John E. Stamps is a CPA from Florida, USA, who traveled around the world twice between 1978 and 1994, first setting off at age 40 — once by airplane and one and a half times by sailboat.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 1978
- Age at departure: 40
- Nationality: USA
- Location: Florida, USA
- Duration: 1978-1994 (traveled the world twice)
- Occupation: CPA
- Original budget: Not specified
In Their Words
Here's what John E. Stamps shared about their RTW journey:
How did your travels affect your career when you got back?
No change.
Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
Airplane once, and sailboat 1 1/2 times.
What was the best moment of your trip?
Meeting people.
What was the worst moment?
None.
What was your biggest hurdle, obstacle, or difficulty?
Money.
What was your biggest surprise?
Everyone everywhere is friendly.
Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip, and why?
South Africans.
How much planning and preparing did you do?
Winged it a lot.
What was your favorite piece of gear? What did you bring that, in hindsight, you could’ve left at home?
Favorite? Binoculars.
How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
More tolerant of cultural differences.
If you had to sum up your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
Travel NOW!
Are you planning more trips and travels for the future? Are you planning another round-the-world trip?
Yes.
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?
More time to integrate into different cultures and develop long-term relationships with people.
What is the most valuable thing you learned?
Patience.
What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
Will meet trouble.
Why do you like to travel?
Because I’m restless.
What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
Go NOW!
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler did not report a budget, and the journey spanned 1978 to 1994, so a single 2026 inflation figure does not apply; late-1970s to mid-1990s travel costs are many times higher in today’s dollars.