4 - Join a cult

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No, we are not joking. And we are not insinuating that cults are all about heart-warming meals around a burning fire with an enlightened soul strumming Kumbaya on his guitar, but joining a community at an unlikely destination can be a real eye-opener.

While some cults are rumoured to be dangerous and said to be prone to carrying out suicide pacts, violent protests and strange drug-taking practices, others are just your usual 'flower-power' universe-revering kind that will be desperate to help you back onto the 'right path'. Cults are usually open to welcoming new people as long as they pull their weight at the 'camp'.

How to find a cult in the first place? we hear you ask doubtfully. Firstly, as most won't have websites, you find them by word of mouth. You can either ask around in online forums, ask people you know who are knowledgeable about these sorts of things, or once you get to the destination ask around. See what the general feeling is and what names and locations come up. Secondly, you might be a little sceptical about this option, but it's always a card to keep safe just in case you end up faced with no other option and you don't have the money to spend on a hotel.

Finding a cult to join for a few days will help you make friends at a new destination, learn about the place you are in and will be a free place to crash and eat until you move onto your next destination.

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