“Slept in caves”: the story of a budget travel lover (7 photos)

A resident of Norway spent about $7,500 on travel to 18 countries, cutting costs by spending a “savage” holiday. In eight months, 21-year-old Robert Michelsen visited countries such as Portugal, Serbia, Croatia and Poland. He wanted to see the world in such a way that “money was not an obstacle.”





Robert rarely went to restaurants, mostly ate raw eggs and carrots, slept in caves or on the beach, sometimes in cheap hostels.

One day, a traveler was almost robbed, and he also met wolves.



Robert, who works in sales, said: "I eat a lot of raw eggs and carrots. I've slept in caves and on the beach. Discomfort is the price you pay for freedom. I want to see the world and I don't think money should stop me. The skills I learned from an early age help me and I wouldn't change a thing."





The Norwegian began his solo trip in February 2023, stopping at a farm in the Azores, a group of islands in Portugal.

Every morning he milked the cows in exchange for a plate of food and a place to stay for the night.

“I wanted to learn as much as possible about life on a farm. I didn’t spend a penny in the first month,” said the tourist.

Then he began to travel around the islands, spending the night in a tent.



Two months later, Michelsen went to Lisbon, where he stayed in a hostel. Then he visited the Algarve, spending the night in caves on the beach.



He continued to travel around Europe, occasionally meeting with relatives and friends.

So, in Portofino, Italy, he and his brother were scared by a pack of wolves.

"The wolves surrounded our tent. I decided to take a break from camping and started spending the night in hostels."



In just six months, he visited 13 countries and returned to Norway in August 2023. According to Robert's calculations, he spent only $5,320 on flights, accommodation, food and entertainment.

He saved for four months and flew to Budapest for the New Year, and then visited Slovakia, Austria, Morocco and England. The tour cost him $2,116.



"A lot of people choose resorts and beach holidays. You never see the true side. You pay to remain ignorant. But the city has so much more to offer. I saw life in its entirety."

Michelsen liked Italy and Serbia most of all.