Kristina Johnson is a 30-year-old chef from the USA who took a round-the-world trip in 1998.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 1998
- Age at departure: 30
- Nationality: USA
- Location: USA
- Duration: About 9 months (August 1998 – May 1999)
- Occupation: Chef
- Original budget: USD 38,000 for two travelers (approximately USD 76,900 in 2026 dollars)
- Regions: North America, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Asia, South Asia, Europe
The Route
In Their Words
Here's what Kristina Johnson 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?
Always wanted to do it. Got the travel bug early, on a train trip in Mexico when I was 15. Did my first backpacking Europe trip at 20 and never looked back.
Who is the most memorable person you met on your trip and why?
Hiran, our trekking guide in Nepal. Set him up with a Hotmail account and have since recommended him to dozens of other travelers. Still in contact with him. He changed our lives, and I think we’ve changed (or at least impacted) his.
How did your round-the-world trip change your life? How did it affect and change you as a person?
I look at the world differently now. I think I’m more sensitive to cultural differences than some people who have never left the US. It made me more open-minded and maybe even more patient.
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler's original budget of USD 38,000 for two travelers would equate to approximately USD 76,900 in 2026 purchasing power, reflecting roughly 100% inflation over the intervening years.