The van life and overlanding adjacent to budget travel deserves mention because it's increasingly part of the travel landscape.

The startup costs are the main barrier: a functional campervan in Europe costs €5,000-20,000 depending on quality and age. The budget-accessible entry points are older VW T4/T5 vans or transit vans converted to basic camper specifications in the €5,000-8,000 range.

Running costs: fuel, insurance, occasional repairs. Fuel in Europe at $1.80-2.20/liter and a van getting 10-12L/100km means $180-200/month driving 1,000km. Insurance for a foreign-registered van in Europe: complicated, research carefully.

The accommodation replacement: free camping under Scandinavia's allemannsretten, Aires (designated motorhome stops across France and Spain, typically $5-15/night), aire sauvage (free wild camping in France is technically illegal but widely tolerated in remote areas), and official campsites where facilities are needed.

The daily cost when doing it well: $25-35/day all-in including fuel, food, and occasional campsite fees. This beats most hostel scenarios for stays over a month.

Where it doesn't work: cities. Parking a large van in Amsterdam or Barcelona is a logistical nightmare. The van life model works best for rural touring and small coastal towns. Most van lifers base in a city occasionally at a hostel or friend's place and live in the van for the touring portions.