Hey, i'm interested in learning more about taking a trip around the world. I tried searching for past threads on this topic, but mainly found threads pertaining to the planning of trips around the world (which was sorta helpful, but mostly just opinions about where people should go). I was wondering if anyone has either

A) Traveled around the world and and some advice to give (ie. cost, time spent in each place, general wisdom, places to go, etcetcetc)

B) Had any links to good blogs, or threads from people who went on a trek like this.

This is the best travel around the world blog i've found so far. The guy is an online poker player.

http://vivarobusto.blogspot.com/

Thanks Joe, I look forward to reading this. Also, if there are any well known "around the world trip reports" that'd be cool.

the guy from that blog is living my dream minus the ugly girlfriend part

http://www.gobackpacking.com/Blog/20...und-the-world/

http://www.me-go.net/rtw/

http://lostgirlsworld.blogspot.com/

I'm actually doing something very close to his trip. London, Amsterdam, Paris, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Phuket, Laos, Sydney, Cairo, Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, etc

I leave Jan 13 and will be blogging with lots of photos and stories. www.joebutch.com

I personally prefer to visit individual countries one at a time that have something to offer that interests me and stay there for a month or more than going on a hasty round the world trip with few days in each country and no time for impressions to sink in.

Just something to considder.

shouldnt have said that about his girl. what i meant to say was that i wouldnt want to go with any girl as i would want to sample the local flavors.

Currently doing this. Instead of giving standard advice that you'll find eventually this is advice that would have been most helpful to me before i had set off:

- Decide what it actually is you like seeing and do and what you want to get out of this. It's insanely easy to get caught in a route of capital cities, seeing buildings in a zombie like state then wake up 4 cities from then looking back thinking wtf have i been doing? Decide if you want to see awesome views, buildings, art, culture or decide if seeing things just bores you and you would rather do activities of yoga, hiking, camping, or if you want to get something out of it such as become more outgoing, change undesirable parts of your personality. etc. that way you will have a better experience and you wont do a lot of the 'standard' things to do that you really have no interest in.


- Plan your speed of travel. Travel can get very boring fast if you are traveling too fast to actually enjoy the cities you are visiting, if you are just dotting off cities from a list it's going to suck. And remember cities don't really have that much of a personality, you should be traveling to meet people, to get into fun situations and achieve anything it is you want to achieve not building spot in cities.

talk to, and get to know your cab drivers and prostitutes. study a language somewhere, your teacher will be a good person and teach you a lot about where you are. stay in one place a long time, the deeper you go the more rewarding... don't pass your time with other backpackers, spend your money freely with poor locals.

also i advise you to ignore the blog of that first guy

Some Advice:

• Bring an inova flashlight
• Stop using fully automatic on your digital camera
• don't be afraid to bargain
• search for something you haven't tried before
• never refuse an invitation
• never resist the unfamiliar
• never fail to be polite
• never outstay your welcome
• keep your mind open and suck in the experience

and if it hurts you no what it was probably worth it..

Thanks a million guys. I love 2p2 so much.

AManNowhere- thanks for the links i very much look forward to reading them.

Joebutch- thanks a ton for all your replies, esp. your last one. I will save your blog in my bookmarks and try to keep up with your travels.

Journeyman- Thanks and i agree. Although i really want to see the entire world, I am beginning to realizer the importance of staying in a city until it soaks in- rather than just taking pics of the "important" parts. Which probably means my trip might take longer than expected, which is cool b/c i am in no rush, except for the fact that I will have to leave my dog at my parents (they will happily take him but i will miss him like crazy!).

I.M.Baked- Sampling the local flavors is on my list, lol. But i must respectfully disagree with you about the girlfriend. I think she's smokin', but maybe i just have a thing for redheads...and blondes, and brunettes, and great wigs...

LCD- YES! this is so much of what i was looking for. Incredible advice and something I will definitely take into deeper consideration that I currently have.

Bruiser- Thanks man. I could definitely foresee myself falling into the trap of hanging out with backpackers a majority of the time.

Once again, appreciate all the responses. I have a lease that runs through may, so hopefully this trip can get started soon after that. I've never really traveled to much, so that should be just long enough to get cold feet then get excited again. I will definitely do a blog and take lots of pics, so i will try to remember to post a link in this forum 6 months from now =).

I had a big long thread that may answer some of your questionsSticky on Backpacking

thanks cancuk- that is pretty much exactly what i was looking for.

My all time favorite show.

I was hoping no one would notice that was from The Beach and I would sound insightful.

i tried it. it worked out reasonably well. You will have a great adventure, assuming that you are looking for adventure, If not, you will hate it.


when someone says " do you want to (x)?", 90% of the time the correct answer is yes.

good luck

^^ ty sir

I went to Thailand,Macau,Belgium and Paris and got back to the US 7 weeks ago. I tend to agree with Journeyman. Especially if one is playing poker. With all the traveling etc, checking in and out of hotels, foreign exchange, finding neccessities, airports,etc. I would much prefer to go to a place like macau for 1 or 2 months and really focus on poker and making a lot of dough in the good games. Also this way and especially with a roomate, get an apartment instead of paying for hotels every night. Way lower living expenses.