Long term travelling

Spudmonkey

Hey folks,

For a few years now I've been looking at heading abroad and going travelling for an extended period of time. Im at an age where it looks like I'll be going on my own (28) as all my friends seem to be settling down and getting engaged and don't seem to be interested in travelling for a long time.

I have a rough idea of where I want to go and how long I want to go for (Asia, australia, New Zealand and South America for ~year and a half) but I'm not sure where to start. Has anyone here done it and how did you approach it? I have no idea what to do really except for booking a flight out to some city and booking a hostel for a couple of weeks to get myself established somewhere.

dory

All you really need to do is pick a place and book a flight.
But just some practicalities:

You can't do a round the world ticket that is longer than 1 year.
Flying the South America - Aus/NZ leg when not on a RTW is very expensive. You're better off booking a one way to NZ or Aus via South America for about €1100 and then later getting home via Asia with Air Asia and the like.

Civilian_Target

Yep.
Like Dory said, international air connections are strictly northern hemisphere... basically a circuit of East Asia -> West Coast USA -> East Coast USA -> Western Europe -> Middle East -> East Asia. Both South America and Australia are dead ends, so you'll have to stop in either West Coast USA or East Asia to get between them... which means two pricey long-haul flights. So its better to build that into your plans.

Another practicality is that most countries won't let you stay for more than 3 months on a tourist stamp. If you want to get any kind of decent job on the way, consider applying for work visas for that country before leaving Ireland.

Finally, make sure you have decent travel insurance and a credit card before you leave, if something goes wrong without that, your trip can go downhill very fast. I was reminded of this about 6 weeks ago when a German guy I met who is biking across the USA fell off in California... and landed a $6000 hospital bill, without health insurance.

Spudmonkey

Cheers for the answer guys,

So I suppose was I to plan a trip around I might be better heading via South America? TBH of all the places I'd be interested in going it would probably be South America rather than Asia so I'd nearly even consider heading there before Asia. I got flights 4.5 years ago to Costa Rica for ~€600 return. I wouldn't mind something like that and continuing south from there. (May have gone up since)

Heading to NZ and Oz from South America might be pretty expensive I'd imagine as it might not be a popular route. Still if its a one off expense I might stretch to it.

Year long worldwide travel insurance will probably be expensive but will definitely need it. I'd imagine trailfinders or something similar?

Also in terms of routes etc? I suppose if I am travelling on my own I'll be looking for hostels etc where I can meet people, other than just sticking to cities and that how would people have planned out their routes? I'm asking this because a 1.5 years ago I interrailed around Europe on my own and I had to make my way to cities to meet people. The times I went to out of the way places I met no-one even though they might have been big tourist spots (Mont Blanc, Matterhorn etc) and just generally found it tough to find hostels and meet people.

Any advice appreciated.

Lexe

That's great that you have the time and money to do something like this. Good for you!

Is your objective to see as much of the world as possible or to find somewhere you love and maybe work there for a while?

I met a Brazilian guy who traveled for 1.5yrs and he saw a lot of the world but did say it was lonely at times (very lonely actually!) and that he tired of living out of a backpack. That's why I ask about your objective. Maybe you should head to the place you most want to visit, take your time, remain really flexible and plan an itineary as you go along.

DainBramage

Lexe wrote: »

That's great that you have the time and money to do something like this. Good for you!

Is your objective to see as much of the world as possible or to find somewhere you love and maybe work there for a while?

I met a Brazilian guy who traveled for 1.5yrs and he saw a lot of the world but did say it was lonely at times (very lonely actually!) and that he tired of living out of a backpack. That's why I ask about your objective. Maybe you should head to the place you most want to visit, take your time, remain really flexible and plan an itineary as you go along.

have to agree with this: especially if you are only staying a short period in each spot.

The constant packing/unpacking of bags, sharing dorms in hostels, dealing with people trying to rip off gringos etc can get very draining.
sorry for the downer- but as per above pace yourself and enjoy your trip!

bluemagpie

I'm a few years older than you and have been travelling for four months solo so far. I would say go for it, all you need is insurance, you can get over a year with backpacker insurance, book your long haul flight and take a guide book and phone with WiFi. Check out visas for countries you are interested in plus a few more, you have so much freedom on your own and will probably find yourself adding in a few more countries. Take a rucksack no more than 50 litres max.

While I am in Asia I'm sure it is probably similar in that you can book transport as you go and if you want to meet people take some short tours, often a cheap way of getting places plus you get to meet people. I have found less solo travellers than expected but there are always some, you find more people will talk to you when on your own anyhow. You don't need too much planning, just book a week of accommodation at the start to find your feet. So long as you are happy with your own company take the plunge, it's easier than you expect but daunting until you do it. I have no regrets and I was probably the person people least expected to go travelling, especially solo

Spudmonkey

Lexe wrote: »

That's great that you have the time and money to do something like this. Good for you!

Is your objective to see as much of the world as possible or to find somewhere you love and maybe work there for a while?

I met a Brazilian guy who traveled for 1.5yrs and he saw a lot of the world but did say it was lonely at times (very lonely actually!) and that he tired of living out of a backpack. That's why I ask about your objective. Maybe you should head to the place you most want to visit, take your time, remain really flexible and plan an itineary as you go along.

Hi Lexe,

Don't really have a plan or anything. I suppose I've gone to college, lived and worked in the same place all my life and just want to see a bit more of the world. I've always felt jelous of people who I've met along the way travelling for long periods of time with no plans as such, knowing I'm heading back home to work soon after.

I went for a few weeks before myself and while I did think it was lonely at times I still liked the freedom I had. I suppose I'm just banking on the fact that I'll meet people along the way. My plan changes on a weekly basis, in terms of where I want to go but I'd like to travel for a few months, maybe try pick up a bit of work someplace for a while and see where I go from there.

Spudmonkey

bluemagpie wrote: »

While I am in Asia I'm sure it is probably similar in that you can book transport as you go and if you want to meet people take some short tours, often a cheap way of getting places plus you get to meet people. I have found less solo travellers than expected but there are always some, you find more people will talk to you when on your own anyhow. You don't need too much planning, just book a week of accommodation at the start to find your feet. So long as you are happy with your own company take the plunge, it's easier than you expect but daunting until you do it. I have no regrets and I was probably the person people least expected to go travelling, especially solo

Hey bluemagpie,

How do you find travelling on your own. I suppose I'm an unusual person in that I like my own company for the most part. If I was able to find someone to meet along the way on tours and that then I'd be perfectly happy with that. There was a solo travellers blog I was reading who said that he met someone his first day and ended up travelling with them for several months. I suppose I'm thinking something like that could happen to me.

Tbh while I find it a bit daunting, it's something I've been thinking about and even if it is daunting, I know I'll regret it if I don't do it.

floyd333

Spudmonkey wrote: »

Hi Lexe,

Don't really have a plan or anything. I suppose I've gone to college, lived and worked in the same place all my life and just want to see a bit more of the world. I've always felt jelous of people who I've met along the way travelling for long periods of time with no plans as such, knowing I'm heading back home to work soon after.
.

Your situation sounds similar to mine before I went traveling. I was worried about meeting people too. but it was fine, I met so many people, from all over. Its easy to meet people in hotels, on trains etc.

It can be tough at times too. I got homesick at one stage and got very unsettled in SE Asia. But I stuck at it and ended up having the time of my life.

Don't try and plan too much in advance. Keep the itinerary as open as possible. It’ll give great flexibility when it comes to staying around somewhere or getting out of dodge! As others said it can get tiring constantly moving. It’s nice to settle in a place for a while and just live.

Personally I found South America way more interesting than SE Asia.

Definitely go though. It’s a good time to be away from Ireland.

bluemagpie

Spudmonkey wrote: »

Hey bluemagpie,

How do you find travelling on your own. I suppose I'm an unusual person in that I like my own company for the most part. If I was able to find someone to meet along the way on tours and that then I'd be perfectly happy with that. There was a solo travellers blog I was reading who said that he met someone his first day and ended up travelling with them for several months. I suppose I'm thinking something like that could happen to me.

Tbh while I find it a bit daunting, it's something I've been thinking about and even if it is daunting, I know I'll regret it if I don't do it.

Hey, I'm the same, happy with my own company so I rarely feel too lonely and haven't felt homesick. If you do then join a short tour, that's where I have met people that I have travelled with for a few days. I've found travelling by myself a lot easier than expected, just have a general idea of your route and when you talk to people you'll find out about different places to go and might add or knock some off your plans.

I've wanted to travel for years, my friends are all too busy with houses, work etc. I knew it was time to go for me, knew I'd regret it if I didn't. I haven't regretted it once since I left, time flies. There is a vagabonding website that's good for stories from long term travellers. And don't worry, as you say being solo brings freedom, you can pack up and leave whenever you want, or stay, and see what you like. Don't rely on meeting people to travel with, keep going, you'll definitely meet people, but you'll meet people you get on with the most once you are doing things you enjoy.

Btw, if there are some places that are un-missables for you make sure you keep them. I went trekking in Nepal, always wanted to, people told me to cut it out but I did it, it was awesome. Another idea is to book an expensive flight or activity in advance, it'll cut your costs, keep you moving, and ensure you are doing the things you went travelling for. As the quote goes, 20 years from now you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the things you did so throw off the bow lines, sail away from the safe harbour, explore, dream, discover.

I don't post much here, but had to add some encouragement for a fellow traveller

Lexe

Spudmonkey wrote: »

Hey bluemagpie,

How do you find travelling on your own. I suppose I'm an unusual person in that I like my own company for the most part. If I was able to find someone to meet along the way on tours and that then I'd be perfectly happy with that. There was a solo travellers blog I was reading who said that he met someone his first day and ended up travelling with them for several months. I suppose I'm thinking something like that could happen to me.

Tbh while I find it a bit daunting, it's something I've been thinking about and even if it is daunting, I know I'll regret it if I don't do it.

Yeah I feel the same way about traveling, if you have that desire then you should defo do it!

I'd say stay in hostels as much as possible. Maybe do your research in this regard, some countries, Vietnam for ex, don't really do hostels, it's mostly really cheap hotels so I found it hard to meet people. But other countries like Malaysia, India, Thailand, Cambodia are really set up for backpackers, some great hostels where you'll easily make friends and often people are following a similar route (esp around SEA) so you can meet up again somewhere or travel there together.

shane9689

read the book "into the wild" or watch the movie if books aren't your thing...it'll definitely inspire you to get up and go explore

Challo

I went away on my own for a year - best thing ever. Sure there were days when I didn't really have a good conversation with anyone but to be honest the highlights of the year came out from the randomness that comes with solo travel!

As Dory says, it's so so easy. Book the flight and go. The hardest part is deciding where!

You know what else Spudmonkey, round-the-world flights are such great value. In 2010, I flew Dublin-London-Rio, later Santiago-Auckland, Christchurch-Sydney, Cairns-Melbourne, Darwin-Singapore, Kuala Lumpar-Bangkok, (made my own way from BK to India) and Mumbai-London-Dublin. With Trailfinders, it was only 1700 euro!! And now planning a four week trip to Mexico this year, it's almost 700 just for those alone. Same with China last year. So take advantage of the round-the-world flights, amazing value! If you have the time and money, go go go. Also, two friends came out to me at different stages for 2/3 weeks which was great - might be for you too.

Man, would love to be heading off again!!