I wanted to love this book...

But in the end I'm not really sure who it's for. For an experienced traveler this book is very much a sermon to the choir. Ideas like "eat the local cuisine instead of pizza" and "don't just hang out where all the tourists are" seem so obvious as to almost feel condescending (though I know that wasn't the authors intent). I suspect that "the beaten path" has never really appealed to anyone who would be interested in this book so again much of the advice seems like common sense (at least for the books audience) Also travel style is a very personal thing and the author can come across like there's one right way to do it. That said I love the idea of this book and there are definitely some interesting sections, I guess I was just hoping for more.

26 people found this helpful

Meh

I was quite excited for this book based on the recommendation of Tim Ferris. However, short of some entertaining anecdotes, I did not find that it offered much of value.

28 people found this helpful

Loved it! - Great resource

Very interesting book with applicable details related to traveling from prepping before to getting back home.

4 people found this helpful

Great listen!

Has definitely affected the way I think about consuming products (Will this hold me down in the future? Could I put this money toward a great meal in Japan someday? If I lose this object traveling, can I easily afford to replace it, or will it be a huge loss?).

Short enough that it's a relatively quick listen, and well worth it. Long enough to still provoke lots of thinking.

12 people found this helpful

Not impressed..

I expected to learn a lot about how to travel asks live fairly comfortably on a REALLY tight budget (Vagabond) and it turned out to be more of an empowering lecture that encouraged you to realize that Y.O.L.O. and that you should drop your life and take off, essentially... Ugh..

27 people found this helpful

my advice: pass on to the next book

this was the most obsolete audio I've ever listened to. hearing Tim Ferris literally drooling over this book in his recommendation by calling it a game changer and a 'must read' made me want to know what it was all about, obviously I was disappointed. spare yourselves the money and go travel

29 people found this helpful

review of a well seasoned traveler.

I like to read books where I come out with something. I've been thinking about reading this book for a long time, since Tim Ferris was a fierce supporter. But I struggled to see what pointers I could take on this book.

Many of the "conclusions" are opinionated, posing a right and wrong way of traveling. Myself, I travel rather similar to how the author of the book has done, but I find that most of his advice is common sense, the rest is just his opinion, which sometimes coincides with mine, and sometimes not.

For someone that has never traveled outside of package tours, this book my pose a different way of traveling, something that many people can enjoy and learn from if they try. I was expecting to find something creative and different from what I saw, instead I just saw criticism of those that do package tours, drugs or alcohol.

I'm not saying the way he travels is not interesting, I'm saying that if this is what you like, this is what you will do. If someone rather go to a club med, well, there can be something in that too, different tastes make up for different traveling ways.

My self, I like to mix up a bit of everything.

33 people found this helpful

Excellent book for anyone who travels regularly.

If you enjoy traveling off the beaten path this is a must read. Perfect for those who care more about experiencing life rather than buying happiness.

5 people found this helpful

good philosophy

A good read even if you dont want to backpack across Asia give it a try. Travel and exploration can be achieved closer to home too. Open your eyes and heart and enjoy all the moments of your life.

1 person found this helpful

Self reflection on long term travelling

What did you love best about Vagabonding?

The book challenged me to look at travelling from a new and wider perspective. It provoked me to reconsider the real necessities in my life.

3 people found this helpful