1

Heya

I'm also looking to go abroad in or around then. Like you I'm also a bit nervous about heading off on my own. Would love to meet someone ahead of it to spend first few days/weeks with till we both found our feet.

I'm 28, male and from Ireland :)

Adrian

2

Hi nancy93!

Welcome to TT!

What is the best month to go to each of the places listed above?

It depends on what do you want to make there. For example, recently, there was a post of someone who wanted to go to New Zealand in winter because she wanted to ski. You wouldn't choose winter if you were looking for beach time...
Where do you plan to go exactly makes a difference to Where in America? Where in Canada? What other places you plan to visit?

How long would you recommend to go to each place if I planned to be away for a whole year?

I think the point here is how long you'll need to visit each of the places you want to visit. Each one has a different travel style. Some people likes to rush it, others prefer to travel slow. Some people visit all the attractions of a place, others only the main ones, others only those that they find interesting for them...

What is the best company to book a ticket with?

It depends. If you are looking for a RTW ticket, shop around and purchase the cheapest quote you get. If you only plan to book your first flight and book the rest of your legs once on the road, look for the cheapest airline for your first leg on your travel date (webs like Skyscanner or Kayak could be useful to make it).

Should I book it and plan or book it on a whim?

Once again, it depends on your travel style. If you want flexibility, to stay longer if you like one place, to stay shorter if you don't, to change plans if you know of a place that could be interesting for you and you didn't considered before your departure... then, book as you go. If you like to have all planned, know beforehand how much will be your flights (although they'll probably be fees if you change the date of one of your legs)..., you could consider a RTW ticket.

P.S.: I would suggest to ask in the Travel on a Shoestring branch about the budget for your trip (if you don't get replies about it here) but be aware your current budget is definitely too sort for a full year abroad. In other words, you'll have to review your current plans.

3

You have picked some of the most expensive countries/regions in the world, how long are you planning on going for? Because your money isnt going to last very long (a couple of months) You could easily spend 2 months in each one of those countries i wouldnt be wasting more money on flights trying to see more than 1 or 2.

4

Best bet is to book a one way ticket to Bangkok. Its very simple, never lonely, you can be alone if you want to, and it'll teach you how to travel. Relax, party, make some decisions, just live!!! But I agree with #3, you've mentioned some of the most expensive places to travel anywhere. You should easily be able to last 6 months in SE Asia on that money, but perhaps 2 -3 in oz or NZ.....

Asia is a great starting point. Sure, you will be ripped off some, but not so much it hurts. Head to some the islands and enjoy the winter in the sun and meet like minded people!!

IF you do decide to go, be flexible on your departure dates. For example, December is a very expensive time to fly. Wait till January and fares go down by half. Air india has flights for about 350 pounds one way . This does stop in India, which i recommend you skip until later. As a first time traveler jumping into India head first, it can be very daunting. Wait a bit before you do India!! Thailand, Indonesia, malaysia, ......they are waiting for you!!

5

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your messages :)

anillos_de_saturno
I don't plan on going skiing whilst away (but wouldn't say no if the opportunity arose!) but my main reason for travelling is to see the world, meet new people, have some fun and adventure.

I don't think I would like to be in one place for too long - I would want to see the main attractions and anything that interests me.

I think I am going to book a RTW ticket as I have heard that it is cheaper - I don't know how true this is? But I am confused now as I would like the freedom to be able to decide where to go, if for example I like one place a lot or don't like another. But then again, this would probably be within a country and not from country to country. For example, if I was in Australia and decided I didn't like one city, then I could travel to another fairly easily.

I know my budget isn't enough but I am willing to work out there for a bit to reimburse my funds etc.

JimBurns
Yeah that is one of my main worries about going to those places - that they are so expensive but although I would one day love to go to SE Asia, I would rather do it when I have someone to go with. Personally, I would rather go to places like Australia and New Zealand, etc. if I plan to travel by myself. I understand that the money I have saved would not be enough but I am willing to work for a bit when out there and my mum tells me that I can be quite frugal with my money, haha! Also, I don't plan on going to all the places that I have listed above - I would probably narrow it down to about 3?

TravellinAndi
Thanks Andi. I do find Asia really interesting and hope to go there one day, but have decided that I would rather go there with a friend than by myself - mainly because I would like to attempt English speaking countries first and get the hang of travelling before I attempt more daunting places like SE Asia - sounds AMAZING though!
Do you mean wait until January to book or wait until January to leave? As I was hoping to book it before Christmas but leave in the middle of January.

Thank you for all of your posts - it has really helped!

:)

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These are very large countries, and the climate varies markedly from 1 region to another. There's no way to tell you a "best month to go" without knowing your interests. Likewise for "main attractions." If you really are concerned about getting the hang of traveling AND you want to travel in mid-January, strike the northern hemisphere from your list...unless you are a winter sports enthusiast.

7

I think I am going to book a RTW ticket as I have heard that it is cheaper - I don't know how true this is?

It depends on the route. Routes where most legs can be done with low cost airlines aren't necessarily cheaper with a RTW.

8

I suggest that you spend some time READING threads here on the TT as well as some guidebooks and other online travel resources. Having done that you will be able to get a better idea of what will work for you. As it is, you are basically asking people to write all that you could find for yourself if you looked. Like re-inventing the wheel just for you.

9

I am willing to work out there for a bit to reimburse my funds etc.
Have you thought about WHVs for countries like Australia, New Zealand?

10

Nancy im in almost a similar situation excpet i;ve already booked my flights, got 9 weeks to go (sorry to rub in).

I strongly recommend STA Travel, i booked my round the world ticket with them and it cost me aprox £1450 but £1550 in total and my ticket is vaild for up to 12 months and i have a multiflex pass which allows me to change the dates of my flights unlimited times and it only costs £100 to obtain them! The earlier you book your flights the better!

The destinations you plan to go are almost all where i am visiting. All your countires are western so in some aspects it;ll feel a bit like home. America is more or less in most ways similar to Canada. Also these countries are just as expensive than the UK or just a bit cheaper. Destinations where your money will go further are places like Asia, ever considered Thailand or perhaps cambodia?

Your budget seems suitable for £5000 however this will only be determined by each destination and duration of
stay.

I would speak to STA Travel or go on their website for info and make an appointment with them or call over the phone.. they are really good and have helped me loads. Whatever i've provided, hope that helps a bit more!

11

Staying a hostel in Australia is really expensive, I know, it can be anywhere from 90 dollars an night to over a hundred, and most will be in dorms, I spent a lot of time bush camping, things are incredibly expensive in Australia, better have a back yp plan or money to falll back on, you will need it, honest

12

I don't know where you got those numbers derrick but I found them hard to believe so I had a look at hostelbookers. What I see is in the $25 -40 range.
http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/australia/?&gclid=CMTcvL7y3bMCFYQ7MgodSlsA6Q

13

Because I stayed at the YHA, Sydney on the 20 October, the price they qouted was a bit different when I got there

I arrived in Darwin on the 8 October, bush camped until the 20 October when I arrived at Sydney, I stayed one night at the YHA, then got a plane to Brisbane, where I carried on bush camping, which is free, some campsits have toilets and showers, but bush camping mean what it says, you arent in a camp site

As a guide at stops along the way, (truck stops) a coffee is usually 3-4 AUD, a pie (they eat a lot of them) about 5-7 AUD, cigarettes are various prices from 15 AUD- 20 AUD, a beer is about 5-10 AUD, depending where you buy them, any food is ridulously priced, the worsst I saw was tomatos at 15 AUD a Kilo

I preferred the bush camps rather than a hostel, I know what I am getting when I bush camped, I stayed at the YHA in Sydney, I was in a dorm, it was full, your bags are unsecured, unless you lock them to your bed, a bit hard when you have a top bunk, but they did have a washing maching (3 AUD) a dryer (3AUD) and showers, which were free

I travelled through many countries to get to Australia, including Europe, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Romaina, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Nepal, China, Pakistan, India, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpor, Singapore, Indonesia, Bali, then Australia, so with regard to any prices and costs I reckon I know what I am talking about

I flew back to the UK on 13 November

14

Umm, YHA requires a membership fee derrick. If you are not a member you pay that fee on your first night's stay. If you are a member you get 10% off the bed fee. So if you were not a member you would have paid $42 membership plus the bed fee without the 10% discount. Basically doubling your cost for that one night.

I may be wrong and you were already a YHA member but your numbers don't add up. Sydney fees range from $28 to 38. So I reckon you don't know what you are talking about in this case at least. It seems pretty obvious that you are not familiar with hostels.

Here is the central Sydney YHA hostel booking page. Note under the booking calendar the line that says, 'YHA member price displayed'.
http://www3.yha.com.au/hostels/nsw/sydney-surrounds/sydney-central-backpackers-hostel/

Oops.