The famous 1950s American road novel *On the Road* tells the story of a group of young students hitchhiking or driving across North America, gaining life insights along the way. Through constant adventurous travel and experiencing novel things, they express their passionate desire for life—this is the essence of "budget travel."
In fact, the rising "budget travel fever" in China is not a new phenomenon. Large numbers of young people hit the road, thumbing rides, and news stories like "A Post-90s Guy Travels on $500 for 200 Days" frequently appear in newspapers. On one side, there are luxury suites costing thousands or even tens of thousands of yuan, and on the other, youth hostels for just 20 yuan a night; on one side, luxury business class with premium service, and on the other, bumpy rural minibuses... The stark contrast between "luxury travel" and "budget travel" is striking. In the travel community, the debate over which is better—"budget" or "luxury"—has long existed. Which do you support?
Text by Jiang Wei, reporter of this newspaper, and Huang Zhaohua, intern reporter. Photos by Yuanmu, illustrations by Tian Hu.
There are countless ways to travel, and "budget travel" is a popular choice nowadays. Budget travel refers to maximizing savings while traveling freely. Compared to traditional package tours, "budget travel" primarily involving hiking or cycling is more cost-effective, more "self-directed," and offers a more unique experience. Many young people, including college students, urban professionals, and outdoor enthusiasts, have joined the budget travel trend. However, its rise has also sparked debates, including concerns about safety. So, should you choose budget travel or its counterpart, luxury travel?
Budget Travel Advocates: See More Scenery, Spend Less Money
An online saying goes: "For the price of half a square meter, you can travel around Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Thailand; for one or two square meters, you can cover Europe and America; and for three or four square meters, you can explore magical places like Egypt and South Africa... In a few years, you could have traveled the world without spending more than the cost of a toilet. By then, your worldview might have changed." Though simple and straightforward, this statement captures the joy of budget travel—shedding life’s heavy burdens, even the necessity of money, and reflects the determination of budget travelers to fully enjoy the journey.
"Budget travel," as the name suggests, is affordable, self-guided travel. "Budget" refers to limited funds and low expenses. The term originates from the website "HowToTrip" (Qiongyou Net), founded in 2004 by Chinese students in Europe.The self-reliant nature of budget travel means it’s less rigid than package tours—you won’t be "sleeping on the bus, taking photos at stops, or rushing to the next attraction." Nor does it require crowded tourist hotspots; your footsteps can lead to undeveloped places. Thus, budget travel advocates have added a second meaning: "budget" in scenery, striving to explore every corner of the world.
Thus, countless "most inspiring budget travel stories" emerge. A Baidu News search for "budget travel" yields headlines like "90 People Once Traveled to Tibet 'Without Money,' Now They’re Heading to Hainan Together," "Chongqing Youth Hikes Half of China on a Budget," and "An 80-Year-Old Budget Traveler Explores the World for 30 Years, Still Crossing Oceans at 79."
Gao Xiaoding, a 27-year-old from Fengjie, Chongqing, began backpacking and hitchhiking across China in February 2011. With just a hiking backpack, trekking pole, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, a few clothes, and some medicine, Gao managed to traverse most of China in over two years. To date, his footprints span Guizhou, Hunan, Yunnan, Tibet, Xinjiang, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Hubei, and more. "Either read or travel—the body and soul must always be on the move," says Gao.
"Every day of budget travel brings freshness—it’s addictive." "In a completely unfamiliar environment, you can let go of fear and try hitchhiking. When you return, people around you will think you’re amazing. That sense of achievement is ‘awesome’—something other travel styles can’t offer." "Enjoying the thrill of planning a budget trip, the scenery, and the people you meet make your heart ‘rich.’" The reflections of budget travelers exude pride: "I’m proud to budget travel." Spending the least, seeing the most—budget travel remains a top choice for travel enthusiasts.
Budget Travel Critics: It’s Time to Slow Down the Frenzy
Backpacks on, rides hitched, simple meals... Budget travelers return victorious, sharing their experiences and passion through media amplification. Non-travelers, inspired by their stories, are eager to join in. Under the influence of "scenery over money," this low-cost, self-guided travel method is attracting many Chinese. Not just the young—many seniors are also embracing budget travel.
Netizen "Senior Backpackers" refers to Zhang Guangzhu, 64, and Wang Zhongjin, 61, an ordinary elderly couple from Beijing. In three years, they’ve self-guided tours across dozens of countries in Europe, North America, and South America, becoming legends among backpackers. The couple sold their house and pinched pennies, carrying a single pot for all meals—even cooking instant noodles themselves—to save on food costs. During their travels, Wang Zhongjin once fell seriously ill with a 40°C fever and severe dehydration, and Zhang Guangzhu had to carry her heavy backpack while caring for her.
Some netizens question: Shouldn’t the basics of travel be enjoying scenery and food? What’s the point of lugging a heavy pot to cook instant noodles? Forget scenery and food—even if you get sick, proper care is hard to come by. Isn’t that just asking for trouble? Media reports mention ten Hunan students who had to cut their budget trip short due to overspending, and safety issues in budget travel frequently make headlines.
Budget travel is cheap and exciting, but its safety risks are drawing increasing attention. "The budget travel frenzy needs to slow down." Critics call for "cool-headed reflection" amid the craze, arguing that some young people blindly follow the trend. While budget travel’s low costs suit those with limited income, it often leads to poor experiences, unexpected risks, and high danger. Without proper preparation, such behavior is irresponsible toward one’s own safety.
Media investigations found that many budget travelers don’t even buy travel insurance before departure. Additionally, hitchhiking—the main mode of transport in budget travel—often lacks any safety agreements between drivers and riders, making liability hard to determine in accidents.
Another critique is that budget travel’s culture of "free rides, free meals, and free stays" is being over-imitated, "over-consuming the limited resources and goodwill of locals." One netizen sharply criticized in *"What’s the Meaning of Budget Travel?"*: "You hitch rides, freeload meals and lodging, then brag to friends about eating Tibetan food at Ganglamedo or snapping artsy photos. That’s unethical."
Luxury Travel Advocates: Spend Wisely, If You Can Afford It
$66,000 for a first-class or private flight to a Fiji island resort; $40,000 for hunting in Africa and helicopter photography; $75,000 to test-drive the latest 2008 Ferrari models in Italy, accompanied by the brand director... "Two people, one week, at least 150,000 RMB for overseas travel—including round-trip business class tickets and 500-euro hotels per night for seven days..." This was the definition of "luxury travel" at the 2006 Shanghai International Luxury Travel Expo.
Compared to budget travel, luxury travel allows indulgent enjoyment—comfortable accommodations, dining, and transport. In today’s budget travel-dominated landscape, many equate travel success with "spending less." But luxury travel advocates argue that spending money isn’t shameful—if you can afford it and spend wisely, you can enjoy better services and enrich both your mind and body.
Of course, luxury travel requires a solid financial foundation. For most students or those with limited means, budget travel remains the primary option. Taobao Travel’s *2011 Online Travel Consumption Report* shows that the post-70s and post-80s generations are the main travel consumers, preferring luxury travel. Compared to the cash-strapped post-90s, the post-70s and post-80s are more willing to splurge and prioritize quality. Among Taobao hotel bookings, the post-70s and post-80s book hotels at triple the rate of the post-90s, with 79% opting for five-star hotels; the post-90s prefer budget motels. For destinations, the post-90s favor affordable second- and third-tier cities like Fujian, Hunan, Anhui, and Hebei, while the post-70s and post-80s prefer pricier spots like Hong Kong and Hainan. In travel style, the post-90s lean toward economical domestic trips, while the post-70s and post-80s prefer international independent or guided tours. Built on financial stability, luxury travel generally offers better experiences and safety than budget travel.
Budget Travel vs. Luxury Travel: A Matter of Perspective
Travel means opening a new window or a grand door to understand different cultures, customs, and ways of life. When you step out, you encounter diverse nations and people with distinct religions, habits, diets, architecture, clothing, and more. The spiritual rewards of travel are subjective—there’s no right or wrong. Many don’t see a huge difference between budget and luxury travel, accepting both forms.
Some prefer a blend of both. In certain places, they opt for budget travel—staying in cheap guesthouses or with locals, sharing meals and daily life. Only budget travel allows direct immersion in local communities for unique experiences. But when feeling lazy or unmotivated to plan, they might "indulge" in the ease and luxury of luxury travel.
"Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles, but meeting ten thousand people teaches more." Ultimately, travel is about exploring the world, experiencing real life, and reflecting on human diversity—immersing yourself in nature, history, and culture to broaden horizons. There are countless ways to travel; find what suits you best. Spontaneous trips, freedom, and ease are true richness—why fuss over whether it’s "budget" or "luxury"? Text by Jiang Wei, reporter, and Huang Zhaohua, intern reporter.