Gerry Maher is a 32-year-old receptionist from Dublin, Ireland, who set off on a round-the-world trip in 2005 with a partner.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 2005
- Age at departure: 32
- Nationality: Ireland
- Location: Dublin, Ireland
- Duration: 6-12 months
- Occupation: Receptionist
- Original budget: EUR 10,000 saved so far (approximately USD 20,000 in 2026 dollars)
- Regions: Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania
The Route
In Their Words
Here's what Gerry Maher shared about their RTW journey:
Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
One more paycheck and I’m gone
Have you traveled around the world before?
No
Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
Simply, it feels like the right choice at the right time. Neither of us are ready to settle down and have kids yet. And, besides family and friends, we don’t have any real ties.
What is your biggest fear about this trip?
That we might not come back!!! Oh, and malaria.
Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
Family and friends are very supportive. My work mates don’t know yet!
How much planning and preparing have you done?
Just Enough
What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
We are travelling ultralight: 3 pairs of underwear, 2 pairs of socks, 1 pair of jeans, 1 pair of cotton pants, shorts/swimming trunks, long sleeve top, long sleeve shirt, fleece, rainmac, sleeping sheet, 2 t-shirts, travel towel, teva sandals, hiking boots, medi kit, toiletries (min), swiss army knife, one travel guide, mosq net and lots of deet!
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?
Hopefully, we will understand ourselves a bit better. We might even discover what we really want to do with our lives. We are open to ALL experiences.
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler's original budget of EUR 10,000 (about USD 12,000 at the time) would equate to roughly USD 20,000 in 2026 purchasing power (the source's '$20' conversion is a truncated figure).