At first sight “Round The World Tickets” seem to be much cheaper than a string of “One Way Tickets”. But a closer look shows that Round The World Tickets are only cheap if you stick to a very basic route (i.e. London – Bangkok – Auckland – Rarotonga – Los Angeles – London). Each change, especially adding an extra continent, increases the price dramatically. Moreover, those tickets are extremely inflexible. And flexibility is what you will want most! Plans do change while traveling – believe us! On top of that, our route was organized around specific travel hubs – from there we were able to get “One Way Tickets” at a very reasonable price. Continue Reading →
Archive | Travel Guides
Transport
Mobility – Choose the right mean of transport
Crossing the Border from Bolivia to Argentina…
Do not underestimate the time you spend traveling – We traveled 354 days during our Trip Around The World in 2007 / 2008 and spent slightly above 1.000 hours in long distant transport. This mind-boggling number does not include the time we spent in inner-city busses or on short excursion from a certain hub. Considering that you normally work 169 hours a month (in Continental Europe), it is precisely like spending 6 months in the office! Continue Reading →
Health & Insurance
Gilles at the hospital in Leh, Ladakh
Be realistic: at some point, on a Round The World, you WILL get sick. Usually it is only a cold or an upset stomach. But accidents happen and sometimes even a trip to the hospital is necessary. A Travel Insurance costs a few hundred Euros, paying for medical care after a nasty accidents can literally cost millions. So do not be stupid: you NEED a Travel Insurance, and a good one at that! Continue Reading →
Red Tape
Heidi crossing the border from Venezuela to Brazil
Red Tape varies from country to country and also largely differs depending of your very nationality. Therefore, we won’t start to be specific here. Do your homework before visiting one place:
- Is a visa required for your nationality?
- Where is the last possible place to apply for a visa? You cannot get visas everywhere, sometimes it might even be required that you apply for a visa in your home county or country of residence! This is the case for Iran (at the time of writing, though it might turn much easier in the near future) and for some African countries like both Congos.
While on the Road: Eating & Sleeping
Niwas Jagat Hotel in Udaipur, India
Believe it or not, Hostels and Guesthouses will tremendously improve – or reduce – your travel experience! After a while on the road, you will discover how important a good hostel can be… Check what we wrote about amazing Hostels: The 10 Best Hostels We Have Discovered – And How They Greatly Enhanced Our Travel Experience! Even more amazing is that excellent hostels are usually not more expensive than poor ones (just fully booked, so plan ahead) – They are just better run. And they are not necessarily those pushed by travel guides like the Lonely Planet. Your fellow travelers are the best source of information while on the road: this is first hand, unbiased information and you can ask detailed questions. Continue Reading →
Avoid the Overdose
How About A Vacation From Traveling?
South Sea Feelings, Fakarava Atoll, French Polynesia, Pacific
No, we are not kidding! The first time we wrote about this on our website in 2007, people back home feared we had lost our minds. But do not underestimate the overdose of traveling. Traveling can be physically challenging, even frustrating. We often hesitated to spend the money on the kind of accommodation we felt like that night, or maybe it didn’t even exist. More than once we told ourselves “well it’s just for one night”. Spending nights in freezing or cramped busses or in airports takes its toll. Continue Reading →
Getting Along With Your partner
… Or Avoiding Divorce On The Road
Heidi & Gilles – Dinner in Colonia, Uruguay
We had read a few blogs addressing this issue before we started our Trip Around The World. These highlighted that the relationship (no matter if married or not) would undergo some serious challenges. It might sound surprising, but many couples split during Long Term Travels.
Even though we came prepared, it hit us. Why? Back home, you see your partner a few hours in the evening, on weekends and during vacations (interestingly enough, this is when most divorces originate). When on the road, you are together 24 / 7. Moreover, the lack of physical space (hostel rooms are small) make it difficult to create some kind of intimacy / space for yourself. Continue Reading →
How About Communication?
Telecommunications in Leh, Ladakh, India
First, do not be mistaken: you will not be able to disappear, even somewhere in South Bolivia or Papua New Guinea – We are in a wired world, like it or not! Most travelers are drawn into Internet cafés or hooked to WiFi, now a must in most hostels, or just scream in (or maybe at?) the Smart Phones, even in remote National Parks… Therefore, being connected is not so much the problem than being reachable all the time everywhere! Continue Reading →
The Re-Entry Shock
… or Reverse Cultural Experience
Hot Chillis, Jinghong, China
For those who have not been on a Long Term Trip or a Round The World, this may sound weird. But it is a matter of fact that coming back can be even more difficult than leaving. We all change during a Long Term Trip, see our lives back home differently and judge even the smallest aspects of our life from a very different perspective.
The Reentry Shock is very discomforting and can last quite a while. Heidi moved on quite well, Gilles actually never fully came back. That is maybe why he decided to take a new step mid 2014 and start traveling again. Continue Reading →