Phil Donachie is an 18-year-old student from London, England, who took a round-the-world trip in 2001 for his gap year.
I wanted to work in America for my gap year, but couldn’t get the visas, so decided on Australia. STA Travel in London told me about RTW tickets, so I decided to go to some cool places. I wanted to see Electric City, Tokyo, was planning on working in Oz, and have family in New Zealand, and the rest of the trip fell into place. I got to see the places I had always dreamed about – Bondi Beach, Hawaii, New York – and the prospect of going to ‘unknown’ Asia seemed interesting as well.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 2001
- Age at departure: 18
- Nationality: England
- Location: London, England
- Duration: 6-12 months (September 2001 – April 2002)
- Occupation: Student
- Original budget: GBP 4,000 (approximately USD 11,900 in 2026 dollars)
- Regions: Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, North America
The Route
In Their Words
Here's what Phil Donachie shared about their RTW journey:
What is your advice for other travelers?
Pack light, you can always buy pretty much anything en route. Don’t plan too much detail. You will find your ideas may well change once you get there. Don’t put it off until after university etc, (be like me and have a gap year before AND after.) Follow your dreams. If there’s somewhere you really want to go and see, or something you really want to do, do it. Whether it be sky diving over the Australian rainforest, elephant riding in Northern Thailand, shopping in New York, or sleeping on a beach in Hawaii.
What is the biggest myth people have about round-the-world travel?
“It’s far too expensive to go jetting off round the world.” It’s cheaper than you think. A thatched bungalow with marble floor, double bed, with air conditioning and en-suite bathroom, for £4 on the edge of one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. You also meet so many new friends, and basically have the time of your life.
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler's original budget of GBP 4,000 would equate to approximately USD 11,900 in 2026 purchasing power, reflecting roughly 85% inflation over the intervening years.