Claudia Mayer is a USA mechanical designer embarking on a round-the-world journey.
The Snapshot
- **Departure:** 2003
- **Duration:** ~1 year
- **Age:** 26
- **Budget:** $19,700 USD (2026 equivalent)
- **Nationality:** USA
- **Occupation:** Mechanical Designer
The Route
Start off easy in the Scottish Highlands and Islands for 5 weeks, then head on to India (see some Boots members.). From there, then Thailand, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Yunnan Province China. I may be up for any additional spots as well.
Regions: Southeast Asia
2026 Note: Travel conditions, visa requirements, and costs have evolved significantly since this profile was originally recorded.
In Their Words
Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip? One more paycheck and I’m gone
Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go? I was backpacking in China during the summer of 2002 for 6 weeks, and I realized that it just wasn’t enough time. I felt too constrained. I met a girl named Mel (an Aussie of course) who was working her way around the world for 2+ years. I was so inspired that as soon as I came back I made it my goal to do something similar. Also, now I have friends to crash with in various countries and I want to visit them.
What is your biggest fear about this trip? The adjustment when I return and also what I am going to do with my life. Also, getting hurt or sick, as I got a little busted up on my trip in China and had to visit a somewhat scary rural Chinese hospital for some “interesting” suturing work.
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? It will increase my confidence that I can do anything. Also, I have found that the longer the trip, the more you learn about yourself, your limits and your goals. Trains, planes, and busses are great places to contemplate the direction your life is going.
If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be? I am so excited that I can barely let a day go by without thinking about where I will be a year from now.
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? RTW trips expose you to people/experiences that you would never have the chance to meet otherwise. It shows you what is really important in life.
2026 Context
- This profile was recorded before departure. Many travelers never return home quite the same.
- This journey is now 23 years in the past. The world has changed significantly.
- Exchange rates and travel costs have shifted considerably since the original planning date.