RTW trip alone? (hotels, airports, European, flights)

[k374]

Would you do a 4-5 month RTW trip on your own?

[nitokenshi]

around the world in 4 months? There are over 170 countries. I would need at least a year if not more. Yes I am planning on doing it after graduate if I cannot find someone to go with me so be it I will meet people on the way.

[jtur88]

The cheapest RTW trips only go to about five airports. For example, Tokyo-Bangkok-Bombay-Athens-London. You're on your own to do whatever you want, using those stops as bases. Furthermore, many RTW fares that are advertised do not include a flight across Europe. They drop you off in Athens or Istanbul, and pick you up again in London, and you cross Eurpope on your own.

Depending on you age and the kind of social person you are, most single travelers don't have any trouble finding other travelers to tag around with for a while, but there are also lonely stretches, too. Bioth of those are within the realistic expectations of travel-alone. It's easier if you're younger. There are a naumber of guidebooks, such as Lonely Planet, and most travelers are following those guides, and you will encounter other traverlers everywhere you go. There won't be many Americans, but the other travelers you meet will use English as their common language.

At each stoip, if you go to a local tour agency and book a tour on the ground, you can request to be paired up with another single traveler, which is often done to avoid the single supplement, as the quoted cost of the tour will be per person, double occupancy.

[mateo45]

Originally Posted by k374

Would you do a 4-5 month RTW trip on your own?

Well, if you're able-bodied and reasonably self-sufficient, why not? We're all not getting any younger, and who knows, someday you may not even be physically capable of traveling anymore.

But aside from having sufficient funds (it's always more expensive than you plan for!), another consideration is probably your tolerance for being away from "home" for so long, which seems to be a different comfort level for everyone. Although I think it helps to have some extended stays every so often, rather than always being "on the go". BTW, where are you thinking of stopping?

FYI, have had good experiences with these folks, who have been around now for quite awhile, and more or less started the whole discounted, multi-stop "circle fare" idea out of Seattle: Justfares - Discount international Airfare specialists, and cheap flights around the world.

[danielsa1775]

I did this in my mid 20's and had the time of my life! If you are young simply show up at a youth hostel and you meet a multitude of people from all over the world doing exactly the same thing as you. Australians Canadians and Englishmen are possibly the most common people you will meet, not that many americans for some reason, but also plenty of other europeans who normally speek passable english.
Have Fun

[cb at sea]

See, I would want someone to share the experience with! Going on a trip of that sort seems to call for company....

[jtur88]

Send them a letter, to old address, with "Address Service Requested" markled under your return address. The post office will forward the letter, and also send you a notice stating what their new forwardiing address is. The post office will charge you a fee for this service.

[k374]

Originally Posted by jtur88

Send them a letter, to old address, with "Address Service Requested" markled under your return address. The post office will forward the letter, and also send you a notice stating what their new forwardiing address is. The post office will charge you a fee for this service.

send who a letter?

[CRock]

Originally Posted by k374

Would you do a 4-5 month RTW trip on your own?

In the summer of '06 I took a 91 day 7 country trip (Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bosnia, Croatia, Turkey, Thailand, & Australia). I would do it again in a heart beat! I had the time of my life! Go the hostel route, you will meet like minded folks like yourself and other solo travelers. When I got to Thailand hotels were cheap to inexpensive so I stayed those. Hence I met fewer travelers. Check out Lonely Planet and TravellersPoint forums, there is lots of good advice there for solo traveler and lots of people there looking for travel companions.

Go for it!

[k374]

Originally Posted by CRock

In the summer of '06 I took a 91 day 7 country trip (Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bosnia, Croatia, Turkey, Thailand, & Australia). I would do it again in a heart beat! I had the time of my life! Go the hostel route, you will meet like minded folks like yourself and other solo travelers. When I got to Thailand hotels were cheap to inexpensive so I stayed those. Hence I met fewer travelers. Check out Lonely Planet and TravellersPoint forums, there is lots of good advice there for solo traveler and lots of people there looking for travel companions.

Go for it!

CRock, how old are you? I am 34 so not sure if it's too old for hostels.