I find it insulting that people have the gall to go on a holiday and are counting on other people to pay for it. I also think that people shouldn't give any money to these leeches but kick them out of their city if they are begging. Try crossing the american border without sufficient funds to pay for your intended stay.

The ignorance of these people is beyond mind-boggling. Backpacking entails an extraordinary amount of preplanning and saving up money; some people plan and save for years in advance in order to fund long-term backpacking trips. People who expect members of the local community to fund their “glorious find myself trips” are beyond selfish. They are not giving back or supporting the communities of the countries where they travel. Sadly, traveling is often a privilege and can be extremely pricey. However, excellent travel blogs out there to help backpackers budget and plan for extended travels. There are also the options of staying at a hostal, Air B and B, or even participating in a home-stay to help save money. Some countries even offer farm stay or teaching programs. Backpackers help a local family on their farm or with a manual task in exchange for lodging. This way the traveler is giving back to the community and hopefully becoming more immersed in the country’s culture.

Always wondered what happened with the guys behind all the BP "I quit my job to travel all around the world" post. Now I know.

so you guys really think these individuals beg to fund their trips? think again. most of these people are low-middle income europeans/americans who had either already wasted their trip money on drugs (psychedelics mostly, se asia is a heaven for them) or begging money to spend on drugs.

I didn't know this was a thing. But I do know that I was raised to know that if I can't afford it, I can't have it.

Well, I have news for you. This plague has already reached Europe. A short walk around Barcelona will show you quite a few of these arseholes begging on the street. Additionally, some of them even have different signs for different fundings: weed, alcohol, food... Listen, f*****s. We are not giving you any money.

I'd find it difficult to hold myself back if I ever saw anyone doing this. This seems to be indicative of the current age where youngsters seem to think they are entitled to everything and expect other people to wipe their arses.

30 years ago I wanted to travel but I didn't because I had no money. This kind of c**p (begpacking - wtf!) was unimaginable. I had to work to earn my own money before I started travelling. Anyone supporting these leeches deserves to lose their cash.

Do exactly what the EU and the US do with travelers: demand proof of available funds before they enter the country. This makes me so so furious. Besides the arguments made regarding white privilege and entitlement, there is also the issue that “brown” people (I am using sarcasm here) cannot be begpackers. They are not allowed in the country to start with.

With their privilages, I thought those tourists/backpackers from (I guess) 1st world countries can afford traveling the world. See how powerful their passpor. Their currency is also strong. When people say Asia/SEA is cheap, it doesn't mean free. We still need that money. I was backpacker too, and I'm third world passpor holder who still needs visa to most countries. I have to give more effort than people from first-world-countries to visiting other country. Not only about earning the visa, I have to pass the strict screening procedure from immigration officer at the airport (sometimes I also got prejudice because of my race). Currency exchange is also huge problem. One full meal in US/Europe is worth 2 days meal in my country. So you can imagine how expensive US/Europe for me. But with determination, held 2 jobs, and hardcore saving - My feed finally can feel the land of US, Europe, Asia, and Australia - without any begging scene for sure, but bit thrifty living

These photos are infuriating. I worked through school, college and then full time in an office to save for two years. I had always dreamed of travelling, so saved my a*s off and went to 17 countries through South & Central America, Mexico & Cuba, all paid for by myself. No rich family, no loans, just hard work and determination. I did the same thing to spend 3 weeks in India the previous year. I’m back two years and working my a*s off again to go to Japan later this year. How dare these people expect to be handed these privileges when there are starving, homeless, desperate vulnerable people out there.