That week in Portland where everything went wrong on a budget trip

I booked a $40 hostel near Powell's Books thinking I'd save big, but the place had no AC and a heatwave hit. Day two my cheap bus pass expired and I had to walk 3 miles in 90 degree heat to find a laundromat. Then I tried to save money by eating only $1 street tacos and ended up with food poisoning for 24 hours. Spent more on Imodium than I did on food that week. Has anyone else had a "budget" trip turn into a nightmare with surprise costs?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_jessica11d ago

Think you're being a bit hard on the place, honestly. A $40 hostel in a heatwave is a gamble anywhere, and street tacos can be a roll of the dice no matter what you pay. Sounds like you learned some valuable lessons about booking ahead for weather and checking food cart cleanliness rather than the city being the problem.

leobrown10d ago

I mean, the street taco thing is a bit of a stretch blaming the city for that. Budget spots in any city can be dodgy with food safety if you don't watch where you're grabbing from. Maybe next time check if the cart has a health grade sticker or looks busy, that usually helps.