I traveled to 15 different countries while unemployed and only spent $25 a day — here’s how I did it

New York Post - Apr 25th, 2025
Open on New York Post

Lydia Swinscoe, a freelance writer, embarked on an ambitious journey in 2009 to travel the world on a limited budget of $25 a day. With just over $9,000 in savings, she visited 15 countries, including Bolivia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Brazil. Swinscoe achieved this feat by staying in dormitories and hostels, cooking her meals, using public transportation, and walking for exploration. She emphasized the importance of flexibility in travel plans and taking advantage of free and low-cost activities, like local walking tours, to immerse herself in the culture without overspending.

Swinscoe's travel strategy highlights the potential for affordable global exploration, challenging the notion that international travel must be expensive. Her experiences suggest that with careful planning and a willingness to embrace less conventional travel accommodations and methods, one can explore the world richly and memorably. This approach paves the way for travel enthusiasts to consider budgeting creatively, prioritize cultural experiences, and foster connections with locals and fellow travelers, ultimately enriching their travel experiences and making the journey more sustainable financially.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

5.2
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides an engaging and accessible narrative about Lydia Swinscoe's budget travel experiences, offering practical tips for readers interested in exploring the world economically. However, it relies heavily on a single source, lacking comprehensive verification and diverse perspectives. This affects its accuracy, balance, and source quality. While the story captures public interest and has the potential to inspire readers, its impact is limited by the absence of broader context and expert insights. The article's readability is strong, but it could benefit from enhanced transparency and timeliness to increase its relevance and credibility. Overall, the story offers valuable insights but requires more thorough verification and context to fully realize its potential.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The story about Lydia Swinscoe's budget travel presents a compelling narrative, but it lacks detailed verification of key facts. The claim that she traveled the world for $25 a day is intriguing yet requires more evidence and context to confirm its accuracy. The mention of visiting 15 countries, including Bolivia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Brazil, is specific but not exhaustively listed, leaving room for doubt about the complete itinerary. Additionally, the story mentions starting her journey in 2009 with over $9,000, but it does not provide exact figures or corroborative sources to verify these claims.

The article does provide some insights into her travel methods, such as staying in hostels and using buses, which are plausible strategies for budget travel. However, it lacks detailed breakdowns of how the $25 daily budget was allocated across accommodation, food, and transportation. The story's reliance on Swinscoe's blog post as the primary source without additional corroboration or external validation from other sources weakens its factual accuracy.

5
Balance

The article primarily focuses on Lydia Swinscoe's perspective and experiences, which limits the range of viewpoints presented. It does not include perspectives from other budget travelers or experts who could provide a broader context or alternative strategies for budget travel. The narrative is centered around Swinscoe's personal journey and recommendations, which may inadvertently present her approach as the definitive method for budget travel.

There is an implicit bias towards promoting a minimalist and adventurous lifestyle without addressing potential challenges or downsides comprehensively. For instance, the article mentions that traveling on a restricted budget is tiring but worth it, yet it does not explore the potential risks or difficulties that might arise from such a travel style. This lack of balance in presenting both the pros and cons of budget travel could lead readers to view it through an overly optimistic lens.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear and easy to read, using straightforward language and a logical structure to present Swinscoe's travel experiences. It effectively outlines her strategies for budget travel, such as staying in hostels, cooking meals, and using public transportation. The narrative is engaging and provides practical tips for readers interested in traveling on a budget.

However, the article could improve its clarity by providing more detailed explanations of specific terms and concepts, such as what constitutes a 'well-curated hostel' or how food stalls and night markets can significantly reduce dining costs. While the overall tone is neutral and informative, the lack of detailed context and supporting data may leave some readers with unanswered questions about the feasibility and practicality of Swinscoe's approach.

4
Source quality

The primary source for the article is Lydia Swinscoe's blog, which is a firsthand account of her experiences. While personal blogs can provide valuable insights, they often lack the rigorous fact-checking and editorial oversight of more established news sources. The article does not cite additional sources or experts to corroborate Swinscoe's claims, which diminishes its credibility.

The reliance on a single source without cross-referencing with other credible sources or travel experts raises questions about the reliability of the information presented. The absence of external validation or data to support Swinscoe's experiences suggests a potential conflict of interest, as the narrative is solely based on her personal account. This lack of diverse sourcing affects the overall quality and trustworthiness of the article.

4
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in several key areas, particularly in terms of methodology and financial specifics. It does not provide a clear explanation of how Swinscoe calculated her daily budget or the criteria for selecting accommodations and transportation. The story mentions that she started with over $9,000 but does not disclose how this amount was managed or allocated throughout her travels.

There is also a lack of disclosure regarding any potential conflicts of interest, such as whether Swinscoe received any sponsorships or discounts that might have influenced her budget. The article could benefit from more detailed explanations of the basis for its claims and the factors that impacted Swinscoe's travel experiences. Without this transparency, readers may find it challenging to fully understand or trust the narrative presented.

Sources

  1. https://local.newsbreak.com/daily-mail-560402/3976594608085-i-travelled-the-world-for-a-year-for-just-19-a-day-here-s-how-i-did-it
  2. https://muckrack.com/lydia-swinscoe/articles
  3. https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/travel/how-save-money-backpacking-low-budget-world-trip-b1222896.html
  4. https://www.lydiatravels.com/p/about.html
  5. http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=387226%3Futm_source%3Dakdart