HCC Professor Offers Tips on Traveling on a Shoestring Budget

There's no reason to spend a fortune to see the world, according to Dr. Earl Paul, student affairs director for the Brandon campus of Hillsborough Community College.

Paul has traveled extensively, visiting dozens of countries, with little more than a backpack, passport and credit card.

He shares his secrets for traveling the world on a shoestring budget in his new book, "Have Backpack--Will Travel," available at Amazon.com.

Sitting in his office at HCC, surrounded by souvenirs from his travels to all corners of the world, Paul is making plans for his next trip -- to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands next month.

This is just the latest in a series of annual trips he's taken since college.

"I was from a poor family, and we didn't do much traveling," said Paul.

That all changed when he took a student backpacking trip to Europe.

"That's when it really started for me," said Paul. "I was hooked. I really loved it. Now I try to go somewhere every year."

Paul has visited Europe eight times, New Zealand, Greece, Turkey, China along with the developing countries of Cambodia, Vietnam, Peru and Nepal.

However, when Paul travels, he avoids five-star hotels and pricey restaurants.

Instead, he opts to travel on the cheap, staying in hostels and bed and breakfasts, taking advantage of public transportation, and eating at neighborhood restaurants.

In his book, Paul covers everything from packing to shots to safety.

"With the Internet, it's easy to shop around for the best plane fares and accommodations," he said. "I make all my own arrangements. You can do so much of your travel planning on the Internet."

Recently, by searching the Internet, he discovered a 16-passenger yacht that sails around the Galapagos Islands. The cost is $1,600 for an eight-day, seven-night trip.

"I"ve always wanted to see the Galapagos, and this is a great way to tour the area," he said. "You just have to look around. There are bargains out there."

Prior to heading to the Galapagos Islands, Paul will travel to Ecuador and stay in the home of a woman he met through the college.

"She offered one of her houses so I''m going to Ecuador with three friends for horseback riding and hiking."

Paul rarely books rooms for every night of his stay. 

"It doesn't leave room for serendipity," he said. 

He once took a ferry from Wales to Ireland. "We stopped at the Isle of Man and it was so neat I ended up staying three days.

"I don't plan everything out. Normally you can find some place to stay without advance reservations," he said.

But Paul said to be prepared for fewer amenities than in the United States. 

He's shared showers and bathrooms in hotels, slept on a couch in someone's flat and stayed in a room in a hostel with 12 other people, sleeping on bunk beds. 

"In Oxford, England, I stayed with a family. You don't have to stay in a hotel for $150 a night," he said. "We in America tend to have a much higher standard than those overseas. It's interesting to experience another lifestyle."

Travelers also will find transportation cheaper overseas if they choose public transportation.

"Whether it's train, bus or walking, there's always a cheap means to get around Europe," he said.

He adds that he's never had a problem with language barriers.

"Keep talking to people and eventually you'll find someone who speaks English," he said. 

With only a backpack for luggage, Paul is an expert at traveling light.

"Last May, I spent three weeks in Greece and Turkey with just a backpack," he said. "It's easy to travel light if you know what you're doing. People tend to overpack for trips.

"You really don't need to take much," he said. "What you need, you can buy over there. You learn as you do this that you need less than you think."

He takes a change of nylon clothing, even nylon underwear, that can be washed out in a sink and will dry by the next day. Comfortable shoes are a necessity since travelers often do a lot of walking.

"Make sure that you check the weather where you're going and include a jacket if it gets cool," he said.

Paul also takes a credit card, a debit card and some American cash. "Every country has a debit machine now and you can easily get cash in that country's currency when you need it. That way you're not carrying a bunch of money that can get stolen."

Paul tells travelers to be sure to write down the account numbers and emergency telephone numbers from their credit and debit cards, and keep them in a separate location in case the cards are stolen.

"Also, make a copy of your passport in case it gets stolen," he said. If your passport gets stolen, seek assistance from that country's U.S Embassy, he added.

When packing, Paul always includes a camera and a journal to document his adventures.

"I've been keeping a journal of my trips since I was in my 20s," he said. "Otherwise, it's easy to forget details."

As for an itinerary, Paul advises travelers to be flexible.

"Traveling can be stressful. Things don't always go as planned. Sometimes you get lost. Sometimes you get sick," he said. "You have to take those things in stride."

Among his most memorable travel experiences, Paul counts floating down the Amazon River, hiking in the Himalayas and embarking on an elephant safari in Nepal. 

"But I love all of the cultural stuff, too -- the Vatican, the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg (Russia) and the Louvre," he said. "The more you travel and see, the more you want to travel. I want to look back on my life and say, 'I've seen some pretty cool things.'"

To purchase a copy of Paul's book for $9.95, visit his Website at http://drearlpaul.com/ or visit Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Have-Backpack-Will-Travel-Shoestring/dp/1453787070.

Paul is available for lectures for clubs, church groups and business organizations. If you would like to have Paul speak to your organization, e-mail him at ep@drearlpaul.com.