Travel for One Year

Read Ali's blog from back to front and front to back...

It's going to vary greatly where you plan to travel. I have done nothing but vacation, but have been saving for my eventual "getaway". I'm starting to wonder if it's ever going to happen since I'm getting older... do I travel, or do I settle down in life?

Ali recommended to me to start off with Central America and see if I enjoyed living the life out of a backpack. C. America would allow me to travel for quite some time for relativley low cost.

I guess it's going to depend a lot on where you want to go. My plan has been to have all my bills paid off here in the states (Credit Cards, Car, everything), and have about $10k in the bank, and figured I'd last out about a year.. maybe more maybe less depending on whatever happened along the way. Reply to this

Thanks for the advice guys!
Just joined the blog and starting to read what you've recommended...really great!
So, 10K can seriously last an entire year?
I would like to start my travels in Europe then travel east...I'm just freaking out about leaving the job, apt. etc...but if I don't do it now, I know I'll regret it forever...am actually going to Berlin in April for a few days - have either of you been there?

Sandy Reply to this

Budgeting an extend travel

The cheapest way to see the world is a Round the World ticket - but you lose some flexibility. So get some quotes for RTW's - that's your highest fixed cost.

You need to decide where you want to go - roughly eg. 1 month in Europe, 3 months in India, 2 weeks in Fiji - etc etc.

Now get your hands on travel guides for the regions the Lonely Planets and Rough Guides are very good - beg, borrow these - don't buy as you won't be able to carry them all! - they have rough daily estimates as to costs - so now multiply the costs by the number of days for each region - voila - you have your living costs. Hostelling will mean you can use the budget figures - keeping it cheap.

Now work out what you need in terms of kit, backpack, vacinations (anti-maleria), Visas - it all adds up.

Add your totals together - now you have your basic costs - add 10%!t(MISSING)o be on the safe side. You have a working figure to aim towards saving.

Depending on where you go - 10K USD - is enough for a year - but not a year in Berlin or Paris 😉

About getting your hands on the guide books...

> Or just spend the day in the bookstore and take notes! 😊

Or library - where you won't get thrown out 😉

I'm working slowly on a bigger long version of a beginners guide to independent travel - I'll post the link here when it's finished.

Berlin

I've never been to Germany - it's one of the expensive destinations - I guess I'll go there on business one day and tack a few days sight seeing on the end - so why go now? - Anyone been to Berlin? Reply to this

> Or just spend the day in the bookstore and take notes! 😊

Or library - where you won't get thrown out 😉

Hey "Mr World Traveller" hahaha (sorry, had to)

The book stores in the States, you're encouraged to sit and read (chairs, tables, couches, starbucks)... it's great if you're too broke to buy! Reply to this

> ATMs. If you're coming from the UK, get a Nationwide account - free withdrawals from ATMs, it's really amazing

Is that free worldwide? - have to look into this 😊 Reply to this

The best advice I got before travelling for 15 months 6yrs ago was -

Pack your bags. Then take out half your stuff and bring twice as much money.

My necessities (female)- One pair of shorts. One pair of quick dry pants, one pair of convertible quick dry pants, one quick dry button up t-shirt (that looks presentable), one other quick dry tshirt or long sleeved that has roll-up-able sleeves, one tank top. One quick dry wrap around skirt (for temples and dinners out). One light fleece sweater and a waterproof jacket if required for the area. One pair of sturdy hiking shoes, one pair Tevas (if you are doing no hiking then can get away without hiking shoes). One weeks' worth of underwear, a few quick dry pairs (a bit more expensive). 2 normal bras and 1-2 sports bras. Bathing suit. 1-2 pairs of socks.
ZIPLOC BAGS in a variety of sized (2-3 of each) - a life saver!
I use a mesh bag (like a delicates wash bag) - I have two with different colours, one for undies and socks, one for dirty clothes.
I use a small length of cord (in my pack it acts to pull everything together, I use this instead of straps) which doubles as a clothesline.

I'm a diver and snorkeller and so I bring my mask and snorkel - I find them light and easy to pack and use them a lot, it depends on how much you will do this. I HATE rental masks and snorkels. A bar of Sunlight soap - this is actually laundry detergent soap, you can rub it on a wet garment and wash it easily in the tub or sink. I usually cut it in half to bring a smaller size.

Bug repellent.

About $30 in $1 bills. I also got about $150 in USD cash and hid it all over my luggage in different places in case I got stuck.
Camera, travel journal. You can buy film easily in Asia, cheaper, but if you have a special brand etc bring some film.
Tampons (small supply to get me through-can't get in some countries like Vietnam)
Hand sanitizer-can't get in Asia easily
I always bring a bottle of Pepto Bismol tablets - Power of the pink, baby!!!!
Roll of toilet paper (can buy this there but you need it)
Most of these tips are for Asia. I bought more clothes in Aus because I was younger and went out a lot to bars, so had a few "nicer" outfits.

I spent just over 10 K (USD) 6 years ago, not including my ticket. I spent 4 months in SE Asia, 8 mo in Australia and 2 in NZ. I probably could have gotten away with a bit less but I travelled at the "mid range budget" category, so I stayed very cheap but not the cheapest. I bought my ticket from Air Brokers and got a good deal. I recommend if you want some flexibility to consider a number of one way tickets. For instance I bought one way to Bangkok, then a one way from Sydney to LA with stops (I could take as long on my stopovers as I wanted) at Auckland, Fiji, Cook Islands and Hawaii. I made my way overland from Bangkok to Singapore, bought a flight there to Bali, then one from Bali to Australia. I liked having this flexibility because I could go wherever I wanted and no backtracking. Price it out, may be cheaper or more expensive. Consider the country you are visiting, some require an onward ticket.

For instance, flights within Vietnam are cheaper if you buy in Vietnam (Average $30-50 USD for a 1 hour flight if bought in the country). Look for "travel packs" if flying lots - like the travel asia passes.

Mistakes I made - bringing too much stuff (sent a bunch home with some stuff I bought in Chiang Mai) including a water filter and some clothes.
Bringing a "camping" towel. Wouldn't dry and got very stinky so I threw it out.
Buying a 'first aid kit'. All of the things in my kit (Immodium, benadryl, polysporin, etc) I could have bought in Thailand for 1/10 the cost. I bought birth control pills in Thailand for 50c each package. For anti - malarials we used Malarone which is UNAVAILABLE in Asia (to prevent misuse). You can easily get vaccinations and doxycycline and larium at the WHO office (with the STD clinic and the Snake Farm) in Bangkok.

I kept my Nalgene (water container) to try to fill at restaurants serving potable water that they buy in large cooler sized containers. I would offer them half the price of a large bottle of water, to try to cut down on the amount of plastic consumed.

I have not backpacked in Europe except Britain (which was expensive but a long time ago), I found Costa Rica much more expensive than I had expected, but I have heard that it is cheaper in Guatemala. For instance, an average "jungle tour" in Costa Rica with guide and transport was about 60-75 USD per person. In Thailand an equivalent tour would be about $5-15. Same kind of comparison with accommodation.

If you are a commonwealth citizen you can arrange a travel visa to Aus/NZ/Canada to work as you travel. Usually crappy jobs, but helps to pay the way, or give a rest from travelling for a while to stay in one place.

Anyway, I am definintely rambling now but I am excited for you about your trip. I loved mine, and wish I could go again - perhaps to S. America next time...?
Hope some of this helps.

Caroline Reply to this

Yes - thank for all of the incredible advice! Really, really appreciate it! Reply to this

Thank you for your reply Jason - I've sent a reply to your questions to your e-mail address, enjoy Madras!

Happy Travelling!

Conor. Reply to this

hi guys, i've not been on this forum for a while but i'd like to answer Ali's question on the Nationwide bank account (UK) - it is BRILLIANT! any person coming from the UK will be charged maybe 2-3pounds for each withdrawal by any other bank I know of - with my Nationwide card I can go to almost any cash manchine and have free withdrawals (ok, you are paying an exchange rate where the banks obviously make a little) but it basically means for me and Sarah that we use our cashcards like we do in the UK - little and often and you don't have to worry about it. My Lloyds TSB card is just the backup - and with internet banking I can pay off both my credit cards and transfer money between all my accounts online. Check it out if you're from the UK - and give it plenty of time to set up - 6 weeks is about right as you'll need an appointment with someone at a branch etc. etc. etc.
Hope that helps! Reply to this

right, if you haven't left yet and need more info (everyone else seems to have taken care of most everything); one thing i would have is a skirt for traveling on bus and pit stops on the side of the road. there were times when i regretted not having one and spectators to watch my toileting habits.
no need for a bra, i just took 2 tanks (quick dry) with shelf liners which acted as both bra and top, less to carry. wash one wear one. you get tired of the same clothes, but if you have black and grey, it should go with whatever bottoms (if you're concerned with how you look). same with underwear. quick dry. only need 2-3 pairs.
buy whatever clothes you want to wear along the way and either send it home or give it away.
be prepared to not have a shower daily or weekly even (but still be able to wash clothes).
zip lock bag or plastic bag for shampoo or anything else that may leak.
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