When most of us think about creating a digital travel budget to reduce costs so we can see more places for less, we typically don’t consider bartering as a means to go anywhere. But that’s exactly what my live chat guest did in 2010, trading his way from an apple to a home in Hawaii in 42 steps, taking the scenic route around the world.
Author of How To Barter To Paradise, filmmaker and journalist Michael Wigge (pronounced wig-ee) first started as comedic travel reporter on MTV in Germany, and that’s the last time he ever stayed in one place.
Since then, the world has been his newsroom: from living with the native Yanomami Indian tribe in the Amazon rainforest to fighting Sumo wrestlers in Japan. For the past decade, Wigge has been spinning around the globe reporting and producing in his trademark style: a hybrid of journalism and comedy. Culture is what drives him to travel and meet others and he is fascinated by the similarities and differences that make the world hum.
The chat now closed, thank you everyone for participating!
Michael will be joining us on Friday (a slight change in the schedule) from 2pm-5pm US EST, which gives you some extra time to ask him about his money-less journey and how the lessons he learned can help you cut costs on your next vacation. All of the action takes place in the comments below so don’t be shy and ask away!
Hi everyone, I look forward to our upcoming chat. Feel free to leave your questions in the thread below, they’ll begin appearing a few minutes before the chat time, 2pm US EST.
Can you please explain a bit about how this trip actually went down?
I traveled through fourteen countries and while I was trading the apple for bigger and better, a camera crew followed me around the globe. Some videos here: http://www.howtotraveltheworldforfree.com/project-htbfp
Were you friends with the crew prior to the trip?
What are you up to now, still traveling?
I am in Sydney right now, actually some holiday at my friends’ house. But I currently also film and write and plan a future project
I just realized what time of the day it is for you – thank you so much for getting up this early to chat with all of us!
How long are you in Sydney
From Facebook Colton asks: Best ways to look for location independent jobs?
I advice everyone to do street stunts instead of looking for conventional jobs.
Check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7DJufdIxI8
I would add to this, Colton, where does your expertise and skills lay?
Michael telling his story of traveling around the world without money to Jay Leno and asking Katy Perry if she would let him couchsurf at her place:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwQ4SUCE604&list=PL381E330B2971C48B
What’s Jay Leno like in person?
Katy Perry?
how did you get on the show??
I actually self published my book and approached the media with it. One day after the tonight show, I was here:
http://www.today.com/id/48058825/vp/48070573#48070573
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
haha, the pillow fighting looks like it hurt!
Did the trading for food ever work in chains stores?
Good questions. Chain stores are trouble because the need to ask the head office, that almost never works, except the local manager is really cool
What are some of the strangest reactions you’ve gotten? I think I would be even too embarrassed to ask!
Actually the reactions where always pretty good and positive. People loved the ideas to barter or travel for free
Leno was nice and professional, shaking hands, giving some show merchandising to me, etc, but no drinking later on together in the LA bar scene 🙂
How does one barter for beer? You know, for research purposes.
Oh that is so crazy. But easy to get a free one. Just challenge the best drinker in the bar to down it faster and everyone will spend you one
As a German, I suspect this was of special important for you 🙂
Oh yeah, no trip without beer 🙂
Do you think your skills as a comedian were important? Like, could just some regular person do what you did?
I think it’s good to be extroverted and actually my ability to entertain people did help. In “How to Barter for Paradise” I bartered for bigger and better and often convinced people to do a barter deal with me by entertaining them in silly ways. Here I entertained people as my second personna “Barterman”: Check out the Coati Mundi and Barterman song (and dance with it)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UL7ZCxSVsM8
As someone who is extroverted – being that there is usually a lot of alone time on longer solo trips – was that aspect difficult for you?
Actually I was always with people since I was pretty much forced to approach people every day. So I haven’t really felt lonely, but it was good to see my girlfriend after half year!
Who’s your favorite comedian?
What did she think of your trip?
I’m surprised she even let you go!!
#1 lesson?
have you always been frugal/do you spend less money now before the trip
Actually I never lived without money before, so first time and luckily it worked out
Is there something you would do differently if you take such a trip again ?
Hi Cenk, there are two trips “How to Travel the World for Free” and “How to Barter for Parasdise”, both have been so great and I just feel lucky to have reached both goals, traveling Antarctica for free and bartering a house in Hawaii. More on: http://www.howtotraveltheworldforfree.com/about-projects
What is your next goal then ?
I am just exploring the US with all its states. But the big dream would be space..
What did your parents thinking before you do this trip ?
Hi Cenk, I sort of made it easy for them. The hard facts appeared after I returned. And then everyone was happy that I have done that. But quiet franckly I haven’t told them too much before not to worry anyone
So I’ve got this apple right, next step?
Liam, I have started with the apple and bartered it within minutes to a book and then to a bottle of wine. 42 steps later there was the house in Hawaii. But it took so much strategy and change of strategy, that it was absolutely burned out afterwards. But you can easily give it a try
How to Barter for Paradise: http://www.howtotraveltheworldforfree.com/project-htbfp
What did you trade the apple for and where?
How old are you?
Hi Ruhi, I am 37 now!
You look younger so that’s pretty good!
In “How to Travel the World for Free” I was 33. In “How to Barter for Paradise” 35…
What caused the spark and was it different you think than if it had happened in your 20s?
gear you took
gear you lost
gear you gained
In “How to Travel the World for Free” I started with 80 pounds on my back, really silly idea. I reached Antarctica with 30 pounds, the rest has been left along the way
Anything you can’t believe you brought in the first place?
best place
worst place
(same for experiences)
Best places: Hawaii, Antarctica
Worst place: Sitting around at home 🙂
ever think about going back to germany
I will be back there in May, so I am one foot in and one foot out. My current base is Hawaii, which just doesn’t let me go anymore 🙂
so much better weather!!
Hi everyone, welcome to the chat!
Welcome Michael and thank you for spending some of your time today with my readers and I. Where in the world do you happen to be at the moment?
Thanks for the invite!
I’m curious what your career has been like, though I imagine quite colorful. Can you give a quick synopsis, how you got into entertainment and then on from there?
I started as a comedy reporter on MTV in Germany and then I focused more on traveling and producing and actually getting into the travel challenges. More on:
http://www.howtotraveltheworldforfree.com/about-wigge
Is there a certain field you feel a part of? Any long term plans?
I’d really like to go to space one day, but so hard to do…
You should get in touch with a past live chat guest of mine, Jose Mariano:
http://foxnomad.com/2013/07/11/ask-aerospace-engineer-jose-mariano-anything-you-want-about-space-tourism/
any good celebrity stories you can share?
Oh yes, I have been shaking Angelina Jolies hand almost for ages and didn’t stopp, same with Oliver Stone and Colin Farrell. Here the video trailer with it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42QV_oWToxI
I am still undecided which of my two travel stories was the better one, so people can also vote here http://www.howtotraveltheworldforfree.com/about-projects
More info about How to Travel the World for Free:
http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-0527-money-20120527,0,3358080.story
What would you tell someone who wanted to take such a trip but wasn’t sure where or how to start?
I would advice to test it on a small scale in your region or state. And always think about going by the barter system. Free food in a store for a good joke or free travels for cleaning the car. Then it’ll work for sure!
Ten things to pack to get your house for free:
http://www.howtotraveltheworldforfree.com/how-to-barter-for-paradise/10-things-to-pack-to-get-a-house-for-free-while-traveling-the-world
One of the most unique, creative travel lists I’ve seen in a very long time. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Michael,
Can you please show us a map of the routes you took on both trips?
Thanks for taking my question!
Please watch Episode 1 for free and you see the animated map:
http://www.howtotraveltheworldforfree.com/watch-series-online
For those of us who are a little shy, what would you suggest to make approaching people easier? Did you specifically look for certain types of people – male, female, etc.
Which languages do you know and how useful was each one?
Was anybody openly mean or hostile toward you?
Never happened, always good
Where were the people easiest to get along with?
why did you stop shaking my hand??!!
Guys, I got to leave. It was fun talking! Always get more info on
http://www.howtotraveltheworldforfree.com and
http://www.michaelwigge.com
OR Facebook/Twitter
Best
Wiggee
Thank you very much for your time Michael and hope you’ll keep in touch with your future projects and plans. I look forward to crossing paths in the real world as well as another live chat some time in the future!
Katy is not behaving very natural again. She is pretty but less of sense of humor. It is also interesting to see that Michael not paying much attention to her 🙂
Enjoyed reading and watching Michaels adventure, top stuff, very inspirational indeed!
I’m glad you were able to stop by, thanks!
Was there a time in your travels that your life was in danger?
Did you ever have doubts or feel not really confident on your journey?