Here are the 12 pairs of travelers ready to take part in the ultimate travel challenge. Let’s get to know them better!
World Travel Hackers 2024 is upon us: 12 teams of two people, traveling the world for four weeks on a budget of €10,000. They have to get from place to place and complete our challenges as cheaply as possible, because whatever they don’t spend from their budget they get to keep!
We prepared a series of questions and asked our pairs — Natalia and Filip (Czech Republic), Lenka and David (Slovakia), Gabija and Giedre (Lithuania), Violeta and Carmen (Spain), Eriks and Quynh (Latvia and Vietnam), Alexandra and Andrea (Romania), Michal and Yu (Poland and Japan), Liv and Daniel (UK), Levente and Aron (Hungary), Tara and Brenna (US), Catarina and Rodrigo (Portugal and Spain) and Mariana and Bruno (Portugal) — about themselves, their travel experiences and top tips.
On this adventure you’ll have to get places on the cheap. What’s the most unusual mode of transport you’ve ever used?
Lenka & David: I’d say the dog sleds when we were traveling across Scandinavia. We tried it in Norway and Sweden and loved the experience.
Tara & Brenna: Yeah, we used husky dogs to travel between villages in Alaska which was wicked awesome, and cute.
Natalia: To a beach in Sicily by tractor. Communication was a bit complicated because the driver didn’t speak any English and had no idea what we wanted from him, but we managed it! It was only about 5 km away and we would have gotten there faster on foot, but now at least I can say that I hitchhiked on a tractor.
Eriks: A canoe on the Amazon river could be the one, but I’d also pick Indian buses. Traveling on one once a tire exploded and we slid a good 50 meters on three tires; the damaged one rolled, smoking, into a village.
Violeta & Carmen: Sailing boat, but we don’t mean a 24 hour trip or going from one island to another: we traveled for a whole month to different countries of Central America in a completely manual sailing boat from the ‘80s.
Quynh: I believe it’s a pig truck. I used to go by that truck at least twice a month for many years and, unlike what you might think, it’s very comfortable and doesn’t smell!
You’ll be heading for some unknowns on this trip, so what destination did you not necessarily have high expectations of, but was actually amazing?
Filip: Albania was a surprising gem that exceeded all expectations. Its stunning landscapes, from the pristine beaches along the Albanian Riviera to the rugged mountains of the north, were breathtaking. The country’s rich history, with ancient ruins and charming Ottoman-era towns like Berat and Gjirokastër, added to its allure, the food was delicious and the people were really hospitable.
Lenka & David: Iraq blew our minds. We didn’t know what to expect from this country, but what we experienced was amazing. We met the most hospitable people who were extremely friendly and helpful. We had so many great conversations and felt like their guests. To top it off, being able to wander in the cradle of civilization without tons of other tourists and enjoying the monuments was incredible.
Giedre: Denmark. I felt really safe there, the people were nice and helpful, I didn’t expect the food to be so good, and even the air there is fresher than in any other country I’ve visited. It’s an expensive, but truly underrated country.
Liv: Gozo is a small island we went to just off of Malta that we really loved. It was a sleepy, pretty place.
Catarina & Rodrigo: It was Malta for us too.
Tara: I was not expecting to fall in love with Istanbul the way I did. I think it’s one of the coolest cities in the world, sitting on two different continents (Europe and Asia). Walking through the windy hills of Beyoğlu I fell in love with Turkish street foods and the beautiful mosques gleaming throughout the city at night.
Aron: When I planned my trip to Brussels, I didn’t expect much from the Atomium statue. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a cool statue, but when I got there what really blew me away wasn’t the statue itself, but the amazing park surrounding it. It was full of beautiful flowers, shaded paths and open green spaces. The sheer size of the place was so overwhelming that it really felt like I wasn’t in a city anymore.
Alexandra & Andrea: Kenya surprised us a lot. It has an impressive coastline with white sand beaches and tropical islands, perfect for those seeking a serene escape by the Indian Ocean. And the people: we met maybe the most trustworthy and kindhearted people in Kenya.
Is there anywhere you haven’t been that you’d really love to see?
Liv: I would love to travel across Japan, and there’s plenty of Italy I’d love to see that I still haven’t seen. A few of my favorite paintings are hiding there. I love the art and the food of both those places.
Daniel: I would really like to go to China, I’m very interested in Chinese culture.
Mariana & Bruno: Yes! The Great Wall of China.
Alexandra & Andrea: We’d love to visit New Zealand, mainly because of the bioluminescence and the chance to travel by campervan exploring the fascinating nature, from the beaches to the impressive landscapes and mountains.
Eriks: Always wanted to visit Papua New Guinea!
Okay, onto some slightly more unusual questions: firstly, how many languages can you order a coffee / beer in?
Michal: I really love getting to know foreign languages and I do love coffee, so when I travel I always try to learn at least a few useful phrases in the local language. I speak Polish, English, Spanish and Portuguese so these four for sure… then I think I could also manage French, Japanese, German, Italian and — with some struggles — Ukrainian. I hope I’ll be able to add some to this list after our adventure!
Lenka & David: We can definitely order a coffee / beer in Slovak, Czech, Russian, English, Spanish and Danish: a funny mix of languages, but very helpful while traveling. When we travel in southeast Asia or Africa, we mostly use English, but in central Asia we had to utilize our Russian/Slovak language skills, and of course Spanish is invaluable in the Americas.
Alexandra & Andrea: Seven: we are fluent in five languages (Romanian, English, Spanish, German and Italian) and we can also speak a little French and Portuguese.
Liv: A terribly small amount, maybe two?
Daniel: Yeah, two. English people are horrible at languages.
What unexpected item has made the way you travel better?
Liv: We’ve been known to take our Nintendo Switch, which may seem frivolous but it is absolutely brilliant for any long layovers or delays!
Yu: Menthol spray! I don’t know how many times menthol spray saved me from giant mosquitoes in tropical destinations. On top of that, it’s super functional and saves up space for multiple beauty products when traveling: you can put a drop on your forehead when you are jet lagged and not feeling relaxed, or put it on your skin as deodorant.
Daniel: Imodium, because foreign food messes me up. In fact, food in general messes me up.
If you had to choose between a long-haul flight in First Class to your destination with the following night in the cheapest hotel, or a long-haul flight in economy but the following night in a five-star hotel, which combination would you pick?
Gabija: Haha, that’s a great question! I think I would choose a long-haul flight in First Class followed by a night in the cheapest hotel. Here are my three reasons: one, I’ve never flown First Class before, so it would be an unforgettable experience. Two, I’m not a huge fan of five-star hotels; they seem like an expensive “box” when I could spend that money on unique experiences. Finally, staying in the cheapest hotel can lead to great stories, adventures, and new friendships through shared experiences!
Giedre: I’d choose the second option! I love the feeling of the good hotel room, comfortable bed, fresh sheets and I think you can really appreciate a 5-star hotel when you’ve just had a long, exhausting flight.
Violeta & Carmen: The answer for us is clear: we’d prefer to be uncomfortable at first sleeping or watching movies on a long-haul flight in economy, and then get our reward: relaxing and enjoying a five-star hotel!
Liv: Long haul first class and budget hotel.
Daniel: The latter: getting in a clean, comfy bed after being on a gross plane for hours is the best feeling.
Now to test your knowledge of hidden gems: if someone visited the country you’re from, what lesser-known sight or place should they visit?
Daniel: I’ve grown up in the British countryside and I still live here to this day because it’s honestly the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. I live in south-east England but I’d probably say just go to the Yorkshire countryside; they’ve got good cheese there too.
Liv: Yes! North Yorkshire is one of the most beautiful places in the world in the spring and summer (and the autumn/winter too!) Spending time in the rolling fields like a Bronte bought from Wish, visiting Aysgarth Falls… need I go on? It’s a cottagecore dream.
Michal: Bieszczady! With no doubts! The slight hills of this mountain chain are just magical. It’s no Alps but this place brings me so much peace each time I’m there. And don’t even get me started on its night sky! You cannot find another place in central Europe with so little light pollution. It just feels like you’re about to enter a different dimension each time you look up. Definitely worth visiting, especially for hike lovers.
Yu: The Japanese Alps: three-quarters of the country is mountains!
Catarina & Rodrigo: The Costa Vicentina in Portugal (Catarina’s country) and Aranjuez, a town and world heritage site south of Madrid (Rodrigo’s recommendation).
Aron: I definitely need to recommend the town of Kisfüzes. It’s not a very well known place, not only among tourists but Hungarians as well! Every year a town festival is held where guests are welcomed with amazing traditional food, an incredible variety of drinks and some of the most famous DJs from the area.
Finally, what’s one place you’ve been that everyone should experience?
Eriks: Iceland! Every corner of it is wonderful, especially Vestmannaeyjar island!
Quynh: Of course it’s Vietnam, my country! Everyone knows how beautiful it is, and the culture, food, history and so on… why not?
Lenka & David: Laos! It’s a playground for adults, cheap and fun. You just rent a scooter and explore its beauty. In Laos, there are breathtaking views, crystal clear azure lagoons, ziplines, paramotors, wonderful caves, fairy waterfalls and, last but not least, super tasty food. The country is surrounded by big tourism players, so if you’d like to experience something extraordinary on a budget, Laos is a go-to country.
Mariana & Bruno: Gili Air, an island in Indonesia.
Daniel: Hoi An, Vietnam. It’s so beautiful, both tranquil and absolutely crazy at the same time.
Awesome! Happy trails to you all!
Have an amazing time on your travels everyone, both with flights from Kiwi.com and tractor / canoe / dog sled / pig truck! Hopefully you’ll see the places you want to, learn a couple of phrases in some local languages and inspire people to visit some lesser-known destinations.
Follow their adventures (and those of our other World Travel Hackers) on @kiwicom247 (Instagram) and @kiwi.com (TikTok).