RTW Career break setting off next month. Advice welcomed please?

Hi Everyone

I am set to set off on a one year career break next month. I have been saving hard for 18 months and my employers have kindly agreed for me to return to my job as a mental health social worker in a year’s time. I’m a 30 year old female from the UK, have travelled abroad with my ex partner (6 months Russia/Mongolia/China/ parts of SEA and India) and lived and worked in Zambia Africa for 6 months so have experience of budget travel and managing a budget, however I have never travelled alone or for a 12 month period before so am excited but very nervous.

I have done lots of research and read lots here on the forum over the past year and now wanted to share my plans with you all to seek advice and opinion on my trip and my budget. I’m happy to stay in dorms and purchase food to cook myself (I prefer this) and take packed lunches to eat on the move. I’m not a big drinker-maybe enjoy a few drinks once a fortnight. When travelling I like to get up early and prefer to use my feet where possible to wander, explore and people watch. I have a degree in social anthropology and love learning about culture/ religion and taking pictures. I’d want to visit the ‘must do sights’ in a place but also like to get away from the tourist crowds too. Happy spending time in smaller towns as well as cities.

I will leave the UK with £12 000 and will receive a further £900 further down the line due to claiming tax back.

My around the world ticket, Working holiday Visa for Oz, Vaccinations, Travel Insurance or travel gear will not be taken out of this budget. I have paid for these already along with a few other things outlined below in the early part of the trip which is more structured due to travelling with friends who are flying out at different points who like to over plan!.

My around the world ticket (Manchester-NYC overland LA-Auckland-Fiji-Melbourne overland Perth-Hong Kong overland Bangkok-Manchester)

My dates can be moved around so if I need to leave a place to hit Asia earlier to cut costs down I can.

The first 8 weeks will be in the US-2 weeks in NYC alone taking in a couple of festivals taking place there at that time and visiting Boston and Niagara Falls (my accommodation for these two weeks has been paid for as has my NYC pass and the trips to Boston and Niagara Falls). My friend then meets me and we spend 6 weeks driving across the US (car hire and other travel expenses have been paid out already).

From here I fly to New Zealand for 1 month (North Island only). I can spend some of this time staying with my cousin who lives in Auckland and have had a travel pass (hop on hop off bus) for the north island purchased as a gift which I can start and end when I wish.

I then fly to Fiji for 3 weeks-ten day island hopping pass has been paid for already (includes ten days accommodation/food/travel)

From here I land in Melbourne, Oz at the end of September. I have friends in Brisbane and Melbourne who I can stay with in these cities. I wish to work my way up the east coast to Cairns before heading to Alice Springs overland (greyhound do a 4 day package taking in the sights or I can see if others want to group together to do something?) and from here I want to get the Ghan train to Adelaide before flying to Perth (with Jet star budget domestic flight I’d purchase nearer the time) and spending some time on the West Coast. I have a working holiday visa (but recognise work may be hard to find) and am not fussy with what work I do (work in a hostel/bars etc) and depending on finances would leave Oz end of January/February sooner if funds are low, longer if I like it and can find work.

From Hong Kong I would like to fly with budget airlines (Air Asia/ Air Philippines etc) to visit Borneo and the Philippines. I understand visas to both places are granted on arrival?

Not too sure how to make my way from Hong Kong to Bangkok-budget flight between the two or overland. Any suggestions? I’d like to more of China but Visa organisation/cost could be problematic. I have visited Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia before preferring Laos of the three.

From Thailand I would like to visit Myanmar (Burma) and Sri Lanka (a few weeks in each place) with friends/family flying out to meet me in Bangkok and using it as a base before flying home late next June. I believe a visa for Burma can be obtained in Bangkok and Sri Lankan visa can be completed online?

I’d just really like your opinions please on whether you think this is realistic-budget and route wise and if you have any advice or suggestions re my trip in general?

Sorry this is such a long post, I just wanted to include as much info as possible to get the best info/ advice.

Thanks so much in advance.

Vic

Ok.on the budget,it is quite difficult to say...not only for the usual variables but because you have so much already paid for ;-)

Two months in the USA,a month in NZ,3 weeks Fiji..about 4 months Australia....4 months Asia.

Is that more or less right?

Looking at it like that your budget looks very low.Of course it some places you will be staying with friends,but Oz is really expensive..if you travel around that country (and don't work) most of your budget will be gone by January....

On the Asian part..easy to fly from Hong Kong to all those places.VOA/visa free entry for British passport holders,apart from China (which can be got in HK) and Myanmar (which is easy to get in Bangkok).

I'm not sure about the current Sri Lanka visa regulations.

The route looks quite logical.....I think with that budget (as above) you will have to adjust your timings,unless you spend virtually nothing in the US and NZ you will have to drastically cut your time in Oz (or work there in a decent job).

I think it could depend on whether you get any work in Australia to be honest.

It's hard to say what you'd be spending money on in the US so I won't estimate a budget for that but 3 weeks in Fiji and a month in NZ would easily eat up £3-4k+.

Australia is not cheap at all, it makes England look reasonable when it comes to costs! 4 months in Australia, including what you've proposed, could easily set you back £6-7k.

Regarding SE Asia, Burma is not a 'budget' destination compared to the rest of SE Asia with the exception of Singapore. You can only fly into Burma and the cheapest accommodation I found whilst there last November was about £15 a night. This was the cheapest, average was closer to £25. I spent just under 3 weeks there and, including tours, went through the best part of £1k. Regarding Borneo, it depends on what you want to do there. It can either be relatively cheap or very expensive.

If I were you I'd be looking to increase your budget or cutting down on the time spent in a couple of the more expensive places. I personally wouldn't spend 3 weeks in Fiji, 1 week was more than enough for me, but you might be a beach lover etc.

Vic , I am in similar position and taking a sabittical commencing Sept this year and cant wait ! I see your plan on working , i too had planned to work however after taking some advice from my big sister she advised me "Why work" its about travelling not spending your time working which you have done in your native country. I know $$$ will determine any plans however like you i have been working on saving all my funds for past year and ready to hit the road end of summer !

I had planned on visiting Aus and NZ however the more i read here the more i am thinking to skip it and spend time in the less expensive areas ...but i guess if your half way over there would seem a shame not to visit....

I think that budget is tight, but not ridiculously so given that you have already pre-paid some of your travel and accommodation. You seem to be aware that you may have to change your plans, eg. leave Australia early, so it's not as though you are being totally naïve.

I'd say go for it, keep a careful eye on how much you're spending each week, and if you have to come home a bit earlier than planned, it's not the end of the world.

Thanks for your responses.

Lucapal. Yup that’s roughly right for timescales in each place

USA is 8 weeks but accommodation for three weeks has been paid for along with all transport while I'm there. NYC pass covers admission to attractions too. It would be remaining accommodation, food and other day to day costs in the US. I'd be sharing a room with two others.

NZ-Transport covered and one weeks accommodation covered

Fiji-2 weeks food, getting around and accommodation already paid for

Meats-wouldn't be doing any extreme sports or expensive sporting stuff as I know that can cost a fortune in Oz and NZ. Thanks for the Burma info. How did you find day to day costs there?

Tree_green-nice to know I'm not the only one saving hard at the mo. I thought about saving the cash on the WHV but then thought I'm 30 and can never get one again so it's good to have as an option but I'm worried about my budget now and may have to reduce my time in Oz so maybe I should have given the WHV a miss after all...

Vixy ...I suppose its good to consider all options ...I had originally planned to hit Asia for few months then onto OZ , NZ however the more I read here about the costs of travel in these places has made me change my plans and will most likely spend majority of my time India/SEA cheaper places and hit OZ and NZ for maybe 8 weeks in total ..as iam not working I guess this is the only way for me to actually survive the whole 12 months.....

Re Oz, I meant the day to day expenses and not the extreme sports are on a par with the UK if not slightly more expensive.

In Burma I was averaging about £60 a day. This included a couple of internal flights plus hiring a taxi for the day whilst in Mandalay as well as staying at a hotel on Inle Lake. It can, obviously, be done considerably cheaper than I did it but I would say that you'll be averaging a minimum of £30 a day which would include staying in cheapest hotels available and eating street food. From my experience things get more expensive as soon as you leave Rangoon.

I’d like to more of China but Visa organisation/cost could be problematic.

Why do you think that?

There is nothing simpler than getting a Chinese visa in Hongkong. Just go to a travel agency, give them your passport and you get the visa in a couple of days, perhaps even next day.

On the other hand if you plan to go to the Philippines and Borneo it makes more sense to fly from Borneo to Peninsular Malaysia and continue to Thailand and drop China.

In terms of visa's I understand that many of them you can get either while your away ( i hope) as i had made enquires for india/ thailand however the problem is that the date commences as soon as they are issued and therefore by the time you make your way into that particular country u may only have a few weeks. As i want to be as flexible as possible on my travels iam really hoping i can just sort the visas out over there.

In terms of Thailand i know you get 30 days on arrival however i wonder how easy is it to do a border crossing and then re-enter the country . I apprecaite this will depend on where exactly your are however say in Bangkok? anyone ?

Hi, I live in the USA, in Ohio, and have some suggestions for your USA trip.

Maybe stay in NYC 4 or 5 days at the most, 2 or 3 days Boston, 1 or 2 days Niagara Falls. Stay in a small hotel on the Canadian side of the Falls if possible, or spend most of your time on this side of the falls as this side is much more interesting and more beautiful than the USA side. You can find small, friendly hotels within one mile walk uphill from the falls. Or to save money, stay at the youth hostel on the USA side of the falls. I stayed there about 3 years ago. It was very nice, but a very long walk (a few miles to the falls), so best to take a local bus (inconvenient at times, or rent a bicycle, or share car ride with other guests if possible). The hostel owner is a woman who is friendly and helpful. Be sure to see the falls at night, after dark. Take the boat ride "Maid of the Mist" and take the walk down behind the Falls (Canadian side, I think?). THe company that charges admission for both of these gives you a free raincoat to keep you dry (sort of, but you should still plan to get a little bit wet from the water). Free movie about the history of the falls, and maybe an IMAX movie that costs money.

I would suggest to add 3 full days in Washington DC. First, it's beautiful. And there are MANY free things to do that are very nice. All of the Smithsonian Museums are free (about 27 of them on different topics). The National Zoo is also free. They have a very efficient metro and bus system to get around. Buy a one day or 3-day metro ticket. Find an expensive hostel or college room within a few blocks of the metro. The national monuments are beautiful and inspiring, especially the Lincoln Monument in the evening and after dark. Many parks and beautiful places to walk, ride a bike, relax, people watch, etc. Lots of culture....ethnic restaurants, art galleries, and small shops. Free planetarium show at National Geographic.

If you will be here 4 July, this is the USA's Birthday, or "Independence Day" with parades and marching bands during daylight and fireworks after dark in every city and town in the nation. So be sure to participate somewhere. They are usually free, but some places charge for premium seating in a stadium, etc.

Many cities and towns have outdoor music concerts in parks in evenings in the summer. Most are free, or some cost money (ie symphony). Most are Thursday through Sunday evenings.

Drive quickly on the interstate freeway system from Niagara Falls to the western USA. It might take about 3 days, or 30+ hours driving. Maybe stop in one or two small towns along the way for a quick look, but skip most of the country from Niagara Falls to the Rocky Mountains. The Rocky Mountains and west coast will be much more interesting and more beautiful than the midwest. (I live in the midwest and have traveled all over the country, so I know). If you don't have pre-paid hotels, Super 8, Motel 6 and Red Roof Inn are 3 examples of nationwide hotel chains that are inexpensive by USA prices, and have many locations along the interstate freeways.

Try to visit the Grand Canyon (South Rim)(at least one day) and Yellowstone Park (3 full days minimum). You definitely need to rent a car for Yellowstone. Amazing wildlife viewing in early morning and evening: elk, buffalo, etc. Both are COLD at night. Pay attention to ELEVATION. Places in the south at high elevation (over 5000 ft) are very cold at night. At Yellowstone, it can get 32 degrees F (freezing) or colder every night all year. Yellowstone has wonderful thermal features light hot springs, boiling mud pots, geysers, etc, similar to on the North Island of New Zealand. There is a very nice Lodge or Inn there, but it is very expensive. Speed limit is 35 mph to 45 mph everywhere (slow), and Yellowstone Park is larger than the state of Rhode Island. It is HUGE and takes many hours of driving from one end to the other. There are some campgrounds there, but I don't know if you can rent a cabin or tent, as I brought my own tent. Some campgrounds have hot showers, but some may be cold showers only. Check ahead.

Spend at least 2 weeks on the west coast, preferably California. LOTS to see and do, and quite beautiful, although it can be expensive. You can find free and low cost things to do everywhere, and the ocean beaches are free in most places.

Larger grocery stores in the USA have salad bars, pre-made sandwiches for sale, and hot food counters where you can get meals to go and eat them in a park nearby. This can be cheaper than restaurants, although not always, but the food is fresh. In some states there is no sales tax on food purchased in grocery stores, and no waitress to tip, so both of these things save a little money.

Have a great year!

Thanks for the USA info oceanwaves! Much appreciated

Like a couple of people have suggested, I'd cut down on the `States and Fuji which has silly prices. You shouldn't have problems working in Australia, especially in the medical profession. Working here as long as you can will help your budget. As for getting from Hong Kong to Thailand. Id certainly fly, any land route will be really complicated. I find www.careerbreak.360.com really useful and they have loads of info.

it should have been CareerBreak360