travel the world for 1 year

Love and Road

1 Year traveling around the world – Our costs and secrets

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I can’t believe, 365 days have passed since we started our nomadic life! Love and Road is celebrating 1 year of life, 1 year of traveling around the world. The biggest life decision we have ever made, and we never imagined we would be so happy with it! So raise your glass and have a drink with us! Now it’s time to look back and realize how far we have gone!

In October 2014 I wrote our first Love and Road review, six months traveling around the world. The post was written during a bus trip from Pamukkale to  Cappadocia in Turkey. This time I’m putting my ideas together on a train trip from Amsterdam to Berlin, and from Berlin to Barcelona [you can include some awesome parties between my work]. Not sure why, but long trips make me more thoughtful and the stunning landscape passing by my window makes me realize how lucky I am.

I believe you already know how this story started, our wake-up call, how we sold everything, packed our bags and left Brazil.   So now let’s go to the point: our travel costs and secrets of 1 year traveling around the world. How we did, how much we have spent, best moments, curiosities and misadventures. Laughs, tears, fears, and achievements. A true roller coaster of emotions with breathtaking views from different corners of the world. Now I can proudly say that Rob and I are professional travelers, digital nomads, travel writers, and happy people!

1 year traveling around the world – Love and Road in Figures

A world map, many dreams, and some money in the bank account. That’s how Love and Road started. To celebrate our first anniversary we gonna share with you our best and worst travel moments, and at the end of the post, you are going to find our travel bill. I´m sure you will be surprised by the amazing things we have done and the amount of money we have spent.

Continents – 3 – Africa, Asia, and Europe

Countries – 15 – Cambodia , Croatian Islands , France , Germany, Italy , Malaysia , Mônaco, Morocco , Netherlands , Philippines , Portugal , Spain , Switzerland , Thailand and Turkey .  

Cities – 83

Different Languages – 13 [Arabic and Thai were damn difficult]

How to travel around the world? Always searching for the cheapest and smartest way!

To cross all the 15 countries, we traveled by different methods. Our backpacking trip around the world can be split in:

By Bus – 28 trips

By Car – 2 trips

By Flight – 17 trips

By Train – 11 trips

Hitchhiking – 8 trips

Boat – 7 trips

To search for the best prices for flights we use Skyscanner , it´s perfect to compare routes and fares. Most of our train trips were done in Europe with Eurail Pass ,   super easy, flexible and we could travel everywhere with just one ticket. Bus and boats are usually run by local companies, so the best way is to check with travel agents or at bus/boat terminals. For car rentals have a look at Discover Cars.   What we like about them is that they don’t have hidden fees, so you can book without surprises.

BUY YOUR EURAIL PASS HERE!

Where to stay while traveling around the world? Our home far away from home!

We are big fans of comfy + clean + well located & cheap accommodation. Following these features we stayed in:

Airport – 2 nights [Marseille and Kuala Lumpur]

Apartment – 76 nights

Boat – 1 night

Bus – 4 nights

Campervan – 2 nights

Car – 1 night

Friend’s house – 16 nights

Hotel – 101 nights  (We always use AGODA and BOOKING.COM to book our hotels)

Hostels – 25 nights

House Sitting – 50 nights [Best way to travel and get free accommodation. We wrote a comprehensive guide to introduce you to the secrets of House and Pet Sitting ]

Shared House/Apt – 78 nights

Tent – 9 nights [ Moroccan Desert and SONUS Festival]

Most of our accommodation is booked through Airbnb [be smart and  get 20% off on your first booking] and two of our favorite websites for hotels and hostels: AGODA and BOOKING.COM . They definitely have the best offers, good properties and you can trust in their service.

JOIN TRUSTED HOUSESITTERS TODAY!

Long term travel X Shopping X Packing

The world is our address, but our house is tiny, tiny. Everything needs to fit in two 50L backpacks and two 5L small front bags. That’s it, nothing more!! Clothes, shoes, toiletries and electronic stuff. Talking about shoes, our friend Sarah put together great tips on how to choose the best travel shoes . Said that you already assumed that we can´t buy souvenirs or new clothes everywhere we go. All our purchases need to be done wisely, and every time we buy something new, an old one needs to go away. That´s what I call a minimalist style. 😉

We can’t accumulate stuff, nor carry an extra backpack . Our backpacks can only weigh 15 kg [the weight allowed on most of the low-cost airline companies]. So what did we do with our used stuff? We donated. We put everything in plastic bags and give it to people on the streets. A simple way to help and say thanks for all the blessings we received during the year.

So far, in this 1 year of traveling around the world we bought:

» New clothes:

Rob – 4 T-Shirts + 2 pair of jeans + underwear + socks + 2 jumper + more jackets [He lost two jackets this year] + gloves + 2 pair of runners.

Nat – 4 tops + 2 pair of flat sandals + 1 skirt + 1 pair of jeans + 2 legging + 1 jacket + gloves + woolen hat + 1 pair of a fashion Converse + 1 pair of flip-flops.

When we left Asia at the beginning of April, we bought some warm clothes to face the springtime in Europe. Thank God we got more jackets and gloves because in April the weather was pretty chilly on the old continent. For the first time on this trip around the world, we got temperatures below 5ºC. To travel light you always need to think about the weather of the places you will travel to, spring and summer are definitely the best seasons for backpackers.

» Electronics:

1 Notebook Asus F200M

1 MacBook Air [Rob´s old notebook stopped working while we were in Bangkok 🙁 ]

1 Power Strip [one of the most clever and useful purchases. We became heroes at airports and stations]

1 Computer charger

1 Go Pro Hero 4

» Toiletries:

I’m a nomad but never a dirty and smelly traveler [keep this in mind when you travel]. During 1 year of traveling around the world, I managed to keep some of my everyday beauty routines – body moisturizer, facial cream, and my black/grey nail polish… Not just me, Rob is also looking after himself… Age is coming!

» Travel Gear:

1 Small Backpack

2 Dry Fast Kingcham Towels

This past year was dedicated to learning about travel and blogging, so all our energy was focused on exploring the world and write about it. Among the many online books and articles we read, three of them have a special place in our bags [these are the only printed books we bought. Sometimes we are old school]

– Travel Writing (Lonely Planet) by Don George

– Travellers French by Elizabeth Smith

– The Greatness Guide by Robin Sharma

Medical issues in a nomadic lifestyle

After 1 year of traveling the world, I’m the one who got sick more times. On our journey, we had some scary moments.

» Sickness Scores:

Rob – 6 (3 times flu, cold sore crises, diarrhea and a twisted ankle)

Nat – 9 (I won!!! Back pain, mosquito bites allergy , urinary infection, keen injury, 2 times flu, diarrhea and migraine crises)

Most of the problems were sorted out with medicines we bought at the local pharmacy. We have travel insurance but didn’t need to use it. Although when I got really sick in Boracay, Philippines, we contacted our travel insurance to ask how we should proceed in case I needed to be removed from the island. World Nomads assisted us with everything. Luck me, the doctor solved my problem at the local clinic. More about international travel insurance here . 

Impressions from the Road

» Food – As much as we love Italian food, the title of best food goes to the mouth-watering Papaya Salad we ate in Thailand.

» City – Barcelona is still on the top of our favorite cities. It has everything we love!

» Beach – Boracay Island. My favorite is Puka Shell and Rob’s is the White Beach. One word can describe the Philippines: Paradise!

» Best Party – Hard to choose, but the unpretentious Best Bar at Khao San Road stole our hearts and feet. Many nights dancing with good music, cheap drinks and awesome people. I´d say Berlin comes in second place!

Long-term travel is made of people, not places!

This is definitely not a travel resource, it´s more our impression from the people we met. In 1 year of traveling around the world we made many friends, some just for a few days others for a lifetime. Each one has made a special contribution to our story, helped us to be better people, to travel wisely or blog with more professionalism. I don’t have words to say how thankful we are for meeting you, new and old friends. I’m sure we’ll catch up soon, somewhere in this beautiful world, because friendship is stronger than distance and time!

» Most Handsome Men – Dutch [OMG!!!!]

» Most Beautiful Women – Dutch [I think there are no ugly people there]

» Friendly People – Pinoy. Filipinos are the most friendly and helpful people we ever met. SALAMAT!!!!

» People with strange behavior – In Porto   [Portugal]   people talk to themselves all the time.

» Party Animal People – Spanish and Berliner. Different styles of parting but both of them know how to have fun!

The dark side of a nomad life

Some people think that being a full-time traveler is just fun, parties and beach time. Actually, our travel adventure goes much further than just joy and happiness. Doubts, fears, sadness, and homesickness are feelings that haunt us from time to time.

During this year we lost one of our cats and the other one is battling cancer. She is with Rob´s parents and I´m sure they are giving her lots of love and cuddles. The feeling of being far away hurts, and it makes me think that if something bad happens with our beloved family we’ll be too far to help them.

Money issues are always on our way too. As our long-term travel is funded by our savings, our money is running out. Every day we try to find ways of earning some cash and make the blog our main income. [So please, help us keep the blog running by booking your hotels, flights, tours and insurance here on the blog].

Worst Moment of  Traveling

The worst moment in 1-year backpacking around the world was when we crossed the border from Thailand to Cambodia. It was our second trip to Cambodia and after 7 hours on the bus we refused to pay a bribe to the Cambodian Immigration Officer. We knew he was charging everybody more than the correct amount of money and we said “No”. As a consequence they held our passport for 1 hour, we couldn’t leave the border or go back to Thailand. We felt threatened and unsafe. In the end, after a lot of discussions, they let us go.

It’s not about money. It is about principles, about right and wrong. We had money to pay the bribe but we refuse to do it.

Best moments of traveling around the world

It´s not easy to choose the best moment, during this 1 year of traveling around the world so many things happen, so many dreams came true, adventures of a lifetime and experiences that transformed us deeply. After a long talk, we figured out that our Best Moment was the day we started traveling, the day we left our comfort zone and faced the nomadic life. Our best moment is the day Love and Road was born, the beginning of our adventure.

We are not ashamed to say: we have regrets

It was our first week in Thailand, we were overwhelmed by the beauty of the culture and style of life in Chiang Mai. As silly tourists we booked a day tour including rafting, hiking to waterfalls and Elephant ride. That was an awful decision! I regret we booked the riding elephant tour. At the moment was fun, but after I discovered what they do with the animals and how they are horribly treated.

Lesson learned, now I always try to check the background of the tour company we choose. Elephants Farms in Thailand are a big issue and many animals are in danger. If you want to be in contact with these beautiful giants you can visit rehabilitation centers, help and learn. Nomad is Beautiful wrote an amazing article about Elephants and Tourism in Thailand.

What makes us proud:

We have done so many things in this 1 year of traveling that I´m happy with who we are and what we have achieved. One thing that makes us really proud is that every place we came back, like Bangkok, Istanbul, Reggio Emilia, and many others, we had an open door from a friend. People we met during this journey that keep helping us, treating us as family and friends. No words to express how happy and blessed we feel… This is what travel and friends are all about. Thanks so much for believing in us and on our dreams… Grazie, Merci, Gracias, Salamat, Tesekkurler….

Lessons from a long travel journey

Travel changes you! No doubt about it! During this past year, Rob and I learned to be more tolerant and respectful. When you get in touch with different cultures, religions and people, you discover that we are all the same, a person full of dreams, fears and seeking happiness. Our nationality, our color, sexual choices… Nothing matters. We are the same and we need to love and respect each other! When you let the prejudice go you discover that life can be easier, lighter and happier. This is the second lesson: Try your best to be happy and simple. I´m sure you won’t regret it. Simple things can make a big change in our daily life!

Something called relationship – Traveling the world with a partner

After 1 year of traveling around the world together, we are still alive and in love!! So I must say our recipe is working!! What is our love secret? Nothing special, just respect, share the same dreams and support each other. We had bad moments, sadness, crying crises [that was me 🙁 ] and joy… All the time we were together sharing the feelings and looking for the bright side. Not easy to live 24 hours together for 365 days… But with love and fun everything is possible!!! [I don’t want to be cheeky, but I also think that together we are awesome!! 😀 ]

The Bill! How much does it cost to travel around the world?

Now we come to the truth, the figures of 1 year traveling around the world. Since the beginning, we tried to respect our travel budget: $ 50 USD per day – per person. Inspired by Nomadic Matt`s book [How to Travel the World with $50 Dollars per Day] we found cheap ways to travel. We never gave up of fun and good moments, and we discovered a bunch of interesting and smart ways to save money. Another way to save money is to travel slow, there are countries  where you can live for more than 3 months on a Tourist Visa .

 Our cost of 1 year traveling around the world: [all the figures are in US dollars and it´s for two persons]

Transport – $ 9,172 [intercity and local transportation]

Accommodation – $ 6,882

Eating out – $ 6,280

Party – $ 3,542

Groceries – $ 2,611

Attractions – $ 2,117

Insurance – $ 2,200 [one year worldwide coverage]

Purchases – $ 1,222

Pharmacy – $ 660

Doctor – $ 223

Souvenirs \ Post – $ 194

WC – $ 20

Others –   $ 3,526 [internet, lockers, books, beauty, visas…]

The total cost of 1 year traveling around the world = $ 36,532 or $ 18,268 per person. The average per person / per day was $ 50!

During this 1 year of backpacking, we stayed longer in Europe, Turkey, and Thailand. In all of them for more than 2 months. Here is how much we spent on each one:

» Europe, 151 days: $ 13,369 [average per day = $ 88  or $ 44 per day/person]

» Turkey, 78 days: $4,904 [average per day = $ 62 or $ 31 per day/person]

» Thailand, 90 days: $ 5,492 [average per day = $ 61 or $30.5 per day/person]

We traveled a lot and managed to keep our money under control! Congratulations to us!! On the blog you can find the breakdown of our costs by countries, so far our series “How much Does it Cost to Travel to” shows the costs of travel in Portugal and the  Philippines . During the next months, we’ll be publishing more posts about our expenses around the world. Stay tuned 😉

Time flies when we are having fun! It doesn’t feel like one year has gone by, but when I look back I´m proud to see how many things we have done! How many places we visited, people we met, the cultures we experienced and how we became better persons and travelers. I dreamed of this life, but I never imagined it could be so amazing and full of surprises. We finished 1 year traveling around the world, our first year as digital nomads, 365 days of a nomadic marriage , and we have never been so happy!

I can say out and loud: We are Love and Road, we are long-term travelers, bloggers, party and sun-seekers. We are Rob and Nat and we want to inspire you to travel more and better because discovering the world is one of the most rewarding things you can do in your life!

I hope you enjoyed our story of 1 year of traveling around the world, and hope we could help you to plan your dream trip… Would love to hear your opinion about our story and how we can make it better for you! We started Love & Road as our own life project, but now it includes you and all our readers! Thanks for being part of this amazing journey!

195 thoughts on “1 Year traveling around the world – Our costs and secrets”

You have explained very well . It is very helpful for me because I have already planned to travel in my coming holidays. I am very thankful to you!

You are welcome!

Awesome detailed post. Hoping to travel the world for at least a year after our dog passes. Reading pieces like this are very helpful. Thank you for sharing!

Great write up! Was fun to read. Just one small suggestion: you should visit tye rural parts of Georgia (Mestia, Zhabeshi, Ushguli etc.) and then review your most beautiful/handsome women/men award 🙂

Tks for the heads up!

Great Blog/Article. I myself would love to break free and do as you did. I think traveling resets people. I think Americans, myself included, enjoy a lifestyle like no other, BUT the world is a beautiful place and i think we could ALL use a little more exposure to lifestyles, cultures, religions, etc…from all over the world 🌎 . It would benefit us all greatly. Keep blogging. Sounds like both of you are pros now. Stay in Love, and most importantly , keep traveling. -Ryan St Louis, MO

Glad you enjoyed it Ryan 🙏

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Here's what you need to know to plan a trip around the world

Dec 29, 2021 • 7 min read

Don't start planning your round-the-world trip without reading this guide © Getty Images

In 1924, a team of aviators from the USA successfully completed the first-ever circumnavigation of the globe by airplane, a feat that took 175 days, 76 stops, a cache of 15 Liberty engines, 14 spare pontoons, four aircraft and two sets of new wings. This achievement ushered in an era of international air travel, and nearly a century later, travelers are still creating their own round-the-world itineraries. 

You might not have the same worries as those early aviators, but planning a round-the-world trip has never been a more complex process. As COVID-19 continues to alter world travel , heading out on a multi-country trip might be more complicated than it has been in decades. While it might not be the right time to hit the road, luckily it's never too early to start figuring out the logistics of a trip around the globe. After all, who doesn't have a lot of pent-up wanderlust at the moment? 

When it comes to booking your trip, there are several options for booking your airfare, as well as flexibility on timing, destinations and budget. But don't let that overwhelm you – start here with our handy guide on how to plan that round-the-world trip you’ve always dreamed of.

Where and how to get a round-the-world plane ticket

The most economical way to circumnavigate the globe is to buy a round-the-world (RTW) plane ticket through a single airline alliance. These are confederations of several different airlines that make it simple to maximize the number of places you can travel and pay for it all in one place or with points. There are three primary airline alliances to choose from: Star Alliance, OneWorld and Skyteam.  Star Alliance is a coalition of 26 airlines that fly to 1300 airports in 98% of the world’s countries.  OneWorld includes 14 airlines traveling to 1100 destinations in 180 territories.  Skyteam is made up of 19 airlines that serve 1000 destinations in 170 countries.  

Read more:   How to save money when you're traveling

Once you pick an airline alliance, whether because of a loyalty program you’re already a member of or because you like its terms, conditions and destination list, you can purchase a single RTW airline ticket made up of several legs fulfilled by that alliance’s partners. The RTW ticket rules vary between each of the airline alliances, with particulars like Star Alliance’s rule that a RTW ticket can include two to 15 stops. But there are some general principles that apply to most RTW tickets, no matter which airline group you go with. 

You typically must follow one global direction (east or west – no backtracking); you must start and finish in the same country; and you must book all your flights before departure, though you can change them later (though this could incur extra charges). Typically you have one year to get from your starting point to the finish line.

How long do I need for a round-the-world trip?

You could whip around the world in a weekend if you flew non-stop, especially with the advent of new ultra-long-haul flights that can clock in at 20 hours of flight time. However, the minimum duration of most RTW tickets is 10 days – still a breathless romp. To get the most out of your round-the-world ticket, consider stock-piling vacation days, tagging on public holidays or even arranging a sabbatical from work to take off at least two months (but ideally six months to one year). Because most airline alliances give you up to a year to use your ticket, you can maximize your purchase if you plan well.

When should I travel on a round-the-world trip?

The weather will never be ideal in all your stops, so focus on what you want to do most and research the conditions there. In general, city sightseeing can be done year-round (escape extreme heat, cold or rain in museums and cafes), but outdoor adventures are more reliant on – and enjoyable in – the right weather.

Research ahead of time if any must-see destinations or must-do activities will mean facing crowds. For example, if you’re hoping to be in Austria for the famous Salzburg Festival, you’ll want to plan ahead and book your tickets months in advance. If you’re hoping to fit a shorter thru-hike into your round-the-world trip, you’ll want to make sure you’re going in the correct season and starting in the right spot. You won’t get far or have as enjoyable an experience if you’re, say, attempting the Tour du Mont Blanc during the dates of the annual winter marathon or headed northbound on the Pacific Crest Trail in July, missing most of the warmer months. 

Accept youʼll be in some regions at the "wrong" time – though this might offer unexpected benefits. For example, Victoria Falls has a dry season each year , which means a slightly less thunderous cascade, but it does open up rafting opportunities and a chance to swim right up to the lip of the falls in The Devil’s Pool. Going to Venice in the winter might mean grayer skies but fewer crowds. Heading to Kenya and Tanzania in April is likely to mean fewer humans, but not fewer chances to spot wildlife, all while saving money on safari.  Also keep in mind that mom-and-pop locations have their downtime and holiday seasons as well; don't be too surprised if your local bakery in Paris is closed for a holiday week or two in August.

Where should I go on my round-the-world trip?

The classic (and cheapest) RTW tickets flit between a few big cities, for example, London – Bangkok – Singapore – Sydney – LA . If you want to link more offbeat hubs ( Baku – Kinshasa – Paramaribo , anyone?), prices will climb considerably. The cost of the ticket is also based on the total distance covered or the number of countries visited.

Remember, you donʼt have to fly between each point: in Australia you could land in Perth , travel overland and fly out of Cairns . Or fly into Moscow , board the Trans-Siberian railway  and fly onwards from Beijing.  Pick some personal highlights and string the rest of your itinerary around those. For instance, if youʼre a keen hiker, flesh out a Peru ( Inca Trail ) – New Zealand ( Milford Track ) – Nepal ( Everest Base Camp ) itinerary with stops in Yosemite , Menz-Gauassa and the Okavango Delta .

If budgetʼs an issue, spend more time in less expensive countries and plan budget city breaks along the way. You’ll spend more in metros like Paris, Dubai and San Francisco than in Nusa Tenggara , Budapest  and Buffalo . 

Tips, tricks and pitfalls of round-the-world tickets

Talk to an expert before you book a round-the-world ticket: you may have an itinerary in mind, but an experienced RTW flight booker will know which routes work best and cost least. A few tweaks could mean big savings in time and money. Hash out a budget well ahead of time, not only for your RTW ticket, but also for the whole trip. Reach out to friends or travel bloggers who have done a round-the-world trip or are full-time travelers because they can offer tips on how to budget for a trip around the world .

Be flexible: moving your departure date by a few days can save money. Mid-week flights are generally cheaper, as are flights on major holidays such as Christmas Day. Avoid days and times popular with business travelers to escape higher prices and more crowded cabins.

Think about internal travel: it can be cheaper to book internal flights at the same time as booking your RTW ticket, but with the global increase of low-cost airlines, you may find it better (and more flexible) to buy them separately as you go.

Be warned: if you donʼt board one of your booked flights (say, on a whim, you decide to travel overland from Bangkok to Singapore rather than fly it) your airline is likely to cancel all subsequent flights.

You might also like: 10 destinations perfect for solo travel Can visiting lesser-known places offer a better travel experience? 6 things I learned from flying 6 days in a row

This article was first published March 2012 and updated December 2021

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Traveling the World for a Year - A Guide by Remote Year

12. Nov. 2021

Perhaps you’ve seen it done in the movies. Maybe you’ve read about it in a book. If you’re from Europe or Australia, you may have even experienced it for yourself: a year of travel. Call it a gap year , call it a personal growth journey, call it a vacation, call it whatever you want - this type of travel adventure can spark  new beginnings, change lives, and push innovative ideas forward.  It used to be the type of experience that inspired people to sell all of their belongings and quit their jobs to set out on the road.

With the proliferation of technology, quitting your job is no longer a prerequisite to seeing it all. But does 12 months on the road, living in different cities, and embracing new cultures really make that big of a difference? Do you really feel irrevocably changed or would you return to “normal” life as the same person who left left?

Is traveling for a year as inspiring as the blockbusters and best sellers list make it out to be?

Experience personal and professional growth when you join a work and travel program

What happens when you travel for a year?

Traveling is a different experience for everyone and that’s precisely what makes it so impactful. You could print out a detailed itinerary for your next destination written by your favorite travel blogger and follow it to a tee, and have a completely different story to tell in the end.

So how can people possibly recommend traveling for a year to their friends and family if they can’t promise that they will have a similar experience? How can they be so sure that it will be life-changing for others? For a journey that takes so much commitment, time, effort and resources - how can they assure their friend that it’s worth the investment of time and money?

The thing about traveling for an entire year is that it’s nearly impossible to summarize your experience. No two days are the same on the road, so when you try to string together 365 days full of moments of connection, discovery, doubt, missteps, epiphanies, and growth moments it can be, um, difficult to describe. You could give a short answer like, “Traveling for a year changed the direction my life was taking” or “I saw so many corners of the world that I would not have otherwise ventured into”, but those answers just don’t seem to paint the whole picture.

So, what happens when you travel for a year? It’s hard to say.

After speaking with thousands of travelers who commit to these long form journeys, it’s clear that while paths differ and each person’s memories are completely unique, the emotions that they feel are similar  and so is the way that they tend to tell their story. Instead of breaking it down by the places they’ve lived or by chronological calendar month, they describe their year of travel using four key stages:

There is nothing like the feeling of this is it. It’s the moment you’ve been preparing for for months as you’ve watched YouTube videos on how to pack your bag to maximize the compact space, while beating the airline’s weight limit.

You spend your flight wondering if you’ve made a mistake. You’re either setting out on this journey on your own, or you’ll be meeting up with fellow travelers once you reach your destination , but either way you’re feeling nervous. What if you have a hard time connecting with people? What if you can’t find your way to the Airbnb that you’ve booked? What if it turns out you’re allergic to all of the culturally-specific food that you’ve been dying to try?

In this moment, you think back to the reasons why you wanted to do this in the first place. You remember sitting on your couch after a long workday, too exhausted to pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read, ordering takeout, and turning on the TV to watch a show that you aren’t actually that invested in - yet again.

That was the moment when you realized you couldn’t do this forever. You needed to get out of the routine that had been holding you back from living the life you imagined. You pulled out your laptop and started making a plan. What better way to totally shock your routine into submission than to travel the world for a year?

The plane shudders as its landing gear makes contact with the ground in your new home, and you’re broken out of your reverie. This is it. Time to give your life some purpose.

When you arrive in your new neighborhood, you unpack and immediately head out into the world. There’s no use sitting inside on the first day of your adventure - you came  here to experience a different way of life. First stop?  A great ice cream shop with interesting regional flavors that’s just down the road from your digs.

You peruse the menu and choose your flavor, only to realize that the shop owner doesn’t speak the same language as you. After a bit of back and forth, you try out some of the (limited) local language that you attempted to learn before you left your hometown. It must have worked, because the shop owner smiles and hands you exactly what you asked for. You smile. You’re going to be able to do this after all.

Month Three

Hello, doubt. Our old friend is back again. Maybe it’s because you’re starting to get homesick, maybe you’re realizing that a year of travel isn’t 24/7 fun and adventure, maybe you just can’t imagine eating another taco. We don’t really get that one, but moving on!

After three months on the road, you still don’t feel quite settled. You’ve made a few friends, both locals and fellow travelers, and you’ve made a ton of memories - but this still kind of feels like a dream with no end. It doesn’t feel like real life yet.

Things have probably gone wrong once or twice. Your favorite sandals broke when you were out on a grocery run, so you had to make the mile-long trek back to your apartment with one bare foot, fresh produce spilling from your bags as you hobbled along. You got food poisoning after trying a kabob from that street vendor. Things just aren’t as easy as they were back home, where you know how to find everything you needed.  

Your frustration is growing after months of being outside of your comfort zone. You have the urge to run back to your comfortable bed curl up in the covers, forgetting about all of the “change” you were hoping to experience over the course of the year.

And yet, you have changed. You can sense yourself opening up to new people,  feeling more sure in every step that you take. No matter what issue arises,  you’re confident that you can figure it out. You’re more willing to take risks and less willing to spend your days indoors letting the clock tick down until it’s time to go to sleep.

Now that you’ve given those missteps some time to marinate, they’re actually pretty funny. You realize that if someone asked you right now, “What have you been up to lately?” you’d have a few stories to tell instead of replying with, “Oh, nothing. You?”

Maybe it has all been worth it after all.

You can’t believe that you’re already halfway through your journey. It doesn’t feel like you’ve been away for that long - although now that you’re thinking about it, you’ve accomplished a lot.

You’ve been to many different cities by now, basking in the feeling of entering a world that is so unlike your own, instead of being fearful of something new. You’ve accumulated a long list of friends from around the world, whose homes would be open to you if you ever needed a place to stay.

Time is starting to speed up, you can feel it clear as day. While the first few months of your journey felt long and full of opportunity, you’re starting to feel a bit of pressure to fit everything in before your year of exploration is up. Have you seen enough? Have you grown enough?

Then you remember that it’s not a race. This experience wasn’t meant to be something that came with a to-do list that had to be fully checked off by the time you headed back home. It was meant to throw you out of your comfort zone and encourage you to live a life full of purpose. And haven’t you done that?

Everyday on this trip has been packed with moments that have made you grateful for this life. Sure, you’ve spent a night or two binge-watching Netflix when you need a break from the never-ending adventure, but those night have been worth it too. You’re finding out that self-care is not just a trend after all.

These past six months have rocked your world in a way that a different experience just couldn’t. As a person, you’ve become more sure of yourself and the world, more empathetic, and more open to new ways of life.  On a professional level, you know that the experience that you’ll bring back to the office will be invaluable. You have a hold on the latest industry trends around the world, and you’re ready to provide those perspectives to your team.

Yeah, this trip has already made a huge difference in the way that you see your life. You just can’t believe that it’s already halfway over.

You’re having some serious déjà vu. You’re back in the mindset that you had when you were first heading out on this adventure. Everything that you’ve been doing for the past year has been leading up to this moment in time: the end.

You’re wrapping up loose ends, trying to figure out how you’re going to edit down your belongings to fit them into the bags that you started this journey with, and saying goodbye to all of your local favorites. Goodbye to the park that you’ve run through every morning for the past few weeks, goodbye to the dog who sits outside the convenience shop next to your apartment, goodbye to the woman who always gives you a free flower from her stand on Sunday mornings.

This is almost harder than it was leaving home the first time.

You’ve gotten used to this lifestyle and you know that it’s going to be difficult to transition into your next chapter. Will you stay in one place for more than a month or two? How will it feel to not have a group of people by your side that understands the highs and lows of this journey?

Will you ever find people like them again?

Will you still relate to your old friends now that you’ve been on this whirlwind trip? Will you be able to adequately explain the impact that each country and culture has had on your personal and professional self? How can you possibly describe the ways in which you’ve grown throughout your time on the road?

The short answer is: you can’t.

This experience has affected you so deeply and so personally that no one else will be able to fully understand it. The people that you were traveling get it more than anyone, but even they might not realize the intricacies with which you have evolved.

Here’s the bright side: it’s okay.

You didn’t head out on this year of travel for anyone else but yourself. You don’t need to be able to fully impress upon people the magnitude with which you have grown over the past year. You went out of your comfort zone in search of opportunities for development and cultural understanding and you found them. You found them with more strength than you could have imagined.

You did this for you - and you’ve done it incredibly.

As you zip up your final suitcase and jump into the cab that will take you to the airport, you smile. No matter what comes next in the story of your life, you know that you can handle it. It’s all been building up to this moment. With your memories, lessons and life-changing moments in hand, you brace yourself for the impact of your next chapter. As you turn the page, you know that you’re more ready than ever to take on the world.

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A Little RTW Budget… How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World for a Year? (2024)

Last updated on January 4, 2024 by Shannon

When I left on my first round the world trip, I asked veteran travelers a key question: How much does it cost to travel around the world ?

It was the single biggest factor impacting my trip length and destinations, and the number of things that impact a long-term travel budget are far different than a two-week European vacation.

Estimates varied wildly, and knowing where my own around the world trip would fall in that spectrum was a great unknown. I had no idea how long my travel savings , my freelance income , and travel blogging to would keep me on the road, so over that first year, I tracked every single dollar I spent while traveling.

Since that first around the world travel, I’ve spent more than a decade of traveling, and budgeting for short- and long-term around the world travel is my specialty. My upbringing was modest , yet I was still able to save the money to travel and work remotely for all 15+ years of my world travels.

Table of Contents

Breaking Down the Cost of World Travel

Let’s dive into a very detailed breakdown of what it costs to actually travel around the world for one-year trip —the hard costs associated with around the world travel, and the factors that most dramatically impact your travel budget.

I’ve included some notes on the impact of the Covid pandemic on costs that are likely here to stay—from the dramatic inflation hitting the U.S. and the UK to increased costs at hotels as many of them make permanent their increased sanitation measures.

How Much Does Traveling the World Cost?

Generally, $20,000 is the baseline cost for a trip around the world for one person for one year. This estimation falls in line with popular recommendations that budget travelers can spend an average of $50 a day on the road, and allows additional budget for flights and vaccines.

You’ll spend up to $30,000 for a budget trip that includes fewer hostels, and more upscale accommodation, transport, or food. Traveling as a couple or family does not directly double/triple/ etc the costs because lodging and transport are shared expenses.

As you’ll see in the detailed trip budgets below, world travel costs for mid-range to budget-luxury world travelers can run as much as $50,000—or much more!

My Personal Round the World Trip

On my first RTW trip, I traveled around the world for for 328 days (11 months) through 15 countries and I spent USD $17,985 .

Then I decided to keep traveling. I’ve been on the road since 2008, still “traveling” as of 2024, although from my home base in Barcelona, Spain .

In the years since I originally posted my cost breakdown for world travel, other backpackers have loved the precise and meticulous details of just how much I spent throughout a year of active world travel. And even with rising global food costs a decade later, people still travel on similar budgets —yes, so many elements impact travel costs that you can still travel the world for the same price as a trip 15 years ago (more on how that’s possible later).

Let’s dive into the good stuff. The following tables and charts further outline my around the world trip costs including the country-by-country expenses and budget.

Just want the cold hard costs? Navigate my Google spreadsheet by the countries listed at the bottom of my full World Travel Budget .

My Total Costs to Travel the World for a Year

My final costs of $17,985 for the nearly year of world travel completely include of everything from getting jabbed in the arm for my Yellow Fever vaccine to buying all of my pre-travel gear , my travel insurance , all of my plane flights , bus rides , camel safaris , and surfing lessons , and straight through to my first delicious sub back on home soil when I passed through Philly on my final layover.

What does that number not include?

Some personal choices upped the cost of my round the world trip: an external hard drive for photo storage, a new camera (old one was waterlogged in Australia ), and a rental car splurge in Ireland . My personal total, inclusive of all of that, was just under $19,000 … so it’s still a bargain considering I was on the road for nearly an entire year.

In the above category breakdowns, consider:

• Lodging includes all accommodation; I couchsurfed in a few countries and stayed with friends a couple of times.
• Food includes everything from three meals a day to snacks, and funding for my chocolate obsession.
• Entertainment covers going out on the town, sharing beers with friends—this will be much higher if you drink often. My budget was for drinking on average once a week.
• Activities includes my volunteer program in Nepal, and all tours, trips, and group adventures—everything from diving to ziplining to visiting temples and museums .
• Transportation excludes flights, but covers all intra-country transportation like buses, trains, taxis, and tuk-tuks.
• Misc is a catch-all and a large portion of costs there came from paying for fast internet—it was pricey to make sure I had a strong connection for my work. It also includes shipping things home, gifts, and toiletries along the way.
• Flights includes puddle-jumper little flights between countries in the same region—I did not use a RTW ticket, but instead booked along the way ( here’s why ).

Budget of Daily & Total Costs Per Country

Don’t forget to check out my well-loved Travel Planning Resources .

And consider using the blank, formatted spreadsheet to log your own RTW travel budget (this is a Google Spreadsheet, either save a copy of this to your own Google drive for editing, or download as an excel file!).

How Much Will Your Dream Trip Cost?

Finding a way to travel the world is a mental obstacle as much as a financial one. Every situation is different, but I believe that if you truly prioritize travel, then it’s possible to plan and execute an around the world trip. The problem is, there’s crappy information out there about how to make it happen—just as many bloggers don’t really share straight costs to travel the world. Many bloggers have shared posts with a handful of tips about how much they saved for their dream trip, but they don’t break down how they arrived at that final figure. You may read this information and see my budget, but it leaves you wondering if your own world travels would cost the same.

For that reason, I wrote two entire guides to address your current hurdle. One is about creating a realistic anticipated budget for your trip. The other is about saving for world travel.

How much will your dream trip cost? I wrote this guide to specifically answer the most common question I was emailed by readers: how much will a specific route/itinerary costs.

In it, I share comprehensive and thoroughly practical advice about understanding trip budgets and understanding your own style of travel.

The guide is a full treatise on how to estimate what your dream trip will cost and it includes case studies from other long-term travelers who tracked their trip budgets.

I spent ten years on the road, and nearly that long talking with with other travelers about how they budget for travel. Using the aggregate of their knowledge and experience, I’ve outlined a road-map to taking a long-term trip.

I wrote this guide to empower travelers and travel dreamers anywhere in the world with the tools to plan their trip. The guide breaks down average traveling costs for the world’s most traveled destinations, which you can use with the fully customizable Trip Budget Worksheet to create an accurate anticipated budget for your dream trip. Available on  Kindle, ePub, and PDF .

True wealth is having the freedom to do what you want with your life. Many travel dreamers get waylaid by the financial side of life.

If you’re new to personal finance, or lost about how to start saving for a big goal, this book distills hard-learned information into easily actionable steps specifically targeted at giving travel dreamers tools to become financially literate.

This book provides a thorough deep-dive into the principles of saving money, common obstacles, overcoming debt, and the tenets of strong personal finance. It offers a streamlined process to create substantial changes in your financial life.

If money is your primary obstacle to leaving on a long-term trip, this guide breaks down exactly the shifts you can make to change your financial situation.

Many travelers look at my adventures and experiences these past 12 years that I’ve traveled and they dream of also traveling through the cultures, stories, and conversations. This guide gives you the tools to move the needle from dreaming to doing. Available on Amazon Kindle  or as a PDF bundle with the budget book .

How to Decide on Your Final World Travel Budget?

Travel was my bootcamp for life. My around the world trip was the single best investment in both my personal growth and my career. Throughout life we are presented with a series of choices—each has the ability to help us create the life we dream of living. I am forever glad I chose to travel our beautiful world. ~ Shannon O’Donnell

Creating an accurate anticipated budget for your world tour is an important step—you certainly don’t want to plan for a year but run out of funds in month eight! Each person has different goals, a unique world trip itinerary , and differing travel styles. These factors can create significant differences in the total cost of a round the world trip.

Assess How Much You’ve Saved for World Travel

A round the world trip is not as expensive as you assume. Most anyone reading this post has the ability to save for travel if it’s a true priority. My family is quite poor and I put myself through college with merit-based scholarships. Instead of counting on help from family, I budgeted for the trip, and I traveled with the budget I had—not the one I wish I had.

Before leaving, I purged everything I owned and saved ruthlessly in the countdown months. When calculating if I could afford my trip around the world, I even accounted for my student-loan and medical credit debt repayments (because yes, I was actually in a fair bit of debt ). I took on side-hustles to sock away money. And then I worked on  freelance SEO remotely  for the entire year.

Compared to my life in LA, where $1,200+ went toward rent and bills each month, I used that same online income to travel the world, digging into my small savings for my travel gear and long-haul flights . I wasn’t sure how much my trip would cost when I left to travel, and the information just wasn’t out there like it is now.

Now you can play with your travel route and your travel style and come up with a tally in just a few hours for what your dream trip will cost. In fact, I believe so much that world travel is affordable that I wrote a budget guide and spreadsheet to help you price out your dream trip and have all the possible resources you need at your fingertips.

Decide Your Route & Speed Around the World

This is the single biggest indicator of how much world travel will cost. Slow overland travel lowers costs, and you can minimize the number of flights needed.

To save money, also consider visiting fewer places. Every travel dreamer over-packs their around the world route. You surely have a dream list, but unless you have unlimited funds, then you should scale back the number of regions/countries that you will visit.

When I first planned my trip, a long-term traveler advised me to cut five countries from my itinerary. Looking back now, I can’t even imagine where they would have fit! It’s my route and speed that allowed me to travel for under $20K.

Read: How to Plan an Around the World Itinerary in 8 Steps

Determine the Types of Countries You’ll Visit

If you add in developed countries like Europe, Japan, Australia, and the United States, your daily budget will double. Instead of spending $25 per day in SEA and India, you will average $75 to $100 per day in most developed countries.

For that reason, weight your trip in favor of developing regions of the world. Save Europe or the U.S. for a shorter trip later in life, and add a few off-beat locations to your planned route—these are most often the sleeper-favorites by the end of your RTW trip.

If You’ll Eat Local Food, Street Foods, & Shop in Markets

How you eat on your travels impacts your bottom line. Eat locally from mom and pop restaurants, and sample eats from street food stalls. Contrary to many assumptions from first glance, these locations are perfectly safe so long as you adhere to a few standard food safety practices.

Local food is a window into the culture, so dig deep and eat like the locals, asking the vendors questions and learning more about each country’s food peculiarities. Also, when traveling in Western countries, shop for groceries and prepare your own breakfast at the very least.

Read: How to Eat Street Food Without Getting Sick and buy the Food Traveler’s Handbook  to learn even more about safely enjoying street eats

Factoring Covid and the Pandemic into you Round the World Trip

The fact is, although wealthier and Western countries have moved on from the pandemic, this is not case in all countries. Vaccine iniquities and underdeveloped healthcare systems mean that many countries struggled for years.

If you’re planning world travels, be prepared increased costs to test or meet Covid requirements if another strain were to pop up during your travels. What might this look like:

• Some countries may suddenly re-close to travelers from certain countries.
• Some countries will continue to require proof of vaccination before entering (this may last for years given that proof of vaccination is already required for other illnesses, namely Yellow Fever).
• Travelers may be forced to quarantine, sometimes unexpectedly if you test positive, and this may take place in government-run hotels that cost quite a lot.
• Crossing land borders could be pricier than anticipated—for the three years of Covid, the land border between Belize and Mexico cost ~$225 to cross , and it usually costs about $20.
• Travel insurance companies are now mostly considering Covid endemic , but that can change as official travel warning levels change in your home country. Buy your travel insurance with care.

In short, assess the trip you have planned, and read up on Covid policies. Where you choose to travel should likely remain fluid once you set out so you can adapt on the road.

Note that budgets and guides give clear examples of how travelers can truly spend on average $50 per day on average to travel the world. And using the tips above, you can lower these figures even more, if needed.

You could likely travel with as little as US $12,000 per year if you stick to one region—overland for a year from Mexico to Argentina; or overland through China, Southeast Asia , and India.

The price of a budget trip jumps to US $25,000 to visit many regions rapidly. If you prefer mid-range accommodations, that might increase your expenses by $10,000; same goes if you’re prone to splurging on expensive extras like helicopter rides, diving, and adventure activities.

The bottom line : Understand your route, travel style, and goals before you can develop an accurate anticipated budget for travel.

Recommended Next Steps

It’s easy to see the numbers, be inspired for a bit and then never take action. If you’re actively planning your RTW—fantastic! My site and those of my friends contain every essential resource you need to plan world travel .

If you’re currently working, studying, or just dreaming of traveling, I have resources for you as well. And if you want a second look at those spreadsheets, visit my full RTW budget as a Google Document that will open in your browser.

Or head to the free blank spreadsheet to track your own expenses as you travel around the world . You can save an editable copy of these to your own Google Drive, or download for your own use.

Eight Steps of Planning a World Trip

• Save for Travel & Eliminate Debt
• Build a Realistic Trip Budget
• Plan Your Around the World Trip Itinerary
• Pick the Right Travel Insurance
• Pack for Long-Term World Travel
• Work Remotely While You Travel
• Stay Healthy on the Road
• Browse Free Destination Guides

Resources & Further Research

World travel budgets.

• ALA readers Jesse and Ally sent me their couples budget for a trip that ended in late 2019—they came in at $38.2K for two people for 342 days traveling through everywhere from South America (Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina) to Southeast, South Asia, and even Japan. They didn’t sacrifice on fun RTW trip activities: They hiked Machu Picchu, toured the desert in Morocco, did scuba diving here and there, and more.
• A mid-range couples budget of shared expenses for a year came in just under $20K per person .
• A meticulously detailed couples backpackers budget came in at $36,532 (an even $50 a day).
• A solo male traveler for two years on the road averaged about $20K per year .
• A list of  travel budgets by region of the world .

Books to Read First

• How to Travel the World on $50 a Day .  Published by Penguin and now in its second edition, it shows you how to stick to a budget while you’re traveling. It’s an guide for travelers new to budgeting on the road and weighs heavily toward backpacker-style travel with basic tips and hacks to save money by using travel cards, points, etc.
• A few of my favorite travel books include: The Geography of Bliss , Wild , A Thousand Splendid Suns , The Great Railway Bazaar , and Behind the Beautiful Forevers .
• My two low-cost guides designed for world travelers include How to Save for Travel and How Much Will Your Dream RTW Trip Cost?

On-the-Road Travel Resources

• ALA Travel Guides share comprehensive information on what to know before you go in each new destination. 
• Grassroots Volunteering is ALA’s sister site, offering a database of responsible travel companies and volunteer experiences all over the world, as well as Responsible Travel Guides about how to use travel as a force for good.
• Cost of Living Guides show you how affordable it is might be to live outside your home country. You can sometimes elongate world travels by months or years by stopping in these affordable locations.

Working on the Road

• How to Start a Travel Blog : Record the highs and lows of your once in a lifetime trip. This no-nonsense page details the process and won’t upsell you on any courses you likely don’t need. Just basic facts of how to start your first blog, and maybe even make some money along the way.
• Finding Freelance Work for Digital Nomads . Since money is a huge factor for many travelers, this resource page thoroughly covers remote work—something I’ve been doing since 2005.

I truly believe that world travel is possible for most people. When and how is unique to each person, but by prioritizing and planning travel, you can make an around the world trip possible.

Essential Travel Planning Resources

❗ Yes, you need travel insurance . IMG Global is the travel insurance I’ve used for well over a decade of traveling solo, and with kids. Here’s why .

🧳 Smart packing can save your trip. Shop my favorite travel gear , including all of the packing essentials for world travel , gear to keep you safe on the road, my favorite travel books , and more.

🛏️ Find great accommodation . Booking.com is essentially the only hotel booking site that I use. It has a wide and affordable selection of traditional hotels, but also hostels and vacation rentals, too. Use these pro tips to find the best travel accommodation .

📍 Navigate more effectively. Rome2Rio is super handy to assess the full range of transport options between two cities—shows everything from flights to trains, buses, minibuses, and more. If you’re booking a rental car, I’ve always found the best deals on RentalCars.com .

✈️ Book affordable flights. Expedia is one of the first places I look for low-cost flights .

☕ Peruse all of my tips for round the world travel , or learn how to move and live abroad .

391 thoughts on “A Little RTW Budget… How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World for a Year? (2024)”

Can you recommend a travel insurance provider?

I recommend IMG Global for most world travelers. Here’s my full rundown .

The best way to experience seamless travel through breathtaking landscapes is Gothenburg to Oslo train route.

Hi there, great article, thanks, very very helpful. I also do these things when travelling on a budget: 1. Try to find the fee-free and low-fee ATMs in a foreign country. 2. Get fee-free cards from home 3. Avoid withdrawing cash from credit cards as the cash advance fee is very high 4. Withdraw maximum amount ATM gives me 5. Book directly with hostels/hotels to avoid extra commissions

Do you offer personal help/training on this?

I don’t see how you can possibly only send that amount on accommodation. That works to only $8.50 a night. You’d have to be staying in some very skanky bed bug ridden dives for that amount.

The you clearly didn’t read everything. I couchsurfed, I had accommodation included in the fee for my volunteer experience in Nepal (so that month is not included in the accommodation line-item), and I also met many travelers early in my travels who hosted me later in my travels when I passed through Europe. Plus, shared dorms are pretty cheap outside of the US, Europe, Australia, Japan, and the like. Guesthouses truly do cost about $15 a night split between two if you travel with someone. Think a bit more creatively rather than trolling and you’ll get there. fwiw, I have never gotten bed bugs in 15+ years, so I’m doing something right, and I’ve met travelers who got them at 5-star resorts, so price isn’t always an indicator of cleanliness my friend, and you’d be wise to note that if you travel in developing countries.

This sounds about right. My partner and I travel half the year every year and I budget (In CAD which I’ll put today’s USD exhange rates for) 2200 CAD/1,650 USD a month for flights and accomodation (I know it’s weird to combine these, but I sold my partner on travelling by telling him that I could make all the flights and hotels add up to the same as our rent in Toronto, Canada and that’s stuck – so the more I spend on a flight, the cheaper I try to find accomodation for that month)

1400 CAD/1050 USD a month for food (a mix of groceries and eating out. Drinks we have with meals count in this category)

800 CAD/600 USD a month for activities (Going out for drinks counts in this category, as does public transit)

Bringing our total to 4400/month or $26,400 for dix months for two people. (3300 USD/month, 19800 USD) So if we did the whole year we’d be close to 39,000 USD.

That said I also usually spend another 500-600 on clothing because I love to shop – but I don’t consider that part of the travel budget.

Believe it or not – I actually spend more when I stay home in Toronto the other half of the year than I do while travelling. Food in Toronto, Canada is really expensive – as is alcohol – as is entertainment. Tho in fairness I do live on a boat on the Toronto Islands, but it works out to costing similar to rent for a two bedroom apartment downtown.

Anyways, thanks for sharing!

Very informative, Thanks for the share.

Came across your blog, I was wondering what current costs were. I travelled for a year in 2015 with about $9k, so today that would be a bit over $11k. I did a mix of hostels, nice hotels (usually thru mistake rates, or points), backpacking (ie camping), and some volunteering for room/board (I think 6 or 7 weeks total). Mix of cheap places like in parts of SEA and also expensive places like Japan, Pacific Islands, or Europe for instance. I didn’t include pre-travel purchases though for gear. Another perspective, anyway!

Great breakdown, thanks!

Thank you for sharing so much of your information! I am just starting to think about our retirement travel, which is still several years off. This information is so wonderful to review for those of us who have a dream of travelling throughout the world and are in the planning stages. I hope you are able to continue to follow your dreams.

Good luck with the planning—this past year has been a bad one for traveling in general, but a great one for planning and dreaming! Best of luck. :)

I have done a RTW twice in the pass, first time 4 months, second time 6 months, now at the ripe old age of nearly 60 years old woman alone I find myself planning on travelling threw South East Asia and beyond for a year or more, thanks for all the great info. It is so exciting to be doing this again, if it was not for my daugther here in UK, I would stay abroad for good, I will be teaching online so that helps with cost, and I always keep £1,000 aside for emergency at home in UK and abroad, you never know what may happen.

Now is the perfect time to start planning a trip, and dreaming about travel when the world reopens. Do you think you’ll do a longer RTW this time? My first one was 11 months, but after that I found the sweet spot was between 6-8 months to maximize the long plane flight over and time exploring on the ground, but still have enough energy and enthusiasm to really enjoy each place. SEA remains one of my favorite places in the world, so I hope you have an incredible time exploring it.

Would u please advise ir suggest 1st time where u went RTW

Wow, absolutely incredible. Thank you for sharing your story, Shannon! Going on a solo-RTW trip has been something I only could dream of, but after reading your posts and other similar posts, i’ve realized this is a realistic goal i can achieve. Super excited to begin planning my South America trip! Let the saving begin!

I am so glad to hear that this resonated! You can absolutely make a RTW trip happen when you’re motivated and able to save. Best of luck and let me know if there ever anything I can do to help once you start planning! :)

Marvelous work!. The blog is brilliantly written and provides all necessary information I really like this awesome post. Thanks for sharing this useful post.  I really enjoyed reading this blog. I like and appreciate your work. Keep up the good work.

Hey Shannon,

I love the blog! I definitely agree with seeing less countries in your first trip and staying longer is a huge one that can save you money. We just did Croatia in a month and tried to see the whole country. We wouldn’t say it was a mistake but definitely realized it’s maybe seeing less places but getting more out of each place!

Love the blog and enjoy your 10th year of being on the road!

Thanks Dom and Jo! So glad you guys also found it true that staying longer in one place can really help your budget’s bottom line! And to be fair to you though, a month is still a lot longer than many people spend exploring Croatia, so I am sure you have some incredible experiences under your belt from being there even that long. Happy travels. :)

These are great travel tips! Whenever we travel, I always make sure that we stick with our budget and one of the best things I’ve learned is not to be so touristy. We try local and live like local. I love these tips. Thank you so much for sharing.

Thank you for this! I’m planning a year-long RTW trip with my husband and two daughters, who will be 9 and 10 when we depart. I know it’ll be life-changing! We’re skipping W. Europe to keep things inexpensive and to see places the children may not easily get to later in life. I’m wondering if, in your research, you came across information or calculated yourself how traveling as a family changes the math? Multiplying your number by four, even when looking at your specific country worksheets, doesn’t seem quite right, so any tips? Your total equals $219/day for a family of four for a year, and I’m not sure how much to reduce that by due to economies of family travel. I saw your Further Research section and will dig deeper there. I appreciate your thoughts, and again, thank you for giving me such a fabulous starting place. So grateful for the details and transparency!

Hi Stephanie! Thanks for you message, that’s a really great question and it doesn’t have an easy answer. It’s definitely not going to be multiplied by 4, because in many cases your accommodation will be doubly more expensive—that’s probably what I would anticipate. Not sure how keen your kids are to share a bed, but in some cases if you are getting places with two double beds, or even just two rooms, it’s likely double the cost. That will fluctuate depending on where you are. Airbnbs are a great idea, but depending on where you are you’ll likely be in guesthouses in rural Loas for example, not renting apartments, and that will average out the perhaps more than double you might pay for a nice 2br Airbnb in Bangkok, for example. But with things like pull out beds/couches in Airbnbs, and that you’ll be saving on breakfast costs when you’re using them, I think double’s a safe bet there.

Lots of places offer a discount for children on public transport (although when my niece was 11 she was much taller and more developed than the similarly Asian children so they gave me a hard time on the kids discount), and things like a taxi would cost the same were it just you and your hubby, or your kids too, so that’s not going to be times four for overland transport. Flights though, of course, are times four!

Big name activities again may offer a kids discount, but it’s not going to be much in the grand scheme—they may get discounts or into a few museums free, but for tours and such it’ll be times four.

Those are some thoughts off the top of my head! Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help as you start planning! :)

That’s amazing information!! With my wife we are planning to travel from January for over a year, we are a little bit concerned about the budget, we think we can together up to $45K AUD not sure if that will be enough. We are planning to use the site TrustedHousesitters as much as possible to save cost of Accomodation and the plan is to start in South Asia, moving to Europe and finally South America but I’m not sure if the money will be enough. Thank you for all the tips and reccomendations, would be possible to see Scott’s link as well? I’m quite interests to see his expenses around 4 different continents. Thanks in advance

Hi Camilo! Congrats on the upcoming trip, January will be here before you know it, and I definitely think that your planned trip is doable on 45K, but you’ll want to play with the amount of time you spend in each region. Longer time spent in Europe will eat into your budget, so make sure you play with your dailies and length of time in places like SEA, so you don’t run out too quickly in the middle in Europe!

Thank you Shannon for the quick replying. We are planning to spend at least 6 months in SEA and squeeze de budget to the maximum to have enough for 3 months in Europe, I know that will be the most expensive part of the trip. Shannon, any recommendations on insurance?

Yes, that’s an important topic and I have a whole post about it here: https://alittleadrift.com/backpacker-travel-insurance-world-nomads/ It gets into when I use World Nomads, and when I’ve gone with IMG since I’ve used them both over the past eleven years!

My wife and I spent $33k for 12 months and kept a very detailed budget. We traveled in 4 continents and through 30+ countries. We have a detailed budget overview and I also built an excel tool that lets you track your own budget.

That’s a great budget. Your spreadsheet looks a lot like my own spreadsheet—including the former color scheme , layout of the final stats page, and more——but all without any attribution or acknowledgement of modification, so I’ve deleted the links to it here. If you’re keen to link to my post and share where you got the inspiration for your own spreadsheet, I am happy to add the links so others can view your trip totals. Glad you had a good trip, but attribution would have been appreciated since it’s evident you know how much work went into it.

Hi Shannon,

Thank you for sharing this information with all. I am quite impress with your traveling costs and need some advise. I am planning a trip to Eastern Europe and Africa, places like: Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Tunisia, Egypt and more. The current plan is for one year and maybe around 12 countries. Part of the plan is to move from one country to another using ground transportation, sleeping in hostels, buying food at the grocery store, and some activities could include hiking and maybe cooking classes. How much money do you think I need?

Hi Chicho, that’s a good question so I would recommend that you figure out your anticipated fixed costs like flights and visas and travel gear and insurance, and then estimate the daily costs in each of your planned countries. Once you research daily travel costs by country, it will actually help you decide where you should spend more time and less (some countries can cost more than you anticipate, while others might be far more affordable). Play with the numbers and days you’ll spend in each place, then you’ll have a good estimation of how much you’ll need to save!

Thank you for your valuable information! I will do more digging, my budget is not limited and time is open. I have this strong desire to travel because when I was 8 to 9 yrs old I traveled to Iceland, and Europe, visited 7 countries and lived in Spain on the beach in house we rented. Also lived in England and Germany. I long now to travel more then before because finally I can afford to do it. I am 66 and in excellent health. But I know there is no time to waist. Wait advice in planning can you offer? I do not want to waist money. But I want to maximize my enjoyment. I know I want to return to Spain. And my Spanish is now 95% or higher. I might consider renting houses as I travel. Maybe buying? Can you offer me your wisdom tailored to my situation. I am blessed that my dreams are coming into port. And my last days of life I want to broaden even more my appreciation of what I have. Thank you for your answer, ahead I await your attention. Jerry

Hi Gerald! Thanks for reaching out, it sounds like you have a great adventure on the horizon. For planning, I really recommend that you first pick a date and timeline for setting out and leaving—your planning will contract or expand to fit whatever time you give yourself. Then it becomes a question of getting the other things in order—health insurance on the road, your route, etc—all of that is harder than actually buying the ticket and making your dream a concrete reality on the horizon. And to that end, I think you should travel some to Spain, as well as any other places that call to you. It’s definitely easy to rent places for a few months, and that will allow you to start seeing the world and also learning what you want in a new homebase. Spain is a very different place, so come check it out before buying—it sounds like you are ready for a bit more freedom than a house would allow. If you decide on Europe, the long-term/retirement visa will take a bit of time (3 to 6 months or more), but can easily be done when/if you decide you want to settle there. :)

Gerald, I’ve been traveling for the past 3 years as a solo 70-year-old. I sold my house and have never looked back. Considering you are fluent in Spanish, you might think of doing a trip to those countries to our south. I just returned from a 5-month trip through Ecuador, Colombia, and Panama. During those 5 months, I could count on two hands, the number of Americans I met along the way. For some reason, most Americans don’t think of traveling to South America. I speak very little Spanish but thoroughly enjoyed my trip with no problems. It would probably be much easier and more enjoyable for you. All three countries were very interesting and very safe. I never once felt for my safety. Speaking of budgeting, I spent approximately $2,100 per month, which included 13 separate flights. Also, I did look to see what a furnished apartment would cost while in Boquete Panama: $600 bucks will get you a very nice place in the cool tropical highlands.

What an amazing informative article about traveling and budget! Thank you!

It’s a great article. It has everything you need to travel around the if you the budgeted capital. It has a very detailed content including some images and links too. Thank you for posting this article. Happy posting.

It’s a great article, finally some honest data. But girl, please… I don’t want to be that person. But Amsterdam is not a country! It’s a city in the Netherlands. It’s such a shame that tourists think Amsterdam is a country own. There’s so much more to the Netherlands than just Amsterdam.

Hah, you are not the first to point that out, but I’m still going to leave it just like that. The Netherlands is the only country where I visited just one city, so I think it’s disingenuous to say it’s the budget for traveling the Netherlands when I only visited what is likely the most expensive place in the country. And then on the visuals side, it’s just too long to write Netherlands (Amsterdam)—it didn’t fit. So alas, I made a choice that I know frustrates the die-hard geography buffs. Happy travels :)

Good stuff to know. Thank you. Any chance you, or someone you know, has written a book on surviving in countries where you don’t speak the language? I would like to go to China or Brazil but I only know English.

Good question David! And one I know many travelers face. English is the best language to have in a foreign country, because it’s usually the default language of tourism. But, a big exception to that is China, where a large internal tourism industry makes it harder than some places to visit without any language. But there are work-arounds. I traveled through China using an app on my phone to help communicate, and I had essential phrases written down by a local (I am vegetarian, so I always had that on paper.

As for books, one you are absolutely going to want is a wordless, pointing book. This one and this one are good: https://amzn.to/2QqhO9J and https://www.amazon.com/Point-Travellers-Language-Original-Dictionary/dp/3980880273/ – One of these will get you a long ways in both of your planned travel locations (and are better than an app because they will never run out of battery).

Then, download the Google Translate app, which allows you to point your phone camera at text (on a menu or bus station sign) and it will translate the text into English. You can easily buy a SIM card when you arrive and pop it into an unlocked smartphone.

You could also hire a local guide. Even if you don’t use a tour/guide for the entire time, planning an English-language tour (everywhere will have these) will help you acclimate in the first few days. Urban Adventures offers great day tours, as does Context travel and some others. :)

Hope that helps!

Thank you for sharing these travel tips—some I have never read elsewhere. I love traveling too, and I am planning my budget now to figure out how I can travel the world.

Hi my daring thank you so much for your lovely article I read it word from word. I have never done a Euro trip and I was born in Aus. My partner is Serbian born in Croatia and he has a house in Knin (somewhere in the country). We want to go traveling around Europe for 1 year with 30,000 between us. He has a house in Croatia so will save money there. We want to rent a nice car and go around in style on a budget to all countries but the roads are not safe. What is your suggestion and how expensive is the flights between each country?

Hi Jen, thanks for stopping by, sounds like you have an incredible adventure you’re planning. Your budget will surely work, especially if you plan wisely how you spend that 30K (not sure if you are talking Euro or US, but both would work, though certainly more leeway if you are talking Euro). Most of the roads in Western Europe are quite safe to drive, and with the open EU borders it’s a great way to get around. Your budget will allow for $82 a day for the both of you. Although that is on the low side of a budget many would recommend, because you are traveling for longer you can aim for that as an average expense. So in Switzerland your rate will be far higher, but you can easily spend under that daily average in Portugal and Spain. So by watching where you visit and perhaps even doing a vacation rental somewhere for a month or two, you could really maximize your budget and experience a ton. If you are flying (I am really unsure why you said the roads are unsafe?), flights are very cheap… you can do a search on Skyscanner but if booked in advance flights in Europe can be as low as $20-$50 to hop between cities, with a max price usually of 150 one way, and I’ve only paid that when I am booking within a week or two of flying. There are also great train passes and such, which are affordable if you book ahead as well. Hope that helps! :)

absolutely great read! What do you reckon, would 50,000 USD be a good budget for 2ppl for a year around the world? No europe countries Mostly South Asia, souh America and some African & Middle estern Countries thrown in for good measure. We have friends in Aus so we would stay with them for two weeks or so… Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

That’s a pretty good budget in general, especially since it doesn’t include Europe! It’s enough in general, but also depends on how you consider your travel style and the speed once you are on the road. Transport and moving quickly ramps up costs, but if you are taking a slow pace as you go, $50K is definitely in the range of budget+, with some mid-range splurges on accommodation when you are in affordable places like South Asia and such. Africa and the Middle East might not be as cheap as you first think, so do some research on a per-country basis when you start planning your route! :)

In little over a month I will begin my last High school year, and I was thinking about doing a gap year before university and travel across southeast Asia. Which and how many countries would you recommend me visiting?

Hi Emma! What a wonderful opportunity you have ahead of you. With a gap year to fill, your best bet is to head out on the road with a rough idea of how you will start, but then leave the rest up to chance. You will meet so many people on the road as you travel, and within weeks and months you’ll have new friends you may want to join, or you may find a place you love so much you want to stay for a while longer. I have a few resources on the site for planning a route and what to consider. Head here: https://alittleadrift.com/rtw-travel/#planning – for advice on what sort of things you should consider when picking a route. And then this page lists out my own route: https://alittleadrift.com/rtw-travel/round-the-world-travel-route/

I hope that helps! SEA is a wonderful place to start travel—it’s a forgiving place for new travelers and there are heaps of other backpackers and traveling culture to help you get your feet under you. It’s also safe, the foods amazing, and the culture is incredible.

Shannon- Just wanted you to know that you have been an inspiration for me and thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us – it is invaluable! That said, I recently put in my notice at my job and leave May 10th for a year around the world ( which I hope to be able to extend longer :) ) I am so excited! Planning question for you- how far in advance did you plan ? I am in this limbo between not wanting to over plan and would like to keep some spontaneity in my travels but also want to make sure i have safe accommodation as a single girl traveling alone. Another added caveat for me is that I will be traveling with my pup so I have that added concern as the places I stay and the airlines I fly on must accept pets. Thanks in advance!

Thank you so much Steph, it makes my day to know my site has been helpful and inspiring as you plan your travels. I also know how tricky it is to find a balance in the planning. Your situation is trickier than many with the dog going alongside, as there will be some other hurdles depending on the country requirements. I know sometimes places require a standard microchipping, and then proof of entering from a rabies-free country, or things of that nature. I am thinking that you are going a bit slower and sticking to a few regions? Friends have been forced to kennel/quarantine their dogs for up to two weeks when entering some places, so it’s that type of information that you would really need to know far ahead of time. So the balance of over-planning would perhaps be that you extensively research pet requirements for each place on your route. Then, my advice for the rest is that you plan a place to stay your first week, making sure it’s pet friendly, and then figure out the rest as you go. I knew a rough route for my RTW trip, but past that, the actual nitty gritty details of what to see, it’s so much easier to plan those things as you travel. It not only makes it much less stressful in these last months before you leave, but it’s just easier and a lot more fun to ask locals and take advice on the ground. I hope that helps! I am sure you’ve found it, but there is a research portal with information for most countries ( http://www.pettravel.com/passportnew.cfm ) and that should help! Please report back on how it all goes! :)

$3,130.77 for a year of nomad lodging? I’m sure you ‘couch surfed’ a few times and stayed with lots of ‘friends’. ;)

Yes, I definitely did couch-surf some and I had a house-sitting gig in Amsterdam. I also paid for a volunteering program for a month, and the fee included housing (but in the calculations it’s in a different category). But I also chose places where my money went further. My cousin and I spent six weeks in India, where we were splitting the cost of a $12 private room each night. Same in Southeast Asia — I would often share with another backpacker and we could sleep for less than $10 each. When you figure I spent half my time in more affordable countries, it makes a bit more sense!

Hi Shannon, I love the spread sheet and have downloaded a copy for our own RTW trip which starts in 6 weeks! I just wanted to find out how to add more tabs across the bottom without losing the formulas? thank you!

Six weeks! That’s so soon! You can actually right-click the tabs at the bottom and click “Duplicate” – that will add one! Then, depending on how many you add, you will have to adjust the front page that auto-calculates. That’s a bit trickier, so if you add all the countries you need and share your Google Document with me then I can help you make sure it’s calculating correctly!

thank you Shannon :-) yes it’s coming round really quickly! So I’m not great with this technology stuff haha, I’ve added all the countries I need, how do I send this via Google? it’s just saved to my documents at the moment :-)

You can send me an email at [email protected] and attach it there! I will take a look! :)

Laura- I am heading out on an around the world just about the same time as you! I leave May 10th. How about you? Where are you headed?

I cannot tell you how incredibly lucky I feel I am to have found your website! The information you share with all of us is invaluable. I have read all that you have shared on all of the topics you have discussed in this post! I admire you so much! I will be travelling later this year and will want to talk to you.

Thank you Marg! I am so glad that you found it useful! So wonderful that you are traveling soon — don’t hesitate to let me know if I can help with anything. :)

I’ve edited a list resources for finding seasonal jobs – these have helped me get nearly every seasonal job I’ve had. Most of the jobs provide housing which is deducted from your wage. So you don’t need to worry about finding your own place to live, and food is often included as well. If you’re willing to work while you travel, it’s a really excellent way to see the world on a small budget.

http://jacquelineboss.com/2017/12/15/work-in-beautiful-locations-close-to-nature-resources-for-seasonal-jobs/

That’s a great article indeed! A really wise thing to do before going for a trip somewhere is to think over everything twice. Once bitten twice shy, you know. So, think over all the problems you might face up with. Make sure the accommodation you chose for your stay corresponds its actual price. Get in touch with the owner beforehand. Thank you again for this post. I wish next year everyone has a chance to have their own dream trips.

Great article!

After deciding that it was time and purchasing a really inexpensive one-way flight from FLL to Auckland, I have been reading and researching on what my next step should be. I think I have a plan (sort of, maybe, I don’t know AHHH), but would you be able to direct me to articles, boards or anything on what type of meet up opprutunities are out there. I am a 31 year old female and am doing this adventure solo. I don’t mind being solo, but I think it would be great to meet up with people who are also traveling for more then a vacation.

Hi Stephanie, congrats on the decision to just set out and travel! I know that can be such a scary leap. I can definitely help you find ways to meet other solo travelers, although you will definitely and absolutely meet them along the way as well. Especially if you are staying at low-cost and budget accommodation (like hostels) — it’s nearly impossible not to make new friends if you want to find people heading out on day trips and what not. For boards, there are some great FB groups where you could share your route and ask if others are looking to meet up along the way: – https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesolofemaletravelernetwork/ – https://www.facebook.com/groups/solowomen/ – ww.facebook.com/groups/solowomentraveltribe/

Then there are forums and such. Nomadic Matt has a “travel companions” tread in his forums: http://forums.nomadicmatt.com/forum/39-travel-companions/ As does Lonely Planet Thorntree: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/categories/sell-swap-meet-up

I hope that helps get you started! :)

Hi Stephanie!

I am also going to do this around the world solo too! and I am 31 this year as well. I am thinking if I dont do now, when would I have the chance to do it? ;p

Is this a book? :D If not, pls make it one!!

Found it, never mind. :D :D xxx

So glad you found it! Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions as you read it. :)

Thank you very much for sharing!!!

I bet you had an amazing experience on that budget as well. It’s so doable at every level. Some people assume it’s hugely expensive, while others assume you have to stay at hostels. Looks like you guys had a wonderful trip without sacrificing comfort!

great and inspirational story and in fact it also provide the best and in depth knowledge about the Cost per day on different countries. Thanks and God bless you :)

So glad you found it helpful!

Hi Shannon, Thank you so much for all the time dedicated to your passion and thank you so much for sharing all of that with us. I will make a big use of your Google template, with my partner we plan to leave our lives here and start our passionate and adventurous journey to the unknown. I like the fact that you are ultra precise on everything, I keep your website as a reference. We have started a website and I will write blogs and articles on our journey, I will not forget to mention and link your pages; it’s just the beginning so if you have other advice and experience with blogging, digital marketing, …. I’ll be happy to take it on board.

Thanks again Shannon for everything, enjoy the ride! Marlene

I am so happy to hear that you plan to use the Google template! It’s still so handy on my own travels. As for the blog, it should be a passion project for you, something you love to build even if you never make money, and it should provide value that you can’t find elsewhere. Either a truly unique perspective on it all, information others aren’t sharing, or a niche that hasn’t yet been done. Find a voice and a story to tell and others will read. I wish you all the best luck! :)

Ma’am. I love all the detail you went into about saving for a RTW trip – something I’ve always wanted to do and am currently in the process of saving up for. I do have a question though (and I apologize for the ignorance – i just can’t seem to get an actual answer for anything). What are the visa requirements for just going on holiday to a different country? Will I be required to get a visa for every country I plan on visiting on this trip? I saw that you got an Indian visa, but no others were listed that I saw. Does it matter how long your there as to where or not you need a visa?

Wow… this has opened up my mind to what is possible… so really I just need to save the initial flights and a bit of a buffer for a month or so… and if I can get money by working online or something… I can then just continue to live in south east Asia or something for far less than where I live now (Australia). Just one question… how do you get the accommodation cheap? Like do you need to rent a place and sign a lease? Doesn’t it cost a lot more to live in a hotels for such a long time? or am I just use to Australian prices…?

So glad that it opened your mind to some more possibilities out there! As for rents, these are much different than the hotels you are thinking about, although even hotels are significantly cheaper than Australian hotel rates. Right now I am on a renting a bungalow for a week on the beaches of southern vietnam, 100 meters from the ocean, for $15 USD per night. Some monthly rents in Hanoi, Chiang Mai, and other places are in the $150-400 range per month. You’ll definitely want to have a read of these two cost of living posts I wrote for Thailand and Mexico: https://alittleadrift.com/cost-of-living-mexico/ and https://alittleadrift.com/living-costs-chiang-mai-thailand/

Wow, thank you so much. I’ll definitely check out these posts!

Hi Shannon! I plan to go on the road next April 2018, so I have one year and a half to save up money. I believe I can save up to 7000 euros (being pessimistic, because I think I could earn more) and I would like to travel for 3 to 6 months. I live in Europe, so I think I wouldn’t travel, and I have 3 plans, so to say: 1) A tour including Letonia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Rumania, Eslovenia, Viena. 2) A tour in Canada 3) A tour in Asia (I’d like to visit China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodja and Korea). How much do you think I should save to do so? Which tour do you think it’s the most-doable one?

Good question! All of your trip ideas sound incredible. For that €7,000, you will get the most for your money if you stay out of the Western countries. Your money won’t go as far in Canada, but even more than that, Canada is a trip that you may find yourself taking later in life when you have more money, kids, etc. It’s an easy destination to visit. You should look at picking a spot that really excites you and that also matches the adventurous spirit you have right now. My bet is on Southeast Asia since it’s very affordable and also a good spot for a first-time traveler since it’s very safe. Since you live in Europe, it’s dead simple for you to plan another trip in the future for the Baltics and Eastern Europe. I am going to send you a private email with some more thoughts! :)

I’ve heard some people travel for a year in the same continent for under $10,000 USD, South America, Central America, SEA… I hope I get my chance soon!

That is absolutely within the realm of possible if you are limiting the number of flights that you take. Flights are usually the biggest expense, with accommodation next. So if you can limit the flights, and then pick regions of of the world with affordable accommodation (definitely SEA and Central America… South America can be pricier in areas and in the activities). Best of luck plotting and planning those travels!

I just randomly came across this because as you mentioned, you get addicted to long-term travel…lol. I was trying to get some ideas for my 10k I’ll have saved up this year. But, wow! Seriously, 10k RTW is possible, I’m surprised that 5 yrs ago you didn’t think that. I spent 8k last year and went to 25 countries in Europe, Asia (South, Southeast, Central, and East/North), Middle East and Oceania. This year I’d probably concentrate on South America where I’ve not been yet, which should be even cheaper. I did things like a private 12 day tour in Mongolia, spent a month in Japan (usually expensive) etc. It’s definitely possible. I have friends who did this on even less, they hitchhiked and couch surfed most of the time (I only did this a couple times though I did get some accommodation/food free from some volunteer things I did. On the other hand I also stayed in 4-5 star hotels sometimes too.)

Hey Shannon, My name is Claire and I’m currently a junior in high school from Seattle, WA. I’ve have plans to take a gap year or two after graduation to travel throughout Europe. I would like to land in Barcelona, and take the Eurail throughout most of the other countries(Germany, Sweden, England, Czech Republic, Italy, Greece, etc.) I’m aware of the Eurail system, so I will plan on buying a pass. I’m also aware that staying in hostels is probably the cheapest/easiest way to go. The problem is, it’s a very vague plan and I am not very familiar with coordinating plane trips, train rides, hostel stays, etc (Since this is will be my first solo traveling experience). Do you have any suggestions on how to make money while I’m traveling, the steps to take before I go, how to find affordable places to sleep at night (that are close by the Eurail stations), and advice you wish you knew before you started traveling? From your experience, do you think $30,000 is enough to travel with for a year(assuming I also make money along the way)? Thank you so much for your time, Claire.

Hi Claire, thanks for writing. I absolutely think that your gap year is doable and that you can certainly save the funds for that. An entire year in Europe would be hard because of the visa situation, and because it would be very pricey. You can backpack Europe for 90 days on a tourist visa, then you have to leave for 90 days. So with that in mind, you’ll be looking at other places you could work and travel. Have you thought about getting a work visa to a place like Australia? They are fairly easy to obtain straight out of school and many Europeans go there and work (picking fruit or waiting tables) and travel and save the funds that way to continue traveling. There should be good information about that online. I have a work and travel page here if you are keen to find a way to work online: https://alittleadrift.com/how-to-work-and-travel-rtw/

As for planning it all out, that’s the least of your worries. The planning part is more straightforward once you are on the road, but finding ways to work and save now is, perhaps, the most important part of your plan. That work and travel page should give you some ideas. I have a ton of planning resources on the site ( https://alittleadrift.com/rtw-travel/ ), and the working page lists out a lot of other job boards and ideas, from teaching English to finding an online skill. Best of luck! You’ve totally got this. If you dream of travel, then you can make it a reality with focus and determination to save the funds and work toward that goal.

Im guessing this was a while back and prices of things have gone up quite a lot since then. I keep coming back to this page like I did for past 2 or 3 years..keeps me motivated when i’m gonna start mine…Thank You

Hi Mohammad! Suprisingly, it’s still possible to do a RTW trip for that same cost. Somethings have certainly gone up, but others have gone down. So it’s gotten significantly cheaper to travel in Australia, and I would save several hundred dollars a month if I was backpacking there now compared to being there in 2008 with the Aussie dollar was a much stronger global currency. Gas is also cheaper, meaning flights have gone down. So the cost of food in Thailand is about 50 cents more a meal, but that has been counteracted by other changes too. Take a look at this woman, she spent the same figure for a RTW in 2015 .

Good article, Thanks!

I love your honesty! This is going to help so many travellers. I can’t say I kept my totals to the penny, though, but maybe to the nearest pound.

To the nearest pound is still pretty fantastic. So many people dream of a trip and are surprised when they see the real costs broken down for them.

My business partners required DS-82 several days ago and used a website with lots of sample forms . If people require DS-82 too , here’s https://goo.gl/LqB8da .

Hi Shannon, I’m just starting grade nine, but I have a passion for travel and I’d love to do a solo RTW yearlong trip after going to university. My dream would be to leave right after finishing all my schooling, but I’m not sure if I’ll have enough of a travel fund by then. I’m very roughly planning on 2 months in Central and South America, 2 months in Africa, 4-5 months in the southeastern half of Asia (all the way from India to Thailand and up to China), 1 month in Australia/New Zealand, and 2-3 months in Europe. I’d be departing from and returning to Canada. I’d probably stay in hostels and guest houses most of the time, maybe couch surf in more expensive regions. I’m definitely considering working online while on the road, but I’d like a minimum of $15k before I go. Do you think it’s possible to save $15-20k in 4 years of high school plus 4 years of university? Or would you recommend finding a full time job for a couple years before the trip? Thanks, Kathryn

Hi Kathryn, it is so nice to receive your comment! I have no doubt that you can make it happen with that much time and since you are clearly planning now. Since I doubt you can formally work, I suggest you save a portion of your babysitting money or any work you can do in the summers — enjoy some of it but get a savings account and set aside a portion. Then, once you can work, if you spend your summers really working hard, then you can easily reach the 20K in the next eight years. It’s even easier if you have help by living with your parents or family in the summer, then you are saving costs on accommodation while you work between college years. I know that the summer after I graduated high school, I had a job waiting tables and I managed to save nearly all of that money ($4K). I used it to buy a car, but if you put even a portion away each summer, you will surely reach your goals. I encourage you to talk to your parents now, ask for their help in getting a savings account set up, and ask for them to help you prioritize your savings. It can be easy to spend money on the little things, especially with so many activities in high school that require expenses, so with their help you can perhaps really focus on saving a healthy portion of anything you earn. I definitely think you can make it happen with savings ready for when you graduate! Keep me posted, and don’t hesitate to email me if I can ever help as you are saving and dreaming and planning. :)

Thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely consult my parents to set up a savings account for travel, and although you’re right that I can’t apply for a traditional job yet, I have a semi regular pay cleaning my grandparents house for them. Not too many babysitting jobs, since I live outside of a small town, but there are a few. I’m planning to apply for a part time job as soon as I can. Thanks so much for the positivity and support, and I’ll make sure to keep you posted! :D

Hey Shannon, so after looking at lots of RTW travel blogs and seeing how much Europe can raise the cost, and realizing just how much time I want to spend there, I think I might save that continent for a trip of its own farther down the road. The time I would’ve spent there will be spread throughout the other parts of the trip. How significantly would skipping Europe lower the total cost? Do you think $15k USD would be enough for the whole trip?

I think that is a great figure and plan. Europe will be there and surely you will make it back there in the future. 15K will go a long way toward backpacking all over. I am going to send you an email in a few days to something that I wrote — I think it will help you better play with the figures and potential budget!

Alright, thank you so much for your help! I’ll be patiently waiting. ????

Hi! Im just starting 10th grade, and i also dream of traveling the world!….just like you Im going to try solo backpacking. Maybe ill try for a year or two Im not sure right now…and since im homeschooled i have time have a job so i can save up money to go. Im trying to go as soon as I turn 18 and school finishes which is roughly in another 2 years… Im trying to save up at least $30-40k in the next two years and even though it sounds like a long shot I truly believe its possible. Im going to Greece and Italy next year as part of my school trip and so ill get to see what it would be like to travel alone. I have this huge map on my wall and Im trying to plan out where in the world i want to go. Making a travel route of sorts. Pinterest helps alot! I was thinking of renting an apartment (cheap) so I can just travel through out Europe and always have somewhere to come back too… Do you think its a good idea? i dunno… I have some money put away so I don’t necessarily have to save up but it would be great to challenge myself and get some experience in working. I want to work and travel in bars, restaurants, cafes, teaching etc… would i need a special visa for that or something? Do think i should go to college first? All in all my end game is to find a place in the world i truly love and live there forever! After that ill go to university and get a degree in nursing!

Thanks for writing! So sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I love that you are heading out on a solo trip. It’s wonderful that you are able to work now and save up the funds. As far as getting an apartment, that can definitely help save on costs in some parts of the world, but there are other considerations about getting a visa and such. In Europe, you can’t stay for longer than 90 days. Plus, it’s pretty pricey. Perhaps look into budget backpacking through Europe — you will meet a lot of others at the hostel. Then you could rent a place in Thailand, Mexico, or somewhere very budget that has a lot to explore.

And yes, working is a whole other thing. There are times that you can find under-the-table work waiting tables or you can often work in a hostel and earn your bed (this is very common). It’s best to save up the majority of the funds that you will need, and not count on finding work. That said, look at the work-visa for Australia — it’s very popular and you qualify for that one-year visa until you’re in your late 30s. This is hugely popular and lots of backpackers work the farms picking fruit and waiting tables in Oz, and then backpacking this region ( https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/americans-guide-working-holiday-visas ).

Lastly, it’s a tough call on going to college. I am very glad that I had my degree when I left long-term, it has allowed me to earn more money and stay on the road longer because I have a degree. It really depends on your situation. You could always backpack in huge chunks every summer throughout college and then go on a longer one- or two-year adventure. There is no wrong decision, and it comes down to your goals. There are travel nursing programs that could be an incredible fit for you, I recommend that you google these organizations that send nurses for several months to spots all over the world. I’ve met a few on the road and they seem like they have found a good dynamic to work-life-travel. (My friend Candy has a great blog about it: http://www.thegypsynurse.com ). Best of luck! Keep me posted if I can help with anything. :)

Hi I am chandan planning for a backpacker trip of 20 days in may/June 2017 please help which countries should I visit. I am planning to visit whole world on continent basis say one continent or two in a year. Would like to start with Europe. Since I am from India will need help on 1. Which country to start and end. Visa requirements.trip cost with minimum air travel. I like to feel the place I visit. And best places to stay.

Hi Chandan! So exciting that you have a good trip coming up. Europe is wonderful and will make for a fun way to start your years of exploring. As for starting and ending points, hub cities are the best. I recommend that you use Skyscanner to look for open-ended routes from the airport you will leave from and then you can just type in “europe.” This will allow you to find good rates into cities you might not have considered that have easy routes to and from India. Then look into Eurorail passes, the Global pass may be the best bet for the maximum way to move around and explore a lot of the countries on offer. Best of luck! It’s such a culturally rich area of the world to be exploring. :)

Hi just update me on the best and cheapest season. Which countries have good landscapes. I love them. Considering 20 days trip which countries do u think I should opt. BTW thanks for immediate reply and such an informative post.

I think you should look up the weather information for the countries you’d like to visit and you can chart a course through them in the right time of year for your ideal climate. There are warm parts of Europe even in the winter, or you could go north and ski. Up to you and will depend on what you are looking for! That type of information is not something I specialize in, but once you are planning the trip, I have a lot of gear resources and the such here: https://alittleadrift.com/rtw-travel/

Best of luck!

Thanks again..things are more clear now

Hey Shannon, your story was amazing and inspired me to travel for about 3 months… Would $12,000 suffice? ????

Hi Amanda! $12K is a good sum! It will surely get you three months of travel at almost any travel style too. Even if you have a mid-range budget, that will last more than three months in developing countries. If you are backpacking Europe, then it’s a good sum to really enjoy and have tasty food and nice lodging the entire time. :)

Thank you so much! I also started following you on FB, your page is amazing!! ????????. Also I was wondering how far $12K would take me in SEAsia (Time Wise)? ????

Well, if you are willing to travel as a budget traveler, then you could backpack around Southeast Asia for about $1,200. That is staying a low-cost guesthouses or hostels, and going with the backpacker vibe. If you decide to stop in one spot for a month or two, it can be much cheaper. You can temporarily “live” in Chiang Mai or Bangkok for as little as $600-$800 for a month. If you plan to stay in nicer places, it will just cost a bit more each month. The $1,200 is a guestimate though because it really depends on the countries you choose. Vietnam is very, very cheap to backpack, and you will spend less than that for a month backpacking there, but Myanmar can be pricier. I think $1,200 is a good backpacker average estimate if you are in SEA for 8 months or so. :)

Hi! Happy to see that your still responding on this blog post. I plan to pick up my things and just go very shortly. I currently travel on short trips every month in the US but I still crave more. There is just something about meeting new people, experiencing new things and just seeing the world that draws me in. I really think just finally deciding to go and experience such a once in a lifetime opportunity is what my soul needs.

The only problem is I literally have NO idea where to start. I read blog post after blog post but still can’t find a starting point, nor a travel path that will be the most cost efficient. I do have about $20k saved up so thats not the problem its just determining my path that continues to pull me back. Any help on what to do when in this situation?

Also, was wondering if you are still traveling? If so, where about may you be now? Do you expend your trips a bit longer then a month now a days. ?

Thank you for any help, Bianca

Hi Bianca! You have definitely reached the hardest step, which is saving up the funds. In terms of actually traveling and setting out, there are so many various options. There are a few key ideas that can help stretch a travel budget. If you stick to one region of the world, especially affordable areas of the world, then those funds can stretch to 18 months or even longer. You could slowly backpack around Asia for a very long time on a budget like that. Or even start in Central America and then head south until you reach the end of South America. This style of travel allows you to cut down on expensive plane flights, while also exploring neat cultures and countries, and also giving you the flexibility to stop for a few months in a spot if you end up loving it. All of these things would stretch the budget a good deal. I suggest that you start looking at what other travelers have spent in the countries that you are interested in. There are two levels — traveling daily rates accounts for things like touring and getting between cities. But cost of living breakdowns that some digital nomads post ( https://alittleadrift.com/cost-of-living/ ) will give you a good idea of what it will cost to go very slowly. I will send you an email with a few more ideas. As for me, I am currently in England, I was in Spain house sitting for two months, and now I am going to head to Australia for two months to visit a friend there. I go much slower now than I did on that first RTW trip.

Thanks so much for your quick reply ! I will respond more in email !

Does that 20k (ish) include air fare?

Yes indeed. $3,500 of that is flights. I didn’t book a RTW ticket, I booked as I traveled and it totaled out to just a portion of the total. If i had done fewer long-haul flights jumping continents it would have been lower on the flight expenses.

I used this post while planning my RTW trip! Thank you so much for your advice!

So can you just get a year off work like that or did you just leave your job

I wasn’t able to do either of those. I actually worked my online job while I traveled. I had the nearly fulltime work before I decided to travel, so I worked out a budget and figured out that I could travel on the money I made online. I explain that all a bit more here: https://alittleadrift.com/2012/06/how-to-travel-and-work-abroad/ and this page has some freelance ideas for how to build up an online income, which can help offset the costs of traveling: https://alittleadrift.com/how-to-work-and-travel-rtw/

I am so jealous of you.

Aloha! I read your article a few years ago and I’m re-reading it again. We seem to have inadvertently used your article as a blue print for our careers. Becoming care takers has afforded us with a nice way to travel and submerse ourselves in a local culture. Kudos to this articles longevity and relevance today. BTW – You were way ahead of the AirBnB curve!

Well it makes my day to hear you say that you found it relevant both a few years ago, and now too! And I am so happy to hear that you are traveling and immersing and cultures and on a life path you love. Happy travels! :)

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How to plan a trip around the world

 Making the fantasy of a global odyssey an achievable reality is not as impossible as it might seem.

Combining a series of once-in-a-lifetime experiences into a single around-the-world trip can feel like the ultimate expression of luxury travel. It can be a daunting prospect though, with many contending factors to consider. Here's how to start planning the ultimate round-the-world trip.

1. Take to the sky

Air travel is, predictably, the simplest way to traverse the globe. Start by purchasing an around-the-world plane ticket through an airline alliance — coalitions of different airlines which let you pay for all of your flights in a single transaction. The alliance offers regional passes which might work better should you want to devote the bulk of your time to one or two continents.

There are three main players: Star Alliance, OneWorld and Skyteam; the latter, however, has suspended sales of RTW tickets. Star Alliance is a confederation of 26 airlines covering 1,200 airports in 98% of the world’s nations, while OneWorld’s 13 airlines serve 1,000 destinations across almost as many countries.

The small print varies, but fliers must always keep to one global direction, east or west (the latter better suits your circadian rhythm), with no backtracking; must only cross the Atlantic and Pacific oceans once each; must start and finish in the same country; and must travel for a period between 10 days and one year.

Convenience is a benefit here, allowing you to minimise paperwork. It’s worth noting that some countries, such as China, also require proof of an outbound air ticket before issuing visas.  

How to do it:   Star Alliance offers a 133-day itinerary from London via Istanbul, Dubai, Bangkok, Sydney, Los Angeles and New York from £2,580 per person.  

2. Ride the rails

A century ago, taking extended rail journeys was one of the only means of long-distance travel. Today, trains are a great option for travellers looking to minimise their carbon footprint and take a slower, more measured route.

Recapturing the romance of the past, around-the-world specialists Travel Nation can tailor-make odysseys involving   separate train journeys. Vietnam’s Reunification Express, an Outback crossing aboard the Australian Ghan and a ride on the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada can all feature.

How to do it:   Travel Nation ’s 74-night, rail-focused global tour costs from £17,760 per person, including flights, trains, accommodation, most meals and some excursions.  

3. Go Private

For those who truly want to travel in style, it’s possible to circumnavigate the globe by private jet through National Geographic Expeditions. These trips are based around epic itineraries whose remarkable destinations are brought to life by a experts and groundbreaking researchers in various fields, who most travellers never get to meet.

On the 24-day Around the World by Private Jet expedition, you can visit 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Among the trip’s standouts are Easter Island’s Moai statues, Angkor’s jungle-flanked temple complexes, rock-carved Petra and a Serengeti safari. Departing from Washington, DC, up to 75 passengers will travel VIP-style in a customised Boeing 757, bedding down throughout the adventure in five-star hotels or lodges.

How to do it: National Geographic Expeditions ’ 23-night Around the World by Private Jet trip starts from £77,100 per person, all-inclusive, including medical evacuation insurance. Departures on 10 March, 29 October and 28 December 2024.  

4. Head overland

Travellers who don’t mind hitting the open road can try Oasis Overland, a tour company specialising in overland travel. Its longest offering is a 293-day trip from the UK to Cairo via an anticlockwise loop along much of the African coast, plus Victoria Falls and Zanzibar. The slew of highlights include the Sahara desert, the Giza Pyramids and East Africa’s wildlife-rich plains.  

The 16 (or fewer) group members will ride in one of Oasis Overland’s bright yellow trucks, built for traversing bumpy roads while offering as much comfort as possible. Nights are almost exclusively spent camping, and everyone is expected to contribute by pitching tents or cooking dinners.

You could also combine trips by flying from Cairo to Istanbul and then joining another overland tour all the way to Singapore, for example.

How to do it: Oasis Overland ’s 292-night UK to Cairo expedition starts from £9,495 per person, including all transport (except flights from the UK to Gibraltar or Malaga) and a selection of excursions.

5. Do it yourself

Arranging everything yourself is an option — most easily accomplished by purchasing multi-destination flights through a comparison website such as kiwi.com or Skyscanner.

A big upside to this is that you can work out something closely aligned to your specific needs; it’ll require a fair bit of time, though, and you’ll lose out in terms of flexibility — changing dates can be tricky — and cancellation cover.

It’s usually more convenient to aim for large airport hubs — the likes of Bangkok, Dallas, Dubai, Heathrow, Paris and Singapore — as the many competing services provide more options. A typical around-the-world ticket will involve something along the lines of London — Istanbul — Bangkok — Singapore — Sydney — Los Angeles — New York — London. From these hubs, you’ll be well placed to add in more obscure destinations in between.  

It’s also worth bearing in mind that you don’t have to fly between each stage. For instance, it’s possible to travel from London to Istanbul by train, lowering your carbon footprint in the process. Or, rather than flying from Bangkok to Singapore, you could get a boat from the Thai capital to Koh Samui and continue from there instead. A reliable tool for establishing train, bus, boat or taxi costs is the website Rome2Rio, and it’s worth investigating the likes of Amtrak rail passes in the US, Eurail Passes for European trains or Greyhound coach tickets covering Australia’s east coast.

Accommodation is something to decide on in advance. Be sure to have all hotel bookings locked in place well ahead of time. Hostels are a good bet, especially if you’re travelling solo or planning an ad-hoc approach during each stage of the trip, but can be lacking in privacy and comforts. House or apartment rentals can be much more comfortable and convenient, particularly for longer stays.  

How to do it: A sample 147-day itinerary from London via Istanbul, Dubai, Bangkok, Sydney, Los Angeles and New York from kiwi.com starts at £2,189 per person, including checked luggage.

6. Enlist a pro

One of the best ways to arrange an air-based around-the-world itinerary is by booking with a specialist agent or operator such as Trailfinders, Travel Nation or AirTreks. This can cut out a lot of organisational stress, while also enabling you to take advantage of these companies’ many years of experience. These firms often have access to special deals and aren’t constrained to particular airlines or alliances, allowing them to further improve the offerings to their clients.

The AirTreks website even has a trip planner tool listing a series of suggested activities, interests and attractions such as hiking, beaches, meditation or family travel, providing an extra level of choice at the planning stage.

If you’re interested in earning air miles, specify this to the agent so that they can concentrate on finding flights that qualify. Agents will also be able to suggest tempting additional stops — Taiwan, maybe, or a pause in Oman — which can be a great way of adding an extra bit of excitement to burgeoning itineraries.  

Finally, a specialist company can also take care of — or advise on — vaccinations (such as malaria), and certification and visas you’ll need, saving you plenty of legwork.

How to do it: AirTrek s’ nine-stop ticket from London via Paris, Florence, Venice, Athens, Singapore, Sydney, Auckland and Los Angeles costs from £1,325 to £1,770.

7. Learn to sail

Land ahoy! You might just get to utter those words by signing up for a unique sailing adventure with London-based operator Another World Adventures, which can arrange for you to join a classic, square-rigged tall ship for 90 days as it makes its way around the world on a 455-day voyage. Once on board, you’ll learn how to trim the sails, haul mizzen spinnakers and lean on trade winds to cross the tropics. No experience is required, and participants will become part of a tight-knit crew and make friends for life.

It doesn’t matter at which point on its itinerary the ship happens to be, as it’s entirely possible to join subsequent legs. Setting sail from Bali on 6 November 2023, leg three sees the ship call at the Indian Ocean islands of Rodrigues and Reunion before arriving in Cape Town on 6 February. Beginning one day later, the fourth and final stage is via Namibia, the British overseas territory of St Helena, several Caribbean islands and, on 13 July, Nova Scotia in Canada.

If you’d prefer to wait and tackle the whole trip — the other two legs are Nova Scotia to Tahiti, and Tahiti to Bali — then Another World Adventures (which also offers other, similar experiences) expects it to start in 2025.

How to do it:   Another World Adventures offers 90 nights, full board, from £13,600 per person, including transport, port fees and instruction.  

8. Cruise along

Ever more around-the-world voyages are being offered by cruise lines. To join one, you’ll need one important thing: lots of spare time. The circular itineraries are mostly more than 100 days in length, with Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise maxing out at 274 nights via seven continents and around 150 stops. These kinds of journeys really fit the ‘trip of a lifetime’ tag, running up to £100,000 per person.

Notably, 2023 marks a century since the world’s first continuous passenger cruise ship completed its pioneering journey. Chartered by the American Express Company, Cunard’s SS Laconia arrived back in New York City after completing a monumental six-month sailing via Japan, Singapore, India and Egypt.  

They also sell out quicker than almost any other cruise, partly due to having a limited number of departures. Holland America Line, for example, opened bookings this summer on its new 2025 Grand World Voyage. Departing from Fort Lauderdale in Florida, this is a six-continent, 124-day round-trip which transits the Panama Canal before visiting Callao (for excursions to Machu Picchu), Easter Island, Tahiti, the Great Barrier Reef, the Seychelles, Cape Town, Kenya, Jordan and Barcelona among 46 stops.  

How to do it:   Holland America Line’s 123-night Grand World Voyage starts from £19,900 per person, full board, including complimentary airport transfers, a $500 (£400) air credit and up to £6,700 per person in onboard spending credits if booked by 3 June 2024.  

9. Hop aboard a cargo ship

A rather more adventurous way of sailing the seas is aboard a cargo ship or freighter cruise. Carrying large containers of clothes, electrical equipment, foods and most other things between the world’s major ports, some of these allot space for four to 12 passengers.

Single, twin or double cabins are the norm, usually with sea-facing windows as well as a sitting area, a desk, a shower and a toilet. A few boats come with a pool, but most are very simple — they’re built for work, not pleasure, after all — and you certainly won’t find a spa or casino (though playing cards with the crew members isn't unheard of). All meals are provided in the on-board canteen.

The major appeal is the sense of serenity — watching the ocean drift by and having time to gather your thoughts or write that novel you’ve always planned.  

This can also be an amazing way to tick off some hard-to-reach places. Take freighters travelling to Singapore from New Zealand; be it for fuel and supplies or to make a drop-off, these stop at numerous Pacific islands en route, occasionally for a couple of days. That said, some port calls are too quick for guests to go ashore.

Note that good health and unaided mobility — due to steep gangways and lots of stairs — are mandatory, and it’s not suited for children or elderly travellers.

How to do it:   Cargo Ship Voyages offers a cargo ship crossing from Rotterdam to Cuba (estimated at 16 nights) from £1,880 per person, which includes all meals.  

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The Passport Kids

Adventure Family Travel

Trip Around the World Itinerary

In: Best Family Travel , Full Time Travel by Nicole Last Updated: June 23, 2021

Sharing is caring!

Our family left Canada on a trip around the world . So many great memories and experiences shared as a family. Exploring new places, going back to a few familiar spots, visiting family and making new friends. A journey of a lifetime that our family will cherish forever.

Early on in the trip, I found it difficult to keep up with the blogging about all the places we were going to on our RTW trip; the choice came down to either blogging or enjoying the moments with my husband and kids. From the lack of blog posts, you can see I choose to enjoy the moments! So as we get settled (somewhat) into a regular life I hope to share all our stories and update the below Trip Around the World Itinerary .

In case you didn’t follow us from the beginning, here is our Ultimate Around the World Itinerary .

If you are wondering what travel gear we brought and what we packed go check out our long term travel packing checklist !

United Kingdom – July 1 – 7

• London  – 5 nights
• Cambridge – 2 nights

France – July 7 – 23

• Biarritz   – 14 nights
• Toulouse – 2 nights

Spain – July 20

• San Sebastian – 1 day

Croatia – July 23 – August 9

Find out more details about our 16 days in Croatia with our itinerary here!

• Dubrovnik – 5 nights
• Split – 7 nights
• Hvar Island – 1 day
• Brac Island – 1 day
• Trogir – 1 day
• Krka National Park – 1 day
• Plitvice National Park – 3 nights * Where we stayed in Plitvice National Park, Croatia

Italy – August 9 – 23

• Rome – 3 nights
• Civitanova del Sannio – 11 nights

Vatican – August 10

• Vatican City – 1 day

Czech Republic – August 23 – 26

• Prague – 3 nights * Where we stayed in Prague, Czech Republic

Austria – August 26 – 29

• Vienna – 3 nights * Where we stayed in Vienna, Austria

Hungary – August 29 – Sep 1

• Budapest – 3 nights * Where we stayed in Budapest, Hungary

Malta – September 1-14

Find out all the things we did in Malta here!

• Bugibba – 14 nights
• Gozo – 1 day
• Valletta – 1 day
• Golden Bay – 1 day
• Blue Lagoon – 1 day

Bulgaria – September 14 – 17

• Sofia – 3 nights

United Arab Emirates – September 17 – 28

• Dubai – 5 nights * Where we stayed in Dubai, UAE
• Arabian Desert – 2 nights * Where we stayed for our Desert Safari
• Abu Dhabi – 4 nights * Where we stayed for 3 nights & Where we stayed for 1 night

South Africa  – September 28 – October 17

• Cape Town – 12 nights
• Ndabushi Safari Lodge – 4 nights * Where we stayed for this African Safari
• Kambaku Safari Lodge – 2 nights * Where we stayed for this African Safari

Vietnam – October 18 – November 16

Check out our 4-week Vietnam Itinerary here!

• Ho Chi Minh City – 5 nights
• Hanoi – 4 nights
• Halong Bay – 2 nights
• Hue – 3 nights
• Hoi An – 2 nights
• Da Nang – 1 night
• Mekong Delta – 2 nights
• Phu Quoc Island – 10 nights

Singapore – November 16 – 19

• Singapore – 3 nights

Malaysia – November 19 – December 3

• Langkawi Island – 14 nights

Indonesia – December 3 – 29

• Sanur, Bali – 26 nights
• Ubud – 1 day
• Kuta – 2 days
• Seminyak – 1 day

Thailand – December 29 – February 18

• Bangkok – 8 nights * Where we stayed in Bangkok
• Kamala Beach- 20 nights * Where we stayed in Kamala
• Karon Beach – 9 nights * Where we stayed in Karon
• Phi Phi Islands – 5 nights
• Krabi – 8 nights

Cambodia – February 18 – 23

• Siem Reap – 4 nights

Australia – February 23 – March 28

Check out our full post for all the details on our 4 weeks in Australia!

• Gold Coast – 5 nights
• Hervey Bay – 1 night
• Fraser Island – 2 nights
• Sunshine Coast – 3 nights
• Whitsundays – 1 day
• Great Barrier Reef – 1 day
• Melbourne – 3 nights
• Lorne * Where we stayed in Lorne
• Apollo Bay * Where we stayed in Apollo Bay
• Port Campbell * Where we stayed in Port Campbell
• Torquay * Where we stayed in Torquay
• Bondi Beach – 4 nights
• Sydney – 4 nights * Where we stayed in Sydney Harbour

Vanuatu – April 2

• Vanuatu – 1 day
• Lifou, Loyalty Island – 1 day
• Noumea, New Caledonia – 1 day

New Zealand – April 9 – May 13

• 33-Day Campervan Trip – 1 Month South Island & North Island Itinerary
• Christchurch – 1 night
• Lake Pukaki – 1 night
• Mount Cook – 1 night
• Wanaka – 2 nights
• Queenstown – 3 nights
• Milford Sound – 1 night
• Fox Glacier – 1 night
• Motuek – 3 nights
• Nelson – 1 night
• Picton – 1 night
• Wellington – 1 night
• Greytown – 2 nights
• Taupo – 1 night
• Rotorua – 2 nights
• Waitomo – 1 night
• Hobbiton – 1 day
• Coromandel Penisula – 3 nights
• Russell – 3 nights
• Orewa – 1 night
• Auckland – 2 nights

United States  of America – May 13 – June 1

• Houston, Texas – 19 nights

Canada – June 1 – July 1

• We visited more places in Saskatchewan and spent the summer boating and enjoying lake life on the prairies.

RTW Travel Facts & Numbers:

• International Travel Dates – July 1, 2017 – June 1, 2018
• Countries Visited – 23
• Cities Visited – 81
• North America
• Days Out of Canada – 336 days
• UNESCO sites – 28
• Flights – 37
• Ferries – 7
• Trains – 4
• Car Rentals – 4
• Cruises – 2
• Campervan Rentals – 1
• Taxi/Uber/TukTuk/Trams/etc – Too many to count
• Apartment Rental – 154
• Hotel/Resort – 82
• Campervan – 33
• Family & Friends – 32
• Boats – 13
• Safari – 6
• Planes – 5
• Cabin/Cottage – 8
• Hostel – 3
• Broken Glasses – 2
• Worn-out Shoes & Sandles – 10
• Teeth Lost – 3
• Haircuts – 16
• Lost Wallet – 1
• Lost Luggage – 0
• Total Avg Weight Luggage – 62kg / 137lbs

Around the World Itinerary Planning Tips

The toughest part for me was when I started to plan the trip and how to travel around the world . I didn’t know anyone that had done an around the world trip before. I had no idea where to start and how to plan a trip around the world ,  so hopefully, a few tips below can get you started on the world trip planning!

• Check out our Pre Travel Checklist of Things to do Before Travelling for a Year!
• Set some clear expectations on what you want to get out of your trip around the world . We outlined what we thought would be our world trip success here before we left so we always looked back to make sure our trip was aligned with these trip goals.
• Being from Canada we knew we wanted to follow the sun and stay in warm climates ! This also helped with packing for a year too. So we spent a significant amount of time in Southeast Asia, both for the temperatures and also the cost helped stretch our budget for a year.
• We looked into RTW tickets (round the world flights) and we found they would have been cheaper if we knew what our exact route was going to be. But, we wanted to have the freedom of planning out our destinations 4-6 weeks out ahead of time.
• We also were open-minded about if we needed to come back for any reason we would have only lost money for accommodations and flights for approximately 6 weeks. 
• We found that three days in major city centers were the right amount of time for us. This would give us 2 full days of sightseeing and also helped with the budget since bigger cities generally cost more money.
• We found it useful to sometimes book half-day tours or day tours to be able to see more within that timeframe and help with taking some planning away from us. We used Get Your Guide and Viator to book these tours and get some ideas. 

• We really wanted to go to South America to reach our 6th continent on the trip, we researched into it a lot but we had a budget set aside for the trip and this was not going to fit it. So we decided that we could spend a month in New Zealand to extend our trip. We had to make adjustments with closer flights to keep on track with the budget. We generally used Skyscanner to help us search for destinations and compare flights to different locations with this tool.
• Staying longer in places was just simply cheaper, so if you can travel slower you will be able to save more money and travel longer.
• We used and stayed in VRBO for most of our accommodations and overall were happy with the places we stayed at. This provided us with a home away from home feel that we needed since being away for so long. We stayed at Apartments for over 200+ nights.
• A general guiding rule we had was anything less than 3 nights we would stay in a hotel. We used mostly Booking.com to book our hotel rooms. 
• Be sure to have travel insurance for your RTW trip, we used World Nomads and were extremely happy with their services. We had to extend our coverage to the United States (as that was not originally part of the plan), and making the changes with World Nomads was extremely easy! You can read our ENTIRE review of the family travel insurance in this post here.
• Schooling for kids was a big item for us to sort out. I worked through the kid’s school plans for our world trip in detail and outlined their world school program here .
• Pre-planning for this trip around the world took approximately 1 year to put everything together and prepare to be gone from our regular life.
• Although the saving for the trip took a lot longer, you can check out more details on how we saved for the trip . 
• We started itinerary planning for our world travel with our family bucket list and mapped out the tentative travel routes with the months of the year.
• The first destination on our around the world trip we chose was London. This was to help transition our kids into travelling full-time and ease their way into it with the same language, adjust to different time zone and slowly get our kids into the rhythm.
• Don’t take anything for granted! Be in the moment and truly enjoy you are going to travel around the world!  This was my dream and I learned so much by travelling with my kids and this was our tour of the world together!

Looking for more inspiration? Check out some of our favourite family travel quotes here !

Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. More Info:  Disclosure

Connect With Us

June 3, 2018 at 11:56 pm

Wow! What a journey! It is a lifetime experience for the kids for sure! Interesting to know what were their favourite places and the most memorable moments of the trip.

The Passport Kids says

June 9, 2018 at 8:31 am

Hi Nat – An amazing lifetime experience for our entire family. Everyone has their favourite or special moments it is tough to pick just one. I think for me it had to be the safari in South Africa… it was everything that I imagine and more. Just so different than anything like our typical lives in Canada and I am a wilderness gal :) I am going to be getting more blog posts up about our trip now that we are getting back to a “regular” type life and we will share more about our moments! Thanks for following along!

Kuheli says

September 28, 2018 at 8:19 pm

Such a leap of faith to do this. And I am glad you chose not to blog while on the trip and just experience it. A year of travel is a lifetime of experiences. Please do let me know what’s the best age to do this. My son is 3 and I would love to do if not a year then 6 months of travel.

October 13, 2018 at 8:36 pm

Thanks so much for the support and understanding. To me, it was about enjoying the moments… I won’t ever get those moments back and will never regret that decision. To be honest, any age is the best age. I think it would be different experiences with every age, the most important part is really to just go and do it! You’ll know in your heart when the right time is, but regardless spending time with your son and exploring the world will be remarkable! Best of luck and please let me know when you go! I would love to hear when and where :)

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Home » Budget Travel » How to Travel for a Year – Even If You’re Broke!

How to Travel for a Year – Even If You’re Broke!

Are you dreaming of travel but overwhelmed with how to make those dreams a reality? You are not alone!

Here at The Broke Backpacker, most of us are familiar with yearning to hit the open road but being unsure of how to make it happen. I remember when I was a teenager, pouring over battered National Geographics, plotting our routes across the world map on my wall and thinking that hell, it’s all well and good to want to hit the road on these grand adventures, but how can I actually make these a reality?

This article is your ticket to understanding exactly HOW to make your dream a reality and hit the road for a whole year of travel. This is a co-authored post between myself, Will Hatton, the OG Broke Backpacker and founder of the site, and Audy Scala, the next generation of broke backpacker. Audy hit the road at the age of 17 on an extreme budget and hitchhiked her way across Central America, picking up odd jobs along the way to stretch out her journey.

This post aims to combine our experience, knowledge and tips to arm you with the information you need to prepare and then launch your very own one year travel adventure. But first… 

Do You Want to Travel FOREVER??

Pop your email in below to get a FREE copy of ‘How to Travel the World on $10 a Day!’.

How to Travel for a Year: Getting Past The Stumbling Blocks

It’s normal to be afraid, nervous, and anxious before you hit the road. Many of us struggle with overcoming three major stumbling blocks, let’s dive in and we’ll show you how to get past them…

Stumbling Block 1: Unsupportive friends and family

Many folks dreaming of hitting the road for a year will not be particularly encouraged by friends or family. It’s very common to have the insecurities of those around you projected onto you when you share your travel dreams…

• “Get a job, get a mortgage and a house, get married, have some kids, work hard, retire, and THEN… then you can travel”

• “Traveling for a year will RUIN your work prospects, don’t do it”

• “ Traveling is so expensive , you’ll run out of money in weeks and have to come home”

• “Traveling is hard, aren’t you scared?”

• “You can’t go there! You’ll be kidnapped or murdered for sure”

We strongly recommend to just let these comments roll off you like water, try not to get pissed off. Unsupportive comments usually say more about the commenter than you.

A lot of the time people are freaked out by the concept of there being ‘a choice’ to do something else and will try to subconsciously derail anybody in their circle who threatens their belief system on what ‘building a future’ looks like. Again, try not to let it bother you, it’s usually best to just not engage. 

Audy’s Experience:

When I was 16, living in Arizona, I was faced with the daunting task of choosing a university and essentially determining the trajectory of my entire future. I also had to figure out how I would pay the insane price to attend university in the States. I was overwhelmed and would daydream about traveling the world. 

I didn’t know what I wanted to study but kept being told that I needed to have the “college experience.” I researched volunteer opportunities online because it seemed like that was the most accessible way of traveling while young, but most of the organizations I found were insanely expensive. 

I started Googling ‘How to travel cheap’ and came across Will’s book on ‘ How to Travel the World on $10 a Day ’ . I was amazed at the concept that I could use the savings I had, which was about $5000 and travel for at least a year, whereas if I were to travel in the USA, $5k would be gone much more quickly and would barely make a dent in the university fees I was looking at…

I decided to take the leap and not attend university. I was looked down upon and didn’t receive much support from my community or peers with people telling me I was going to get myself killed.

It was a hard time, to say the least. I struggled with feeling unsure of myself but ultimately I knew I just had to try life on the road, the rewards seemed worth pushing through the uncertainty and anxiety. 

The concept of a gap year is more normalized in other countries, mostly European ones. It was so cool to meet so many people abroad who were also taking this year to learn about themselves, learn about other cultures and open their minds beyond the bubble they had been existing in in their home town… 

Stumbling Block 2: Getting Money Together (Saving up $5000)

It’s been over a decade since I first hit the road with about £3000 to my name… I traveled for a long time on a budget averaging out at $10 a day. Today, this may still be possible, but a budget of $20 a day will give you a lot more flexibility.

I’m currently working on a re-write and update of our famed Broke Backpacker Bible. So, keep an eye out for that as it will be full of new tips and tricks on how to travel the world on the cheap. 

I recommend that you do what you can to scrape together around $5000 – this is a good foundation with which you can begin your year-long adventure. Do not be afraid to work… hustle hard!

My childhood was often spent buying and selling stuff and before I hit the road I was constantly hitting up thrift and charity shops, finding stuff I could sell for a small profit on eBay. All while also working 60 hours a week (more if I could get it) as a manual laborer.

I worked my absolute ASS off in the few months running up to my travels and stopped spending money on everything apart from the barest of necessities.

I believe that if you work hard and hustle smart, you can earn what you need in about four months.

If you really truly want your travel dream to become a reality – you have to be willing to work hard doing jobs that might be very tedious in order to make it happen. Trust us though, it’s worth it for the adventure-hungry backpacker. There are a LOT of opportunities to make money if you get a bit creative, both before you travel and when on the road. 

I had the privilege of going to high school in America where I was able to work a summer and save up around $4,000 in a couple of months. I’ve had a plethora of jobs from swim coaching and lifeguarding to waitressing and busking on the street. I picked up any job I could get and was often working two to three jobs at a time and making sure I was saving the majority of my paycheck.

My grandma was hands down my biggest supporter when it came to my travel journey. Her influence began when I was young and we would sit under the stars, chatting and sharing dreams. I would often excitedly splurt out all the inner workings of my 15-year-old brain; how I wanted to be a snowboard instructor in Japan, scuba dive in Thailand, trek through Nepal, road trip through South America, or skydive in the Alps.

As she sat, gleaming with sage wisdom and listening intently, she always led me to the same advice. If I wanted to make any of this happen, if I wanted my dreams to be realized, I had to face the reality that I needed to work for it .

That was the simple truth, that I couldn’t just assume my dreams would fall into my lap or rely on someone else to make them happen for me. That all of my dreams, NO MATTER HOW LARGE, were fully possible , I just had to make them happen for myself. This advice shaped me and gave me the confidence I needed to make this lifestyle a reality. 

Whilst it is absolutely possible to travel on $10 a day or even less, you will be extremely limited in what you can do and ultimately it does make sense to do the work, earn the money, and hit the road with a bit more confidence.

Stumbling Block 3: Feeling Anxious or Unsure of Yourself

The greatest of journeys, adventures and life-changing moments all begin with a single step. And yet, that first step is SO MUCH harder than the ones to follow.

Making the decision to travel, making the commitment to yourself to work hard to save some cash so that you can hit the road. This decision is by its very nature both intoxicating and anxiety-inducing.

As previously mentioned, many folks may not be supportive, and it’s OH SO COMMON to have a friend promise to come with you only to drop out of the trip leaving you to face a whole bundle of anxiety about whether or not you should travel solo . The answer is yes, yes you should.

Growth begins at the edge of your comfort zone, to continue to expand your skillset and to evolve into a more capable, more confident, human being you NEED to frequently get uncomfortable. Being on the road, especially if you’re traveling broke backpacker style on a tight budget and throwing in some hitchhiking, camping, cooking on a portable stove style shenanigans, is an experience that will stretch out your comfort zone. 

It is totally normal to feel anxious before you sling on your backpack for the first time and walk out the door, but do it – just do it – you won’t regret it. 

Honestly, as a solo female traveler , after being on the road for 2.5 years, the hardest thing I went through was leaving. It can be fucking terrifying. Leaving all that you know, your bubble, your friends and family to face the unknown, and see the world.  

After years of dreaming, knowing this was all I wanted to do, there were so many times I almost canceled my flight, even up until I was getting dropped off at the airport. I was scared shitless.

But then it happened, sitting on the plane, by myself, watching the clouds out the window. A feeling of ecstasy washed over me and excitement coursed through my bones. I was doing it. It was real. I continue to get this feeling on every flight I take, as I know my future will be filled with uncertainty and that is half the adventure. 

W hy Travel for a Year?

There are so many pros to long-term travel.

Long-term, slow travel , is VERY different to shorter trips or even 2-3 month backpacking adventures. By giving yourself a full year, you are able to truly LIVE the travel lifestyle with all the good, bad and ugly. 

There are a lot of personal development opportunities that are really only fully possible when on a longer trip. A year out… a year just for you… this does NOT mean a year to slack off, party on down and basically accomplish nothing. It means a year full of exploration, new connections and daily journal entries. A year of new experiences and pushing past social anxiety. A year to expand and grow. 

Crucially, a year of travelling gives you long enough to relax into the trip, to set goals – such as daily journaling, a challenging hike, or starting an online hustle – whilst still on the road. The road is an incredibly inspiring teacher and if you are willing to work, to learn, to create whilst travelling then the opportunities are truly limitless. 

My favorite part of long-term travel is the community aspect! It’s amazing to be able to really immerse yourself somewhere and dive deeply into the daily life of the people living there. Find your favorite coffee shop and make friends with the waitress. Get to know every alleyway and learn the backroads. 

It Takes Time to Settle Into the Groove…

It takes a couple of months to get adjusted to the travel lifestyle – especially if this is your first time travelling. A year is a good medium between choosing if this is a lifestyle you want and also pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.

It’s Cheaper to Travel Slower

Travelling slower allows you to save loads of money. Flights are expensive… if you choose to go hitchhiking or self-drive an ambitious route – let’s say the length of South America – this is going to end up taking longer but also costing less and giving you some pretty epic experiences along the way. 

I began my travels hopping around from hostel to hostel every other day. There was so much to see and I just wanted to see it all as fast as possible. But one day I ended up in a small Mexican surf town and fell in love with the people and the energy.

I was able to rent a small place with the beach on my doorstep for just $75 a month. This was a huge change to my $10-$15 a night hostels… When you travel slower you can also buy groceries, cook for yourself and immerse yourself deeper into a local culture and community. 

H ow to Travel for a Year on a Budget

Ok friends, welcome to the meat in the sandwich. There’s some fucking gold here, so get excited.

We’ve designed the perfect way to format a year-long trip on a budget …

We reckon we’ve figured out the optimum way to stretch $5000 into a one-year trip by splitting your trip into different sections; your easy intro travels, a volunteering stage, a work stage, and a final more adventurous travels stage. 

Part One: Three / Four Months of Easy-ish Travel

To start your adventure, we recommend choosing a region of the world that is relatively backpacker-friendly, and easy-ish to get around. Where you go ultimately depends on how much money you’ve got saved up. If you only have a couple of thousand dollars to your name then you very much are limited to cheaper regions like Iran, Pakistan, India, Nicaragua, and Cambodia.

These are truly AWESOME countries to travel around but starting backpacking in Pakistan or India for example is not for the faint-hearted as these are more challenging from both a logistics and a culture-shock point of view. 

There are two obvious choices for the broke backpacker hitting the road on a budget; backpacking Southeast Asia and backpacking Central America. Both are well-connected to make getting around easy and offer a dizzying array of attractions, cultures and adventures. These regions are well set up for backpackers and can be traveled on a budget.

Europe is fucking expensive, Australia is fucking expensive, America is fucking expensive… we recommend avoiding traveling to these countries as you can always do them later when you have more money and traveling in these places on a budget can be, well, a little bit miserable. 

We recommend hitting the road for three-four months of adventures, meeting new people , and getting a much-needed breath of fresh air from what you’re used to. This will galvanize you and make you ready for the next part… 

Audy’s Experience:

When I started traveling I went straight to Mexico. Initially, I had planned a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia but then…. Covid. After a while, one of the only remaining countries that was open was Mexico. I was disappointed I wasn’t going on my planned trip to SEA but backpacking Mexico ended up being exactly where I needed to be. Mexico and Central America were so incredibly easy to navigate as a first-time traveler. There is an extensive bus system, (some of them decked out with wifi and TVs) as well as a large backpacking community.

Part Two: Saving up Some Cash

Go to Australia, get an Australian working holiday visa , and be prepared to work. The minimum wage is $23 an hour and you can often earn a lot more than that; especially in construction or in the mining industry.

If rocking up to Australia really broke, find a volunteering placement using workaway or volunteer in a hostel in exchange for room and board, in order to keep your spending super low whilst you hunt for a job. 

You can also find good gigs in working in New Zealand , and also in Europe but it’s harder to get a working visa. Working on your travels can be super rewarding and allow you to travel for longer so be ready to do it… 

When I ended up running out of cash I was able to head back to the US (where I’m from) and work. Seasonal jobs are great, like snowboard instructing, lifeguarding, or working at national parks.

Most of these jobs have great perks like employee housing and meals. My favorite seasonal job I had was being a nanny. You can find nannying jobs on websites or Facebook groups. I LOVED this job because I was able to be welcomed into a family and into their home, was given free meals, and got to watch kids grow up, forming really special bonds with them.

Part Three: Hitting the Road Again, and Upping the Adventure…

Alright, amigo, here you are… 8 months into your year, with funds replenished. You’ve learnt a lot about the basics of backpacking along the way, what’s next?

We recommend taking your newfound experience and newly earned cash and doing something… a tad more ambitious.

• Head to the mountains of Nepal or Pakistan for some hiking?

• Drive from Cairo to Cape Town?

• Explore South America? 

• Unravel the gigantic mystery that is India?

• Buy a car or van, embrace vanlife , and go on an epic journey?

The choice is yours and there’s no wrong answer but remember; keep pushing out of your comfort zone and learning new skills.

Keeping Costs Down When Traveling

Traveling cheaply doesn’t have to be impossible. Here are the golden ways of saving and stretching your hard-earned cash so that YOU can travel cheaper, and for longer.

1. Cut Down Your Accommodation Costs…

Accommodation costs can add up quickly, but there are LOTS of ways to cut these costs down or even cut them out altogether.

Here at The Broke Backpacker, we strongly recommend investing in a backpacking tent so that you have flexibility and can camp out to save money; who needs a cramped dorm when you can be stargazing right? 

We also obviously feel that if you are paying for accommodation, you should go for backpacker hostels or local guesthouses and not expensive hotels. 

Couchsurfing is also a great option to stay with locals for free and make new friends along the way, I personally have Couchsurfed over 150 times. It was an absolutely crucial part of my strategy when spending more than a year travelling the world on $10 a day.

Plus, some of my overall best travel experiences came about because of Couchsurfing hosts showing me things I never would have found otherwise. Check out our detailed Couchsurfing guide for tips on how best to use this amazing platform.

2: Cut Down Your Transport Costs… 

Transport costs add up quickly and in general, we recommend you use local overland transport options – trains and buses – when navigating cities during your year of travelling. It’s best to avoid taxis, and it’s never a good idea to flag a cab down, you’ll pay more than you would if using an app like Uber or Grab. 

Our favorite way to get around is, of course, by sticking out a thumb and hitchhiking ! Hitchhiking is a super cost-effective way to travel long distances without spending money on transportation.

Many people are willing to offer rides out of kindness or curiosity, making it a great option for budget travelers. Let’s do the math: bus fare versus the thrill of hitchhiking – where you might score a ride with a farmer who speaks no English and communicates solely through interpretive dance. Sign me up! 

3: Cut Down Your Food Costs… 

Opt for local street food instead of expensive restaurants aimed at tourists. Street food is not only delicious but also provides insight into the local culture.

Cooking your own meals in certain regions can also save you money, especially in more expensive destinations or in longer-term stays. When hitchhiking across Europe and the Middle East, I traveled with a portable camping stove which made it easy to feed myself whilst camping and save a decent amount of money. 

4: Haggle for Deals

Embrace the art of haggling to negotiate discounts on souvenirs, meals, a place to sleep, and transportation. Be friendly, keep it light, and remember that haggling is a common practice in many parts of the world. It’s a fun art which, if mastered, will not only save you money but also serve you well in later life when learning to negotiate. 

5. Volunteer! 

Want to save money and learn some new skills along the way? You can find loads of great volunteering opportunities (some are even paid!) in almost every location.

Check out our detailed review on worldpackers and our breakdown of Workaway to find an exciting-looking opportunity, there’s honestly loads out there. Some can be as short as a couple of weeks to a couple of months; work on a farm, cuddle goats on an animal sanctuary, paint a mural, help out at a hostel or teach a skill. 

One of our favorite tricks to save money is, upon falling in love with somewhere and wanting to stay, to wander around some hostels and ask if I can exchange work for a bed! Most of the time, depending on where you are, the answer is yes.

Tasks are normally pretty varied and often fun; some days I’d spend bartending in the hostel bar, taking photos for social media, advertising events, or cleaning the bathrooms… Check out our guide on volunteering at hostels .

Hustling While Traveling Around the World

Ultimately, one of the single best things you can do on the road to travel longer, up your travel style, and engage your creative skills is to hustle… 

When you’re spending a year travelling, you have a lot of spare time on your hands; it’s very easy to throw that time into the black hole that is social media but a better option is to use that time to work on a hustle that can make you money. I’ve written about this extensively before, so I’ll drop some handy links below and summarise this in short form, basically though, you have three options when it comes to hustle… 

Finding Jobs

There are loads of options to find work on the road – whether it’s bartending, herding goats, working in a hostel for room and board, or cleaning toilets – ask around, and you can usually find a job!

Find out more about how to find a paying job when traveling.  

Buying Stuff to Sell

This was a BIG PART of how I funded my original few years of travel. Whilst in India, I bought many things to sell back in England at festivals and on eBay. Leather satchels, silver rings, some pashminas… you can make really good money on this stuff if you can find the right place to sell it – I highly recommend you consider this as a way to make a couple of thousand dollars, or more, and keep the travels rolling… 

Find out more about making money from selling your travel souvenirs !

Online Hustle 

The holy grail; building an online business that can support a lifestyle of adventure. There are SO MANY different ways to make money online; blogging, affiliate marketing, SEO, trading crypto, dropshipping etc, the list goes on… 

This is ultimately a really good project to direct your energy at and if you get it right you can make anything from $500 – $50,000 a month, sometimes even on autopilot. It takes TIME to build an online business and 99% of people will give up before they’ve put 1000 hours in. If you really want this project to work, you need to work at it consistently but ultimately it is something you can do from the road. 

Find out more about making money online so you can travel forever.  

How to Get Ready for a Year of Travel

After you’ve decided to take the leap, you can’t just drop everything and go. You need to be prepared.

Getting Mentally Prepared 

A key part of getting ready for your year of travel is mental prep. Almost all backpackers have to overcome their fear of hitting the road and leaving behind their usual life. It’s important to work on fostering a positive outlook and believing in yourself. 

Initially, I made a detailed trip plan after doing a lot of research. I had a set schedule in mind.

However, things changed as time passed. I ditched my schedule and embraced uncertainty, deciding to go with the flow and trust that things would work out. This turned out to be my favorite way to travel.

But, I do recognize the importance of some research and planning. Managing my budget became really important, as being thrifty meant I could extend my time on the road and experience more. 

Selecting Your Destination and Planning Your Route

First things first; you don’t have to plan every single detail of your trip. However, having a general idea of the places you want to visit and where you want to be each month is a good idea when you’re planning to travel the world.

Come up with a broad strokes style of plan. We recommend choosing somewhere relatively easy and relatively cheap to start your trip; think Southeast Asia or Central America.

For example, my brother Alex spent a year around Central America doing what he does best: being silly and exploring the best diving spots around. Perhaps his story will inspire you!

Gear and Packing List for a Year Abroad

Having the right stuff on your travels will ultimately save you time, energy and money. Some things, like good hiking shoes and a tough backpack that won’t fall apart, are hard to find in other countries and cost more than if you were to buy them from REI or Amazon.

Consulting with our whole team of Broke Backpackers, you can check out our mighty recommended packing list for backpacking , and below are items we absolutely recommend you take…

• A great backpack – obviously. I recommend and use the OSPREY Farpoint series.
• A good headtorch – nighttime is dark and scary.
• A reliable adapter – to charge ya gear!
• Some quality hiking trainers – I’ve heard great things about the Lowa Renegade GTX series.
• A Tent – to save $ on accommodation.
• Day pack – for your daily excursions. I like the OSPREY Daylight Plus and Wandrd Veer 18 .
• A solid microfibre towel   – packs up to nothing.

If you want to pack light for a short trip, that can be a great option. But if you want to last the year, these items can really help you to build a life on the road that is sustainable, healthy and realistic. All while keeping costs down.

Since most people have spent a TON of time inside of their own home in recent years, it is no surprise that yoga is now more popular than ever.

Check out these brands for the best in 2023 yoga gear for staying home, the studio, or travel:

• Beyond Yoga
• Manduka Yoga Mats

Been watching too much Netflix. Get up and hit the trail already!

REI is smashing the 2023 running and fitness scene by offering quality gear that doesn’t deflate the bank account.

If you have been following this blog for a while now, you know we seriously dig Arc’teyrx products.

These are a few of our 2023 favorites:

• Arc’teyrx Beta LT Jacket
• Arc’Teryx Aerios Packs

If you are interested in keeping your feet dry too, check out the whole new line of REI Gaiters .

Maybe your idea of a good time is setting off an epic road trip across the country (or close to home).

Well, there is a lot to get excited about in the realm of overland travel and rooftop tent life.

Check out our complete review of the best rooftop tents of 2023 .

Getting Travel Insurance for a Year

Solid travel insurance is a must-have on any packing list. The way I see it, it’s just as important as your passport.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Mindset and Lessons We Can Share With YOU! 

Here are a few little comments that we want to leave with you. We’ve learnt these lessons, so take them on board and use them to build the life you are dreaming of. Time to turn that dream into a reality, eh?

• Foster an optimistic and positive mindset – this is the most important of all.
• Always be curious – curiosity leads to unexpected greatness.
• Ask questions/approach locals – this has saved me time and helped me find some hidden gems.
• Use your time on the road to come up with your value system – write your own manifesto .
• Journal – You will be so glad you did when looking back on the lessons and experiences you had.
• Have some kind of routine – exercise, journal, call the fam. Stay healthy and grounded.
• Start a hustle – the road is the perfect time to start building your empire, don’t waste all the downtime you’ll have by scrolling on your phone.

In the end, all of this is up to you. It’s your life – you’re the one going backpacking for a year!

Family and friends can attempt to dissuade you, or encourage you and you can even talk yourself into, or out of traveling very easily. You should listen to your gut. There will never be a perfect time to just up and go, so if you are here, reading this, the chances are that you already know what to do.

If you’re lacking inspiration, my favourite method to build excitement is to read. Some of my favourite travel books include:

• Vagabonding – by Rolf Potts

• Into the Wild – by Jon Krakauer

• The Four Hour Work Week – by Tim Ferriss

• On the Road – by Jack Kerouac

• All of the Lonely Planet Books

I’ve never met anyone that regrets traveling the world, and I promise that you won’t either.

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Will Hatton

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Frugal Travellers

Join us as we wander the globe.

How much does it cost to travel the world for 1 year?

How much does it cost to travel the world for 1 year? Read this post to discover exactly what one year’s travel cost us.  The total daily spend whilst on the road and all the extras that add up to a total year’s travel cost.  Find out what a year’s travel could cost you and where the money goes.

Daily Spend

$8246 or $22.59 Australian per day

£4716 or  £12.92 UK per day

$6022 or $16.50 US per day

To see in other currencies visit xe.com    Our workings through this post will be in Australian dollars as that is the currency we’ve been using mostly whilst on the road.

Wait a minute…  that is just the daily spend.  What about the true cost with all the extras?

Well, that is the sum of our daily spend per person over 365 days of world travel. It’s not exactly indicative of the total cost, there are extra expenses to account for.  Things like flights, insurance, visas and other miscellaneous expenses that get booked online are an extra expense which we shall also account for below to show the true cost of travel .  But that figure is exactly what we each spent whilst on the road in local currencies over the past year.  Generally that includes paying for accommodation, travel expenses, food and everyday items.  For the exact figures of what it costs two frugal travellers to travel the world, read on and find out…

The end of year financial report is out

It is the one year anniversary of the beginning of our world travels since we left Australia. We have kept a meticulous account of our daily expenses and our overall costs since we hit the road. Being Frugal Travellers we like to keep account of what things cost and how our budget is going along and we thought it would be good to share it with others who are curious to know what the costs of budget global travel are.

We know everybody is different, we all travel in different ways, go to different places and have different needs and expectations.  So this is in no account a definitive guide on the cost of world travel for everyone.  This is a per person account of what it cost US to travel the world for a year as an example to others of what to expect when they head off on that big world trip they’ve always been planning.  

How much does it cost to travel the world for 1 year?  Let’s find out…

So what kind of budget are you on?

We consider ourselves to be frugal travellers in so much as we are careful about what we spend in order to get the best value for money out of travel.  That doesn’t mean we are total rock bottom travellers.  We’ve met people who hitchhike everywhere, who stay in other people’s homes or camp to save money,  who only ever cook for themselves and live off rice and veggies to save a dollar.  Each to their own, we say.  You can travel on a on the smell of an oily rag if that is the way you want to do it but we like to treat ourselves to a little bit more to make our travels comfortable and enjoyable.

We use the cheapest public transport available to get about and we tend to walk instead of getting taxis for short distances (the exercise does us good).  If we can we chose to go for double rooms over dorms because a bit of privacy and comfort is paramount to staying sane whilst on the road long term. 

We eat local food in local cafes and at street stalls, rather than the more upmarket tourist restaurants.  We chose what tourist sights we visit, some are absolute must-sees and are worth spending money on whereas others can be overpriced tourist traps that can be skipped.  Occasionally we treat ourselves to a few beers but avoid drinking regularly as that can make a huge hole in the travel budget.

How to travel the world as a Frugal Traveller

Where have you been in this travel year?

Here is a breakdown of where we’ve been over the year, how long we stayed there and what our average daily spend was in each place per person   as an example of the cost of travel there. This is in $ Australian

New Zealand.  41 days.  $15 a day

Australia.  17 days.  $19 a day

Malaysia.  3 days.  $17 a day

Nepal.  67 days.  $22 a day

Oman.  3 days.  $32 a day

UK.  38 days.  $24 a day

Norway.  16 days.  $108 a day (including a 12 day cruise)

Finland.  3 days.  $18 a day

Russia.  30 days.  $31 a day (Including Trans-Siberian train tickets)

South Korea.  18 days.  $34 a day

Hong Kong.  7 days.   $36 a day

Macau.  2 days.  $51 a day

China.  58 days.  $29 a day

Kyrgyzstan.  41 days.  $22 a day

Tajikistan. 25 days.  $19 a day

NOTE: We spent most of our time in Australia, New Zealand and UK visiting family and not spending on accommodation, which explains why the daily expenses in those countries are lower than average.

What were the extra expenses then?

Well this was a mixed year of travel for us as far as expense is involved.  Although we spent some time visiting family around the world, we also had to book 12 flights (one of which we didn’t even take but needed to purchase to get a Chinese visa!)  which cost us $2,288 each in total. 

We treated ourselves to our first ever cruise into the Norwegian Arctic which cost $1,688 each .  We took the Trans-Siberian train across Russia which was a very reasonable $347 each (third class, of course).  The total cost of our travel Insurance was $782 each.   There were a few other sundry expenses as well.  Some Visas we bought in local currencies so that cost was incorporated into the daily spend.  The Tajikistan visa cost us an extra $95 each.

Here is the total rundown of one year’s true travel costs…

Exact daily spend over 365 days      $8246

Extra expenses paid online

Flights                                             $2288

Norwegian Cruise                           $1688

Insurance                                          $782

Miscellaneous expenses –

Trans Siberian train, Visas,

some transport and airbnb               $776

Total travel cost                         $13,780

$13,780  Total or $37.75 per day Australian

£7825 Total or  £21.44 per day UK

$10064 Total or $27.57 per day US

It’s been quite a travel year

In this travel year we’ve spent 2 months trekking to some amazing places in Nepal.  We’ve had some incredible short City visits to KL, Oman, Hong Kong, Macau, Helsinki and Oslo.  We’ve taken a cruise up to see the Northern lights in the Norwegian Arctic.  After seeing the stunning cities of St Petersburg and Moscow,  We’ve taken the Trans-Siberian train right across Russia in the dead of winter.  After exploring the fascinating country of South Korea we spent 2 months wandering around China , visiting it’s diverse regions and bustling cities.  Standing on the Great Wall, admiring the Terracotta warriors and paying a visit to the playful pandas were all highlights.  We crossed deserts and mountains on the great Silk Road into the spectacular Central Asian countries of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan .  Yes, it’s been quite a travel year…

And it has cost us in total   $13,780 per person  all up!  Some people spend more than that on a 4 week package tour.  That’s how far frugal travel can get you!

We hope this post How much does it cost to travel the world for 1 year? has been of some use to anybody who is planning a world trip and is wondering about the average cost of travel, including everyday travel expenses and all the extra hidden costs.  We are happy to answer any questions anyone may have regarding the costs of world travel.  Please contact us on the form below for more information.  World travel needn’t break the bank and can be accessible to all if you are smart about how to live life on the road.  We hope we’ve inspired you and we hope to see you out there somewhere in this wonderful world of ours.

Coming soon….  A frugal travel guide to each country we’ve visited and how to get around on a budget!

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2 thoughts on “ how much does it cost to travel the world for 1 year ”.

Awesome article. Very helpful. Nice to see how other travelers manage their budget and nice to show other people that say travel is “expensive” that it is NOT as expensive as they may think. Keep up the great articles 🙂

Thanks Kasha. We know everyone travels differently but we wanted to show how we manage it as an example. We’ve just completed our 2nd year on the road and came in even lower this year!! Hopefully it inspires people to travel who are holding back because of money concerns. We plan to write many more posts with budget travel tips in the future. 😊

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Around the World Packing List | 1 Year of Long-Term Travel

By: Author Charles

Posted on August 25, 2023

Planning a trip around the world is no easy task. There are tons of aspects to consider when putting together a long-term travel plan to countries in different corners of the world.

One of the main considerations to think of, is what an around the world packing list should look like. Backpacks, gear, clothing, electronics, the list goes on.

During my year long trip around the world, I was able to learn a lot about what I needed, what I didn’t need, and what I wish I had. I have been able to take everything I learned to put together this wholistic around the world packing list to help you prepare for a trip of your own.

*  Affiliate Disclosure : This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase through the links provided, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting the work I put into TripTins!

Packing List Considerations

Before I just jump into what my packing list includes, I did want to mention a few important points when it comes to long term around the world travel .

♦ Whether you are traveling for one month or one year, a packing list should not change too much. Just because you are traveling for longer, does not mean you need more items to carry around .

I always came in with the mindset that I would be able to do laundry once every 7-10 days . Never did I have an issue with this is any country I visited and I usually was able to get laundry back within a one day time period.

♦ Everyone is different and everyone has their own needs. While this packing list works well for me, you may need to make some adjustments that make sense for you.

For example, I hiked frequently on my trip so I brought along hiking shoes and socks. If you aren’t a hiker and don’t plan on hiking, then it probably makes sense to not bring hiking gear.

♦ This list is going to be a balance between weight and efficiency . My goal was to always bring my bags as carry on throughout the trip . It would save me time at the airport both before the flight and when I landed. I also would save on my budget as checking bags can cost money. And most importantly, I never had to worry about losing anything.

♦ When thinking about your packing list, be aware of items that you need vs items that you want . To save weight and unnecessary packing, think strongly of the items that fall under that “want” category. Think to yourself if you really will benefit from bringing those items.

♦ With that said, you can buy things along the way too . Don’t feel that whatever you bring is what you are stuck with for your entire trip. Your packing list can change throughout a trip too (as it did with mine!). 

♦ The clothing side of the packing list will be geared towards a male packing list, however it certainly can be used as a good guide for a similar female packing list too.

→ Feel free to take a look at my Around the World Itinerary to get a better idea of where this packing list took me, as well as how much it costs to travel around the world

Around the World Packing List

With that said, let’s now get into this around the world packing list that I put together. I will break it out by category to better help you organize.

For many items on this list I had included direct links to purchase this gear.

Feel free to check those out if you want to get starting on building out the list on your own.

Let’s start off with what is actually going to be holding all of your belongings. As I mentioned earlier, traveling lightweight and prioritizing carry ons is how I travel. I also didn’t want to be wheeling suitcases around.

I ended up going with two different backpacks . One to carry my clothes, hiking shoes, toiletries, and some miscellaneous items, and the second to carry my electronics and items that I always wanted on me (packable rain jacket, cash, passport, water bottle, etc).

Main Backpack (40L+)

I did a ton of research on what backpack would be best for long term travel and that is small enough to be considered a carry on. The Osprey Porter 46L is the one backpack that continuously came up in my research.

The bag as one main compartment that zips all around, a couple internal zippers, and one external zipper pocket. I found it to be the perfect size for my packing list and never had issues with it all the way through. I was always able to throw the bag in the overhead bin with no issues, even on some pretty small planes.

→ Purchase the Osprey Porter 46L Backpack here

Everyday Backpack

For my second backpack, I wanted to choose something that would work both as an everyday backpack and a hiking backpack . While the bag I bought is geared towards that everyday use, I still was able to use it for hikes.

It may be difficult to find a perfect bag out there that is good for everyday use and more active use, but there are certainly plenty of bags that could work.

Although I went with the Osprey Nebula 34L, I never filled it up to that type of capacity. Going smaller than that should be just fine too. This was more so just trying out various bags at the local REI at the time.

For my everyday bag, I also wanted to make sure there were compartments, internal and external zippers .

There is a laptop sleeve in one zippered compartment along with an internal zippered pocket, where I put important documents, passport, etc. In some of the external pockets, I put things that I wanted to access quickly such as sunglasses and a portable charger.

At the end of the day, having organization in an everyday backpack is one of the top things to consider when going through options.

→ Purchase the Osprey Nebula Backpack here

→ Don’t forget a backpack rain cover to go along with your bag as well. I just brought one for my daypack, as that was the bag I was always taking when going on hikes or longer days outside when there is more risk of rain. Check out the Joy Walker Waterproof Backpack Rain Cover for your travels.

Essentially the entirety of my trip was outside of the winter months with temperatures ranging from ~40 degree at nighttime to ~100F degree during the daytime (think Patagonia vs. Philippines).

The goal for me was to find a good balance between the weather spectrum so I could be prepared in these various weather conditions . And like I said – you can do laundry! So, the clothing packing list below will look like what is needed for a week’s worth of traveling.

Short Sleeve Shirts (7)

I brought along 7 short sleeve shirts with 4 of them being cotton and 3 of them being polyester . I would recommend leaning towards most of your clothing being polyester or another moisture wicking material.

Cotton is a material that soaks up sweat when it gets wet, while a fabric like polyester is able to wick off the sweat and keep you dry. Certainly, whenever I was hiking, I was wearing the polyester shirts, but at night or when exploring a city, I would wear a cotton one.

Tank Tops (1)

I also brought along one tank top to wear when the weather was just too hot . This mostly happened in places like Israel, Indonesia and the Philippines when those temperatures got way up there.

Long Sleeve Shirts (2)

In addition to the short sleeve shirts, I also brought a couple long sleeve shirts. One of these long sleeve shirts was a dri fit polyester shirt (more so for those cooler outdoor days), and the second was a lightweight henley .

I wore the henley at night more often than not when going to restaurants or walking around town. It was nice to have something a little more formal than just a t-shirt.

Moving on to the lower body, I brought along two pairs of pants – one dri fit jogger and one more of an athleisure pant that can be worn in various types of situations.

Between these two pairs of pants, I was good to go – whether it be hiking, nightlife, airplanes, city walking or anything in between.

There are plenty of brands that make both these types of pants. For my dri fit pants, brands such as Nike, Under Armour, Smartwool or Adidas, can be good options. On the athleisure side of things, brands like Lululemon, Rhone, and Birddogs all make very comfortable all-around use pants to look into.

I also packed four lightweight shorts. Since for the most part I was going to be in shorts weather, I did want to be sure to bring more shorts than pants.

Three of the shorts I brought were lightweight and moisture wicking athletic type of shorts . I went with brands such as Birddogs, Rhone and Under Armour here.

I opted to bring just one athleisure short (similar to the pants option), when I wanted to be just a bit more casual. These look like khaki shorts but are made out of a more comfortable polyester material.

One of my main considerations when purchasing the shorts were having zippered pockets. This removes the chance that your phone or wallet will slip out as you are traveling around.

Helpful tip : if there are no usable zippered pockets for phones/wallets, you can get a tailor to put them in. I did that with two pairs of shorts that I brought along.

Let’s not forget about some underwear. Pretty self explanatory here but I had 7 pairs of boxers that I put on the packing list. All of these boxers were made out of moisture wicking materials.

For my feet, I had 5 pairs of normal polyester or acrylic types of socks . I brought just 5 pairs because I also had some hiking socks that I will talk about next.

Hiking Socks (3)

Since I knew I would be hiking on my trip quite frequently (or at least spending long days on my feet), I brought three pairs of hiking socks too. These were all thin breathable socks that I could wear on hikes and out on a regular day if needed.

→ Check out some Smartwool socks  and Darn Tough socks for both normal socks and socks geared towards hiking

Half Zip Hoodie

One of my most worn pieces of clothing was a half zip lightweight hoodie. This was perfect for cooler nights, airplane rides, or even some hikes .

I went with a hoodie from Lululemon for this one, knowing it was a high quality moisture wicking material. There are certainly many options here to choose from. This layer could be full zip, half zip, with a hoodie or without a hoodie. Anything that is just a bit warmer than your other layers should do just fine here.

The heaviest piece of clothing I brought along was a Patagonia full zip technical jacket. This was my go to for those cooler weather times (Japan in April, Patagonia hiking, New Zealand mountains) .

If your trip is really just going to be geared towards hot weather, I do not think a layer like this would be necessary. But when the temperatures are around that 50 F degree mark give or take, having a layer like this can go a long way.

Rain Jacket

To wrap up the main clothing side of things, bringing a packable rain jacket is a must . You never know when the weather will turn for the worse. Having a small packable rain jacket that can keep you dry is going to be a key part of your packing list.

I always brought this along on my hikes too. Even if I knew the weather would be dry, a jacket like this can also help with wind resistance.

→ I loved this Columbia packable rain jacket that worked well throughout (check out a Women’s version too!)

Moving onto footwear now. This is where your pack can take on some weight if you are not careful with your footwear choices. I decided to go with three types of shoes – an everyday walking shoe, a hiking shoe, and a pair of flip flops.

Everyday Walking Shoe

There are thousands of walking shoes out there that could work. You just want to make sure it is comfortable enough to take on miles of walking a day. I wore these shoes for the majority of my trip so be sure to pick a shoe that works for you.

Hiking Shoes

Since hiking was going to be a frequent activity, I needed to make sure to bring along a comfortable pair of hiking shoes. At first, I started with my Keen Targhees, which lasted a long ways for me.

However, the hiking shoes can really take up room in your backpack and weigh you down. I have moved on from hiking shoes and have taken on trail running shoes moving forward. These are lightweight, take up less space, and have very good grip.

The downside to trail running shoes is that they do not have ankle support. This is certainly a compromise so I would only recommend bringing trail running shoes if you already have plenty of experience with them.

→ If you want a more solid hiking shoe check out the Keen Targhee Mens & Keen Targhee Womens

Lastly, I brought a pair of Havianas flip flops that I wore constantly through the beach/water portions of my trip. These also worked well for taking showers in shared bathrooms at hostels.

Miscellaneous Essentials

Now that you have a better idea about the clothing and footwear, let’s talk about other miscellaneous essentials to bring along.

Sunglasses are a super important piece of gear to bring with you. As a traveler, you will be outside a ton, and protecting your eyes is going to be essential. They can also go a long way when driving a car and keeping the sun out of your eyes.

Baseball Hat

Speaking of protecting your eyes and face, a regular baseball type of hat should also be brought along. Again, being outside in the sun all day will expose your face to the light. Having a hat to help protect you against the sun is definitely needed.

Microfiber Towel

Another vital piece of gear that needs to be on your around the world packing list is a quick dry microfiber towel. Whether you are heading to the beach, going on a boat trip, taking a shower somewhere with no towels, having a microfiber towel available is going to go a long way.

After using it, simply hang it up somewhere and it should dry out nice and quickly.

→ This Rainleaf Microfiber Towel has been my go to from the start

Drawstring Bag

I ended up bringing along a drawstring bag that I mostly used to keep my hiking shoes in so they wouldn’t mix with my clothing. I also used it when going on boat trips out in the water or short hikes when I didn’t want to bring my whole backpack with me.

Packing Cubes

Having packing cubes to organize my clothing was also super helpful to have during the trip. Instead of just having a pile of clothing in my backpack, I had a few packing cubes that would each store a different type of clothing.

→ I went with these Shacke Pak Packing Cubes that come in a variety of sizes

Laundry Bag

A small lightweight laundry bag will be needed to put your dirty clothes in at the end of the day. Remember, you can do laundry anywhere you go!

Eye Mask & Ear Plugs

Whether it is on a flight or in a hostel dorm room, sometimes it can just be hard to sleep with the noise and the light. Bring along an eye mask and a set of ear plugs to help you catch up on some sleep.

Keeping my belongings safe was always top of mind for me. That is one reason why I always wanted to go carry on only. But I also wanted to keep my stuff safe when I was on the move or when I was in a dorm room.

I had two TSA approved bag locks that I would put around the zippers of my backpacks to secure them throughout the trip.

Water Bottle

Staying hydrated is a key component of traveling and keeping healthy. I would always fill up my bottle at the beginning of the day, before hikes, or in airports.

While I started off with a normal Camelbak water bottle, I later learned of filtered water bottles. I now also use a collapsible filter water bottle that is very lightweight and can guarantee water safety no matter where I am in the world.

→ This CamelBak insulated water bottle is my latest regular bottle I have been using. But I also purchased the Katadyn Filter Water Bottle that I will be using more often moving forward.

Mandatory Items

Below is just a quick list of items that you need to have on you no matter where you are traveling.

→ Wallet → Passport (be sure it expires well into the future) → Copies of Passport → Credit Card / Debit Card → Extra US Dollars (emergency)

→ ID & Old ID: I found it useful to have my normal driver’s license on me as well as an older expired ID. I used this expired ID in situations that required me to put down a form of identification when renting something.

Whether that be mountain gear, scooters, jetskis, etc., many of these places may require an ID as collateral. Instead of handing off the ID I needed, I gave them an old expired ID that wouldn’t matter as much if it happens to get lost.

Check out some other helpful travel tips to better help you plan your trip around the world.

→ International Driver’s License: This is not 100% necessary, but if you are renting a car in other countries, some of them do require an international driver’s license. These are easy to get and just cost a small fee.

Electronics

The list of electronics will certainly change from person to person depending on what is necessary for an individual’s trip. Below is what I included on my around the world packing list.

Laptop • MacBook Pro • MacBook Charger • Laptop Case

Phone • iPhone (make sure it is unlocked) • iPhone Charger • Car Phone Holder (if planning on renting cars) • Car Phone Adapter (if planning on renting cars) • SIM Card Removers (just in case you need to put your original SIM card back in at some point)

GoPro • GoPro & Extra Batteries • GoPro Stick • GoPro Battery Charger • GoPro Waterproof Case

Mirrorless Camera • Sony A6600 Camera • Sony 18-135 Lens • Camera Charger • Camera Cleaning Kit

Miscellaneous  Electronics • Earphones • Universal Adapter  (can be used in 150+ countries!) • Power Bank / Portable Charger • External Hard Drive

Photography Gear : Check out my latest travel photography gear list to see what is my camera bag these days

Toiletries / Healthcare

Here is a list of all the toiletries and healthcare products I brought along. Similar to the electronics, this will surely be different person to person.

Hygiene / Health • Shampoo • Body Wash • Moisturizer • Hand Sanitizer • Deodorant • Sunscreen • Bug Spray • Tissues • Nail Clippers • Vitamin C Pills • Apple Cider Vinegar Pills

Eyes • Contact Lenses • Contact Solution & Case • Eye Drops • Eye Glasses

Emergency Care • Bandaids • Neosporin • Advil & Advil PM • Tylenol Cold & Flu • Pepto Bismal • Cough Drops • Tums • Malaria Pills (prescription needed) • Z-Pak (prescription needed) • Cipro (prescription needed) • Amoxicillin (prescription needed)

Around the World Packing List Recap

Here is the packing list in image form so you can see everything laid out in one spot together. It can be something you save down and print out for yourself to help start checking things off.

Well, there you have it! A complete around the world packing list for your next adventure.

Like I said at the start, everyone is going to have different wants and needs. But at least this packing list can give you a solid baseline to build off of.

If you have any questions or comments about the list, feel free to add them in below.

Have fun out there and safe travels!

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The Cost of Travelling the World for a Year

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How much does it cost to travel the world for 1 year? Well, ever since I revealed that our world trip only cost $40,000CAD (or $30,769 USD), we’ve been getting all sorts of comments like “How the HELL is that possible?” or “No way. Break down your numbers or it’s fake”.

Well, since you asked for it, here are the details of our travel budget in all its glory.

(Note: This post completely blew up and turned into a 3000 word monstrosity, so I’m splitting it into multiple parts.)

Part 1: How We Travel the World on $40,000/year.

Before we left for our year-long trip, we had no idea how much it was going to cost. None. Zip. Wanderer set aside into a savings account his initial estimate of $75,000 CAD that he figured would be more than enough.

“Where did you get that number?” I asked suspiciously.

“Oh, I made it up,” he replied cheerfully. Ah, Wanderer. Painfully honest Wanderer.

“Too easy,” I replied, pounding the desk for emphasis. “We can do better than that!”

“Then what are you suggesting?”

I slammed a book down onto the table.

“This.”

Matt Kepnes was (and is) our favourite travel blogger, and we regularly consulted his site www.nomadicmatt.com while we were planning our self-indulgent victory lap around the world for tips and ideas on where to go. We’ve never met him, but if we did I’m sure we would hit it off as he thinks just like us: unwilling to accept the status quo and obsessed with value. So I knew that if HE could do it, WE could do it.

“$50 a day?” Wanderer said, wrinkling his nose. “That seems…aggressive.”

“It’s per person. So $100 a day.”

“Hmm…OK that might be doable. But isn’t Matt a backpacker? Wouldn’t that not work for us?”

“Oh believe me,” I replied confidently. “We can make this work.”

Well, one year later and adding up all our expenditures, turns out we didn’t manage to hit his $50 a day after all. We hit $42.

$42 USD/person/day ($55 CAD).

And oh BTW, $55 CAD per person is $40,150. Which is right on our 4% spending target in retirement. Which means we can keep travelling the world, forever!

Thanks Matt, you magnificent genius!

Duration: 1 year

Countries visited: 20 (USA, England, Scotland, Ireland, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia)

Adding in $875/couple/year *2= $1750 for travel insurance, that gives us: $ 40,143 CAD/year or $30,879 USD .

By splitting the year between expensive regions (like the UK, Western Europe, and Japan) and inexpensive places (like Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand), we were able to average our daily costs down to only $55 CAD/person/day .

We were also able to save at least $10,000 by staying in AirBnB instead of expensive hotels in Europe, and another $6000 by travel hacking instead of buying expensive flights.

Now, $55CAD/person might seen like a low amount to travel the world, BUT we STILL managed to sneak in these amazing splurges:

Lobsters in Boston

• $40CAD/$30USD per person

I’m ashamed to admit how often we pigged out on this. Somehow we spent a ridiculous $1889.4 in just 1 month in Boston on food and alcohol! That’s nearly 50% MORE than our food budget in the UK! Hey what I can say? Boston is a foodie paradise! When you find a place serving a dozen fat oysters for $0.50 cents each, how could you resist? Luckily, I found a cheap sublet for $800USD in Boston, so that saved our budget from blowing up.

PADI certification in Koh Tao, Thailand

• $324.78CAD/$249.82USD per person (4 day course, accommodations included)

Best $650CAD I’ve ever spent! Considering that it includes accommodation and that PADI certification back in Toronto costs at least $1000CAD/couple with no accommodations, I’d actually consider this a money-saving decision!

The thing most people don’t know about me is that I was terrified of water (because I nearly drowned as a kid) and didn’t learn to swim until I was 24 years old.

So learning how to scuba dive is a big deal for me. I was pretty nervous for the first day, but passing all the tests was a breeze after that. Plus, I got to kick a kick a jelly fish in the head while I was under there, so that’s always fun. Jellyfish are jerks.

Scuba diving in Sihanoukville, Cambodia

• $104CAD or $80 USD/person for 2 dives

Well, now that we’re certified, we gotta put our PADI to good use, right?

Hiking the Swiss Alps

• $112.50 CAD or $86.54USD/person for train ride and lift

If you love nature, you HAVE to go to the Swiss Alps. It’s seriously the most beautiful place on earth. Of all the places we’ve been to, nothing else comes close.

Robot Show in Tokyo, Japan

• $76.74CAD or $59USD/person

THE BEST SHOW I’VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE! And no, I’m not exaggerating. Apparently, it cost $10 Million dollars to build the set for this show and normally I don’t think spending more money necessarily makes things better, but in this case it does. Even Cirque Du Soleil’s “O” can’t compare. I was pretty bored through most of that show, so you can see how high a bar this Robot Show had to cross.

Kobe Beef Restaurant in Osaka, Japan

• $61.78 CAD or $47.51USD/person

This meal completely ruined steak for me. I used to love steak but now even the best steak seems like a crappy replacement for Kobe beef. Thanks, Japan. Why do you have to ruin everything with your ridiculous attention to detail and kick-ass skills?

Elephants in Chiang Mai, Thailand

• $40CAD or $30.77USD/person, transportation included

Fell head over heels in love with elephants on this excursion because I discovered that they are the BEST animals ever. Move over puppies, you have been replaced.

Note: I didn’t know this at the time, but riding elephants is actually really REALLY bad for their spines. A lot them get mistreated to make money for the tourist industry and it’s horrible. If you want to go see elephants in Thailand, please don’t ride them. Go to the Elephant Sanctuary where they rescue these amazing animals and let you feed and bathe them instead.

Kayaking in Cat Ba bay, Vietnam

• $36.50CAD or $28 USD/person/day, food included

We almost made the mistake of going to Halong Bay like all the other tourists. As it turns out, Cat Ba is where it’s at. Located just south of Halong Bay, Cat Ba island has 3 gorgeous beaches, a small underrated town with awesome food, and lots of Kayaking day trips out to Lang Ha bay, which is exactly like Halong bay without the insane crowds.

Entry to Angkor Wat + tuk tuk hire for the day

• $40CAD or $30USD/person/day

Angkor Wat is the ancient temple where they filmed Tomb Raider. I originally thought it’s just 1 temple but apparently it’s an sprawling ancient city that used to house 1 Million people! Generally it takes 3 days to see all the temples, but we were sick that week, so we only had 1 day. Luckily we did get to see the major ones and I’m actually pretty glad we didn’t get the 3 days pass because I would’ve started to get “templed-out” after the 2nd day. Still, I can’t stress how amazing this place is and what you would be missing if you don’t go to Siem Reap in Cambodia to see it. A MUST DO.

Curious to see how much we spent in each place? Here’s a look at how much we spent in each category in the different regions:

North America

• $3174.47/month

We ate A LOT of lobster, lobster rolls, and lobster bisque…or rather “LAHBSTAH” as the Bostonians like to call it.

Surprisingly, in Boston, groceries were actually not cheap…even compared to Europe. Or maybe it’s because I became obsessed with the organic food from Trader Joe’s (we don’t have them in Canada), who knows?

• UK: $5150 CAD/month

The ridiculously priced accommodations, transportation and activities, made me clamp down on our food budget like crazy. Other than high tea and few pubs we didn’t really go out to eat. From what I hear about British food, I don’t think we’re missing much.

• Western Europe: $4569 CAD/month

• Eastern Europe: $3454 CAD/month

• Japan: $4216/month

Southeast Asia

• Vietnam + Malaysia +Cambodia: $2387/month

Wow! This is why we love being in Southeast Asia. Not only did our food cost drop by half even though we went out to eat 100% of the time instead of the 25-50% in Europe, our accommodation also dropped by half or two thirds!

So if you’re planning a world trip and finding it difficult to balance your budget, simply add Southeast Asia into the mix. The more time you spend in SE Asia, the less chance you’ll break your budget. They’re like the bonds of your travel portfolio in that they decrease the risk of skyrocketing your costs.

So there you have it. Travelling on the world on $40K really wasn’t that hard and we even splurged a lot. All the haters out there who say “Oh, travelling is SO expensive, you can’t travel on less than $100K/year”? KISS my tight budgeting ASS.

And again, if you want to learn more about how to travel the world on about the same amount as you’re living right now at home, check out Matt’s book…

Saved our ass. Can save yours too.

And stay tuned next Monday for “ How We Travel the World on $40K/year Part 2 ” for how we saved big bucks on world travel.

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60 thoughts on “the cost of travelling the world for a year”.

I believe it, my wife will go back to Asia, we wheeled and dealed and found a direct flight, on China Airways, for less than $800 Can return.

We have a connection to Thailand, I am told a room in Chiang Rai, is about 20.00 a day Can.

That leaves $30 a day for food …

Oh Chiang Rai is an awesome city and definitely do-able on $50/day. We spent that much in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai is even cheaper.

Are you going to check out the White Temple?

Thank you so much for sharing! This is so inspiring. It’s igniting my wanderlust.

Random question: what do y’all usually buy at grocery stores? With so much moving around I’m curious if you have a go to menu/grocery list to keep food waste down.

Looking forward to part two!

I tend to memorize 5 recipes and then switch between them for variety. Eg, Waterzooi (which is a popular Belgium stew/soup), which requires only 8 ingredients: chicken, leek, potatoes, carrots, chicken stock, butter, cream and eggs. Very easy to make, tasty, fast and cheap. I make a big pot and regularly end up with leftovers for the next day.

So with those recipes in mind, I buy exactly what I need at the grocery stores. And prices for leeks, potatoes, and carrots don’t vary much from country to country so it’s easy to cost it out.

When we get bored of the existing recipes, we tend to check this site for new recipes: http://nomnompaleo.com/

Since I’m big on Paleo (very good for losing weight and keeping fit) and simple recipes so this works well for me.

Very cool. Thanks so much for sharing!

The total cost of insurance premium for me alone is about US$206/month, which I thought is pretty damn good.

That is my share for health + dental + vision. My employer of course also pays its own share.

Since dental insurance doesn’t pay for everything, I also have out-of-pocket expenses each time I visit the dentist’s office. Those amount to about another $83/month–for regular cleaning, whitening, deep scaling, etc.

I’m already at $289/month (206+83)! And it is blowing your monthly totals for the “Clothing/Toiletries/Data/Etc” category out of the water.

Curious as to what kind of insurance you have and what exactly does it cover.

We’ll be talking about the insurance details in Part 2, but basically it’s travel insurance, so it covers trip cancellation, interruption, and medical emergencies up to $1Million per person.

Unless I see itemized receipts for every purchase, I call bullshit. 🙂

This is a really fantastic breakdown. We find that in some countries, we spend less per day than we do in the states. It happens. Some places are just so cheap that you can afford housing, food, entertainment and come out ahead of what you’d spend on the same stateside. And if you can travel hack, it’s like you’re magically transported to a cheaper universe…for free.

We’re totally going to use your tips for Tokyo eats later this month. If you have tips for Siem Reap, Bangkok, or Hong Kong, let us know!

Also, if you happen to be in any of those places, you can meet our partners in crime over a beer. 🙂

Awesome! Let me know how it goes. Curious to hear your thoughts on Ichran Ramen. I honestly think it’s the BEST ramen in the world. I know I’m biased but I found an article in Forbes saying the same thing!

For Siem Reap, we can give you the contact for a good TukTuk driver to see Angkor Wat (he charges only $15USD per couple day and was so patient, waiting for us to visit each temple.)

For Bangkok, highly recommend the massive city park (can’t remember the name, but it’s like being in Central Park in SE Asia) and eating in Chinatown.

We’ll be heading back to Siem Reap early next year, so hopefully our paths cross. We should definitely get a beer..especially since they are only 0.50cents/pint! We got wasted for $2.50. Such value!

A little tip for Ankor Wat. All the tuk tuk drivers have a prescribed route and you are literally following the herd. Ask your driver to do it in reverse. He’ll side eye you but you’ll be alone for the first hour our so and seeing the temples in solitude is just amazing. A hat is also a must. The sun even in the off season is killer.

Reading the breakdown it looks like you actually could have done it for a lot less if you really tried. $1,350 of eating out in a month in Boston?! That’s more than we spend on eating out in a year at home! My maths says you spent almost $8,000 on eating out over the course of the year, yeesh! That being said you did get some super cheap accommodations elsewhere so that gave you room wiggle room for other luxuries.

Either way, this seems an ideal way to see the world. Spend 6 months going basically anywhere you want, then 6 months in SE Asia. Rinse and repeat.

I’d like to learn more about travel hacking flights. Specifically, how do you get these credit cards without a job? Usually most of the credit cards with the best sign up bonuses require a $60,000 or so salary or $100,000 household salary etc. You don’t have any income do you? Perhaps they make exceptions for high net worth. I’m just below the $60,000 threshold for this so once I cross I’m hoping to take advantage. Also, don’t the credit card companies clock on and stop accepting your applications? Surely you can’t just keep applying for the same cards over and over again?

$8000 on eating out over the year…Yup, we’re HUGE piggers :P. You can clearly see where our priorities lie. I regret nothing!

This is why I laugh when people think we ate cans of beans and chinese noodles on a $40K budget. HA! Wanderer told me “beer and lobsters” were non-negotiable for Boston, so I had to work that in. He also demanded that I only find places with swimming pools in SE Asia, so I had to work around that requirement as well. And yet we STILL came within the 40K budget. I don’t know how people end up spending so much on travel. It’s NOT that hard. When you go over in one category, just make up for it by cutting back in another (like you said, I made up for the expensive eating out in Boston with a cheap sublet and 0 cost in activities)

As for the travel hacking, the trick is to wait at least 6 months before applying for the same credit cards. And the credit card companies already had our information from back when we were working, so they don’t ask for it again. Since we’ve had amazing credit ratings for the past 10 years, they just approve us. As long as you wait enough time between applications, you’re good.

Good read FireCracker. As someone who’s always obsessed with numbers, I like to see these ‘real cost’ kinds of posts.

Seems like the big win in affordability is SE Asia.

Congrats on a very affordable year!

Thanks, Mr. Tako! And yes, SE Asia is a huge win in affordability. High quality of life for a low cost. This is why we met SO many expats.

What a small price to pay for a profound life experience. Great investment on the PADI certification! My first dive was in Palau, speechless, words can’t describe, can’t ever visit aquariums again.

If in a alternate universe where there was no mr wanderer, how would you adjust your budget. No adjustments to accommodations and slash everything else in half to roughly 26k cad a year?

For a single person, I would say yes, $24-26,000CAD per year sounds about right (roughly 60% of the couple’s cost).

Here is my question: As a 65 year old VERY fit yogini, I also love travel and am FI. But I am anguished about the continuing degradation of Gaia and ALL of her creatures. I am struggling to keep my plane usage to once per year. I can tell from your writing that you share some of these concerns. Do you have a practical (and authentic) way to reduce the carbon footprint that results from your commercial flight travel? Or do any of your readers? I am trying not to DO just because I CAN when it comes to these decisions. But I love travel. Thank you.

When you do long term travel, you end up staying in one place longer, rather than when you’re on vacation and need to see everything at once, so that helps. Other options include biking around cities instead of taking cabs, or using public transit.

The way I see it, I’m actually reducing my carbon footprint, compared to when I was working. Because unlike my ex co-workers I’m not driving to work everyday. And there is also the option of taking long haul buses or trains instead of flying, or just staying in one place longer, which we will do going forward, now that we’ve seen so many countries already.

What is it those kids say? “Math that shit up”? It’s actually kind of hard. But, the Internet suggests that Toronto – San Francisco roundtrip in an airplane is about 1 ton of CO2 emissions, according to the ICAO. A year of driving a Subaru Outback 20,000km is 4.6 tonnes, according to offsetters.ca. I think that if you do four long-haul trips, it may be about the same as driving for a year.

Cars vs planes is difficult because cars are often single-occupant while planes have hundreds of seats (but it’s hard to know exactly how many). http://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2015/09/evolving-climate-math-of-flying-vs-driving/

Taking a cargo ship is probably a quite low-emissions form of transport, but there are still emissions involved with living and eating. So I’m not sure how much it comes out ahead, really.

YAY! It’s catching on. Go math!

And yeah, the math for this isn’t straight forward. It depends on the distance you drive per day, the type of car, and the number of travellers on the plane. Though if we use the numbers you stated above (good researching btw!), flying still wins, because, as you said, cars are single-occupant while planes have hundreds of seats (generally more than 200 for the flights we were on). So in that case, for one-way of the long haul flight in 1 day, you get 0.5 ton of CO2 emissions. But that’s for 200 people. Driving the Subaru Outback is 0.013 ton/day (4.6/365 days a year). So if everyone of the 200 occupants were driving to work instead, you’re getting 2.5 tons for 1 day of driving. So per person, driving is at least 5X more damaging to the environment in this scenario.

Love seeing these numbers. One of the things I like about you and Wanderer are how you guys share real numbers, not just abstract things. Really makes you see what’s possible when you can put actual numbers together.

Thanks! It helps that I love tracking the crap out of everything. 🙂 It’s really amazing how much you can accomplish when you track and correct. This gives you a guaranteed path to victory!

Market Basket was probably one of the cheapest sources of food in the Boston suburbs. Haymarket was not my favourite market. I think it just had grocery store rejects.

Angkor Wat: I think we did 5 days there. We rented bicycles, I think. Great way to get around.

Although I speak the language, I do find it more tiring to be in Vietnam than, say, Greece or Turkey. Part of it is the more obvious inequity. Also, the food hygiene standards are probably not quite as strong. My parents are from there but had a really hard time with the food now.

Yeah, I agree with you that Vietnam was more challenging than other parts of Asia. But re-aligned our expectations and researched the heck out of everything (I only picked restaurants with good traveller reviews), so that helped a lot. We didn’t actually get sick at all from the food, so maybe we got lucky? I think the trick is to eat at places with a big line up of locals. That way the food doesn’t have a chance to go bad since they use it up so quickly.

Volume is key. We’d heard tales of pho noodles being preserved in formaldehyde. Not so good. Usually I hate waiting in line but this is probably a good occasion to do so!

I think we were there before smartphones were popular and it was hard to find reviews online. Once upon a time you actually had to look at the Lonely Planet for accommodation reviews.

(I do like doing everything when it’s not high season. High season sucks. Made the mistake of booking a trip for this Christmas. Should not have.)

Oh my God!!! What a great experience! You actually created a luxurious trip on a small budget. It just shows, smart people can figure out ways to have great lives on a fraction of the money that most people think is needed. I’m ready to quit the job and hop a plane! You’re inspiring!

Thanks! It was actually surprisingly not hard. I think the trick was to a) track everything and b) prioritize what’s important. Because we tracked as we went, anytime we went over budget we could correct it right away. And because we prioritized the things that were important to us and cut back in other categories, it helped the budget stay on track.

Happy travels!

Great post. I totally believe your numbers. Round the world for under $50 a day! That’s a title for your new book right there. What saved your butts was Southeast Asia for 6 months, which paid for your European and American indulgences. That goes to show again that’s where the value is and why many budget retirements are planned in Asia.

Yup, Southeast Asia rocks! And I think Matt might kill me if I wrote a book called “Round the world for UNDER $50/day”. So yeah, maybe I’ll stick to writing an FI book for now ;P

Great post again. Question about exchange rates: Is there a strategy you guys use to get the lowest rates to visit these countries?

Let me know.

Good question! This is actually something I’ll go into detail in part 2, but generally we use the Chase Marriott rewards card which gives us free hotel stays, as well as a good exchange rate (it doesn’t add 2% overhead fee like the other credit cards).

This must have been a great experience; are you planning to repeat it? Are you guys actually based in Canada nowadays, or wherever the wind blows you? Southeast Asia is the bond of your travel portfolio. I love it 🙂

We go home every now and then to visit family, but right now we’re bouncing around Asia. We’re thinking of going back to Europe next summer and possibly visiting Portugal. So probably not going to repeat the exact same trip, but would like to spend the summer in Europe and winter in Southeast Asia. That way we never have to bring any winter clothes. YAY!

Loved this post! Helps me to see I’m spending way more than I need to on travel. Gonna try to reduce expenses for our month in Australia. Never attempted travel hacking. But looking into it now. Thanks!

Happy travel hacking and enjoy your time in Australia!

Awesome post. We are FIRE nomads as well (though not as young as you – we are in our 40s) and have similar numbers to you guys for traveling . My friends don’t believe that this can be done and have asked me to blog about how we are doing it. I tried. I hate writing. Blogging, to me, felt like a job. So finding your blog is perfect. Anyone that asks me how they could possibly travel on $40K a year or less, will be promptly referred to your blog. I am so glad I found your blog (thanks JL Collins). The only bit of criticism I have is the name. Why just millennials? Why not Gen X? Your blog applies to everyone, regardless of age. A better name would be “Freedom-Revolution.” But, the name aside, you guys ROCK!

Woohoo! Nice to meet a fellow FIRE nomad!

You’re right. Blogging takes some time to get used to and feels like work in the beginning. We were children’s writers before we started the blog so we got used to writing on a schedule. Thanks for sharing my post! Most of my friends didn’t how little it cost to travel until I showed them the numbers.

And as for the blog name, yeah, you make a good point. I picked Millennial-Revolution because I’m a Millennial but didn’t realize I should probably make it more inclusive of all generations. Lesson learned for the future 🙂

Great post, as usual! Keep up the good work.

One question: if you’re out of the county so often and for such long stretches, how do you maintain Canadian heathcare (Ontario in your case) coverage? Travel health insurance requires provoncal coverage.

We usually inform OHIP about how long we’ll be out of the country for. Generally you’re allowed to be gone for 2 years or two 1 year trips initially. You can also be gone for 5 years at a time if you’re working or are volunteering for a non-profit outside the country. We’re currently using the 1st clause and can switch to 2nd clause since we do volunteer for a non-profit in the States.

Worse case if you forget to inform OHIP, it will take 3 months for your coverages to be re-instated when you came back to Ontario. So not too bad.

Cool! And you guys aren’t exactly slumming it either. 🙂

We somehow manage to come out close to $100-150 USD per day even with a family of 5. We’ll see how 2 months in Europe treats us. Might have to sneak pastries across the border into more expensive countries.

Well, you are THE MAN when it comes to budgeting for a family. Most of my friends can’t believe that you managed to bring your budget down to 40K/year with a family of 5. I suspect you’re going to be kicking my ass with budgeting for the Euro trip as well.

I just checked “How to Travel the World on$50/day” out from the library and signed up for Nomadic Matt’s newsletters. One step closer to world travel :). Thank you so much again for the inspiration and detailed numbers.

Awesome! Matt’s book was a life saver for us. Hopefully it’ll help your budget too! Safe travels!

I’m pretty sure we could travel for the year on this kind of budget.

We tend to do a lot of hiking, and hiking accomodation + food is cheap. (And nothings taste as good as food you eat after a day of walking up and down a mountain. )

A few years ago we spent about a month in New Zealand and it cost us less than 5000$ can, including the flight to and from Canada.

Congrats on the trip, and it’s great that you take the time to share you numbers!

Wow, $5000/month in New Zealand including flights. Nice work! I’m going to have to pick your brain if we end up going there in the future.

That’s awesome! Great job keeping the cost down. We just came back from 3 weeks in Thailand/Siem Reap and spent about $4,000. Most of that is the flight. We didn’t have enough points for the tickets. I’m planning a RTW trip in 4-5 years and hopefully, we can keep it under $50,000. Should be possible if we can do the travel hacking right. You guys did a lot in one year. Did you get worn out? Must be nice to be young. 🙂

Must have been a ton of time to put that together, but hopefully it’ll convince the naysayers that YES, it’s possible!

We (my, my hubby and our 2 kids) have been traveling full-time for over 2 years now, and it’s waaaaay cheaper per day than the typical vacation blow-out spend. Your numbers look very attainable to me, based on my own experience.

Thanks! Kudos for being able to do it with kids!

This is awesome! You went to some amazing places that I haven’t considered traveling to. They’ve just been added to the list! I also love the Swiss Alps. My wife and I stayed in Interlaken a few years ago and loved hiking out there. Really cool trip. Any plans to do it again or are you done traveling for a bit?

We’re going to continue travelling and go back home periodically to visit family. Once you start, you can’t stop 🙂

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Awesome breakdown of all your expenses while mixing in splurges!

It is totally doable to travel inexpensively while getting the most of it. Especially when you have the flexibility of time compared to people who work 9 to 5.

I am really glad that you didn’t ride those elephants in Thailand and wrote about it. This is definitely an area where we could raise more awareness.

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Awesome post. Have you guys ever tried wwoofing? (living and working on organic farms in exchange for free meals and accommodation) Could be an awesome way to cut travel costs right down and discover some amazing places (think Tuscany, Provence…) all while learning some new skills

Hello again, I have a few questions… 1) What year did you do your round the world trip? 2) Did the time of year you visited specific countries have an affect on the price? 3) Can you offer some advice regarding travel hacking? I’m a bit concerned about this for a number of reasons. I’m in the UK and Amex is not accepted in that many outlets. Also, the points are often dependent on spending large amounts and we don’t spend that much. I accept that there may not be a definitive answer but I thought I would ask… 4) I’m off to Boston in October and I love lobster so if you can recommend good places to eat them that would be great!

We are doing the same, but with even less (so far). SEA really saved us money.

SE Asia is the key 😀

How much would it cost without using travel points? I always read about these travel hacks and have points but I’m curious if you have no miles, points, etc but just pure cash what would the costs be?

Loved the article and loved your book. Wife and I just got back from 2 months in Baja Mexico, one of our constant comments was to ‘find our Thailand’ to reign in meals after a splurge. Been following you guys (and JL Collins, Fritz from Retirement Manifesto) among others. Semi retired (in my case back to tech doing what I enjoy, working remote when we want) and travelling all the time. Vancouver next week then…? Keep it up!! Nomad

Hello K&B.

I have been reading your blog since 2015 and absolutely love it. I am almost a decade older than you two crazy kids but your stories and the example you were/are setting really helped keep me on track for FI and I will be forever grateful to you for that alone.

Q: In the original cost of travelling the world post, you highlighted the power of spending half the year somewhere affordable like SE Asia. Given the changes in your lives since that time (I’m looking at you homeswapping), do you still live by the SE Asia mantra or would you recommend a homeowner do something different?

FYI, I notice that you were recently in Sydney and somehow I failed to bump into while you were wandering around!

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Cost to Travel the World for One Year

August 27, 2020

“How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World for One Year?”

This is a question I found myself typing into the Google searchbar multiple times a day when I had decided to take the leap to become nomadic. It was 2017, and I was preparing to quit my job to travel indefinitely. Everything was set in my mind, except the fact I had no idea what it would cost to travel for a year.

I wasn’t sure if I could find a way to make money as I traveled , so I wanted to save enough money to travel for at least two years. I wanted to wait until I’d saved enough money before quitting my job. But, how much was enough exactly?

Fast-forward to now, I have been traveling the world nonstop for over 2 years, and can now report on the true cost to travel for a year. Below, I will break down my yearly spendings to answer the question “How much does it cost to travel the world for one year?”.

What Type of Traveler Are You?

Some factors that go into your cost to travel the world for one year, depends on the type of person you are, where you plan to go, what standard of living you’ll need to maintain to be happy (can you really couchsurf for a whole year?), and which activities you enjoy.

Back in 2017, when I searched for the definite estimate of the “cost to travel the world for one year?”, I got a huge variation of answers.

One blog I remember, said it costs as low as $9000 a year for a RTW (around the world) trip.

Other resources, such as the book “ How to Travel the World on $50 a Day ” by Matt Kepnes, told me that a yearly budget of around $18,000 was more practical.

Then, there were websites that said you should prepare to spend thousands of dollars each month. So which answer was accurate? Why are all the answers so different?

The answer lies in differences in travel styles. If you are a budget backpacker, your travel style will be motivated by your budget and spending as little as possible will be your goal. For someone who is wanting to tick off lots of boxes on their bucketlist, they will be less concerned with saving money and want to do and see as much as possible, which will probably cost more.

I don’t doubt that there are travelers flying around the globe, having an amazing time on $9000 a year. But knowing what I know now, I know that’s not the type of traveler I am (and that’s ok).

What’s Your Travel Style?

Be honest with yourself, evaluate your values, and what you want from your trip. Do you see yourself eating at restaurants frequently? Are you the type to want to go to all the “must see” attractions? Do you like sleeping in nice hotels? Do you like to party?

Or, are you ok with sleeping in hostels? Are you outgoing and comfortable enough to sleep at a strangers house you saw on the Couchsurfing app? Are you less interested in seeing stuff, and more interested in human connection?

Everyone’s motivation and reason to travel is different, and identifying what yours is will help you estimate your yearly travel budget.

The True Cost to Travel the World for One Year

Alright now the fun part! Here, I will disclose what it cost me to travel for a year.

Since I’ve been at it for over two years, I’ll include the budget breakdown for both years, since there’s a pretty big difference in both the budget and my travel style.

You can use the information to see which travel style resonates with you, and decide which budget matches the trip you want to have.

Okay, let’s get into it!

The First Year: The Digital Nomad Budget

My first year of travel I spent $33,746

Average monthly spending = $2812.17.

*I did not count some shopping splurges, that were unrelated to travel and more due to my consuming problems

**I did include the cost of having to buy new tech gear, including a brand new laptop and failed repairing costs

***I was hit by a truck while on a motorbike and sustained some medical costs due to that which are included

Depending on who is reading this, that number may be shockingly high or seem very low. To any Americans reading this, when comparing this to the standard cost of living back home, this may seem really cheap.

Who is this Budget For?

My first year’s budget applies to you if you are a digital nomad or have saved up a bunch of money, and want to take a year off to travel and tick off lots of boxes on that bucketlist. In that year, I traveled very comfortably, said yes to almost all experiences that came my way, and paid for lots of activities. I also work while on the road, so I never felt the need to control my spending.

For experienced backpackers, this is probably where you write me off as a psycho and stop reading, but wait! This was my first year of long term travel, and I was in YOLO mentality. I didn’t know how long I’d be on the road, so I wanted to live every moment to its fullest without counting my dollars. My second year went differently and I made significant changes to my spending without trying.

The Second Year: The Backpackers Budget

My second year I spent $16,939

Average monthly spending = $1411.58.

*i did not count the cost of my new camera and lenses

**I did not count my $3000 repatriation flight to fly back to the USA from South Africa during the COVID-19 lockdown

My second year of travel, I learned that less is more. I slashed my spending in half, without trying. It just happened, because the things I valued and liked to do changed.

This budget is closer to a normal backpackers budget, although I admit my travel style is nowhere near “budget” or “backpacking”. Despite the lack of effort, I was able to keep my spending pretty low. So if you are budget oriented, it will be very easy to spend within this budget, or even less.

Why the Difference in Spending Each Year?

As you can see, there is a huge difference between what I spent in my first and second year. During both years, I split my time similarly between cheap and expensive countries. In fact during the second year, I spent one month in Iceland , a notoriously expensive country. I traveled to four continents both years, and spent about three months of each year not paying for accommodation by staying in friends’ homes.

Both years were equally fulfilling, and both years I was able to have new amazing experiences from start to finish, even on two completely different budgets.

What I Did Differently Each Year

This took research, and after breaking down my spending habits over the last two years, these were the differences I saw and what behaviors you can expect to drive up your own budget, or where you can save:

1. I Partied More the First Year

The biggest change came with what I liked to do. Year one I went to lots of parties and music festivals. I spent $6000 in a month in Mykonos by partying night and day and paying $25 per drink, which racked up to dozens each day. We all know booze costs money, but it’s also the indirect costs that add up too.

When I was in party mode, I was in spending mode. In one weekend of debauchery, I could easily double my monthly spendings in taxis, alcohol and any other bad decision along the way.

If you plan to party a lot during your trip, expect a higher budget. If you can cut it out of your travel plans you will save thousands of dollars. Not partying is the main reason I spent less in the second year of travel.

2. I Changed Countries More in the First Year

My first year of travel I went to 19 countries total. Not only that, but within each country, I rarely stayed in one city longer than a week, before taking a weekend trip elsewhere, or relocating altogether. 

In the second year, I visited 14 countries, which still meant I visited more than 1 country a month, but by reducing how many long haul flights I took, I saved a lot.

Based on my experience, I didn’t have less fun or experience less by moving around less. I actually found a place I loved, South Africa , and got to spend more time there, and experience more of it than if I had only spent one month there. 

If you are the type to count countries and want to collect as many stamps in your passport as possible, you will spend more. If you are easy-going and just want to see where this journey takes you, odds are you’ll be like me and find a country you love, and want to slow down. By spending more time in one place sometimes (or all the time), you’ll spend less but experience just as much. By moving less I spent $4000 less in the second year.

3. I Did More Paid Activities the First Year

In my first year of traveling, I got PADI certified. Since then, I’ve done numerous diving trips, mostly within that year. Diving is not a cheap hobby, but one I love. In year two I didn’t intend to dive less, it just so happened that the destinations I chose didn’t offer that type of experience.

Some travelers feel that they can’t miss out on certain activities that they can only experience in certain destinations. Safaris, for example, are notoriously expensive, which makes Kenya an expensive destination. However, if you cut this type of activity out completely, Kenya is a very cheap country.

Some travelers are willing to skip these activities and by doing so, spend much less. I meet plenty of travelers who are happy doing only free activities such as spending time at the beach, going hiking, or meeting up with locals and other travelers. These types of experiences are free so they will spend less.

Certain once-in-a-lifetime experiences cost a lot. Reflect on what you want to do on your trip and decide how big of a budget you need for activities. If you plan to do adventure sports, go on a safari, or take diving trips, plan for a bigger budget. For example, I usually budget at least an extra $500 for big paid activities each month.

4. I Ate Out Less the Second Year

If you know how to cook, you will save money. This rule doesn’t count in Southeast Asia or East Africa where eating out is as low as $1 per meal. However in Western Europe, Japan and North America, this will make a huge difference.

Some months in South Africa, I only bought groceries in efforts to be healthier. Those months my food budget never exceeded $250.

In some months where I ate out almost everyday, my food budget was up to $800 a month. In Japan, my sushi problem could rack up a $1000 monthly food budget (oops).

I think the best travel experience lies in the middle. Eat out a few times a week to try local cuisine, but try to cook often for your health and budget. If you are in a cheap destination, feel free to eat out for every meal.

If you cook or eat local food in cheap countries, you can spend $250 or less on food a month. If you want to eat out moderately, add $150 to that. If you plan to eat out a lot add $300 – $400 to that.

5. I Had More Accidents in the First Year

This isn’t something I could have controlled, but it sure did make a difference in my budget. I had my laptop (aka my money making machine) crash on me one day. In a desperate attempt to repair it on an island with no Apple stores, I ended up paying for several costly repairs, none of which actually worked. I bought another laptop, which I hated, so I eventually had to buy a new Macbook when I got to Singapore. That was an unexpected month that cost me thousands in extra expenses.

I also got into an accident where a truck sideswiped my motorbike. I had some minor leg injuries, but still needed medical attention which was an additional expense.

These expenses could have been reimbursed if I had renewed my travel insurance on time. I had travel insurance, but it expired the month of ALL these accidents. Lesson learned, you must always have travel insurance.

You should plan to get travel insurance no matter what your budget is. I recommend World Nomads Travel Insurance because they are reliable, and you can purchase from them while already traveling, and renew it at any time. Their plan is easy to navigate and they are very helpful.

The Verdict :

So, with this information, plus identifying what type of traveler you are, you can get a rough idea how much it will cost you to travel the world for one year.

Below are some suggested budgeting templates, and what you can expect from your trip at each budget level.

You can travel comfortably on a budget as low as $1500/ a month ($18,000 per year).

In this budget, you can expect to have a trip that includes:

• Staying in hostels for short stays (I don’t use hostels)
• Using Airbnb for longer stays
• Couchsurfing 25% of the time and/or in expensive countries
• Spending more time in each country
• Taking buses instead of flying whenever possible
• Taking 2 (or less) long haul flights a year
• Doing more hiking, beach days, or things in nature which are free
• Cooking in expensive countries, and limit eating out to 3 times a week
• Partying less or partying cheaply (A bottle of wine in Romania is as low as $2 and it’s free to drink it in the park with friends)
• Limiting paid activities to 2 per week (museums, tours, dives etc)
• Shopping only for necessities, or for clothes when changing climate zones
• Spending at least half of your trip (if not more) in cheap countries like Southeast Asia, East Africa, etc.
• Find travel buddies to split costs for some trips (car rental, airbnb, etc are good places to save if you have a partner)

Aim for a $2000 – $2500 monthly budget ($24,000 – $30,000 a year) if you plan to:

• Do more paid activities like safaris, tours, dive trips, museums or festivals
• Eat out up to 5 times a week
• Spend some time in cheaper countries
• Fly instead of using land transportation for regional travel
• Limit long haul flights to 3 – 4 times a year
• Stay with friends or hosts for free sometimes
• Party and go out a couple nights a week
• Stay in private Airbnbs mostly, not hostels

Aim for a $3000+ / month budget ($36,000+ a year) if you:

• Are between jobs and just plan to take a year off to travel, and will make money again once you go home
• Really want to do all paid activities available in each destination and don’t want to miss any such as safaris, skydiving, diving trips
• Love partying and plan to visit some party destinations
• Like music festivals
• Want to eat out everyday
• Drink frequently and love partying, and going to clubs and bars
• Plan to fly once a month or more
• Will change continents frequently, and have more than 4 long haul flights a year
• Will spend more than half your time in expensive countries
• Love shopping and buying gifts and souvenirs
• Don’t like hostels
• Can make money while traveling and don’t need to/care about budget so much

I hope this gives you an idea of what you can expect to spend in a year of traveling. I have been on both ends of the spectrum, from spending less than $1500 a month, to the traveler who spends twice as much.

Now you know what you can expect from a year of traveling on two different budgets and travel styles. If you can assess your needs and what you want from your trip, then you can use the information here to estimate the cost to travel the world for one year. Then, just save and budget accordingly and you’re good to go! 

What about you? Have you traveled for a year and had a completely different budget? Let me know!

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January 28, 2021 at 3:08 pm

You did a great job with you budget for different lifestyles. So brave of you to take on traveling this way. Your photos are wonderful too.

February 4, 2021 at 11:12 am

January 28, 2021 at 9:07 pm

This is very interesting, obviously. Yes, I find your first year shockingly expensive. I used to spend longer periods of time in the Caribbean and in Central America before the term digital nomad was invented and it was always pretty reasonable. I rented houses and cooked my own food most of the time. I’m planning on roaming again for longer periods in the future and will definitely try to live on your second year budget 😀 I’m also shocked that you had to pay 3K for a flight home

February 4, 2021 at 11:15 am

Yeah, it was partly being new to the lifestyle and also the fact I had just come out of a job I hated. I wanted to live life fully which at the time I misunderstood as meaning indulging in too much wine and other unnecessary things.. Glad I have changed, but yes that 3k flight during COVID still haunts me

January 29, 2021 at 5:09 pm

Loved this! We are only part time traveling but hope to get to a point to be able to travel fulltime. Thanks for sharing!

February 4, 2021 at 11:17 am

Yes! It’s so fun to travel when you have no deadline or plan, but I do miss the super excited anticipation I used to get before trips, when I only had a few weeks a year to travel. Now my trip just doesn’t end so I don’t get that feeling anymore.

January 29, 2021 at 5:30 pm

Wow that difference between the first and second. I was very much the same when i first travelled I spent a lot more and gradually learnt little ways to save money and place more value in experiences rather than expensive accommodations or meals etc.

February 4, 2021 at 11:18 am

Yeah, I totally get that. In order to write this article I had to go through my bank statements, to calculate the cost, and believe me I cringed so many times at my old purchasing decisions.

January 29, 2021 at 6:21 pm

Its interesting to see how well you have slashed down your travel expenses to half! Thats some amazing numbers. A few years back we had plans to do RTW tour and we did work out the costs and it came up somewhere to your second year expenses. But I am guessing travelling will become expensive after the covid. Lets just wait and watch!

February 4, 2021 at 11:19 am

Ah! That’s interesting, I was kind of hoping it would be cheaper after the pandemic, since people might be afraid to travel initially and will need some coaxing to get back into it. Personally, I am hoping to score a good deal on safaris. But let’s see

January 30, 2021 at 8:38 pm

This was so helpful! I’ve been wanting to travel for a year for the longest time but never pulled the trigger. I will be saving up to be able to do this in the near future. Hopefully travel will make a come back soon with everything thats currently going on right now.

February 4, 2021 at 11:20 am

When you get the chance go for it! Before I did it, It never feels like you have enough money for it, but honestly things just work itself out.

January 31, 2021 at 3:26 am

This is so helpful and interesting to read! I love how truthful you were with everything and really broke down areas that needed more information, honestly – I loved reading this and learning more about what it costs to travel full time

March 7, 2021 at 7:44 am

Your first year seems a bit expensive to me. But I see that you found good ways to cut down costs. I would love to leave everything and travel for a few years but I have made the mistake of growing roots in a way that would be complicated to leave.

March 8, 2021 at 9:26 am

Oh, it was. What I didn’t mention is at this time in my life I had no concept of budget or financial responsibility. I regret nothing, but there were many ways that I was overspending for little benefit during my trip.

March 7, 2021 at 9:39 am

This breakdown is so interesting! I wouldn’t have a clue where to start with budgeting for a year of traveling! I love how you have broken it down for different kinds of travvellers! What a useful guide! Thanks so much for sharing!

Thanks for reading!

March 7, 2021 at 9:49 am

Love that you compared the first and second year. It definitely shows growth and determination.

It was a huge change, even if it didn’t take much effort!

March 7, 2021 at 10:34 am

I love this post! So informative and so helpful! Thank you so much for sharing!

Thanks for reading 🙂

March 7, 2021 at 10:47 am

OMGGG – FINALLY someone that breaks down all of the costs and ACTUALLY lists an amount. THANK YOU. My younger sister is planning to travel for a year and we’ve both had so much trouble trying to find someone that actually lists everything they went through and drop the dollar amounts. I really appreciate the help and guidance~!

March 8, 2021 at 9:28 am

Wow that’s super exciting for her. If she has any questions feel free to email e or DM me on IG. I know what it was like before I went on the trip, I tried sooo hard to formulate a budget but the info online was so inconclusive.

March 7, 2021 at 9:30 pm

Love your honesty and that you showed the difference between the two years! Really appreciate the guidance!!

March 8, 2021 at 1:18 am

This is all very interesting to me. I honestly admit that I am rather envious of the LARGE number of people on these travel blogs who can and seem to constantly travel and roam for prolonged periods of time … months to years. While I LOVE to travel and aim to take 3 decent (2-week long) trips per year, there is no way that I could “be nomadic” with a spouse, kids, and job that ties me to one place. I am always curious whether with this nomadic life do people tend to find jobs and work when they are abroad for so long? Do they live off of savings? Are they subsidized? It is all very mysterious and intriguing to me.

March 8, 2021 at 9:32 am

The first years budget was based on a “digital nomad” budget, which means someone who works online while traveling. I am in a few digital nomad FB groups, and from what I have observed, a lot of them are doing really well and are making and spending the same as they would in their home country. My home city is San Francisco, where monthly costs easily exceed 5k, so even a 3k monthly budget is cheap for me. However, if you don’t need to work while traveling, it’s easy to cut costs and travel cheaper. My boyfriend traveled for 4 months on 3000 pounds. There’s always a way!

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The 18 best places to see the northern lights.

Check the aurora borealis off your bucket list.

The Best Places for the Northern Lights

Getty Images

The northern lights, known as the aurora borealis, are a spectacular natural light show visible at certain times of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. They occur when electrically charged particles from the sun collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere, creating vibrant streaks of blue, green, pink and violet dancing across the night sky. 2024 and 2025 are an excellent time to catch the northern lights: Solar activity will be at a peak, making for a more impressive experience, if you're in the right place.

The best places to see the aurora borealis have little light pollution, clear skies and no precipitation. The lights are only visible at northern latitudes when it's dark outside, so the months from September to April are best for seeing the aurora. There's also a Southern Hemisphere counterpart, the aurora australis; there are fewer easy spots from which to view this phenomenon, but if you're lucky, it can be equally brilliant.

For more information on the northern lights, scroll down to the FAQ section at the bottom of this page. Read on to discover the top destinations where you can see the kaleidoscopic northern and southern lights.

Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks is by far one of the best places in the world to view the northern lights, as it's located directly under the auroral oval. This ring-shaped zone sits around the Earth's geomagnetic North Pole and is generally associated with the most vibrant aurora sightings. Visitors can expect to see the lights on an average of four out of five clear nights during aurora season, which lasts from late August to late April.

You can book a northern lights tour to see the aurora from the springs and tubs at Chena Hot Springs Resort. This excursion includes round-trip transportation to the resort from town, a soak in the hot springs, a visit to the Fairbanks Aurora Ice Museum and an aurora viewing tour; dinner and drinks centered around Alaska produce are an option extra with hot drinks supplied.

There's more to Fairbanks than just the northern lights: If you visit in late summer, consider family-friendly activities like a ride on the Riverboat Discovery or gold panning. For a festive holiday experience in the winter, head around 15 miles out of Fairbanks to visit the Santa Claus House in the city of North Pole. Travelers can also see ice sculptures in February and March at the impressive World Ice Art Championships or take a dog-sledding or snowmobiling tour .

Where to stay: For excellent chances of aurora viewing, book a private igloo at Borealis Basecamp, a top glamping resort located on 100 remote acres of boreal forest about 25 miles from Fairbanks. With activities like dog-sledding on top of aurora viewing, past visitors regularly describe it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Tromsø, Norway

Located about 220 miles above the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is one of several top spots to view the northern lights in Norway. At the darkest point of the aurora season – which runs from September to early April – the sun doesn't rise in this northern part of the country, although there is twilight during the day. With this level of darkness, there are more opportunities to see the aurora.

Tromsø itself is a small but lively city, so there's plenty to see and do when you're not looking up at the sky, including a visit to the beautiful Arctic Cathedral. In late January to early February, the city hosts the Northern Lights Festival, a 10-day music and performing arts event featuring a variety of musical genres.

Aurora chasers can view the lights on their own while in town, but to get a better view, it's recommended to head away from the city lights. Arctic Circle Tours is one company offering guided trips, with small groups for a more personal vibe. Alternatively, adventure-seekers can embark on an exhilarating husky trekking expedition in the Arctic wilderness.

Where to stay: For accommodations with harbor views, look no further than the Scandic Ishavshotel – guests love it for its convenient central location in the city, as well as its plus-sized breakfast buffet with plenty of choices.

Luosto and Rovaniemi (Lapland), Finland

Lapland is located within the Arctic Circle in the northernmost part of Finland. The northern lights are most visible here between the end of August and April – and approximately 200 times a year – so there are many opportunities for aurora spotting. Finnish Lapland is also known as home to the Sámi people (the only recognized Indigenous group in the European Union region), some 200,000 reindeer and Santa Claus – who can be visited in the town of Rovaniemi, the region's largest city and a great base for your aurora expedition.

Consider venturing roughly 70 miles north of Rovaniemi to the resort town of Luosto, set among the picturesque and hilly landscape of Pyhä-Luosto National Park. Here, you can also spend a magical evening outdoors under star-filled skies during a reindeer-drawn sleigh ride through the snow-covered forests. Jaakkola Reindeer Farm offers a reindeer sleigh tour to spot the aurora once weekly; it includes a stop to warm up at a bonfire camp with snacks, hot beverages and local fireside stories.

Where to stay: For a bucket list experience, watch the impressive light show from a glass igloo at Santa's Hotel Aurora & Igloos in Luosto. Past visitors love the cozy atmosphere here, boosted by amenities like saunas and log fireplaces. If you're sticking to Rovaniemi, the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel is a stunning choice, with designer cabins perched among the snow-covered taiga forest.

Orkney, Scotland

This group of captivating (and mostly uninhabited) islands, located about 10 miles off Scotland's remote northern coast, is one of the best places to see the northern nights in the U.K. Fall and winter are the best seasons to witness the aurora, also known in local Shetland dialect as the "Mirrie Dancers," with fall bringing the highest proportion of clear nights. A few places to see the spectacular light show include along the coast at Birsay or the Broch of Gurness, an archaeological ruin on a sweeping and dramatic coastline.

In addition to the aurora, Orkney is home to breathtaking coastal landscapes and more sheep than you can count (try some local lamb, if you can). Travelers can also visit the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with several monuments dating back 5,000 years.

Where to stay: During your visit, plan to stay in the historic town of Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney Islands: The no-fuss Ayre Hotel offers harbor views, and past visitors compliment the hearty meals in the hotel restaurant. Spot the aurora close to town at Inganess Bay and Wideford Hill.

Yellowknife, Canada

Yellowknife, the capital of Canada 's Northwest Territories, dubs itself the "Aurora Capital of the World." Thanks to its position in the middle of the auroral oval, the city puts on one of the world's most awe-inspiring light shows. The period from mid-November to the beginning of April is the recommended time to spot the aurora, but it's also possible to see the aurora during more hospitable weather from late summer to early fall as the lights are visible up to 240 days a year.

Located on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, Yellowknife boasts winter sports such as ice fishing and cross-country skiing. If you visit in March, plan to attend the monthlong Snowkings' Winter Festival, which features events and activities like a snow-carving competition, a snow castle, live music and more.

For a unique experience, book a tour through Aurora Village to view the lights. The property will pick you up from your hotel and take you to its site, where you can stay warm in a tent while sipping hot beverages. The Aboriginal-owned Aurora Village also offers activities such as dog-sledding or snowshoeing excursions.

Where to stay: Warm up in the fireside lounge at The Explorer Hotel in Yellowknife. Previous visitors note the warm and helpful staff as a strength here.

Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

The optimal time for seeing the illuminated skies in the northern part of Sweden, known as Swedish Lapland, is between early September and late March. The small Swedish village of Jukkasjärvi sits around 125 miles above the Arctic Circle on the Torne River and is an ideal locale for aurora viewing. You'll fly to the nearby Kiruna Airport to get here. With the village's origins dating back to the 17th century, you can still find some of the original homesteads, including an old timber cottage. Today the village boasts 800 residents – and more than 1,000 dogs.

Where to stay: If you're up for a chilly overnight adventure, reserve accommodations at the world's first permanent ice hotel, the aptly named Icehotel 365. Each of its artist-designed suites is sculpted from ice with a unique theme and maintains temperatures around minus 5 degrees Celsius (about 23 degrees Fahrenheit). The rooms also feature beds with reindeer hides and thermal sleeping bags so you can bundle up during the night. While you're at the property, take advantage of the guided "Northern Lights Safari on Snowmobile" or embark on the "Moose Safari on Horseback" atop an Icelandic horse.

Reykjavik, Iceland

October through March is the best time to chase the aurora borealis in Iceland . There are numerous natural parks and attractions throughout the country where you can view the show during the long and dark winter, but the capital city of Reykjavik also offers many options for accommodations, restaurants, tours and other activities for your visit. For optimum aurora viewing in the city away from the light pollution, head to Öskjuhlið. This wooded and hilly area in Reykjavik sits at 200 feet above sea level and has walkways and paths where you can see the nighttime show.

Atop this hill sits Perlan, which houses the only planetarium in the country and a museum featuring exhibits about Iceland. Perlan is also home to the world's first indoor ice cave and glacier exploratorium. During your visit, don't miss the panoramic views of the city from the building's fourth-floor observation deck. From this vantage point, you'll be able to see the Snæfellsjökull glacier; Keilir, a volcanic mountain; and Esja, the mountain of Reykjavik.

Where to stay: While in Reykjavik, splurge on an overnight tour with Buubble Tours. This experience includes breathtaking sightseeing spots and a night spent under the magical northern skies in a transparent bubble at the 5 Million Star Hotel. For longer stays, consider the eco-friendly Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel, with sweeping views of the city – guests love it for its cozy yet chic Scandinavian design.

Southern Iceland

While Reykjavik is a great aurora-viewing spot if you like having amenities close by, consider getting out into Iceland's stunning, otherworldly countryside for a unique backdrop for the northern lights. One unique place to see them is the black sand beach at Reynisfjara (but watch out for the dangerous waves here). Alternatively, head to Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon and seal habitat, where the aurora's reflections in the icy water are truly beautiful.

There's no shortage of tours that will stop by these locations and more for possible aurora sightings. Consider a 10- or 13-day tour around the country with Fun Travel, or a four-day option from Arctic Adventures. If you want to do things at your own place, it's also possible to self-drive – just know that road conditions can be icy, particularly in the depths of winter (although Icelandic roads are generally well-maintained).

Where to stay: Hotel Rangá is a formidable option for aurora-spotting. It offers a variety of special amenities, such as aurora wake-up calls, a lookout deck and snowsuits to keep you warm if you're outside viewing the lights. Past visitors praise Rangá for being a comfortable yet luxurious place to relax, be it in the outdoor hot tubs or the cozy and sociable bar.

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

Greenland may not be the most accessible place to travel for viewing the northern lights, with limited flight options (mostly via Iceland), but those who make it here will be thrilled they did. The tundra of Kalaallit Nunaat – the Greenlandic name for the country – is one of the best places on the globe to see the aurora from September to early April.

For the more adventurous aurora seekers, head to the top of the Greenland Ice Cap for spectacular views of the lights. This impressive glacier covers 80% of the country and is accessible via the tiny town of Kangerlussuaq. Located on a fjord right along the Arctic Circle, the town, often described as a gateway to Greenland, was a former U.S. Air Force base and is now home to Greenland's main airport. The town is known for having clear skies on some 300 nights per year, so chances of a sighting are particularly good here.

Tour company Guide to Greenland offers various tours, from two-hour aurora-viewing trips to a tough but rewarding multi-night dog-sledding expedition across the ice. For a less strenuous experience, companies like Nordic Saga Tours offer cruises through the Arctic landscapes around Kangerlussuaq.

Viking cruise along Norway's coast

Courtesy of Viking

Embrace the winter and set sail for the Arctic Circle to experience the aurora in northern Norway. The 13-day "In Search of the Northern Lights" cruise itinerary with Viking departs from London for the North Sea with stops in ports of call that are top aurora-viewing locales, including Tromsø, Alta and Narvik, plus a stop in Amsterdam en route. The cruise ends in Bergen, Norway.

While on land, take in the natural beauty of the snow-blanketed landscapes and book bucket list excursions like a night spent in an igloo or a reindeer sledding adventure. You can also chase the lights into the wilderness by snowmobile, take a dog sled ride under the stars or view them from a Sámi tent atop the mountain Pæska in Alta. This Viking Ocean Cruises itinerary is offered with departure dates from mid-January to mid-March.

Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Michigan

Regarded as one of the top spots in the U.S. to see the aurora outside Alaska, Headlands International Dark Sky Park sits at the top of Michigan 's lower peninsula, less than 5 miles from Mackinaw City. While the northern lights are less common here due to the relatively southern location, the best time to catch a glimpse of this phenomenon is typically during the spring and fall – and appearances can usually be predicted a couple of days in advance. The park even maintains an online Clear Sky Chart so you can check the weather forecast before you go.

There are also other stargazing opportunities throughout the year at Headlands. During the summer months the Milky Way is visible across the sky, and late summer evenings entertain visitors with meteor showers.

Where to stay: If you're visiting between late April and the end of October, splurge on a stay at Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island, where the aurora should also be visible. Guests describe this iconic property situated along the shoreline of Lake Huron as positively charming, thanks to its historic nature and manicured grounds. The resort also offers a host of outdoor activities from bike rentals to swimming.

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Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

Martha Shuff | Courtesy of Voyageurs National Park

Located on the international border between Minnesota and Ontario, Voyageurs National Park is an approximately 218,000-acre labyrinth of boreal forests, lakes and streams. Voyageurs is Minnesota's only national park; it's also unique in that the park's interior is accessible only by boat, unless you visit by snowmobile in winter. As a certified International Dark Sky Park , Voyageurs provides opportunities to view the Milky Way on clear evenings, especially in the summer. Year-round aurora viewing is also possible on evenings with clear dark skies, but chances are better during the winter, when it's dark for longer.

For a guided stargazing tour – including the Milky Way, the constellations and (if you're lucky) the northern lights – book with Voyageurs Outfitters. If you're on your own, park officials note that almost any campsite is a good spot for northern lights viewing and stargazing. You can also check out the boat launch areas around Ash River, Kabetogama Lake and the Rainy Lake Visitor Center for top-notch views.

Where to stay: Those who prefer to sleep in a warm, cozy bed instead of camping under the stars can make reservations at the Cantilever Distillery + Hotel, a boutique Trademark Collection by Wyndham property in the nearby town of Ranier, Minnesota. Visitors report that there's a lot to like here, from the industrial-chic rooms to friendly staff to top-notch cocktails in the active distillery on the premises.

Abisko National Park, Sweden

Given its Arctic location, Sweden is one of the prime spots for aurora viewing in the Northern Hemisphere, with Swedish Lapland at the top of the list. The fall and winter months (from September to March) offer the best opportunities to witness the spectacle, as there is more darkness than light during the days.

If you're up for the Arctic adventure, December is an ideal month to visit Abisko National Park, which some regard as one of the best places on Earth to see the lights dance across the sky. The park's mountainous terrain and clear dark skies offer dramatic front-row seats for viewing the northern lights. The Aurora Sky Station is one of the best vantage points to see the aurora in the park. Join one of the expert presentations to learn about the science behind this fascinating phenomenon.

If you'd prefer to chase the lights with a curated tour, professional photographers and aurora-chasing guides at Visit Abisko lead three- to four-hour tours throughout the fall and winter. If you can, try to join the tours in fall, as this time of year offers a unique opportunity to view the lights both in the sky and reflected in the lakes and rivers, which you won't see in the winter months.

Where to stay: For cozy Nordic vibes, stay at Abisko Mountain Lodge, which also offers activities like ice climbing and snowmobile tours in winter. Guests love the excellent restaurant here, which offers Swedish specialties ranging from salmon to moose.

Nellim, Finland

Courtesy of Wilderness Hotels

Located a stone's throw from the Russian border in Finnish Lapland, this remote Arctic destination is a top-rated locale to view the northern lights due to the lack of light pollution. You'll be seriously out of the way of any built-up areas, as there's not even a paved road into Nellim. The best time to visit is between December and early April. This village is a great place to hunker down in a lodge and relax while enjoying a slice of life in the Finnish wilderness.

Where to stay: The Nellim Wilderness Hotel offers a perfect base with year-round activities, including aurora-chasing tours by car, snowmobile or on snowshoes. You can even take a sleigh ride through the snow to a campsite on Lake Inari to spot the aurora in pristine nature.

Beyond standard rooms, the Wilderness Hotel also offers glass-roofed cabins, as well as classic log cabins and bubble-shaped accommodations for two where guests can watch the dancing lights through the glass roof above your warm, cozy bed. When you're not chasing the lights, enjoy other Arctic activities like a husky safari, ice fishing, snowmobiling or a day in the snow meeting the local reindeer.

Saariselkä and Kakslauttanen, Finland

These two towns are around 150 miles above the Arctic Circle, with a prime location under the auroral oval, allowing as many as 200 opportunities per year to see the northern lights (weather permitting, of course). This area in Finnish Lapland is known for its stunning scenery, Sámi culture, cross-country and downhill skiing, and Urho Kekkonen National Park – one of Finland's largest.

Ski enthusiasts can roll two trips into one by hitting the slopes by day in Saariselkä and aurora spotting by night at Finland's northernmost ski resort. March into early April is the best time to view the aurora, as the Finnish Meteorological Institute notes that the weather is usually clearer at this time of year. But it's possible to see the northern lights at any time during the season from late August to early or mid-April.

Where to stay: Seven miles south of Saariselkä sits the village of Kakslauttanen, where you can book two- or four-person Glass Igloos at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. The new Kelo-Glass Igloos, which sleep up to six, mix the comforts of a log chalet with the visibility of the glass roof; enjoy a private sauna, a fireplace and more. There's also an impressive selection of year-round tours and activities at this resort, including northern lights excursions on snowmobiles or by horse-drawn carriage.

Stewart Island, New Zealand

Courtesy of RealNZ

Although they may be isolated, some far-south destinations offer the chance to see the aurora australis – or southern lights. While you might be able to see them year-round in some locations (just as with the northern lights), certain months are better for aurora viewing in the Southern Hemisphere. Stewart Island is regarded as one of the top spots to see the brilliant display in New Zealand , with 85% of the island encompassed by Rakiura National Park, so there are few people and virtually no light pollution. You can reach Stewart Island by flying in from Invercargill or taking a ferry from Bluff.

New Zealand's winter months – June to August – are the best time to see the southern lights; spring and fall are also not bad times to spot them. The brighter summer months, between December and February, make it more difficult to spot the aurora, but there's still a chance you'll catch a glimpse between midnight and 4 a.m.

Where to stay: Consider reserving a room with at Stewart Island Lodge, an intimate bed-and-breakfast. This beautiful property is just minutes by foot from the village of Oban, and the property will pick you up at the ferry terminal for your stay. Past visitors rave about the spectacular views of Halfmoon Bay and the Foveaux Strait from both the rooms and lodge terrace.

Tasmania sits approximately 150 miles south of mainland Australia. This mountainous island is one of relatively few places on the planet where it's theoretically possible to see the aurora 365 days a year due to its latitude, which allows for full darkness even on summer nights. The capital city of Hobart is the easiest point of entry: It's home to Tasmania's largest airport and serves as a convenient base. The city's burgeoning food and cultural scenes will also give you plenty to see and do.

From here you'll be able to reach several great viewing locations with unobstructed and open views of the sea along the southern and southeast coastlines, like Goat Bluff and Tinderbox Bay. When you're not staring at the night sky, splurge on a once-in-a-lifetime helicopter flight with Tasmanian Air Tours. Depending on your whims, your private pilot can whisk you away to soar over the sea cliffs; stop at a local winery to sample local vintages; or head south to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Port Arthur , Tasmania 's historic and most notorious prison.

Where to stay: Reserve accommodations at The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart. The historic luxury property is situated along the lively waterfront area with harbor views. Past guests admired the historic building housing the hotel and loved the heritage rooms featuring gas fireplaces for those cold Tasmanian nights.

Expedition cruise to Antarctica

If you're one of the lucky few people on the planet to travel to the southernmost continent on Earth, it may be pricey, but you'll have an adventure of a lifetime in Antarctica, especially if the aurora illuminates the sky. The southern lights are most visible in the winter months (between March and October), but due to weather conditions, only researchers brave the Antarctic winter – and they mostly stay indoors.

However, all hope is not lost if you seek to view the aurora australis in Antarctica. Late-season expedition cruises to this continent offered in March also bring the opportunity to view the southern lights and enjoy the end of Antarctica's fleeting summer. As the days shorten in length, you may encounter light snow across the extreme landscape and ice starting to form on the water's surface.

When it comes to wildlife viewing, humpback whale sightings are abundant, and you'll still see penguin colonies – including king and gentoo penguins. You can also keep your eyes peeled for elephant seals, leopard seals, wandering albatross and other species of birds. When night falls on clear evenings, look for the light show in the southern sky. Companies that offer March voyages include Swoop Antarctica, Atlas Ocean Voyages, Silversea Cruises , Aurora Expeditions and Hurtigruten Expeditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

There's no one location that's widely accepted as the best place to see the northern lights. However, the strongest light displays are within what's called the "auroral oval": a rough circle around the Earth's magnetic northern pole that tends to occur around 60 to 70 degrees of latitude. The oval's exact size expands and contracts (some more southerly destinations can fall under it when the aurora is particularly strong), but there are certain locations that generally fall within the oval most of the time.

These places include:

• Central and northern Alaska
• Large areas of Yukon, the Northwest Territories and northern Quebec in Canada
• Southern Greenland
• Far northern Norway, Sweden and Finland

Within these areas, it could be argued that Iceland is the best place to see the aurora as it experiences much milder temperatures than some other areas within the oval. But this is subjective, and some travelers may prefer a location like Yellowknife in Canada for a full-on, very cold Arctic experience.

The northern lights are only visible when it's dark out. Since many of the best places to see them are so far north that they experience near-constant daylight in the summer, you'll generally want to schedule a trip between late August and early April. However, within this time period, there's some debate about the best time to catch the lights. For example, the aurora tends to be more active around the September and March equinoxes due to stronger solar winds – but on the other hand, your chances of seeing them may be higher in the depths of winter, since there's longer nights and therefore a longer window in which they might appear.

In more southern locations like Minnesota, it may be possible to see the light show in the summer months, but it's still advisable to go at a time when the nights are longer. It can also be worth trying to schedule your northern lights trip when there's a new moon: While the aurora can shine through moonlight, it may be harder to see if there's a full moon.

Of course, cloudy weather can block the aurora even if you go at the right time of year. So, it may be wise to research the local weather patterns at your chosen destination to find out if there's a month where you can expect clearer skies. In many cases, though, there's a little luck involved.

These two countries can offer excellent views of the northern lights, since both are directly under the typical auroral oval. Yet there are some differences to be aware of.

In Norway, you'll need to head to the north of the country to catch the aurora: While they have been sighted in Oslo , the capital and largest city, it's too far south to be a reliable vantage point. Cities like Tromsø are popular spots, but direct flights there are only possible from some European cities, so North Americans will have to take connecting flights. On the other hand, Iceland is generally easier to reach, with direct flights to its capital, Reykjavik, from a large number of U.S. destinations (particularly from the East Coast) with no further connection required.

Since clear skies are key for seeing the northern lights, weather is another factor to consider. In November, December and March, Reykjavik has statistically slightly more frequent clear skies, while in January and February, Tromsø is a little better, but the difference isn't big: Both places have clear skies only around 25 to 30% of the time in these months. Reykjavik has slightly warmer weather, though, so between that and the ease of access, it has a slight edge over Norway for seeing the northern lights.

Alaska and Iceland are known for stellar aurora light shows, so deciding between them may depend on which destination you find more convenient and more to your tastes. In Alaska , the city of Fairbanks is considered a great spot to catch the northern lights. (They can still be seen elsewhere in the state – for example, in Anchorage, although they're not so common in more southern locations like Juneau). The advantage of Fairbanks is that you won't need a passport , yet there aren't many direct flights from the lower 48 states. Despite being an international destination, Iceland may be more accessible (particularly from the eastern U.S.), thanks to fairly regular flights to Reykjavik from numerous American cities.

Fairbanks does offer statistically better weather for aurora viewing: It has clear skies more often than Reykjavik, particularly in March when the Alaska city experiences them around 45% of the time (compared to about 25% for Reykjavik). But you'll have to be able to tolerate the cold. While temperatures in Reykjavik hover around freezing in midwinter, Fairbanks is a veritable deep freeze, with average highs around 5 degrees Fahrenheit down to lows colder than minus 5 in December.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Timothy Forster , as a Canadian who has traveled from coast to coast in that sprawling country, knows all about travel in the cold northern reaches of the world. Forster used his extensive traveling background along with research expertise to curate this article.

You might also be interested in:

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I spent 9 months traveling the world. I had a great time, but I'd never do it again.

• I spent nine months traveling the world , and I wouldn't do it again despite having a great time.
• Because I was on a tight budget, I often found myself turning down cool experiences to save money.
• I also struggled to make genuine friendships and missed having a space to call my own.

When I was working remotely in 2021, my boyfriend and I packed up and traveled to 22 countries across Europe and Latin America.

Although these were some of the best days of my life, I quickly learned that a lot of the videos I saw on social media that glorified full-time travel didn't always showcase the downfalls of the lifestyle.

More and more people are becoming digital nomads — countries like Italy have even implemented specific visas for remote workers. But during my nine months abroad, I learned that the lifestyle isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Here's why I wouldn't travel full time again.

I found myself constantly looking for places and experiences that felt like home

While traveling full time, I found myself constantly looking for places and experiences that felt like home.

In some ways, it was cool to feel like a local in a new city. However, when I returned home and took shorter vacations, I started to value the places I was visiting for their differences rather than trying to find some semblance of home.

Related stories

Nowadays, I like having a home base. Shorter trips help me to break up the monotony of life without sacrificing the comfort of home.

It felt like I was constantly thinking about money

When I was traveling full-time, I was on a strict budget . I either drained my wallet or ate cheap food to maintain some sort of financial security while on the road.

I talked myself out of going to every museum I wanted to and purchased cheap meals for dinner instead of indulging in local cuisine that might have been out of my budget.

The moments I would slip up on my spending were when I forgot this wasn't a never-ending vacation, but rather, my new everyday life.

During the first two weeks of our trip, I wanted to go to all of the must-try restaurants in Paris . However, I soon realized that came at the cost of establishing a strict daily budget for the remainder of our three weeks there.

Of course, it was worth it in the end to save money so that I could travel for nine months. However, now that I take a few shorter trips a year, I have more flexibility to make them everything I want them to be.

My friendships at home changed, and the new ones I made were fleeting

I think what travelers yearn for the most is community. When I was traveling, it was really hard to find the same quality of friends that I have at home.

When I did meet friends abroad, it was often short-lived. I found that many people traveling full time were only in a city for a few days. Even when I did find someone I connected with, it was hard to maintain a long-distance friendship.

Traveling full time also took a lot out of my friendships at home, as it seemed like they learned to live without me.

When I returned home, it felt like we didn't have as much in common as we used to. It took me months to get my friendships back to where they were before I left.

I missed having a space to call my own

While traveling, I stayed in 25 different places across nine months. Although seeing so many new places was cool, I missed having a space to call my own.

After spending so many nights in beds that weren't my own, it was an indescribable feeling to come back home. In fact, when I got back, I was able to create a space that took inspiration from the places I'd been.

I think traveling is something everyone should prioritize, but there are ways to see the world that don't involve doing it full time.

Nowadays, I plan to take at least four international trips a year, ranging from one to two weeks. This allows me to live a travel-filled life without giving up the comforts of home, career, and relationships.

Watch: Exclusive interview with Elon Musk on Twitter fame, loneliness, and the future of AI

• Main content

12 Spring Celebrations Around the World

Spring celebrations marking the end of winter.

J ust when you're wondering if winter might last forever, the frost begins to thaw. Spring, full of green shoots and colorful flowers, is on its way! In the Northern Hemisphere, we celebrate the first day of spring on the vernal equinox. This year, it falls on March 19. Cultures around the globe have different spring celebrations for welcoming the new season, from festivals to parades—many of which we share below!

So read on for some unique spring traditions seen around the globe. India, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Thailand have their own special spring activities, including different ways to celebrate Easter (with Good Friday and Palm Sunday happening days before). There's the "festival of love" in India and a gathering at Stonehenge in England. And did you know about the annual White House Easter Egg Roll? If not, you'll be surprised by what you learn below!

Get  Reader’s Digest ’s  Read Up newsletter  for more holiday tips, fun facts, humor, cleaning, travel and tech all week long.

Holi (India)

If you've ever seen photos of men and women dancing beneath clouds of colorful powder, you've probably seen pictures of Holi. This Indian spring festival, sometimes called the "festival of love," takes place just before the turn of the seasons. It brings entire communities together for one giant party. A bonfire is lit before the festival, then the rest of the spring celebration is spent dancing and playing with water and colorful powders. It is an explosion of joy and color.

Old Easter traditions (Slovakia)

Easter is always celebrated near the beginning of the spring season, and Slovak children take a decidedly active approach to this holiday's festivities. School-age boys braid together willow branches (and sometimes ribbons) to make decorative "whips," which they use to chase their sisters or female friends on Easter Monday. The boys often walk to their female friends' houses with the willows and cups of water so that they can chase the girls they like, then splash them playfully. Tradition dictates that girls reward the boys with gifts of chocolate and painted eggs—but in modern times, this is followed only by families with a good sense of humor. This spring celebration is certainly outdated, but children across the country still participate each year. Visit Slovakia's capital, Bratislava, during springtime to enjoy one of the most affordable European capital cities.

Songkran Water Festival (Thailand)

Thailand's national New Year's celebration occurs shortly after the spring equinox. Revelers all over the islands and cities celebrate by throwing water everywhere and on everyone. Because it's such great fun, the Songkran Water Festival has become a popular tourist attraction. Splashing around with friends and strangers, from resident Buddhist monks to first-time visitors, seems to bring out everyone's inner child. Loud music and dance parties in the street are the cherry on top.

Nowruz (Central Asia)

On the first full day of spring, Central Asian communities around the world celebrate Nowruz. Though the festival is rooted in Iranian and Zoroastrian tradition, it has spread across several cultures over the past few centuries. It's a massive celebration—as CN N says, "Think Christmas, New Year's and Fourth of July combined." Nowruz means "new day" in Persian, and it is the kickoff to one full month of extravagant spring celebrations. If you attend a Nowruz celebration, don't miss the beginning, when revelers jump over bonfires to signify the start of the festivities.

Baba Marta Day (Bulgaria)

Bulgarians acknowledge springtime before it even arrives. On March 1, they celebrate Baba Marta Day (translation: "Grandma March Day"), where they exchange Martenitsi , red-and-white twined bracelets and decorations. Bulgarians wear the bracelets or pin the decorations to their clothes in anticipation of the change of season. Martenitsi symbolize health and happiness and are considered lucky charms against evil spirits. (See? Sharing spring quotes and jokes aren't the only ways to wish someone well for the new season.)

Whenever people see the first stork in the sky or blossom on a fruit tree—usually around the first day of spring—they take off the Martenitsi and tie them to the blooming branch. As flowers unfurl and springtime begins, you can see red-and-white strings tied up in gardens and parks all across Bulgaria.

Teotihuacán ritual (Mexico)

Add Mexico to your list of travel destinations for spring break , but skip Cancun and head straight to Teotihuacán. Imagine thousands of people, all dressed alike, welcoming the season with their hands held high. Every year, tourists travel to the Teotihuacán Pyramid to do just that. Dressed in white, they gather at the base, raise their arms to the sky and welcome the sunshine and energy of springtime. Some even climb hundreds of steps to the top so that they can be a little closer to the sun. This ritual is mimicked across several ancient sites in Mexico, though the Teotihuacán Pyramid is the most accessible to visitors coming from nearby Mexico City.

Easter egg roll (United States)

After Good Friday , it's time to celebrate Easter, which occurs after the first day of spring. But it doesn't quite feel like spring in Washington, D.C., until the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. This spring tradition dates back to 1878, according to the National Park Service. That's when a gaggle of brave schoolchildren walked right up to the White House lawn and asked to play egg-rolling games there. Fortunately for them, President Rutherford B. Hayes agreed. The egg-rolling competitions have since expanded into a full garden party, complete with cookie and egg decorating and strolling along the tulip-studded gardens.

Spring feasts (Uzbekistan)

Uzbeks also celebrate Nowruz, but they put their own spin on it. To celebrate spring and new growth, they prepare sumalak , a wheat-bran pudding meant to reinvigorate people's bodies after the chill and stagnation of winter. According to Atlas Obscura , the long cooking process brings people together to celebrate friendship and community. Wheat is placed into water, where it eventually sprouts. Then it can be crushed to make a paste, which is mixed and cooked with other ingredients for hours. The final product is served warm with tea and savored by families and friends as they celebrate the beginning of a new season.

Sunrise ceremony (England)

Each year, pagans, druids and assorted revelers from around the world gather at Stonehenge in England for the first day of spring. They meet for a sunrise ceremony at one of the most ancient sites in the world. Because pagans honor nature and the cycle of the seasons, the March gathering isn't the only annual celebration at Stonehenge. Ceremonies are also held for the summer and winter solstices, as well as for the autumnal equinox . Participants often dress in pagan costumes—men in light-colored robes and women with flowers in their hair—for this simple celebration of the seasonal shift.

Shunbun no Hi ( Japan)

The spring equinox is a national holiday in Japan that goes by the name Shunbun no Hi. Workers enjoy a day of rest, and children stay home to celebrate with their families. As the HuffPost reports, "traditionally, Shunbun no Hi is preceded and precluded by the three days of higan, the Buddhist celebration of 'the other shore,' in which families come together to honor ancestors who have crossed over to the next stages of life." During higan, families clean loved ones' gravestones and leave behind offerings of rice dumplings. After honoring the past on higan, they get an opportunity to look ahead to the future and commune with nature on Shunbun no Hi.

Cimburijada (Bosnia)

At the beginning of spring, Bosnians in the town of Zenica celebrate Cimburijada, which means "the festival of scrambled eggs." Residents of the city gather together around giant pots of the breakfast food. They break bread—and eggs—together in the park and in picnic spots by the river. What could possibly be better than joining your friends and family for breakfast on one of the first warm days of the year? It's a simple and delicious welcome to spring.

Sunrise watching (Cambodia)

Angkor Wat in Cambodia is known as one of the largest, most beautiful temples in the world. It is also nearly 1,000 years old. But did you know that it was built specifically to align with the spring equinox? The 400-acre temple complex is built so that visitors standing on one specific southern causeway will see the sunrise directly over the temple's central tower on the first day of spring. This creates a beautiful photo opportunity each year.

Qingming Festival (China)

The Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, is meant to mark the change of the seasons while honoring ancestors. It will be held on April 4 this year, a few weeks after the first official day of spring. During this spring celebration, Chinese families clean and decorate their ancestors' tombs. Some people also burn incense or light firecrackers at the graves. But this holiday isn't all about death and solemnity. Families also light beautiful lanterns at night and fly kites to enjoy the sunshine and crisp spring weather.

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest , we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experience where appropriate . We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing, and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team , our contributors and our editorial policies .   

• Holi Festival : "Holi"
• Klook : "Dive into Thailand's Songkran Festival — The World's Biggest Water Fight"
• CNN : "More than 300 million people will celebrate Nowruz (and you should, too)"
• Bulgarian National Television : "The Bulgarian Tradition of Baba Marta and Martenitsa"
• Mexico Experts Travel : "The first day of Spring in Mexico"
• National Park Service : "White House Easter Egg Roll event information and history"
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan's Web Japan : "Vernal Equinox Day and Higan"
• China Highlights : "Qingming Festival 2024"
• Sarajevo Times : "Traditional Cimburijada in Zenica marked the First Day of Spring"
• Atlas Obscura : "5 Ancient Sites Built to Align with the Spring Equinox"
• HuffPost : "Celebrating Japan’s Vernal Equinox"

The post 12 Spring Celebrations Around the World appeared first on Reader's Digest .

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Nicki Minaj's Husband Kenneth Petty Gets Judge's Permission to Travel Internationally for Pink Friday 2 World Tour

Petty, who's been married to Minaj for five years, cites "childcare" and "various purposes" to travel with the rapper to several countries.

Kenneth Petty will get to spend more time with his wife, Nicki Minaj , as she embarks on the international leg of her Pink Friday 2 World Tour, set to begin in Toronto on April 30.

According to documents filed on Petty's behalf on April 15, the 46-year-old sought permission from a federal judge to travel and provide "child care" of their 3-year-old son, along with other "various purposes."

“Defendant Kenneth Petty ('Mr. Petty'), by and through counsel, hereby applies to the Court for an Order allowing him to travel out of the country with his family for his wife’s tour and her professional purposes,” the filing reads, as shared by media legal reporter Meghann Cuniff .

It continues, "Mr. Petty and Mrs. Petty believe Mr. Petty is necessary to accompany the family on the tour for various purposes, including childcare. The anticipated travel schedule begins on April 17, 2024 and continues periodically to July 14, 2024. The travel schedule calls for travel to several countries including Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Austria, Ireland, Switzerland, and Romania. The Government has been notified about this application and takes no position. Mr. Petty’s probation officer has been notified of this application and has no objection to the travel request."

Cuniff added on Tuesday that Petty's request was approved by Judge Michael Fitzgerald in L.A.

New tonight: Nicki Minaj's husband Kenneth Petty is asking a federal judge for permission to travel internationally for the Pink Friday 2 World tour.  He's currently on probation out of Los Angeles federal court for failing to register as a sex offender. pic.twitter.com/8sPynYfaPI — Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) April 16, 2024

Good news for Nicki Minaj: Her husband is now legally authorized to accompany her on her Pink Friday 2 world tour. Judge Michael Fitzgerald in Los Angeles signed the travel order today for Kenneth Petty, who is on federal probation for failing to register as a sex offender. pic.twitter.com/ehSIiAuXlI — Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) April 16, 2024

Petty will need to give his probation officer details regarding his travel and itinerary, in addition to being required to check in with his P.O. upon his return to Los Angeles at the tour's conclusion in July.

Petty is a registered sex offender, stemming from the 1994 rape of Jennifer Hough , who was 16 years old at the time of the alleged incident. In 2023, he was required to fulfill 120 days of house arrest after making threats online to rapper Offset .

In 2019, Petty accompanied his wife during a Nicki Wrld Tour show in Frankfurt, Germany. Security guard Thomas Weidenmuller alleged he was assaulted by the couple backstage. Weidenmuller sued the Pettys for $732,000 in 2022, but the couple reportedly didn't respond to the lawsuit, and may have to cough up $503,318 thanks to a recent default judgment.

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When it comes to government planes and political trips, who pays for a president’s campaign travel?

FILE - President Joe Biden boards Air Force One, March 11, 2024, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. The White House and the Democratic National Committee are splitting the cost of Biden’s travel while he runs for a second term. It’s part of a longstanding arrangement that prevents taxpayers from being stuck with the full bill for political trips. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez, File)

FILE - President Joe Biden, center right, and first lady Jill Biden, center left, walk off Air Force One, March 29, 2024, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. The White House and the Democratic National Committee are splitting the cost of Biden’s travel while he runs for a second term. It’s part of a longstanding arrangement that prevents taxpayers from being stuck with the full bill for political trips. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

FILE - President Joe Biden boards Air Force One at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, March 21, 2024, in Dallas, en route to Houston. The White House and the Democratic National Committee are splitting the cost of Biden’s travel while he runs for a second term. It’s part of a longstanding arrangement that prevents taxpayers from being stuck with the full bill for political trips. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

FILE - President Joe Biden boards Air Force One, March 13, 2024, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. en route to Milwaukee. The White House and the Democratic National Committee are splitting the cost of Biden’s travel while he runs for a second term. It’s part of a longstanding arrangement that prevents taxpayers from being stuck with the full bill for political trips. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

FILE - President Joe Biden boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., March 11, 2024, to travel to Manchester, N.H. The White House and the Democratic National Committee are splitting the cost of Biden’s travel while he runs for a second term. It’s part of a longstanding arrangement that prevents taxpayers from being stuck with the full bill for political trips. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

FILE - President Joe Biden boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., April 12, 2024, enroute to New Castle, Del. The White House and the Democratic National Committee are splitting the cost of Biden’s travel while he runs for a second term. It’s part of a longstanding arrangement that prevents taxpayers from being stuck with the full bill for political trips. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

FILE - President Joe Biden, second from left, boards Air Force One, March 28, 2024, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Biden is headed to New York for a fundraiser. The White House and the Democratic National Committee are splitting the cost of Biden’s travel while he runs for a second term. It’s part of a longstanding arrangement that prevents taxpayers from being stuck with the full bill for political trips. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

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WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s no simple matter to move the commander in chief from point A to B, and it’s even more complicated when the president is seeking a second term.

President Joe Biden recently spent three days in Pennsylvania , a pivotal state in the 2024 campaign, and he plans to be in Virginia and Florida this coming week. The Democratic incumbent is seeking an edge over Republican Donald Trump as he ramps up his travels around the country.

Here’s a look at how much it costs and who pays the bill during the campaign season.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

It’s not cheap to fly the president’s fleet.

The White House uses Sikorsky helicopters known as Marine One when the president is aboard, as well as custom Boeing 747s that are immediately recognizable as the iconic humpback Air Force One. (Sometimes the president uses a more modest modified 757 if his destination is nearby or if a runway isn’t long enough to accommodate the bigger plane.)

Marine One costs between $16,700 and almost $20,000 per hour to operate, according to Pentagon data for the 2022 budget year. Air Force One is even more expensive: roughly $200,000 per hour.

But those figures only scratch the surface of the real cost. There also are military cargo planes that travel ahead of the president to make sure his armored limousines are in place, not to mention the enormous security apparatus that follows the president everywhere.

New aircraft are in the works because the current versions are decades old. Sikorsky is producing 23 updated helicopters to serve as Marine One. Boeing is building two new Air Force One planes , and they are scheduled to be finished by 2028. According to the Pentagon, the planes will come with all enhancements, including “a mission communication system,” a “self-defense system” and even “autonomous baggage loading.”

WHO PAYS FOR THE TRAVEL?

When the president flies for political purposes, the campaign is supposed to pay the bill. But during an election year, the line between governing and campaigning can be fuzzy.

For example, Biden held an official event Wednesday in Pittsburgh, where he announced his proposal for higher tariffs on steel imported from China. The event, however, was a not-so-subtle opportunity for the president to rub shoulders with union members who are critical to his reelection, and he jabbed at Trump in his remarks. (At one point Biden joked that the former president was “busy right now,” a reference to the hush money trial that recently got underway in New York.)

It’s up to the White House counsel’s office to figure out what percentage of the president’s travels are campaign related. That determines how much the federal government should be reimbursed by the Biden campaign. Sometimes the calculations aren’t straightforward, such as when the White House adds an official event to an otherwise political trip.

Norm Eisen, a White House ethics lawyer under President Barack Obama, said both Republicans and Democrats have usually hewed closely to regulations.

“We had a set of rules on how to do the allocations,” he said. “They’re intricate, and we stuck to them.”

No matter what, taxpayers end up on the hook for most of the cost. Campaigns do not pay for all the Secret Service agents and the rest of the security apparatus. In fact, they usually only cover the cost of Air Force One passengers who are flying for explicitly political purposes — sort of like buying a ticket on a particularly exclusive private jet.

President Joe Biden, second from left, boards Air Force One, March 28, 2024, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

HOW MUCH HAS BIDEN PAID?

Biden’s campaign and his joint fundraising committee have been stockpiling travel cash in an escrow account maintained by the Democratic National Committee. From January 2023 until the end of last month, they deposited nearly $6.5 million.

Some of that money goes to general campaign logistics, such as staff expenses and advance work. The account is also used to reimburse the federal government for official aircraft used to transport the president, the first lady, the vice president and the second gentleman when they travel for the reelection effort.

So far, not much money has found its way back to the U.S. Treasury. As of the latest data available, just $300,000 has been provided.

It’s safe to assume that Biden’s campaign will end up forking over much more than that once the campaign is over. Trump’s team reimbursed the federal government nearly $4.7 million for travel expenses during the 2020 race.

But Biden probably won’t have trouble covering his bills. His campaign and the DNC had more than $192 million in cash on hand at the end of March.

AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

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460 Years Ago, Shakespeare Was Born Here. Or Somewhere.

Every year, millions flock to Stratford-upon-Avon, England, to visit the house known as Shakespeare’s Birthplace. But was he really born there? A whole industry depends on it.

By Elizabeth Winkler

Sometime in the late 18th century, a sign appeared outside a shambly butcher’s hut in the English town of Stratford-upon-Avon: “The Immortal Shakspeare was born in this house,” it announced, using a then common spelling of his name. Devotees began making pilgrimages — dropping to their knees, weeping, singing odes: “Untouched and sacred be thy shrine, Avonian Willy, bard Divine!”

A tradesman grew rich selling carvings from a local mulberry tree, like pieces of the true cross. Some skeptics suspected that the sign was part of a scheme to bring visitors to Stratford; others wondered if it had been hung by the property’s occupant. A local antiquarian criticized the whole scene as “a design to extort pecuniary gratuities from the credulous and unwary.”

Pilgrims flocked to the house, and it became a site so hallowed that one visitor warned that the veneration of Shakespeare threatened to eclipse that of God:

Yet steals a sigh, as reason weighs/ The fame to Shakespeare given,/ That thousands, worshippers of him,/ Forget to worship Heaven!

About 250 years after its break from the Catholic Church, England had its own Bethlehem and manger.

The problem: No one really knows where Shakespeare was born.

Mock Tudors and magic wands

Stratford-upon-Avon lies two hours northwest of London in the Midlands, more or less the heart of England. Today, it is one of Britain’s most popular tourist destinations, drawing up to three million visitors a year. The Birthplace is its main attraction, followed by the cottage reputed to be the place where Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife, grew up.

Stratford exudes Elizabethan kitsch, with souvenir shops and half-timbered buildings. ​​In the 19th century, the Victorians tried to make Stratford look more “authentic,” which has left it teeming with mock Tudors.

It’s a town whose economy and identity revolve around Shakespearean fervor, which peaks every year on April 23, the date celebrated as Shakespeare’s birthday. It is also, conveniently, St. George’s Day , honoring the patron saint of England.

On my first visit in June 2021, I passed the Hathaway Tea Rooms and a cafe called the Food of Love, a cutesy name taken from “Twelfth Night” (“If music be the food of love, play on”). Confusingly, there were also several Harry Potter-themed shops. Stratford and Hogwarts, quills and wands, poems and spells . Then again, maybe the conflation was apt: Wasn’t Shakespeare a sort of boy wizard, magically endowed with inexplicable powers?

On Henley Street, I arrived at the Birthplace, a half-timbered house yellowed with age. Today, it looks like a single detached building, but it was originally a row of tenements. John Shakespeare bought one tenement on the street in 1556, though he also bought property on nearby Greenhill Street, which could just as easily have been the site of his son’s birth. He bought the property thought to be the Birthplace in 1575, 11 years after his son was born.

Those who believe in the Birthplace point to a record from 1552 showing that a John Shakespeare was fined for keeping a dung heap somewhere on Henley Street. It doesn’t specify the location, but that dung heap has fueled a theory that he must have been living there at the time of his son’s birth, perhaps as a renter.

Similarly, the claim for the authenticity of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage rests on a record that a John Hathaway leased the 90-acre farm on which the building stood 13 years before Anne was born in about 1556. The cottage may well be linked to the Hathaways, but there is no proof that Anne actually grew up in it, just as there is none that Shakespeare was born in the house on Henley Street.

Together, these traditions have sustained Stratford’s tourist industry, worth about $315 million in 2019, before the pandemic. But they have not convinced many skeptics over the years.

“Stratford permits — indeed encourages — one of the biggest frauds in England to rage unchecked,” the journalist Bernard Levin railed in The Daily Mail in 1965. “I mean those two monumental frauds, ‘Shakespeare’’s Birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.”

It didn’t help that hucksters have found ways to make the story profitable. In the early 19th century, a tenant of the Birthplace named Mrs. Hornby ran a lucrative hustle showing and selling Shakespeare’s “relics” to gullible visitors. The relics were eventually exposed in an 1848 article in Bentley’s Miscellany , which observed that four different chairs, each purporting to be “Shakespeare’s chair,” had been sold over the years, each made by a well-known local craftsman.

I entered through the Shakespeare Centre, a strange museum that acts as an antechamber to the Birthplace. There were no books owned by Shakespeare or letters in Shakespeare’s hand, because none are known to exist. Instead, a glass case displayed eight Shakespeare busts dating from 1844 to 2000. Another case featured a Shakespeare beer mug (1933), Shakespeare playing cards (1974) and a Shakespeare action figure made in China (2003).

Inside the Birthplace, I went from room to room with the other visitors. Guides regaled us with tales of Shakespeare’s childhood — how he played and ate and dreamed in these rooms. Of course, his childhood is actually a yawning blank: From his baptism in 1564 to his marriage in 1582, there are no records of him. In one room, a table displayed books, quills and ink, indicating a family of learning — but his parents signed documents with a mark, like many illiterate people in Tudor England.

The other visitors murmured to one another in reverent museum whispers and nodded at the guides. I thought of how, in the late 19th century, a Birthplace custodian named Joseph Skipsey resigned his post after a few months, explaining that “not a single one of the many so-called relics on exhibition could be proved to be Shakspere’s” and that “the Birthplace itself is a matter of grave doubt.”

The power of popular faith

Efforts to preserve the property as the official Birthplace began in 1847, when it was put up for sale. In response to fears that P.T. Barnum was going to buy it and make it part of a show, a committee was formed to “save” the house for the nation, and the group began to solicit donations.

Not everyone was convinced. “The extraordinary sensation caused by the purchase of this shabby sausage-shop deserves a prominent place amongst popular delusions,” declared the 1848 Bentley’s Miscellany article . A writer for another British periodical mocked the gullibility of a nation pouring forth funds to buy a “rubbishing mass of lath and plaster in which the Poet was no more born than was the Man in the Moon himself.”

But the belief had already become an article of faith, strengthened by its own repetition. The Birthplace was a better shrine for the very absence of evidence — for the faith it required of its visitors — the publisher Charles Knight wrote at the time. That same year, the committee secured the Birthplace at auction for 3,000 pounds, worth about $323,000 today .

The “shabby sausage-shop” made an uninspiring temple. So the adjoining premises were demolished, walls moved, floorboards replaced, new doorways and staircases created. Its new stewards transformed it into the large, comfortable home of a prosperous Elizabethan family, leaving the cellar as “the only portion which remains as it was,” as the scholar Sidney Lee wrote in 1901. What emerged was less a Tudor dwelling than a Victorian imagination of one.

The committee became the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust , the group that still runs the site, and maintains its authenticity. “We know that, to the best of our current understanding, the building includes the surviving fabric of a property that is traditionally and intimately associated with Shakespeare and his family,” said a spokesman for the trust.

The trust went on to acquire more properties, including Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, a thatched farmhouse where visitors are invited to “relive Shakespeare’s love story.”

A temple to baby Shakespeare

“This is the room where we believe William Shakespeare was born in April 1564,” read a sign in the Birthroom. Next to the bed stood a cradle laid out with blankets and a tiny pillow, encouraging visitors to imagine the baby genius mewling by his parents’ side. For the Victorians, the Birthroom offered the mystical possibility of contact with the poet. Visitors recorded melodramatic accounts of what they felt on entering the room: They burst into tears. They fell down. They kissed the floor. Those desiring a more extended communion spent the night.

Others were unimpressed. “If I were to allude to Stratford, it would not be in connection with the fact that Shakespeare came into the world there,” wrote the novelist Henry James after visiting. “It would be rather to speak of a delightful old house near the Avon which struck me as the ideal home for a Shakespearean scholar.”

But the fantasy is resilient. In a 2023 PBS documentary, “ Making Shakespeare: The First Folio ,” the scholar Michael Dobson, director of the Shakespeare Institute, stood in the Birthplace, gushing over “the very room in which Shakespeare was born.”

I shuffled around the cradle with the other visitors, unsure of what to do. Were we supposed to genuflect? Kiss it? After an appropriate amount of staring, we moved on.

To exit, I had to pass through the gift shop, where any lingering sense of piety dissipated in a tidal wave of consumerism. Visitors were loading up on Shakespeare T-shirts, breakfast teas and tea towels. Shakespeare rubber ducks and windup toys. Shakespeare Christmas ornaments, baby onesies, tote bags and luxury chocolates. Belief is good business.

When I returned to Stratford last February, little had changed since my first visit. The Shakespeare Centre was now showing modern artists’ interpretations of the poet, including a Surrealist painting of a masked figure that suggested the mystery surrounding him. The trinket stands were still hawking their modern versions of those 18th-century mulberry tree carvings. Faith in the traditions is bound up with desire — the need to believe.

Where was “the Immortal Shakspeare” really born? Stories are usually more seductive than the truth.

Sheelagh McNeill contributed research.

Elizabeth Winkler is a journalist, a critic and the author of “ Shakespeare Was a Woman and Other Heresies: How Doubting the Bard Became the Biggest Taboo in Literature .”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .