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Backpacker Scene

Backpacker Scene

The US backpacker scene has a great deal of potential, but that's about where it ends. Travelers who have trekked around Europe, Australia, or even Southeast Asia will be rather disappointed in the backpacker scene found throughout the US. Hostels aren't the traditional means of accommodation for American youth like European hostels are for European youth throughout Europe. As a result, there isn't very many hostels, only about 400 as compared to over 2000 in Europe… and the ones there are can hardly be called hostels, for the most part.

A hostel in the US is usually a place to sleep - period. Only a select few US hostels even approach the resort-like hostels of Australia. The overwhelming majority are small house hostels or run down city hostels. The sad reality is that there just really isn't that much competition. A US city of one million people might have two or three legitimate, but entirely unremarkable, hostels and a couple other places that don't even deserve to be called a hostel… and that's pretty pathetic. Hopefully, as the US holds a great deal of tourism potential, there will be a dramatic change over the next decade. One note for US citizens thinking about backpacking around the states, many hostel owners won't allow US youth to stay in their hostels… apparently they don't want to compromise their international flavor. I personally think they've got much bigger problems to solve than this. For now, it's backpacker beware and be thankful that inexpensive hotels and motels are actually quite abundant. Mid-week in Las Vegas, you can still get a really nice hotel room at a downtown casino for about US$30.

If you can suffer through the uninspiring hostel selection, you'll find that there are numerous activities to keep a backpacker busy. Each section of the country has many unique activities. Whether is surfing on the beaches in California and Hawaii, island hopping in the Northwest, mountain biking or skiing in the Rockies, living the cowboy lifestyle in Texas, joining the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans, risking it all in Vegas, touring the numerous historic sites of the East Coast, or partying all night in the Big Apple (New York) you're bound to find something to keep you busy most anywhere you go. One catch… the drinking age is 21 in the states and they take it pretty seriously. If you're under 21, I'd venture to say that you're backpacking on the wrong continent.

The heaviest backpacker season for the states is from May to September. On average occupancy levels run at about eighty percent of capacity during this time of year, but keep in mind that the good hostels will definitely require booking ahead to ensure a bed. The rest of the year, most hostels are half full at best… especially in the colder climate areas.

Nobody has quite cracked the nut on putting together a good transportation system for backpackers traveling around the US. The US has a problem very similar to that of Australia in that the country is absolutely huge and so it's quite a haul to get around on the ground. Amtrak (the US train system) has some unlimited travel passes that aren't too expensive, but the rail system can't hold a candle to Europe. There's a few backpacker bus companies, but none that compare to the service of Australia's Oz Experience. Flying around the country is a bit expensive, but much more affordable than in either Europe or Australia. If you just want to hit a few hotspots on your way around the globe, I'd recommend flying. If you want to spend some quality time in the states, I'd recommend buying a big inexpensive American convertible and hitting the open road. Gas is cheap, cars are cheap, and the national highway system is second to none in the world… plus you don't have to pay any tolls like throughout Europe or dodge Kangaroos that go bump in the night like throughout Australia.

The best part of the US is that most things are so inexpensive. There's millions of fiscally-challenged college students at every college in the country (which there's a bunch of). To live on the cheap in the US you need to assume the mindset of the average college student. I'd recommend mapping out your journey by connecting the dots between college towns. It's going to be a more enjoyable youth oriented atmosphere in these towns anyways, plus you're more likely to find cheap food and beer every night of the week. It's really amazing how well you can live in the US for close to nothing. It's cheap to get around. Accommodations aren't overly expensive, especially if you're traveling with a buddy or two. The food is dirt cheap, and you can even go out to the bars without it costing you an arm and a leg. Just go where the college kids go.

Avoid the downtown trendy yuppie scenes… all those people are caught up in living the thousand dollar millionaire lifestyle, whereby they valet park the new car that they can't really afford, stand in long lines outside lame clubs, get gouged by US$20 cover charges, and pay US$10 a shot for flavored vodka, all so they can feel like they're living it up. Then they are in utter disbelief when you tell them you're traveling around the world for six months for less than they spend on the weekends during the same six months - they don't believe you and automatically assume you must be some kind of bohemian-disguised trust fund baby.

I'd put a high-end spending cap of about US$75 per day, and you should really be able to get by great for US$50. Since you'll likely be opting for inexpensive hotels quite a bit, your daily spending will be quite different between the solo traveler and a pack of three or four travelers. One other piece of financial advice… I'd recommend penciling in Vegas near the end of your trip or your trip may be shorter than you anticipated.

-wise nomad

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