Stacey Jones

1. When did you go on your RTW trip?
   October 2002-March 2003

2. How old were you when you took this trip?
   25

3. Including your air ticket and other expenses (from accommodation to souvenir-buying), about how much did your trip cost?
   $11,000

4. Nationality
   Canada

5. Where do you live now?
   Vancouver, Canada

6. Occupation
   
   Before your trip: Business Analyst
   
   Now: Consultant
   

   How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
   It was great - got a new job at my old company when I got back.

   What is the route you took/places you visited?
   Vancouver - Fiji - sail to New Zealand - Australia - Bali - Singapore - Thailand - Hong Kong - Vancouver

   Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
   Have always dreamed of travelling for extended period of time. Needed to get away and stretch the limits. Travelling friends/coworkers inspired me to go

   Out of all your experiences traveling around the world, what was the:
   

   • Best Moment
     After bungy jumping in New Zealand

   • Worst Moment
     Land fall in New Zealand

   • Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?
     Communication in some countries

   • Biggest surprise?
     The world is a hot place!

   Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip and why?
   A hostel owner in New Zealand - he had a very interesting life opening up his home and living with travellers.

   How much planning and preparing did you do?
   Just Enough

   What was your favorite piece of gear?
   Gortex jacket

   What did you bring, that in hindsight you could've left at home?
   All the malaria pills

   How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
   Im a stronger, more confident person now. Happier and a bit more content!

   If you had to sum up your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
   I cant wait to go again.

   Are you planning more trips and travels for the future? Are you planning another round-the-world trip?
   Yup, and yup

   Why do you think people should go on round-the-world trips? Why not just take a regular old one- or two-week vacation instead?
   It took me 3 weeks to de-stress from normal life and get into a travel mode. If you only had 2 weeks, you never would have even gotten into the right mind frame.

   What is the most valuable thing you learned?
   Dont worry, you will find somewhere to sleep every night.

   What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
   That it never gets boring.

   Why do you like to travel?
   To learn things in a different way than the typical 'school'.

   What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
   Come up with goals/your purpose for each place you visit. Why are you there? What do you want to get out of it - think about this before you just go somewhere.