31 December 2010
13 December 2010
planning an around-the-world-trip!!
Although taking a break from the normal ebb and flow of life to travel the world is not all that uncommon, it does take some time, research and soul-searching to sift through the myriad of options and create the right kind of trip for you and your budget. [Perhaps it is more uncommon in the States because we are so career-path focused and don't receive much vacation time (truly criminal in my opinion) so we end up having to quit our jobs which is often quite a risk---but ohhh the great reward!!] We have received a lot of interest in how we've gone about planning our trip (tons of research!), so although we haven't actually departed on our grand adventure yet, I've compiled some ideas and resources below.
1. BUDGET. Muy importante. Although it is impossible to foresee unexpected costs, unplanned shopping excursions (I'm saving all of my pennies for Istanbul!!), a flight delay, etc, it is best to plan to go a little over budget. For our trip, we are budgeting $100 per day. SE Asia will be a little less, and Fiji, New Zealand and parts of Europe will probably be a little more so we imagine it to all even out. We are big believers in balance, flexibility, and living within your means, so although our budget is fairly specific (you can only spend what you've got!) it's good to allow some leeway. Your budget also helps determine your destinations or your time frame, but most likely both. This online global expense calculator is really awesome: http://www.budgetyourtrip.com/countrylist.php
2. DESTINATIONS. There is broad spectrum of planning strategies, from the super-flexible-buy-your-tickets-as-you-go, to the pre-booked-set-date option. Our traveling philosophy has been to somehow balance structure/planning within the trip while also allowing ample flexibility and spontaneity. We chose to integrate structure by pre-booking the major flights. This is definitely not the only way, but the most economical choice for us.We found the best price and itinerary through Air Brokers Intl. They basically organize a series of one-way tickets to your chosen destinations and dates for super cheap rates. So although our major destinations and times are already chosen, we have plenty of time between flights for exploring (3 months to make our way around SE Asia from Phuket til we leave out of Bangkok, and 2 months to make our way from Istanbul to London. This seems to be the right balance of structure and flexibility for us....) There are other online consolidators, like Airtreks, and you can also book round-the-world passes through airline alliances like OneWorld, or Sky Team, which offer more flexibility (but at a price!).
We made a basic list of our TOP TOP priorities (New Zealand, SE Asia, Istanbul/Europe), and everything else has kinda filled in the gaps. For example: we are making our way around the world west to east, and wanted New Zealand to be our first stop. Fiji is a free stop-over, so we decided to extend it as a proper 2 week, palm-fringed honeymoon. Cairo is a free stop-over on our way from Bangkok to Istanbul, and Reykjavik from London back to Minneapolis.
3. PACKING LIST. This is something we should probably write about after we've come home, as I'm unsure how successful our packing list will be, but here are some basics. We decided carry-on size was the only way to go. We found these great 35L Gregory daypacks, which fit right in the overhead compartment and will hold exactly what (we think) we will need. Tennies, sandals, swim suit, 2 sundresses, 1 pair of pants, 1 pair of shorts, 1 t-shirt, 1 tank top, rain coat, flashlight, light sweater, SLR camera, etc....I am so not a minimalist, but my dear husband is doing his best to make me one, bless his heart! It will certainly prove worthwhile to pack LIGHT. (Carry on size requirements vary by carrier, but they all seem to be around 22"x14"x9")
4. READING. This book was recommended by a dear friend and fellow traveler (thanks Aya!!) and has been indispensable: Lonely Planet's Southeast Asia on a Shoestring, and also Europe on a Shoestring. We certainly don't want to feel like we are taking the Lonely Planet bus around the world, but it has helped us map out a basic route and define places we might have unknowingly skipped over. We've consulted tons of travel blogs and been given lots of advice and suggestions from family and friends. In the end, the unexpected and unplanned wanderings will probably prove most interesting, but in the meantime send us your reading suggestions or favorite places and start planning that trip-around-the-world you've always wanted to do! ;)
1. BUDGET. Muy importante. Although it is impossible to foresee unexpected costs, unplanned shopping excursions (I'm saving all of my pennies for Istanbul!!), a flight delay, etc, it is best to plan to go a little over budget. For our trip, we are budgeting $100 per day. SE Asia will be a little less, and Fiji, New Zealand and parts of Europe will probably be a little more so we imagine it to all even out. We are big believers in balance, flexibility, and living within your means, so although our budget is fairly specific (you can only spend what you've got!) it's good to allow some leeway. Your budget also helps determine your destinations or your time frame, but most likely both. This online global expense calculator is really awesome: http://www.budgetyourtrip.com/countrylist.php
2. DESTINATIONS. There is broad spectrum of planning strategies, from the super-flexible-buy-your-tickets-as-you-go, to the pre-booked-set-date option. Our traveling philosophy has been to somehow balance structure/planning within the trip while also allowing ample flexibility and spontaneity. We chose to integrate structure by pre-booking the major flights. This is definitely not the only way, but the most economical choice for us.We found the best price and itinerary through Air Brokers Intl. They basically organize a series of one-way tickets to your chosen destinations and dates for super cheap rates. So although our major destinations and times are already chosen, we have plenty of time between flights for exploring (3 months to make our way around SE Asia from Phuket til we leave out of Bangkok, and 2 months to make our way from Istanbul to London. This seems to be the right balance of structure and flexibility for us....) There are other online consolidators, like Airtreks, and you can also book round-the-world passes through airline alliances like OneWorld, or Sky Team, which offer more flexibility (but at a price!).
We made a basic list of our TOP TOP priorities (New Zealand, SE Asia, Istanbul/Europe), and everything else has kinda filled in the gaps. For example: we are making our way around the world west to east, and wanted New Zealand to be our first stop. Fiji is a free stop-over, so we decided to extend it as a proper 2 week, palm-fringed honeymoon. Cairo is a free stop-over on our way from Bangkok to Istanbul, and Reykjavik from London back to Minneapolis.
3. PACKING LIST. This is something we should probably write about after we've come home, as I'm unsure how successful our packing list will be, but here are some basics. We decided carry-on size was the only way to go. We found these great 35L Gregory daypacks, which fit right in the overhead compartment and will hold exactly what (we think) we will need. Tennies, sandals, swim suit, 2 sundresses, 1 pair of pants, 1 pair of shorts, 1 t-shirt, 1 tank top, rain coat, flashlight, light sweater, SLR camera, etc....I am so not a minimalist, but my dear husband is doing his best to make me one, bless his heart! It will certainly prove worthwhile to pack LIGHT. (Carry on size requirements vary by carrier, but they all seem to be around 22"x14"x9")
4. READING. This book was recommended by a dear friend and fellow traveler (thanks Aya!!) and has been indispensable: Lonely Planet's Southeast Asia on a Shoestring, and also Europe on a Shoestring. We certainly don't want to feel like we are taking the Lonely Planet bus around the world, but it has helped us map out a basic route and define places we might have unknowingly skipped over. We've consulted tons of travel blogs and been given lots of advice and suggestions from family and friends. In the end, the unexpected and unplanned wanderings will probably prove most interesting, but in the meantime send us your reading suggestions or favorite places and start planning that trip-around-the-world you've always wanted to do! ;)
05 December 2010
Less than 1 month to go!!!
After much planning and anticipation, we are finally on the homestretch folks: the COUNTDOWN to our little trot around the globe has officially begun!! Our itinerary follows:
01.01.2011 | Minneapolis----L.A.----Nadi, Fiji
01.16.2011 | Nadi, Fiji----Auckland, New Zealand
01.31.2011 | Christchurch, New Zealand----Phuket, Thailand
05.01.2011 | Bangkok, Thailand----Cairo, Egypt
05.03.2011 | Cairo, Egypt----Istanbul, Turkey
06.29.2011 | London. England----Reykjavik, Iceland
07.01.2011 | Reykjavik, Iceland----Minneapolis
01.01.2011 | Minneapolis----L.A.----Nadi, Fiji
01.16.2011 | Nadi, Fiji----Auckland, New Zealand
01.31.2011 | Christchurch, New Zealand----Phuket, Thailand
05.01.2011 | Bangkok, Thailand----Cairo, Egypt
05.03.2011 | Cairo, Egypt----Istanbul, Turkey
06.29.2011 | London. England----Reykjavik, Iceland
07.01.2011 | Reykjavik, Iceland----Minneapolis
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