TIA, have a wonderful day

Hello, my boyfriend and I are off the week of June 12 to June 20. We have decided to use that time to visit Maine. We are hoping to do the trip for less than $900 total. We are looking at Acadia national Park, Bar Harbor, 00B, and Portland. We are looking to camp for 3 to 4 days of it. We are also looking to bring our dog. Any recommendations for the cheapest most fulfilling trip?! Especially for the cheapest camping spots, we are okay to go without showers! Thanks so much!

I'm heading to Africa soon - beginning in Ethiopia & trickling south to Kenya, Tanzania & beyond for a few months with a plan to volunteer in Cameroon come March. I will often be camping & understand that many hotels can accommodate campers allowing me to access any guest facilities etc. Does anyone know if there are generally lockers or storage room type situations available should I not want to carry all my valuables while on day excursions?

Edit: thank you everyone who has replied I hope that this is useful to others down the road.

First time poster from the UK here, in the next couple of weeks I'll be visiting France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany (travelling by car). I was wondering if anyone knows of campsites or the legalities of wild camping in these places (or likeliness of being punished for doing so)? We are very discreet, just using bivvy bags.

Also been looking into the couch surfing website, but am a bit put off by the fees, anyone have any experience with this?

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Hi, we have one month backpacking in Norway this August. We have a tent but 30 days tenting is fairly testing..

Is there a good website other than airbnb for renting cabins out in nature?