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Year World Round trip and the problem of visiting to many countries

I'm worried i will be visiting to many countries in my world round trip and it will be rushed. Which countries should i leave out.

13 years ago, February 1st 2011 No: 1 Msg: #127912 Delete Edit

charlie sheen junior
richard sampson

B Posts: 14

hi fellow trekkies,
I got my World round ticket from STA back in october and it cost me £1650 and i will be leaving on 20th april 2011 . originally i was planning a year trip to south america but I was very pleased with the price of the world round trip rather than one way flights, so I snapped it up. However its beginning to dawn on me what a mammoth journey I will be undertaking. Below i will give a rough itinerary of my trip but I know i will have to cut out some countries. I want to explore and immurse myself in the latin culture instread of rushing from one country to another without reflection and stopping still

3 MONTHS ASIA
thailand
vietnam
laos
cambodia
malayasia

1 MONTH AUSTRALIA

1 MONTH NEW ZEALAND

7 MONTHS SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA
chile
argentina
peru
ecuador
boliva
colombia

To be honest i'm not quite sure about my itinerary of Central America. One thing I do know is that my departing flight home is from Mexico so I will be crossing Central America. A part of me is thinking of spending six months in south America and then getting a flight from Colombia straight to Mexico and spending the last month there. however i would be missing so much of central America which in my eyes would be such a shame. the countries i would want to spend time in, will be Argentina and colombia and i was thinking of doing a short spell in peru by booking a 10 day tour which includes the 4 day trek to the inca trail.
Its so hard to decide because on the one hand i don't want to miss anything out and the other is I don't want to take too much on aswell. does anyone have any ideas or thoughts, it would be very much appreciated
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13 years ago, February 1st 2011 No: 2 Msg: #127931 Delete Edit

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

B Posts: 10.9K

Greetings Richard and welcome to TravelBlog,

I read your bio and I am glad to hear TravelBlog has provided some inspiration.

Hey, you got a good deal on the RTW ticket so relax. The good thing is that you now know when you are leaving and when you will return. I recommend that you not try to have all of the answers before you leave. When my husband and I left on our trip we had our RTW ticket in hand and the first 3 nights in a low end hotel in Singapore. After that we let the wind blow us in many directions. Once you hit the ground and get the first few days behind you it will dawn on you how easy this will be and the butterflies will go away.

I'm sure several fellow travelers will respond to your question and all of us do it a little bit differently.

Where are you starting from and where are you going first? I am guessing you are going to Asia first because it is first on your list above.

1. I recommend spending your prep time reading hundreds of blogs on travel blog to give you an outline of what you want to do.
2. Find one guide book that you like and take it with you to have at your finger tips. Many take the Lonely Planet but others are fine also.
3. If you have any specific worries or concerns we can help answer those questions.

*** We know something that you may not realize yet..... this will not be your last trip!! So you do not have to see everything on this trip. Don't make too many plans because you are going to run into people who make recommendations to you about things to do and you want to be fluid enough to be spontaneous.

As for Central and South America seven months will give you time to explore and see most of what you want to see. I always make a list of 3 things that I want to see. The must do's. That way when I get back home I've done the things that are most important to me.

Check out blogs by LivingTheDream He recently did Central and South America.

The Sapir Family This family had a great time in South America. Hopefully this will help you.

Check out blogs by His Dudeness He has done many travels and recently talked about his pace and how it was slower than he expected.

193 Days International Travel, 13 Countries, 45,000+ air miles, 15,000+ photos and unending memories You can read our summary blog and dream of the one you are going to write!

Read some of these and ask some more questions.

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13 years ago, February 1st 2011 No: 3 Msg: #127934 Delete Edit

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

B Posts: 10.9K

Hi Richard,

I was just thinking that if you are new to TravelBlog you might not know how to navigate the system yet.
If you want to read multiple blogs about one country it is easy to do.

Go to the front page of TravelBlog, toward the top and click on the continent that you are interested in. You can scroll down and select the particular country. If you have any trouble finding it send me a private message and I will walk you through it.

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13 years ago, February 2nd 2011 No: 4 Msg: #127947 Delete Edit

ShadyAdy
Adrian Livingstone

B Posts: 50

Hey!

If you are travelling, then i really don't think you have too many countries in your list. I'm currently travelling through Asia and have the same number of countries i want to visit in roughly the same time span. I've also learnt from recently travelling through China that it's much better to choose a few main sites to see in each country rather than see everything. This way there is plenty more down time where you can people-watch and learn more about the culture you are in. There's also the chance to make local friends too.

I often make travel plans before travelling and after a couple of days they are already in tatters. For me, having an itinerary beforehand allows me to know a rough route and what each country has to offer........i've learnt that if you try and follow a strict schedule in order to see everything it takes away the fun of travel and you are always playing catch up.

I booked a 2 week trip in Peru when i was travelling there, because although there was so much i wanted to see, i decided that i would stay longer in Ecuador to learn more about the culture and people. You could use that tactic with Colombia and Argentina. Live in these places while travel through the other countries?

Sounds a quality trip by the way! Reply to this

13 years ago, February 3rd 2011 No: 5 Msg: #128078 Delete Edit

littlewing
Cindy

B Posts: 897

Hi Richard and nice to have you with us 😊

I think your itinery sounds...awesome - can I come? You seem to have allocated a sensible amount of time for each of the areas you want to visit - three months in Asia will give you a good chance to look around each of the countries you want to visit. As D&MJ have mentioned theres heaps of great individual blogs to read - always helpful when someone shares their fantastic hidden place. I do agree with ShadyAdy that trying to do too much in China and every tourist attraction everywhere can wear you out..theres plenty of blogs and tshirts about being all templed out. Of course see those "bucket list" things - be a shame to miss Ankhor Wat if your in Cambodia or the great wall or Macchu Piccu - but allow for flexibility.

And allow time to do nothing...have those days every now and then. They're important.

Cant help you much with South America unfortunately but theres a wealth of information and knowledgeble people here to ask. In Aus, I can help you out - from Asia you are better off flying into WA and from there its north or east..The top end of Australia is quite amazing - the kimberleys, the beaches, the reefs, the capes, kakadu, uluru, and when not being hit by cyclones across the top end to Cape Tribulation then down the east coast. Its doable in a month but travelling here is expensive unfortunately.

Looking forward to hearing more as your trip evolves!
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13 years ago, February 4th 2011 No: 6 Msg: #128177 Delete Edit

Muno
Sally and Nick Griffith

B Posts: 375

Hi

Very jealous of your pending adventure.

I echo the points above.

You have a good start with your ticket and to be honest the best thing to do is take it as it comes. Nowehere is so remote that you could not get to your next flight in a day or two and as it has been pointed out above you will meet so many people en route with recomendations that will steer your direction more so than any book or preconceived plan.

i think 3 months in SE Asia is good, austrlia/new zealand about right - and south/central america good too.

we did Rio - Mexico city in a similar time frame and have attached links here. We were rushing around and did miss some things out - hoever with a lifetime you cannot see everything so went of what we wanted to see (what we hadn't seen before) and where people we met had come from and recommended. I would certainly recommend Colombia!!!

i do believe you might have to book the inca trail in advance - but we did it on another trip years ago so didn't really spend much time in peru this trip. there is the lost city trek in colombia which is supposed to be a real adventure!

Have fun and if you have any specifics that I can help with please let me know.

Nick

south america part 1

[url=http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Muno/Trips/3868[ south america part 2

This is the life

Muno

July 22nd 2006
Train Spotter Heaven and a bit of Salt - Uyuni Revisted

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13 years ago, February 5th 2011 No: 7 Msg: #128301 Delete Edit

charlie sheen junior
richard sampson

B Posts: 14

Hi all,

Thank you all for your kind and encouraging advice. I agree with the general consensus and i shouldn't try to plan every single detail of my trip beforehand because as per usual plans always have a habit of changing. Yes i agree i should leave room for sponetaniety and to use that well used phrase " to go where the wind takes you" ( i think thats the right phrase. LOL!!!!)

I think im being over cautious because im doing this trip on my own and i haven't really traveled much. Infact the first time i traveled on an aeroplane was three years ago and im thirty seven years old. when i was up in the air i realised i didn't like flying, infact i realised i was damn right scared and every little bit of turbulance made me convinced something was amiss. however that didn't deter me from my dream of travelling which has been with me for many, many years. It was only in a coffee house in New York with a friend when i concocted a serious plan to travel. After three years of saving, waiting and reading inspiring blogs on this site , its finally coming up and im very scared, confident, insecure, brave, mad, flippant all at the same time. its an awesome journey and i don't what, i should suppose to feel. There are times when i feel nothing about what im going to undertake and then at other times i feel a sense of panic and then other times excitement or contentment .

I experience a wide spectrum of emotions and thoughts and i what i find difficult is not to be able to share my thoughts and feelings with my friends, family and work colleagues. With travelling on my own there is only so much i can convey or share because the other person doesn't have the understanding of what you are undertaking especially when they find out you are traveling on your own. There reactions can be funny, priceless and sometimes damn right offensive ( but the last one i put down to jealousy lol!! )

anyway i have two weeks off work , so i will be trying to sort everyhthing out for my trip so the last few weeks before my trip i can be relaxed and focused. Also i will be reading the blogs to shared to me, thank you Reply to this

13 years ago, February 6th 2011 No: 8 Msg: #128341 Delete Edit

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

B Posts: 10.9K

Richard,

With this new information I applaud you for taking this trip. This is a bit out of your comfort zone and I understand it can be a bit over whelming for you at times. Once you are on the way you will feel that confidence again.

I think you are right to go ahead and makes some of the plans for the first couple of weeks up front as it will keep you calm.
Once you are on the trip it will be easier than is seems now.

We encountered the same things with friends and family before we took off. Some thought we were crazy, some viewed us as brave and some jealous. This is going to be a great trip. Wish we could join you. Reply to this

13 years ago, February 6th 2011 No: 9 Msg: #128342 Delete Edit

deleted_190285
deleted_190285

D Posts: 1

Hi fellow traveller,
1. You can't do it all in a year.
2. Plan for "breaks" from constant travel. You can find great deals if you stay in a place for a week or more. Gives you a chance to break from constantly having to make decisions of where to go next. When you find a comfortable place- relax and stay. (We loved Orosi, Costa Rica; Mendoz, Argentina; Dunedin, New Zealand; Trinity Beach(near Cairns), Australia)
3. Galapagos tour is worth every penny but don't book until you get to Quito or Guayquil. We left Machu Pichu for a return trip.
4. Local language schools are a great source for advice from fellow travellers and locals alike (unlike hostels).
5. Oz bus experience in Australia is a great way to get off the beaten path but remember it's mostly the under 30 crowd and has issues with success that sometimes make it hard to plan.
6. $$$ 1 month at home=1 month in South or Central America but there are ways to make it last longer; = about the same in Australia and New Zealand and = only a week in Japan but about 3 or 4 months in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. My folks and my sister and her family lived in Vietam for about 3 months and loved it more than Thailand but still wouldn't have missed Thailand.
7. Don't get yourself wrapped up in the fear that is on the Thorntree of LP but don't be stupid either.
8. Footprints guide is the best one I think for South America. Couldn't have lived without it.
9. Read as much as you can so you don't miss out.
10. You will meet many other travellers on their own along the way- be cautious but not shy; be adventurous but not stupid (or Darwin's law will get you). If you are taking technology- bookmark government travel advisory pages and don't forget to register with them.

Recommend: www.onebag.com for packing options

My hubby and I are heading out July 2011 for our next RTW trip: Europe, Africa, India, China, however, I already have a travel journal started on another site: <snip> Round the World 2011 by eclectictraveller.

Enjoy your travels!!!

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13 years ago, February 22nd 2011 No: 10 Msg: #129687 Delete Edit

Rancherita
Claudia Cavazos

B Posts: 49

YAY! you are taking the plunge and well you are now getting overwhelmed by it all. It happens to all of us.
Best part is you're traveling alone, yes, noone will understand you ack home what you are going thru and maybe some fellow travelers along the way will sometimes cherish nice memories with you, sometimes bc of cultural differences you won't understand! But do know that this will be the most amazing part of your life! Embrace it, enjoy yet and well let yourself get freaked out, it's normal. What if factor looms over everyones head and when the trip is over u'll be like "WTF, why did i freak out so much".
RELAX....don;t plan too much. I've never been much of a planner and I travel so it works great with me. I did a 12 month trip to south america and i had only one thing in mind, "GET ME TO PATAGONIA"...the rest wasn't planned and i let the wind direct me. I didn't get too see it all but what i saw was freaking cool!

when is SA if you are into hiking TORRES del PAINE is a not to miss place, if you are gungho, adventurous and a hiker do the 4-6 day W trek...you can do it alone or with a guided company!

YES, also don;t miss the GALAPAGOS...u can travel cheap there, i did and it went well...read my travel story http://culturemap.com/newsdetail/08-18-10-the-other-galapagos-darwin-island-on-the-cheap/
You really don't need guides, well, only if you go on boat tours : P

in Malaysia visit the Parenthian islands, they are beautiful. If you go there, make sure u book a hostal in adavnce, that island can get ouber packed!
In Malaysia make sure to visit Taman Negara National Park.
One of the oldest Old growth forests! Here you can hike alone if you have a map, you can see cool birds (antpitta's), you can see malaysian tapir and if you are ouber lucky an elephant and maybe a tiger. If you go sit in one of the blinds at night and take with you a strong head lamp and look out into a water hole you can even see a civet cat. If you are adventurous, take a boat to the Kumbang hide....it's out in the middle of nowhere...if you do go to one of these hides (blinds) rats frequent the place and will reak havoc on your food items, i would take a thin wire on your travel and hang our food sack on one of the beams from the ceiling!!!!

ps----for a budget in south america you are looking about spending $1,oooUSD per month, that's roughly what spent, some months i spent more money : P

Remember always use common sense and listen to your gut instincts, be aware of your surroundings and you are ready for one hell of a ride! Reply to this