Round the world trip - pointers?

Escapees

We’re a couple in the very early stages of planning a round the world trip - it's a bit head-wrecking to be honest with you, as there are a crazy amount of options and opinions out there on the web compared to years ago! So, I was really hoping that some travelled boardsies might help guide us and give a few pointers.

As a starter, we will definitely be including stops in Australia, New Zealand and Canada for various reasons. This then opens up the possibility of dropping into pretty much anywhere en-route like Asia, South America, the US, or maybe even Africa for not a lot of extra money (flight-wise anyway it would seem). So based on the info below about us, would anyone recommend one continent over the other?! Sorry that it’s so broad at this stage and that we’re not even talking countries or cities yet!!

The following is a little bit about us which might be relevant:
- Our age: Mid-30s
- Our budget: Ballpark 10k
- Time-frame for trip: 3 to 6 months
- What we're into: Scenery, adventure, walking etc.
- What we're not into: Cities, museums, nightlife
- What’s important to us: Personal security, minimum stress, minimum planning, cost
- What’s not important to us: Having to rough it, in terms of accommodation and transport standards etc.

One thing in particular in the above list is the whole minimum stress thing – we’ve backpacked before in Australia and did a load of planning beforehand and had practically everything pre-arranged, only to discover that it was probably not necessary at all as the place is so geared towards backpackers. That’s really the kind of thing we’d be looking for now in a place – somewhere that you just look after getting yourself there and then it’s easy and stress-free to arrange accommodation and tours once on the ground there.

ANC

check this website: http://www.vagablogging.net

Not really an advice / Travel guide site, but really good for giving ideas how to stretch the trip on a small budget / travel philosophy.

FouxDaFaFa

I don't have any personal experience of an RTW but I follow Bootsnall a bit and they have a lot of RTW-oriented articles (in fact, looking at the website, they have a whole RTW section) there, if it's any help.

Escapees

FouxDaFaFa wrote: »

I don't have any personal experience of an RTW but I follow Bootsnall a bit and they have a lot of RTW-oriented articles (in fact, looking at the website, they have a whole RTW section) there, if it's any help.

Thanks for that, actually came upon the website earlier tonight! Thinking now of booking flights as we go along rather than getting a RTW ticket so that we have maximum flexibility in terms of where we go etc. Lots of debate over whether this is the right way about it though!

Sandwell

Escapees wrote: »

Thanks for that, actually came upon the website earlier tonight! Thinking now of booking flights as we go along rather than getting a RTW ticket so that we have maximum flexibility in terms of where we go etc. Lots of debate over whether this is the right way about it though!

We're heading off in July for a year and that's what we're planning to do. It very much depends on where you intend to travel but for us it should cost much the same as one of the more expensive RTW tickets but with much more flexibility.

This site is great, particularly the short country guides and the advice about what to pack. http://travelindependent.info/

dory

Is the 10k for both of you and the flights?? I spent about €15k on one year for one person, did it as cheap as I could really - only spent a month in a country that would be classed as 'developed' (Australia). What are you including in your budget? If you tell us that it's easier to work from there. For example, adding in South America would be more expensive than a few weeks in SE Asia.

Escapees

Dory, the plans have grown a bit, as has the budget! We're now open to a budget of 'ballpark' 25k for everything and trying to visit a lot more countries! Definitely thinking of going to Africa, SE Asia along with Oz, New Zealand and Canada now. General Asia (China etc.) and South America would be great if they could be fitted in too! Have noticed that a lot of people don't include India and China on RTW trips - is it maybe that they're less geared towards backpackers or just too much of a culture shock for folk?

dory

Escapees wrote: »

Dory, the plans have grown a bit, as has the budget! We're now open to a budget of 'ballpark' 25k for everything and trying to visit a lot more countries! Definitely thinking of going to Africa, SE Asia along with Oz, New Zealand and Canada now. General Asia (China etc.) and South America would be great if they could be fitted in too! Have noticed that a lot of people don't include India and China on RTW trips - is it maybe that they're less geared towards backpackers or just too much of a culture shock for folk?

I would say that's it's just too much hassle/planning for people. SE Asia is simple - you land, pop on your flip flops and off you trot to the beach. India is an amazing country but it takes a bit of getting used to and it's not a chill out and drink on the beach kind of place. China wouldn't be what someone would call laid back either. And they both require visas. If you're up for the challenge they're both great countries to go to.

BEst thing to do would be to look up one of the websites that sell RTW tickets and find one that interests you. Then you can build your trip around that - buy tickets along the way and all that. Getting from Oz - America or South America is very expensive without an RTW. I had a half RTW to Oz and then booked as I went back over SE Asia.

Escapees

Thanks dory - we've decided to include South America now but are still getting to grips with the whole visa stuff for Asian countries. You seem (?!) familiar with Thailand - do you know for sure if it's acceptable to travel in overland and cross a border and back again if necessary to get a new visa exemption for another 15 days?

A half world ticket option might be to get to oz through south america.. Then cheap flights to south east asia and then even India return. (In Sri Lanka now for $125 return from Bangkok.) After south east asia, up through china and get the train to moscow/st petersburg. After that, some relatively cheap travel through eastern europe before home.

You can pretty much skip flying all the way from bangkok to your ryanair flight home.