George "Butch" Zein is a 37-year-old consultant from San Francisco, USA, who set off on a round-the-world trip in 2004.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 2004
- Age at departure: 37
- Nationality: USA
- Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
- Duration: 6-12 months
- Occupation: Consultant
- Original budget: approximately USD 12,200 in 2026 dollars
- Regions: Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, South America
The Route
In Their Words
Here's what George "Butch" Zein shared about their RTW journey:
Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
I have always wanted to do this since I was 21 yrs old. Never got around to it and got bogged down in LIFE. Now I realize that I wasn’t living a LIFE and set out to go as I am currently single and debt free. 😉
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 truly believe it will help me get the focus back on myself and to think about what I really want out of LIFE. A good way to be introspective when I don’t have anybody I knew around me to fall back on and get back to comfort level. I am going thru a spiritual transformation and want to push on to find new challenges and resist the reactions and becoming more proactive in how I respond to my daily life. So kabbalistic? 😉
What is your biggest fear about this trip?
Actually…none I can think of except loneliness, perhaps.
Have you traveled around the world before?
No
Why do you like to travel?
Love meeting new people and exploring cultures. Makes me a better person.
What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
Just do it.
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler's original round-the-world budget equates to approximately USD 12,200 in 2026 purchasing power.