Round the world iternery

Need suggestions for must see places around the world.

15 years ago, July 27th 2008 No: 1 Msg: #43216 Delete Edit

B Posts: 6

I am a noob in the world of independent travel. I just came back from a small trip to Europe, and have finally decided to take a sabbatical to go for a round the world trip. I have already been to S.E Asia, and some parts of Europe.

I am looking for suggestions on must c places and things to do around the world. Any suggestions would be welcome. As a heads up, I d also want a part of my trip to be off the beaten track, so I also need some help planning my trip.

Any example iterneries, and help on planning the trip would be really helpful right now. Owing to my skills at unorganizing and messing up things, I could really use some advise.

Thanks,
Sahil Reply to this

15 years ago, July 27th 2008 No: 2 Msg: #43274 Delete Edit

IUMy23
Maya Northen

B Posts: 228

Hi Sahil,
This is great! I am jealous :-) Well if you hadn't been to S. E. Asia that would have been my first suggestion. If you have not been to India, that would be on the top of my list (I haven't either but I really want to get there). Australia and New Zealand would be a must for me. If you are looking for something adventurous/a bit off the beaten path, both destinations, New Zealand in particular, would be amazing. They are both amazing countries. I spent 5 months in Australia and unfortunately only 2 weeks in New Zealand. Tasmania would be another good place for off the beaten path and you can get there from the south of Aussie pretty easily.

I also would highly recommend both Argentina and Costa Rica if you are looking to head to South/Central America. In Argentina, I did Buenos Aires, Iquazu Falls and Mendoza (the wine region) and all were fantastic. I was actually at a yoga retreat near San Jose, Costa Rica but I would love to go back and do the coasts, especially the specific coast. This is also a wonderful country for doing adventurous things :-)

Where have you been in Europe? That might help me direct you to some of my personal favorites in that area of the world.

Finally, if you are looking for off the beaten path, some parts of Africa could be amazing. I have a friend right now who is working at the game reserves in various countries including South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe (be careful with Zim right now - there have been travel warnings and entry requirements can be a bit tricky from what she said, depending on how long you stay).

Just some thoughts!

Best,
Maya Reply to this

15 years ago, July 28th 2008 No: 3 Msg: #43386 Delete Edit

sahil
rohan bhatia

B Posts: 6

Hi Maya,

Thanks a ton for all the info. I am from India, so...thats out of the list as of now. Do let me know if you do plan on coming to India, I could help you a lot with that. I am looking forward to Australia and New Zealand. Would be great help if You could give some specifics for the same though.

I have already started looking into all the places you have mentioned. As for Europe, I have already been to Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Czech. Have a lot on the list that I am looking forward to in Europe.

I also want to see Japan for a bit, but I think that would exceed my budget. Would appreciate help with any budgeting idea for a Japan travel also.

Thank,
Sahil Reply to this

15 years ago, July 28th 2008 No: 4 Msg: #43389 Delete Edit

IUMy23
Maya Northen

B Posts: 228

Hi Sahil,
Australia and NZ are awesome. Here are some great spots in each:

Aussie: Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns are the big three cities but far apart - flight or looooong but ride! From Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road heading to Adalaide is fantastic (I did not make it all the way down the road but even the one day trip from melbourne was awesome). In Cairns you have the great barrier reef. Some other fun places are Byron Bay, Airlie Beach (sp?), Frasier Island. Those are all somewhere between Sydney and Cairns.

New Zealand - I only did the south Island. Some pretty cool spots were Queenstown (a must), Milford South (you can do a day cruise there), Franz Josef Glacier. There are plenty of others. Christchurch is nice but nothing to write home about.

Japan is supposed to be wonderful but expensive. If you did a tour or something you may be able to do it for less money. Or just do a few days in one or two of the cities.

My top pics in Europe that you have not already mentioned include Italy, France, Slovenia, Vienna. The UK and Ireland are great but the UK especially can get expensive b/c of the exchange rate.

Hope this helps a bit! It's a ton, but there are so many great options, reguardless of what you pic i'm sure it will be great! Reply to this

15 years ago, August 15th 2008 No: 5 Msg: #45611 Delete Edit

amyuyma
Amy

B Posts: 32

Hey Sahil
I would recommend somewhere in there to make a stop in the Middle East and explore around there. It offers a completely different kind of travel, and you meet a completely different caliber of mind when you are on the road. I went from Turkey through Syria, Jordan, to Egypt about 2 months ago, and I am going to Israel in September. Hands down the most educational traveling I have ever done in my life.
In putting together the actual itinerary too, I would try to pick cities from at least every larger group of "culture" if that makes any sense. You know, do some E Europe, some W Europe, Africa, Middle East, North Asia, SE Asia, India, Australasia, Pacific, and Latin America. There are amazing places to see in each of them, and I feel that if it is really a RTW experience you are looking for, you can't go wrong trying to hit each of those major cultural groups.
I've been to Japan several times. It is expensive, taxi fares for example start from 7/8 USD in Tokyo, I think perhaps the highest I have seen around the world yet.
My personal favorites are Bali, Philippines, Syria, Bosnia, Greece. Colombia, Brazil, and Cuba are also very high up on my next list. If you aren't American, you will have to go to NYC. Australia is very nice, I have been to Sydney on vacation twice in the past year, and I do recommend it, but I don't feel that you will get too much of a culture shock there. It's pretty weather, good surf, nice people, but basically it feels like America. It is a great destination for outdoor activities though. And it is surprisingly not cheap at all.
Happy travels, any way you do it, a RTW trip will be awesome. Reply to this

15 years ago, August 16th 2008 No: 6 Msg: #45679 Delete Edit

IUMy23
Maya Northen

B Posts: 228

I hae not been to many of the places Amy has listed but by reputation from my friends and clients, i'd second almost every one of them. I have done Brazil and I really enjoyed it. i have to say i liked Argentina slightly better but both are wonderful. I would LOVE to go to Cuba but never think to suggest it because as an American, it is illegal for us to go unless ok'd by the US gov't, which is so frustrating.

i also agree that there's not a ton of culture shock in Sydney, or really much at all in Australia other than the laid back, friendly nature of the people which I found a lot different from where I am at. It is still a wonderful place to visit however. Though I would say i wouldn't focus too much on Sydney - it's a good stopover but then explore the rest of Oz and NZ as there is so much to see! Reply to this

15 years ago, August 18th 2008 No: 7 Msg: #45799 Delete Edit

Lew and Holly
Usher

B Posts: 3

Hi,

I did a budget trip last year and only stayed in Japan for a week thinking it would be too expensive but now wish I'd stayed longer. I'm from Australia (so don't know if this applies to you also) and found that Japan was about the same as Sydney prices. We stayed in a Ryokan in Kyoto (sort of a guest house) which was amazing!! Not much English but gestures get you by as everyone was so lovely and helpful. We stayed in a capsule hotel in Tokyo one night which was well worth the experience - but Kyoto and Hyroshima were so beautiful - Absolute must!!
As for budget, we just bought our flights and decided what we could afford once we got places. We went by train through Asia (saves money on hostels if you get a sleeper) and bought a van to sleep in the ack of through Europe.
Happy travels. Can't wait to get back out there. Reply to this

15 years ago, August 18th 2008 No: 8 Msg: #45803 Delete Edit

sahil
rohan bhatia

B Posts: 6

Hi,

Thanks a ton for all the help. I am building my iternery slowly but steadily.

Amy, I have traelled most of middle east, south east asia and some parts of western europe. Also, I keep going to US for work trips. So i am planning to skip US also.

From word of mouth, Japan seems like a really expensive destination, but is it possible to go to remote areas/villages in Japan just to experience the culture. Lew, could you please let me know some such places around Japan?

S. America is on the top of my list at the moment and Africa, if i get visas without difficulty because of uneasy political situation in the country.

I have also been thinking about places like Iceland, Greenland etc.. Is there any special permissions required for entry to Greenland or the arctic. How affordable is a short stay at these places?

Thanks,
Sahil Reply to this

15 years ago, August 18th 2008 No: 9 Msg: #45871 Delete Edit

IUMy23
Maya Northen

B Posts: 228

Hi Sahil,
Not sure about Greenland but Iceland is supposedly rather expensive - I've never been. I think it would be doable though for a short time - maybe a weekend or so. And I've heard it's wonderful so I would certainly consider it! Reply to this

15 years ago, August 21st 2008 No: 10 Msg: #46319 Delete Edit

amyuyma
Amy

B Posts: 32

Sahil - I've been looking at Africa bc I am headed there in two weeks myself for a couple months, visas won't be an issue except for perhaps Sudan etc. I am American and most every country I can pick up for in a neighboring country or on arrival.
I had a German friend do all around Japan for 2 weeks and I think he traveled very much on a budget. I'm sure you can travel tighter in Japan, it's just not as easy as in most other countries in the world, perhaps is the way to put it. I can't really attest to outside of Tokyo though because I go there each time. Reply to this

15 years ago, August 23rd 2008 No: 11 Msg: #46522 Delete Edit

Ciaraandphilrtw
Ciara

B Posts: 16

Japan can be as cheap as you want it to be. Get a rail pass, as that will have you a heap of money. We travelled from Tokyo to Kyoto to Hiroshima then to Osaka, all by bullet train. Their bullet trains are clean, safe and on time.

Greenland is part of Denmark so best to check with their embassy.

New Zealand is very much like Iceland, thermal spa's, glacier,Geysers etc but a lot cheaper to stay in. Reply to this

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