Edwin Skip Taylor is a 74-year-old retiree from the USA, based in Bangkok, Thailand, who set off on a round-the-world trip in 2006.
The Snapshot
- Departure: 2006
- Age at departure: 74
- Nationality: USA
- Location: Bangkok, Thailand
- Duration: 1-6 months
- Occupation: Retired
- Original budget: "Enough" (not specified)
- Regions: Southeast Asia, Middle East, Europe, North America, Asia
The Route
In Their Words
Here's what Edwin Skip Taylor shared about their RTW journey:
Is this job one that you actually like, or are you only doing it to pay for the trip?
It’s my career
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?
Better do it before it’s too late.
What is your biggest fear about this trip?
None.
Are your family, friends, co-workers, etc., supportive of you? What is their opinion of your going around the world?
Not really.
How much planning and preparing have you done?
Winged it a lot
What are you packing? What do you consider your most indispensable item(s)?
Viagra
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?
Not a bit; too old.
If you had to sum up your thoughts/feelings about your round-the-world trip in one sentence, what would it be?
Adventure.
Why do you think people should go on round-the-world trips? Why not just take a regular old one- or two-week vacation instead?
You really have to study-up instead of having everything planned in advance by the resort, ship, tourist bureau.
What is the biggest myth that people have about round-the-world traveling?
That they can’t stay away. That it costs too much.
Why do you like to travel?
Adventure.
What is your advice for people planning their own RTW trip?
Buy the book, surf the internet, organize the mind, or what’s left of it.
2026 Context
- Budget inflation: This traveler described the budget only as "enough," so no 2026-adjusted figure can be computed; early-2000s round-the-world costs are substantially higher in 2026 (roughly 70-80% cumulative inflation).