trying to get an idea of the funds needed for 6 month trip {Feb 2010 - Aug 2010} around the world.
Hi all,
my name is Chris and I'm new to TravelBlog.
my girlfriend and I are traveling to the following Destinations over a 6 month period:
Hong Kong: 5 days
Thailand - through Malaysia - through to Singapore: 46 days - spending the majority in Thailand
Australia - Cairns down Melbourne: 42 days
New Zealand - Auckland down to Christchurch: 30 days
Fiji: would like to do some island hoping: 21 days
San Francisco / California: 25 days
New York {again depending on funds would like to visit Washington DC and Niagara Falls}: 11 days.
We are planning to use hostels all the way round and have booked one in Bangkok already for 1.50pound a night for 4 nights
We have budgeted to have approximately 7,000 pound each - working out to roughly 291 pound a week! Sorry I know this is a lot of information just wanted to know if anyone was planning a similar trip or have done so in the past and the amount of money you took or plan to take?
Or if anyone else has any views - do you think this is a good amount? Or will we struggle?
Thanks in advance for any comments!
Chris
Reply to this It really depends on how to intend to be spending your money. If you stay in hostels with free breakfast and a kitchen you can nick bread for lunch so you only need to pay for dinner which you can cook yourself very cheaply. I spent a fortune in Italy on food because not a single hostel I stayed in had a kitchen! I started my trip around europe with AUD$13,000 and have nearly exhausted it 3.5 months later. However, you're going to some asian countries which are obviously much cheaper (Malaysia was fantastic for that. But because everything was cheaper I took this as an excuse to buy more. An all too easy trap to fall into.)
Australia is quite affordable compared to England (except in Sydney I've heard). I'm from Melbourne and so long as you don't buy your food from the small grocery stores in the city itself, food is really affordable and there are heaps of things to see and do for free (I've written a blog on it if that would be of any help.) I know when I exchanged my money from dollars to pounds I lost money which I assume means you'll gain some in the exchange which also makes a big difference.
What I'm basically saying is that there's no way to be certain but if you're a bit more sensible than me about food and you don't buy stacks of souveniers or anything then what you're proposing is probably doable. My suggestion is making sure you've got at least and extra £1000 in an account back home for backup. That's what I've done and I'm about to need it. Of course travelling with someone will reduce costs in some cases also. Are you using Hostel World to find your hostels? It's been a godsend for me.
Reply to this Hi Stacey,
thanks for your reply - Good point about finding hostels with kitchen areas. I've been using Hostel Booker; however will check out Hostel World as well.
hope you're enjoying your trip around europe and its not too cold for you 😊
chris
Reply to this I did use hostel booker once but find Hostel World much easier to navigate and view. It SNOWED in Brighton today! It may be cold but it's worth it to see actual snow! *dances* Thanks Chris.
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