Quote Originally Posted by gorillabay View Post
Thank you for your replies. A couple of follow-up questions:

1) What about couchsurfinmg?
How much experience do you have with couchsurfing, and its members? I would get in contact with local members and attend some of their functions, to build up a reputation with references. Very few members - yours truly included - would welcome a member who does not have references and is not verified. All very important issues.


2) Part of my reason for wanting to take a van was to have ade quate space for belongings and finds...I could mail stuff home but I would think that would add up quickly. Anyone ever take a Honda Civic or similar car on this kind of trip?
You would do well to research some of the vandweller websites. It is amazing how they cope in vehicles as small as a VW Bug

3) I do understand your emphasis on not purchasing a van for a single trip like this, but if I were to find something reliable and affordable, how much might the value of it go down for re-sale when the trip is over? (The baseline road mileage of the grand trip is 8,000; note this is largely interstates so the actual mileage may be quite a bit more).
For a mere 8000 mile trip and two months, I would have to agree wIth Michael. I also wonder how much research you did before coming up with this plan. ; Did you look at Adventures on Wheels? I recall making enquiries with them, some years ago, for a 6 month rental, which was going to cost me $5000. You could not buy a van for that.

4) Any solo travelers out there, I wonder what you budgeted per day (or week, month). Is $6,000 for a 2-month trip seem way off? (For either option - combo of cheap motels, hostels, couchsurfing, etc.; or with van. Note that perhaps about a 1/3 of the nights I would be at a family or friend's home.
Budgeting would drive me crazy. I make sure I have the funds before I plan my next trip. I have a refrigerator in the van, to keep my perishables. I carry basics like Cereal with me. Each morning I have a bowl of cereal with milk, and some tinned fruit. I do not know how you price that. I also have a mug full of hot milk with instant coffee. I keep a loaf of bread and some butter and buy cheese ham, etc., a couple of slices at a time. That along with a bottle of water and a glass of orange/fruit juice is my lunch. Sometimes I go out to eat in the evening to a place like Panera Bread, Perkins or such which never costs me more than $10. Other times I purchase a salad or chinese meal from the supermarket. This is never more than $10. I figure my daily meals come to between $15 and $20

That is about the extend of my budgeting. As I said, I make sure I have the funds before I leave home, for all possible eventualitiies.

Thanks for your help. I want to make this dream a reality.
You might have to spend a bit more time dreaming (and researching/planning).

Lifey