Round the World Travel Guide

Mark Gummel - Round-the-World Traveler

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 16:58:58 +0000

When do you leave?
September 2006

How long do you plan to be away?
6-12 Months

How much have you saved?
$15000

How old are you?
31

Nationality
USA

Where do you live now?
Philadelphia, USA

Occupation
Pharmaceutical Research

Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
It's my career

Have you traveled around the world before?
No

What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
UK-Ireland-Germany(Berlin)-Czech Republic(Prague)-Hungary(Budapest)-Croatia-Italy-France(Paris)-Kenya-Tanzania-South Africa-Thailand-Laos-Vietnam-Japan-Australia-New Zealand-Argentina-Chile-Peru

Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
Have always wanted to do some long-term travel. Perfect time in my life to do so. Have the money. Why not.

What is your biggest fear about this trip?
Being without a place to sleep. Running out of money too soon. Being mugged, etc.

Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
Some. Some think it is great and are envious. Others are concerned for my welfare and would rather I not go.

How much planning and preparing have you done?
Winged it a lot

What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
Clothes, toiletries, drugs (for malaria, altitude sickness, infections, etc.), sleeping bag, insect repellent, headlamp, earplugs, digital camera, electrical converters, copies of all my important docs. My camera will be indispensable, since I will want to capture everything I see. But realistically, my sandals and those safety pins will probably be the most handy.

How do you think your round-the-world trip will change your life? How do you think it will affect and change you as a person?
No expectations for a life-altering or otherwise cathartic experience. Whatever happens happens.

If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
I am nervously excited to leave!!!

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?
Experiencing other cultures cannot be done in a one-week jaunt.

What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
Not sure. I guess that the rest of the world is somehow much more unsafe than the US.

Why do you like to travel?
New people, new places, new things to see. So much out there...

What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
Start planning early.

Adrian Cook - Round-the-World Traveler

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 16:55:29 +0000

When do you leave?
January 2007

How long do you plan to be away?
1-2 Years

How much have you saved?
£10000

How old are you?
33

Nationality
England

Where do you live now?
London, England

Occupation
Support Services Manager

Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
It's my career

Have you traveled around the world before?
No

What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
London, Europe, Thailand, China, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada....roughly!!!

Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
Got to time in my life when all fell into place. Always loved to travel & got tired of the rat race & realised there must be more to life than nine to five. So want to see different places & meet different people & cultures

What is your biggest fear about this trip?
Running out of money & being lonely & struggling with the languages

Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
Some think im crazy, some say go for it will be a great experience!!!

How much planning and preparing have you done?
Just Enough

What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
T shirts, shorts, trainers, slops, hat, bed sheet, digital camera, sunglasses, towel, socks, underwear, travel guide, ipod

How do you think your round-the-world trip will change your life? How do you think it will affect and change you as a person?
will give me a more rounded opinion of the world & a more rounded person. Will improve on my confidence as a person & make me read & learn more. Also make me appreciate the good things more

If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
excited, nervous, ready for a new challenge

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?
Make it a way of life, you never know, you may never want to come back. There is more to life than just the nine to five treadmill that we all walk

What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
That its expensive & dangerous

Why do you like to travel?
Takes me out of my comfort zone & opens your eyes to whats out there in the world. I grew up in a place where I didnt see much other than my local area, so when i started to move my circles wider, i realsied that there is more to life & more out there to be experienced!

What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
Plan, but be flexible, go with the flow & dont overpack

NG - Round-the-World Traveler

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 16:55:28 +0000

When do you leave?
January 2008

How long do you plan to be away?
6-12 Months

How much have you saved?
a bit

How old are you?
37

Nationality
Canada

Where do you live now?
British Columbia, Canada

Occupation
Building Management

Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
It's my career

Have you traveled around the world before?
No

What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
not sure yet

Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
to truly live life before it's too late

What is your biggest fear about this trip?
the unknown

Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
sort of

How much planning and preparing have you done?
To the Nth Degree

What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
not yet

How do you think your round-the-world trip will change your life? How do you think it will affect and change you as a person?
hopefully I'll become a more well rounded individual

If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
WOW! I did it!

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?
A RTW trip allows a person to absorb new cultures, which consequently (if they're open-minded) would hopefully transform them into a more evolved human being, with an understanding and tolerance of the differences that exist in this world. And perhaps, allowing said individual to develop a more balanced perspective of life, and not be so myopic in their views about the world in general.

What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
Don't know yet..

Why do you like to travel?
lots of reasons

What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
No advice..I'm not in a position to advise, however I would wish them well.

Christina Trotter - Round-the-World Traveler

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 16:55:27 +0000

When do you leave?
July 2006

How long do you plan to be away?
1-2 Years

How much have you saved?
$30,000

How old are you?
29

Nationality
USA

Where do you live now?
Texas, USA

Occupation
Aviation Strategy Consultant

Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
I'll come back if they'll have me

Have you traveled around the world before?
No

What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
My husband and I will be travelling to Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Australia, China, Russia, and parts of Eastern Europe (TBD).

Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
We have been planning this trip for as long as I can remember. We decided to go now before we have a family and buy a house. We love to travel and especially enjoy meeting new people and learning about other cultures.

What is your biggest fear about this trip?
Getting arrested or kidnapped.

Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
Yes, everyone has been completely supportive. It's really quite amazing.

How much planning and preparing have you done?
To the Nth Degree

What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
3 pairs of pants, 2 tank tops, 2 long sleeve shirts, long underwear, a down jacket, a pair of boots and a pair of Chacos and a host of other stuff.

How do you think your round-the-world trip will change your life? How do you think it will affect and change you as a person?
I haven't thought about it too much because without question it is going to change us. I'm looking forward to whatever change that may be.

If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
Life experience.

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?
I don't necessarily think people should go on RTW trips. I think it's up to the individual person. It was important for me to go on such a trip because I have a lot of places that I want to see and there is a finite amount of time that I have to do it. This will enable me to see some of the places that I want to see, but is really only a fraction of the places that I want to go.

What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
That you have to be rich to do it. My husband and I make very good salaries, but are by no means rich. We have, however, made choices: e.g., not owning a home, saving miles, not being big shoppers.

Why do you like to travel?
I love to experience new experiences, see new places, meet new people and most of all, learn.

What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
Don't take too much advice from other people.
Visit us at: chrissyandbill.com

Brooke Schoenman - Round-the-World Traveler

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 16:55:25 +0000

When do you leave?
January 2008

How long do you plan to be away?
6-12 Months

How much have you saved?
$3500 and counting

How old are you?
23

Nationality
USA

Where do you live now?
Peoria, IL, USA

Occupation
IT Analyst

Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
It's my career

Have you traveled around the world before?
No

What is the route you plan to take/places you plan to visit?
US to Brazil - S.Africa - Egypt - Western Europe - Eastern Europe - India - Nepal - Thailand - Taiwan - China - Fiji - Australia - New Zealand

Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
NOW OR NEVER! I feel like if I don't do this now I'll have a much more difficult time doing it in the future. I have always loved traveling and I studied in Italy for a semester in college (and that really changed me!). I cam back feeling different, more confident, patient, enlightened. Since I've been back, I feel like I've lost a little of that spice I gained and I miss it! I want to feel alive again :-)

What is your biggest fear about this trip?
Getting sick. Getting malaria or having to go to a foreign hospital.

Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
Supportive. Understanding... I've been talking about this forever now!!!! My boyfriend is actually planning on going with me :-)

How much planning and preparing have you done?
To the Nth Degree

What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
underwear and camera

How do you think your round-the-world trip will change your life? How do you think it will affect and change you as a person?
I'll have a different perspective on what is important in life.

If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
I'm tired of talking about it and I'm ready to do it!

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?
1-2 week vacations are expensive and superficial... you need time to examine the lifestyle and LIVE it.

What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
Too expensive probably - You'd be surprised what you can do if you put your mind to it.

Why do you like to travel?
It's invigorating, insightful, interesting... any other i words?

What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
GO! Make a plan and do it!