Michelle Senior is an 18-year-old student from West Yorkshire, England, who set off on a round-the-world trip in 2003.
It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I can’t remember why originally, but I’ve always liked to travel, and it’s fun to do something different that isn’t like a normal holiday.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 2003
- Age at departure: 18
- Nationality: England
- Location: West Yorkshire, England
- Duration: 6-12 months
- Occupation: Student
- Original budget: GBP 4,000 (approximately USD 11,500 in 2026 dollars)
- Regions: North America, Oceania, Asia, Southeast Asia
The Route
In Their Words
Here's what Michelle Senior shared about their RTW journey:
What is your advice for other travelers?
Don’t leave it all until the last minute, make sure you know where you are heading, and try to arrive at new places in daylight, for safety reasons.
What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
Just starting to plan what I’m going to take so I’m not too sure yet. I’m stressing about not being able to take my hair straighteners though, I’ll have to deal with curly hair for 6 months. AAgghhh.
What is the biggest myth people have about round-the-world travel?
That it costs a lot of money. It obviously is quite true – it does cost a fair bit of money, but once you sit down and figure it all out, it seems fairly cheap for what you are getting. It’s just a lot of money at once, rather than being spread out.
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler's original budget of GBP 4,000 would equate to approximately USD 11,500 in 2026 purchasing power, reflecting roughly 79% inflation over the intervening years.