Jack Holmes – Round-the-World Traveler

Jack Holmes is a 61-year-old teacher from Andover, Massachusetts, USA, who took a round-the-world trip in 2005.

One leg was an Earthwatch Institute archaeology project — a two-week dig on a French Napoleonic fort.

The Snapshot

• Departure: 2005
• Age at departure: 61
• Nationality: USA
• Location: Andover, MA, USA
• Duration: Not specified
• Occupation: Teacher
• Original budget: USD 5,500 (approximately USD 9,300 in 2026 dollars)
• Regions: Europe, Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Asia

The Route

Boston to Paris (for the Tour de France), to Dubai, to Mauritius — a three-week stay on the island, two weeks of it on an Earthwatch project — then home via Singapore, Malacca (Malaysia), and Hong Kong.

In Their Words

Here's what Jack Holmes shared about their RTW journey:

What is your advice for other travelers?

Read about the places to have an idea of what can and should be done and seen. Then ask the locals to help choose the best for you.

What is the biggest myth people have about round-the-world travel?

That foreigners are dangerous, or just want to rob you.

2026 Context

• Budget inflation: This traveler's original budget of USD 5,500 would equate to approximately USD 9,300 in 2026 purchasing power, reflecting roughly 69% inflation over the intervening years.