Travel plans

Apologies for a post that's probably been replicated a million times..

Anyway I'm 27 and I've never really done the travelling thing apart from driving across the US for 3 months (mainly due to having been in relationships since I was 16), but I've decided to take the plunge.

I've booked a one way ticket to Beijing in September and am ideally planning on winging it solo. My broader goal is to end up in Oz and work there for 6 months and then hopefully go the world cup in Brazil in 2014. I am contemplating doing a guided tour of China down to Hong Kong, then flying to Bangkok and traversing around SE Asia on my own. I'm pretty sociable and don't worry about meeting people etc, however my one concern is that I'd like a guaranteed way of meeting people initially hence the decision to take an organised tour of China. What are the thoughts on this? I'm also considering India, but think it may be a bit of a culture shock.

My budget will probably be around £12k which will be topped up when I work in Australia. I should be okay getting a job there as my skills translate well but I'm conscious to save as well. I hear Australia is expensive. How viable is it to save whilst there?? I'm not a person who easily passes up a night out and to be honest I don't really want to.

Thoughts?

Edited by: jamcap86

Most on here will shoot you down for wanting to take a tour. But if you are wanting to meet others for a short period, then nothing wrong with a tour. Have a look at some of the more venturesome companies like Intrepid, Gap.
As to saving while in Australia, really depends on income and how you spend your money.

You will have no problem meeting other travellers....if you folllow the usual trail in China (all the foreigners go to the same places,stay in the same few hotels/hostels,eat in the same restaurants ;-)

Same in India or pretty much any place where western backpackers travel.

Personally I wouldn't do a tour....it is more expensive,and more importantly for me it restricts your freedom considerably.There is a lot to be said for being able to go where you want,for a slong as you want,and change plans/directions whenever you want to.

On Australia...yes,it is expensive by any standards.

If you have your $5000 when you arrive,and your work visa...you will still need to find a decent job of course....and IF you do so quickly,you should be able to work and save something.

But it is not guaranteed,and if you really like going out you can spend all you earn there pretty easily.

I dont think its about shooting your ideas down as westwood says, ;-) but about extolling the virtues of independent travel instead. most people on here are independent travellers and will advise you that there is a better way! in our opinion at least!

short tours are fine, dont get me wrong. for those who are shy or worried about meeting people then they can be great for easing you into backpacking, as it were. but on the downside they are generally expensive and you will be paying a huge commission for something you can easily do yourself. plus what if you dont like the group you are with? youre stuck with them! it is much better imho to do it yourself, save the money and use it on extending your trip and meeting people along the way anyway (which is very easy to do!)

India is a culture shock for many, but then china can be too. there is no reason though not to include them both in your trip.

you have a good budget there that will go down well in SE Asia and parts of china (some parts of china are quite expensive.) how long you can travel for on that depends on how well you budget, where you stay etc.

as the others said, oz is very expensive. i wouldnt rely on work to fund your travels though, at best it can extend them a little but you will rarely earn more than subsistance level pay. room, board and a few spends. you say your skills transfer well? what do you do if you dont mind me asking? a professional such as a nurse or doctor for example would find it a lot easier, otherwise the above applies. generally you may be better just concentrating on travelling and enjoying your trip, or save up more money to accomodate the expense of oz for six months.

Don´t forget that if you are going to work in Australia, then you won´t be able to travel at the same time. It can take a while to get a job and you can´t spend your time travelling because you will spend your time looking for a job, when you find one it will propably just pay your rent, bills and food. To save for further travelling, then you would have to be very lucky in finding a job. Remember you compete with thousands of other for the same jobs, often australians that wont be moving on after a few months.
You also said you liked going out, alcohol will at any destinations quickly burn a hole in your pocket if you don´t watch out, more so in Australia. We were surprised how expensive Australia is and we live in Denmark.
Why not just travel but stay in cheaper destinations, like SE Asia and India and head to Australia, when you have saved enough just to travel.

Theres a thread over on Australia Branch written by someone on a WHV. Might be worth having a read.
And OP, you're so close to the cut off age for a WHV there it would be a shame to not take advantage of it. You might just regret it if you dont.

Edited by: westwood

I think spending time in Brazil during the world cup will take most of your budget.

Dutchy buying a beer in Brazil during the world cup and olympics may blow the OPs budget.

For sure Mike Huxley! 1/2 beer a day maybe and then find yourself a nice bridge to sleep under ;-)

Forget about living in Brazil during the WC with less than 3000€ for the month.

Most hostel/guesthouses are already being booked up. Prices have gone up, sometimes by 3. You'll be lucky to find anything under 50€ a night. That's already 1500€ taken on accomodation alone. Transport costs will go through the roof too. Food is probably the only thing you will still find reasonable. I am guessing that if you wanna be there it's to watch a couple of games (tickets prices $$$$) and celebrate with your fellow countrymen and/or other nationals, which means beers+

If the main purpose of your trip is to travel and see the world, I would skip Brazil altogether during the world cup, you can always go back later, and watch the tournament in another football-passionate south american country like Colombia, which - at the moment - still stands a chance of qualifying.

Edit: Oh and Belgium will win it :)

Edited by: pepfcb