Money! $$$ Or is that €€€
So everytime I tell someone I´m traveling the world the issue of money comes up. I guess that natural. And being that the lot of you are using this as a travel guide I guess I should be more considerate considering money matters.
Here´s the haps. I started planning this trip with the idea of spending $5000 total….Food, accomodtions, airfare, intracity transportation…everything.
That idea soon flew out the window. A trip around the world for $5000 is not possible. Here is what I spent initially to get started:
- One set of plane tickets around the world: about $3800
- One Eurail Pass, 1st class, 15 travel days within 2 months: $914
A total of about $4700. Here´s where that takes me: Portland>New York>Iceland>London — I´ll stop here a note that my channel tunnel train ticket was NOT included but was discounted due to my Eurail pass. I forget the exact cost but it was about €37 or so. From here I used my Eurail pass to get around Europe until I catch a flight from — Greece>Egypt>Israel>Turkey>India>Thailand — here I have no flight or travel arrangments to get me out of Thailand. I must find my own way to Singapore to catch a flight. — Singapore>Austrailia>L.A.>Portland.
All my tickets are partly refundable and transferable. Meaning for $25-$75 I can change the date of any flight and at the cost of $100 I can cancel any flight and get the difference back. For instance, I´ll be cancelling my flight from LA to Portland which costs about $174. I will be refunded $74 which I will use to catch flight to Phoenix for Jon´s wedding the following day.
Now the fun part. I budgeted another $5000 for accomodation, intracity travel, food, tourism fees, etc. throughout Europe. I´ve been extreeeeeemly careless with my money. I haven´t budgeted per day and I´ve afforded 3 and 4 star hotel accomodations on occation. I have splurged. I´ve been on the road for 5 weeks and I have a little less than 3 weeks left. And I have $1700 of my $5000 left. Not bad.
If you plan all your trains, reservation fees (about €3 per stop and trains that require reservations), hotel/hostel accomodations before you leave you could easily do Europe for 2 months on much less that $5000. Unfortunately that may take some of the fun and adventure out of your journey. I´ve had loads of fun and come across extrodinary deals from just winging it.
Stay in hostels that are less than €25 and make sure they have a kitchen and cheap or FREE internet access (like the place I´m at now!) Also plan and book your hostels and trains ahead of time. Some hostels or bungalos in camp sites are under €20…like €10-€14. Not bad. Some are expensive and the price goes up during tourist season (usually June-August…sometimes May-Sept.)
I have learned my lesson the best way. Trial and error. And next time I´ll be able to do a trip for super cheap. Maybe I´ll write a book! 
June 22nd, 2005 at 11:00 am
Well, it’s good to hear of your financial affairs and that things aren’t too out of whack. We’re doing our calculations and arrangements for Hawaii this fall and they ain’t NEAR as cheap as what you have been able to pull off!
You didn’t mention what you had budgeted for beyond Europe. According to my calendar, you have about 16 weeks total left on the trip - are you still looking good for getting through that much time? How are the donations faring?
Whew! Thanks for the update on your plans for the detour to Phoenix! Might be a good idea to keep me in the loop when you get the plane changed so you will still have a ride home from the airport! Plus, not to spoil any surprises or anything, there may be people on this end planning their schedules for your return. Remember, not everyone is as carefree in their schedules as you are right now! We still have to plan!
June 27th, 2005 at 4:05 pm
youre very right. i go through eastern europe and the balkans in a few weeks, and that is what i have to plan to do. cheap hostels. you meet the… oddest people, and truly see a city in a way so far and away from America. i hear that hostel sex is good too…
not that i know.