Logistics of travel - wanting freedom to go anywhere when I get there

[fuzzybabybunny]

Let me give you guys some background: being from the US, I've been able to traverse the entire continent on my own time table, go to all the places I wished to go, and had complete freedom to go wherever and stay for however long I wanted. No tour buses. No hitchhiking. No hotels. No motels.

That's because I had a car and an open road and a tent.

This is the kind of traveling that I like to do. Freedom to go wherever for however long and on the cheap. To be able to full explore a place and also carry gear such as laptop and camera equipment with me (I work my day job remotely and must have a laptop and a way to get to reliable internet at all times, whether it's a library, starbucks, or 3G).

Now that I want to travel internationally I don't know what to do.

Getting to the country is easy. But how do I travel and still have that freedom that I'm used to?

Which countries support such a travel style? Where I can rent a car and just... go. Nothing in front of me but the open road.

Australia, right?

More or less all the European countries under the Schengen Visa?

No idea on India, Russia, Asia in general (in Japan you can apparently), Africa, and South America.

 

[olds]

I hear the Iranian mountains are a great place to hike.

 

[Svnla]

If you go to Asia, the infrastructure is not up to par with US standard...ie... don't expect the highway over there = same as highway over here.

And you DO NOT want to drive a car over there in Asia, especially in developing countries. Not good for your heart and your wallet (potentially).

Plus you have to put up with the local cops (especially in small towns) that expect some kickback money from you.

 

[RocksteadyDotNet]

Australia? Yes.

But you can't just put a tent up on the side of the road. I doubt you can do that in any country. You'll have to stay at a caravan park. But then you get a powerpoint and showers and shit, so its good.

Apart from that yes, you'll have total freedom to move anywhere within the country. Crossing states would be just in the U.S.

But any western country would be the same.

 

[RossMAN]

Driving in India taken from this thread.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

If you go to Asia, the infrastructure is not up to par with US standard...ie... don't expect the highway over there = same as highway over here.

And you DO NOT want to drive a car over there in Asia, especially in developing countries. Not good for your heart and your wallet (potentially).

Plus you have to put up with the local cops (especially in small towns) that expect some kickback money from you.

Have you been to any non-wartorn parts of Asia ever?

Because Asia is like 1/4 of the landmass of the world and is home to many many many 1st world fully developed countries.

 

[Svnla]

Have you been to any non-wartorn parts of Asia ever?

Because Asia is like 1/4 of the landmass of the world and is home to many many many 1st world fully developed countries.

I don't remember any countries in Asia are still at war right now. Even North and South Korea are still at stalemate. I had been to Japan and South Korea (developed countries in Asia) beside a numerous of other countries around the world.

Read my post again. See the word "developing"? Get it? Got it? Good.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

I don't remember any countries in Asia are still at war right now. Even North and South Korea are still at stalemate. I had been to Japan and South Korea.

Read my post again. See the word "developing"? Get it? Got it? Good.

In fact, North and South Korea are 100% at war right now.

Also, "And you DO NOT want to drive a car over there in Asia, especially in developing countries"

The word "Developing" was only used in the context of driving a car. Of course already, you've implied that it already sucks to drive in Asia in general ,just sucks more in developing countries.

The first part of the post is completely unmodified, and it is clear you are saying that all of Asia is a shithole, when South Korea and Japan have infrastructure that is more robust, developed, and more advanced than Americas most developed cities.

And what about kickbacks from cops? Are you traveling exclusively to triad controlled villages in China?

 

[Svnla]

In fact, North and South Korea are 100% at war right now.

Also, "And you DO NOT want to drive a car over there in Asia, especially in developing countries"

The word "Developing" was only used in the context of driving a car. Of course already, you've implied that it already sucks to drive in Asia in general ,just sucks more in developing countries.

The first part of the post is completely unmodified, and it is clear you are saying that all of Asia is a shithole, when South Korea and Japan have infrastructure that is more robust, developed, and more advanced than Americas most developed cities.

You put words in my mouth and that is your choice. I just gave the OP my own personal experience. If you want to drive car over there, knock yourself out. Now I dare you to show me the exactly words from my post of "all of Asia is a shithole" or any variety of such. Well? Just what I thought. Either quote them words exactly or STFU, really.

Now stop quoting me and we all can live happy ever after.

 

[dullard]

For many countries, you'll feel that it is exactly the same. Very few countries actually have travel restrictions once you are in the country. Your main issue would be travelling from country to country. Even then, your biggest issue might be the need to pay a fee (often on the order of $50) either to enter or to leave the country. Of course, do check the Visa requirements before you try to go into a new country.

You'll find in some countries you are even more free than in the USA. For example, in much of the scandinavia region you have the right of public access. Meaning you can camp anywhere (private property or public property) as long as you are not within 100 feet of someone's home. I doubt many Americans would appreciate you camping in their backyard and many businesses here in America would call the police if you camp on their property.

 

[RocksteadyDotNet]

Oh, and one more crazy thing, if you come here, you can drive on your American licence.

WTF!

You drive on the wrong side of the road!

But hey, just rock up and drive that hire car right out of the lot. You're good to go.

Seriously, I don't think I should be driving on the right hand side without a little bit of practice. But the USA has the same shit. I can go there and just drive a car.

Crazy shit.

 

[SandEagle]

rent a car in those countries that you visit?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Have you been to any non-wartorn parts of Asia ever?

Because Asia is like 1/4 of the landmass of the world and is home to many many many 1st world fully developed countries.

Please identify the first world developed countries in the Asia land mass.I would not count any of the following 1st word. Some are second world; some are third world
Turkey
Syria
Lebanon
Israel
Jordan
Iraq
Iran
Pakistan
'stan republics from the USSR
India
China
Burma
Thailand
Malaysia
Vietnam
Cambodia
Laos

One needs to work there way over to the Pacific Rim to S Korea and Japan to start coming close.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Most countries in Central & South America have roads within the major economic centers.

To drive between those centers there are connectors - but the quality may be of ruts; nedding more of a truck/bus than a Mercedes.

 

[ichy]

More or less all the European countries under the Schengen Visa?

There's no need for a visa if you're visiting Europe as a tourist from the US.

If you want to go through Europe then you could go from Portugal to Poland without worrying about visas or border crossings. Going by car through Europe isn't really ideal though since it gets pretty expensive. Trains are a much better way to do it. If you want to work remotely you could work on the train, but internet connectivity might be an issue.

 

[ichy]

Please identify the first world developed countries in the Asia land mass.I would not count any of the following 1st word.

Israel

I disagree re: Israel. It is absolutely a 1st world country. I wouldn't recommend it for the OP's purposes since it's such a small place and all the countries surrounding it are shit holes, but Israel is a very safe and modern place.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I hear the Iranian mountains are a great place to hike.

Yeah, I've heard this too, but it isn't quite as nice as wading across the Yalu from China into North Korea. I hear that's a BLAST.

 

[SandEagle]

I disagree re: Israel. It is absolutely a 1st world country. I wouldn't recommend it for the OP's purposes since it's such a small place and all the countries surrounding it are shit holes, but Israel is a very safe and modern place.

he knows that. he added it to throw people off. Israel gets 3+billion from us in foreign aid plus countless billions for military, infrastructure. i was watching a documentary on tel aviv yesterday. that place looks like myrtle beach. so nice.

 

[Exterous]

I would think driving from one end of Russia to the other would give the same type of effect. No experience to support that but it just seems like it should be possible

Ireland would work. Easy to drive, fun to hike and lots of camp sites

You'll have to stay at a caravan park. But then you get a powerpoint and showers and shit, so its good.

Ugh - is it one of those time-share sales powerpoint presentations? I hate those...

Oh, and one more crazy thing, if you come here, you can drive on your American licence.

WTF!

You drive on the wrong side of the road!

It was quite surprising to me when we went to Ireland that they just handed me the keys and said 'Remember we drive on the other side of the road!' No hassle, no fuss at all. Granted I paid extra to not have to deal with shifting with the wrong hand but still...

 

[ichy]

he knows that. he added it to throw people off. Israel gets 3+billion from us in foreign aid plus countless billions for military, infrastructure. i was watching a documentary on tel aviv yesterday. that place looks like myrtle beach. so nice.

Tel Aviv is not a very nice city. Some of the suburbs on the water are appealing (my parents lived in Herzliya for four years) but Tel Aviv itself is pretty dumpy.

 

[xanis]

I would say Australia or Europe (Schengen agreement countries).

 

[Fritzo]

I hear the Iranian mountains are a great place to hike.

Syria is also nice this time of year.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I disagree re: Israel. It is absolutely a 1st world country. I wouldn't recommend it for the OP's purposes since it's such a small place and all the countries surrounding it are shit holes, but Israel is a very safe and modern place.

Correct. I've been there many times.

 

[Rastus]

Hitchhike through Europe and stay in hostels. Maybe you can get ideas from people you meet who've done other places.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Please identify the first world developed countries in the Asia land mass.I would not count any of the following 1st word. Some are second world; some are third world
Turkey
Syria
Lebanon
Israel
Jordan
Iraq
Iran
Pakistan
'stan republics from the USSR
India
China
Burma
Thailand
Malaysia
Vietnam
Cambodia
Laos

One needs to work there way over to the Pacific Rim to S Korea and Japan to start coming close.

Japan
South Korea
Singapore
Hong Kong
China
Singapore
Taiwan

Israel is 1st world. Don't be dumb. It is defined internationally as a 1st world country.

If you REALLY think China is not a 1st world country or on the level of one, I suggest you visit. Their cities are EXACTLY the same as western cities except with Chinese instead of English. If you could not read language, and could ignore the fact that everyone is Asian, there is almost no difference walking on the street in NYC vs Beijing.