Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel
by Rolf Potts
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
Where's the love? Add this book to your favorite list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 362)
Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
neophytes, not acolytes, of the cult of travel
Everything in this book is old news to anyone who has already undertaken "long-term world travel." However, its basic premise is sound, and it would serve as a good wake-up call for those who have previously limited their travel experiences to the safety, comfort, and ease of--for lack of a better word, tourism, or rather the petty-bourgeois approach to travel.
If I sound like a travel snob, it's because I am. Sorry, no apologies.
Potts's core message is this: get off your duf...more
If I sound like a travel snob, it's because I am. Sorry, no apologies.
Potts's core message is this: get off your duf...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
recommended to Clackamas by:
? Someone on Goodreadsrecommends it for: People who always wished they'd lived with the gypsies
This is a pretty simple book, designed for those who have never traveled but always wanted to. By "travel" I'm referring to long-term, low-budget travel. This is definitely not intended for the independently wealthy or those who don't know how to function without all of the conveniences of home. Nor is meant for the person who has a couple of weeks off of work and just wants to get out of town.
The author describes several different approaches to travel and refrains from passing ju...more
The author describes several different approaches to travel and refrains from passing ju...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in February, 2008
This book is a perfect example of why I love Amazon. I was doing a search for books about travel in general and came across several which fit the bill. This book got very high praise, however, so I wen ahead and ordered it.
Vagabonding is s great read even if you never plan to be a wanderer yourself. The author talks about the philosophy of going on the road, not with a specific purpose or time constraints in mind, but with an open mind and heart to see and experience the world as it comes at yo...more
Vagabonding is s great read even if you never plan to be a wanderer yourself. The author talks about the philosophy of going on the road, not with a specific purpose or time constraints in mind, but with an open mind and heart to see and experience the world as it comes at yo...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2007
I bought this book for my boyfriend because I thought it might add some fuel to our often-talked-about dream of taking a year off to travel the world, which it did. Only I think it affected me a lot more than it did him, as I can't seem to stop myself from researching budget airlines in India or looking at Craigslist postings in Buenos Aires. (Of course, if you know me and my love of travel planning, this is really not surprising.) Anyway, I'd say this is a must-read for anyone thinking about a ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in February, 2008
If you have already gone on open-ended adventures into the world, the first two-thirds (or more) of this book are a bore. Not until I got to the end did I start to enjoy and appreciate it. If you haven't had the opportunity to travel freely then this is a well-grounded book full of lots of great advice. Highlights (for anyone) include; good quotes, interesting excerpts from other travel writers, and tons and tons of resources, links, and other channels for research and planning.
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in January, 2004
WARNING: THIS BOOK WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO SELL ALL YOUR POSSESSIONS AND FULFILL YOUR DREAMS OF SEEING THE WORLD NOW! HANDLE WITH CARE!! I found this book in an airport halfway to Pakistan, and it couldn't have been better timing. It awakened a yearning in me that was previously in hibernation. I had no idea that it was actually feasible to live the dream of seeing the world without needing to be rich to do it. Rolf Potts proves that this is true by his own life, and tells you exactly what yo...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
A very good overview of what's needed/what's not needed for long-term travel. Helpful ideas on how to stash away thousands, compelling reasons why motoring through China is within one's reach (with a bit of motivation), and a healthy dose of practical travel information combined with those ever-necessary inspirational quotes. Need a copy of this, and am tempted to buy it on Wednesdays at 2:45PM when Istanbul, Tripoli, and the far reaches of Norway call my name. (Sometimes I think I need a book f...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2007
Part how-to guidebook and part travel-as-life-philosophy, this is a book that's at once inspiring, educational, breezy and exciting. Some sections had more anecdotes and less suggestions than I would have liked, but given how varied the approach to travelling can be, that's understandable. In any case, his website contains more and constantly-updated specific information on all the subjects covered, so this is really just the best start...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommended to Andy by:
Kate McCulley
recommends it for: travellers
recommends it for: travellers
This book is about long-term travel and living like a local while in other parts of the world. This book gave me the travel bug more than anything. It showed me that the way we live our lives in the Western world is not truly what the world is like. We need to be more accepting of our situations -- that's what travel teaches us. It shows us that all sorts of things can occur, but that's what makes travel so exciting. It's an adventure to travel the world and live cheap, and at the same time lear...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommends it for:
hodophobics and
Poorly written, opinionated rubbish. One man's view of how a traveler should travel and vagabond should romp. He negatively stereotypes trust-fund-babies (some are great, especially if they assist in paying your way through Europe or for a tryst in Istanbul), misanthropists (can be a joy to converse with) and others in order to bolster his own argument on his philosophy of travel. The cost of the book could have been three days living expenses in India or Bali; thank goodness it was a gift.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
Amazing book on the art, philosopy and spirit of world travel. Rolf Potts is eloquent, refreshingly erudite, and passionate about his subject. His suggested reading lists should keep me busy for months. Wonderful lists of online resources at the end of each chapter, too. Quotes from real travelers further illuminate each section.
I'm already plotting how to extend my stay in India this coming fall. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the possiblity of extended travel.
I'm already plotting how to extend my stay in India this coming fall. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the possiblity of extended travel.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2007
This book makes you want to either a) drop everything you are doing and hop on the next train/plane/ship or b)throw the book away immediately since the author is a nut. I wanted to do the former. As much as his idea of long-term traveling might not be so realistic for those of us trying to save enough for the future, you have to love the restless spirit of the author and his taste for adventure.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2007
Rolf Potts gives a ton of good resources for how to travel long-term. This is not for the person who wants to take a week vacation in Cabo, but for someone who wants to hang out in a country or two or however many for a long time -- several weeks to several years. It's inspiring and helpful to know that I'm not the only one who wants to travel this way!
Like this review?
yes
(2 people liked it)
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
For anyone that has traveled before, and by traveled I mean avoiding the crowds and getting a feel for the people of the location and the culture, this book preaches to the choir. The end really has a lot of practical insight though, and some good lessons on how and what to take away from your experiences. A good read nonetheless!
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
anybody who likes to travelsa
if you enjoy travel, you must read this book. it focuses more on independent long-term travel (several months or more), but the lessons here are universally applicable to all travel - whether it's to the furthest corner of the earth, or a daytrip from your home. absolutely loved it, and will read it again in a couple of weeks.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Well, this book tipped the scales for me to go on a year-long adventure to Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and even more. If you're thinking of traveling, don't read this unless you have the money to buy one-way ticket to a far off land -- it will certainly make you yearn for an adventure.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2008
Absolutely amazing. This book covered all of the mental challenges and questions I had about long-term travel. Rolf Potts's writing style plays with the imagination and instills confidence. It was inspiring, informative, and includes a wealth of resources to research and plan your own adventure.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone who dreams of seeing the world
Love this book...not only for the practical advice...but for the author's outlook on travel. Finally, someone has put into words the way I've always felt about traveling...it's not just something to save for and plan to do one day...it's a way of life! This really spoke to my inner nomad : )
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2007
Inspirational. This book reminded me of my nomadic aspirations, to freely wander the earth wherever my feet take me. Provides much food for thought in the preparation for this style of travel, and demonstrates how much easier it is than people commonly consider.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2008
has many sites and reference points on how to find travel tips, but the book in itself didn't give me the inclination to throw it all away and travel, which i was somewhat hoping for....a push in the right direction. I would use it as a guide for recommendations.
Like this review?
yes
1 comments