Considering taking that big trip, but not sure if you have the funds, whether you should go it alone/with friends or if you have enough time? Our answers to your travel questions will help you figure out if travelling’s right for you and get your planning off on the right foot.
Travel question: I’ve just got three months. Is that too short to travel around the world?
Answer: Well, since the actual flight time to circumnavigate the planet it about 40 hours, no, it’s not. But it is too short to try and see much of it. As long as you don’t attempt to visit too many destinations, you’ll be fine and in fact, you’re likely to have a far more enticing trip than someone who travels for twice as long but tries to see four times as much.
If you need some inspiration or a better idea of what you can fit in to your time, check out our routes from around the world:
Routes through the Americas
Routes through Europe
Routes through Australia and New Zealand
Routes through Asia
Routes through Africa and the Middle East
Travel question: I’ve got £3000/$5000 saved up. Will that get me around the world?
Answer: You can find round-the-world tickets for half that price; the more important questions are what kind of trip do you want to take and how long do you want it to last? Answer these, then figure out a daily budget that fits your comfort level.
Travel question: How much money will I need for each country that I’m planning on visiting?
Country | Days of travel with £600/$1000 |
Japan | 15 days |
Switzerland | 22 days |
France | 22 days |
Italy | 24 days |
England | 25 days |
US | 28 days |
Australia | 37 days |
South Africa | 37 days |
Brazil | 43 days |
Bulgaria | 50 days |
Argentina | 52 days |
Nepal | 55 days |
Thailand | 56 days |
Egypt | 59 days |
Guatemala | 63 days |
Bolivia | 63 days |
China | 66 days |
India | 71 days |
* Note: prices represent a barebones budget (hostel dormitories, street food) with about sixty percent of the time spent outside the expensive major cities in each country. |
Travel question: I’m thinking of going with my best friend. Is that a good idea?
Answer: That’s a tough decision. And if it doesn’t seem like one, it’s probably because you haven’t fully considered what you’re getting into. Twenty-four hours a day of sharing for months on end can put a serious strain on any friendship. Constantly making decisions, often in uncomfortable conditions, can test the tightest bonds. So remember: compromise means that on this “trip of a lifetime” you probably won’t get to see everything you want, and certainly not at your own pace. If you do decide to go together, give yourselves the option of separating for a while; even just a morning or afternoon apart every few days can be enough breathing room to sustain a travel relationship.
Travel question: I want to make my journey alone, but I’m worried I’ll be lonely.
Answer: Obviously this is a more intimidating path, but it’s also the most potentially rewarding - and it’s not nearly as frightening as it sounds. Firstly, travelling alone does not necessarily mean you’ll be alone for the bulk of your trip – most solo travellers just end up travelling with different people for different legs of their journey. And even the shyest travellers find the dialogue easy to start: you already have your travel destination and independent spirit in common. If you’re still uncertain about your ability to meet travel partners on the trail, you can always sign up to a group tour along the way and surrender yourself to an entire platoon of companions.
Travel question: I can mispronounce about five words of French and less than that in Spanish. Can I manage travelling around the world speaking English?
Answer: Learning the local language would enrich your experience and make it easier to understand your new environment and meet locals, but even the least gifted linguist can pick up “please”, “thank you”, “excuse me” and “how much?” in twenty minutes – about the time it takes to make the final descent before you touch down in the new country. If you must use English, lose the slang, keep your speech slow and basic; and don’t take a puzzled look as a sign to speak louder!
Pick up the local lingo with Rough Guides Phrasebooks
Travel question: How do you know where to sleep each night, what to see during the day, and how to get around?
Answer: Carry a Rough Guide. It will cover all the sights in each town, with a short review of the best affordable accommodation, accompanied by a helpful map. In peak season, you may want to book accommodation a day or two ahead of time – easily done on the internet from wherever you are staying, since just about every remote hostel around the planet has a high-speed connection these days. And if you want to think even less, just wander into the tourist office, tell them your budget and they’ll call around and make a booking for you, draw it on a free map and tell you how to get there.
Travel question: Do I have to visit all the 'must-sees' everyone talks about?
Answer: The truth is that there’s no such thing as a “must-see” and you’ll have a far more enriching trip if you don’t construct it around seeing the major attractions. Try to consider the balance of your trip and make sure you have a good mix of attractions, adventure, a few courses, a little wandering, ample breaks, a measure of hiking, some kind of animal viewing and maybe even a dose of meditation.
Find more answers to your travel questions with the new edition First-Time Guides: