Barbara Millstein is a 58-year-old social worker from Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, who set off on a round-the-world trip in 2005 with her partner.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 2005
- Age at departure: 58
- Nationality: USA
- Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
- Duration: 6-12 months
- Occupation: Social Worker
- Original budget: USD 40,000 (approximately USD 68,000 in 2026 dollars)
- Regions: Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia
The Route
In Their Words
Here's what Barbara Millstein 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.
Why did you decide to take this trip? What got you into this type of travel, and/or influenced you to go?
These are some of the places we’ve never been to, and some that we wanted to return to. We have a house in Bali, so we wanted to end up there to rest and relax before we returned to the USA.
What is your biggest fear about this trip?
Medical problems, running out of money, family problems, having to return sooner then planned.
Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
Yes, everyone is very envious of us. But, they think we’re crazy to give up our jobs and leave.
How much planning and preparing have you done?
To the Nth degree.
What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
4-5 days worth of clothing, cameras, rechargable batteries, books, reading lights. First aid kit, passports and visas.
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?
Travel has always affected us in a positive way. The stimulation of meeting different people and participating in more exotic cultures than our own is enervating.
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler's original budget of USD 40,000 would equate to approximately USD 68,000 in 2026 purchasing power.