Planning
Planning a trip aboard can be a complicated thing, especially when you are
planning something unusual or on a shoestring budget. In which case, if you
are a fella, let your partner or wife do it.
Chris spend about 3 days looking at cheap tickets to get us home then to the USA. In hindsight, we overplanned asia, so this time a more casual approach.
(1) Get some picture books out of the library and take a squizz
(2) Get some maps and mark the places you like the sound of on them. Looking at others' travel blogs and reading some travel stories helps.
(3) Get some Lonely Planets from the library and work out how much you need for the sort of things you want to do.
(4) Itemise expensive things, and do both an el cheapo option and a more flexible budget for your daily allowance. If you are selling up, for gods sake, leave a little for setting up when you get back!
(5) Work out how long you can go for, and plan a rough route between the places on your map. Don't plan to be travelling for more than a third of your days; the view from the bus is never as good as meeting people, smelling the air and eating the food with the same scenery.
(6) Buy your tickets, get your shots and drug kit sorted, get travel insurance that covers you for the things you want to do, and go!
(7) When in country, take a notebook to write down what you spend. Adjust your travel budget and plans accordingly; avoiding touristy spots always helps.
Chris spend about 3 days looking at cheap tickets to get us home then to the USA. In hindsight, we overplanned asia, so this time a more casual approach.
(1) Get some picture books out of the library and take a squizz
(2) Get some maps and mark the places you like the sound of on them. Looking at others' travel blogs and reading some travel stories helps.
(3) Get some Lonely Planets from the library and work out how much you need for the sort of things you want to do.
(4) Itemise expensive things, and do both an el cheapo option and a more flexible budget for your daily allowance. If you are selling up, for gods sake, leave a little for setting up when you get back!
(5) Work out how long you can go for, and plan a rough route between the places on your map. Don't plan to be travelling for more than a third of your days; the view from the bus is never as good as meeting people, smelling the air and eating the food with the same scenery.
(6) Buy your tickets, get your shots and drug kit sorted, get travel insurance that covers you for the things you want to do, and go!
(7) When in country, take a notebook to write down what you spend. Adjust your travel budget and plans accordingly; avoiding touristy spots always helps.
