Gap Year & Round the World Travel

Before, someone on TT told me that I must have a outgoing ticket when I enter the Philippines. That immigration/custom officials ask for it. I am planning on being in India for 2 weeks before coming to India, but thought I would buy my ticket After I got to the Philippines. I guess that is not possible now. If I buy in the US because I haven't left yet, it would cost over $438 USD (on Kayak.com) to fly to SGN. I think in the Philippines I can buy it for about $330 USD. I only plan to be in the…

Reality check! So today in two weeks time, we arrive in Hanoi. Then what?! What do we do, I mean, what do we physically do? Maybe I should remember to pack a brown paper bag to calm the hyper-ventilation....

Find tenants for house - check
Quit job - check
Finalise flights - check
Visas - check (well, almost....)
Storage - check
Start blog - check (ourRTW.com)
Prepare parents and teach mom how to use email - check!

We are freaking out slightly, but thanks to all the advice we received from you all we…

Hi Everyone,

My boyfriend and I are both leaving on a RTW trip mid october (for about 12 - 13 months). We have about $50 000 (Canadian) to spend between the both of us (that would be ALL travelling costs ... flights, trains, food, accomadations, excursions, etc) ... we have done a ton of research but I'm still so confused on coming up with a workable budget. Ideally we don't want to spend any more than that (we can spend a max of maybe $60 000), and would even prefer if we could spend well below…

So I've finally decided to quit my job, take a break and travel around for about 3.5-4 months. I'm 30 years old, single, so I figure this is a good time to see the world!

In past years, I've travelled to SE Asia (Thailand, Phillipines, Hong Kong, Japan, India), and Peru.

Earlier this year, I travelled to Peru for 3 weeks, and that was barely enough time to get to know the people, culture and travel around...

I'm undecided as to whether to travel in one region for 3.5 months, or try to cover off…

I've researched this but can't find the answer. I have a round trip ticket to Hong Kong. Then I plan to travel through China into Nepal and other parts of Asia and back to Hong Kong to fly home. Is my flight from Hong Kong home considered sufficient for 'onward travel' if I am in Thailand or a country other than China? I would assume so, but am not completely sure. Thanks in advance for the answer!

I'm curious to hear what you favorite travel 'pitstops' are. The cool places around the world that suck you in and you have to tear yourself away to keep on traveling. Places where you recharge, rest or connect with other travelers to share experiences. Pokhara, Antigua, and Coroico are a few of my own favorites.

I'm planning my RTW trip and would like to have a phone with me. What are my best options? Where can I get a Quad band GSM phone that is "Unlocked"? I would like to have one Number. Where do you buy local Sim Cards? Help Please!

I am going through a career change and have some time to kill before I start my University course.

Currently, I live in Santa Monica, CA, and really need to get out of LA.

I would like to go somewhere where it is:

- Cheap (no more than $1000 per month but no backpacker hotels)
- Safe for women travellers
- Sunny
- Beautiful
- Gorgeous Beach

I am thinking Thailand at the moment and would like to go in November and December.
Please let me know if you have any ideas for places and how to go about finding a…

Hi folks, (forgive me if I am rambling; this is off the top of my head)

I am at a crossroads. I have been laid-off from work, and at the same time my landlord has sold the house I was renting (cheaply), and housing here in Los Angeles is really expensive - especially with no income.

Maybe I'm just being dramatic, but I'm really thinking about ditching this town and going abroad, with both volunteer and work-for-pay ideas in mind.

I did a six-month trip backpacking around SE Asia, and grew to enjoy…

Hey all,

I am about to buy a oneworld alliance round the world plane ticket and I was wondering if anyone had experience with them. They encourage you to pick dates and flights when purchasing the ticket even though you can change them later on for no fee. To those of you who have flown with this alliance, have you found it difficult to find availability on earlier or later flights when you wanted to change them? If so I feel like I should firm up my arrivals and departures which would be hard…