Darren Watkins is a 33-year-old salesman from Wales who set off on a round-the-world trip in 2002 with his wife.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 2002
- Age at departure: 33
- Nationality: Wales
- Location: Wales
- Duration: 6-12 months
- Occupation: Sales
- Original budget: about USD 12,800 (approximately USD 23,500 in 2026 dollars)
- Regions: Africa, Oceania, Southeast Asia
The Route
South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand.
In Their Words
Here's what Darren Watkins shared about their RTW journey:
Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
It’s my career.
Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
I’ve always had an ambition to travel but got caught in the university/military/highly paid job rut and couldn’t give it up. Recession has hit and industry is stagnating, so ideal time to go.
What is your biggest fear about this trip?
That it won’t live up to my expectations.
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?
Recently married so my wife is joining me, and we are looking forward to having a long time together. I hope the trip will make us both less materialistic.
If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
Like an 8-year-old’s first trip to Disney.
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?
You never relax properly and you always have an end date which is close, and you’re often herded about by travel reps.
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler's early-2000s budget would equate to approximately USD 23,500 in 2026 purchasing power (roughly USD 12,800 at 2002 prices, about 84% cumulative inflation).