TRAVEL PLANNING
When we started planning this trip, it was 3 separate journeys - Astro wanted to do a couple of months travelling South America, Jackal had already planned a round the world trip, and Gonzo had vague plans of wanting to go and do both of these. Gradually, all 3 of us came to the consensus that if we either waited an extra 18 months, or saved an extra £4k - £5k (!) that we could all do one trip together.
To help us plan the journey, we asked our selves a number of questions (below), and then had email discussions based around them - this was the most convenient method because we lived in Cardiff, Cambridge and London. We kept a diary of this, to help us remember what we had planned, and also so that others could benefit from our planning, questions, etc.
We hope that this information is useful to you. Remember that this is a diary - it has been slightly re-structured for the Web from its original cut 'n' paste format, however don't expect it to be a superbly structured document! Most of this info can also be found in the other parts of our website. If you found our website useful, and have a site of your own, please put a link in!
These are the questions we asked ourselves. You can click on each one to see the discussions that took place around them.
1. What sort of journey do we want?
(eg, spontaneous, where we move when and how we like, or timetabled so that we buy a 'round the world ticket' and go where the ticket takes us, when it takes us, or somewhere between the two?)
[Jackal, 4/1/01] Round the world ticket is usually best value. I think we can get a rather open ended type one, with a few named airports, but no dates necessary. This might be best. AND only use it for LARGE or intercontinental jumps. Internal flights are usually easy to find and muchos cheapero.
[Astro, 10/1/01] That's fine by me. Can we take a gut-churning boat ride to some places, and clackety old train journeys across mountain tops to others? Bus journeys are usually prevalent and cheap, as long as we avoid some of the ones that Anthony took in S. America ... hurtling down mountains to T-junctions with petrol tankers parked across them sounds scary enough in the confines of a pub!
[Jackal, 10/1/01] Anyone mind walking too? Best way to see places, walking, you know. They don't rush past at incredible speeds and there's always the risk of being abducted!
[Gonzo, 11/1//01] Round the world is what I fancy. I am sure agents will be able to let you specify a route and quote you the cheapest options. My cousin works for FirstResort.com. I'll find out what she can offer. Am also keen on organised mini-bus treks. Did this in U.S. and Oz and it's excellent fun. Good way to meet loads of other travellers and they take you to best places. Not that expensive either. Top cheeky-banter en route too!
[Astro, 23/01/01] Thanks for getting the round-the-world ticket options information, Gonzo. I'll try and have a play with this http://www.ebookers.com/ website. So it seems like we have to take account of a few key factors:
(this doesn't have to be precise, but a list of places we'd like to go and avoid will help us pin-point further questions, and also help my doctor figure out what injections to give me ! Where do we want to start - Mexico? if so, which city?)
[Jackal, 4/1/01] Everywhere. Get em all. I fancied starting in Cuba, heading west, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, etc, then down and back to Buenos Aries, to fly over to New Zealand and then Australia. Any thoughts?
[Astro, 4/1/01] Quite happy for Cuba, Mexico, down through Central America - Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama - think you can fly from Panama to Venezuela. Over to Ecuador, then down through Chile, Peru to Argentina / Patagonia / Tierra Del Fuego. Back to Buenos Aires. What about after that - where in South East Asia? Some places should be easy - the islands around (but not including) Timor are supposed to be fantastic. How do we get into China? There's more package trips there now - including some visits to Wuhan which should mean that parts of the interior are opening up a little.
[Jackal 10/1/01] After Oz, then yeah, Cchina, S.E Asia is good for me. Vietnam appeals, as do usual haunts of Tibet, Nepal. Getting into China isn't so tricky anymore apparently, only actually getting into the interior on your own is. Specially as NO-ONE will speak ANY English. Island paradises well up for, except if they're in Lonely Planet and full of wankers.
[Gonzo 11/1/01] Costa Rica? After what they did to Scotland in 1990?? I'd like to go to Mexico, South America (big mountains, rainforests, big rivers, treks, dysentry, amazonian warriors, dysentry - the works). I would like to go to Rio - very much so. I think that's the one city in S. America I'd like to see. The rest I'm happy with trekking out in the sticks. I'd then like to go on to Oz, NZ, Japan, China, Nepal (interested in the likes of Tibet), Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and finish in Moscow / St Petersburg before hitting Europe where I'd like to see Greece, Italy and Spain before I fall over.
[Astro, 23/01/01] We need to finalise our travel list, as discussed when we got together last weekend. Here's my memory of it - please amend in the relevant places:
[Jackal, 24/01/01] Example prices from http://www.roundtheworld.com/
"London - Mexico - surface - Buenos Aires - Sydney - Perth - Bali - Hong Kong - surface - Beijing - London. Qantas/BA - £1404.00 + £68 airport tax. Mexico - Havana - Mexico - $USD300. This ticket is valid for one year and it is date changeable, allowing you flexibility once you have left the U.K at no charge."
[Gonzo, 24/01/01] Second example price from roundtheworld.com:
"For your itinerary Mexico, La Paz, Rio, Brisbane, Perth, Beijing, Kathmandu departing the UK in October 2001, I would suggest you do this on the 5 continent One World explorer fare with Qantas, BA, American Airlines for a fare of £1679 plus taxes of approx £100."
"London - Mexico (via Miami) - Rio - La Paz (via Santiago) - Brisbane (via Buenos Aires and Sydney) - Perth - Beijing (via Sydney) surface Hong Kong - Kathmandu (via Bangkok this flight is extra £130 and included in the overall quote price) surface Delhi or Calcutta - London
For this fare you must surface between Beijing and Hong Kong, and Kathmandu and either Delhi or Calcutta in India. This ticket is valid for 12 months travel, date changeable free of charge and re-routeable for a fee of £45 paid locally."
[Gonzo, 26/06/01] http://www.oneworldalliance.com/home.cfm
This is a back to front route I found, which can be done in either direction, and is similar to our plan. This is a One World ticket, though it appears to count US too which would add another continent on to the price. Shows what airports and destinations are possible.
"London - Delhi - surface - Bombay - Singapore - Bangkok - surface - Hong Kong - Australia Stop - New Zealand Stop - Easter Isl - Lima - US Single Stop - Mexico - surface - San Jose - London (or v.v)
Ex Lon Fare
01 - 15 Jan £1575
16 Jan - 15 Apr £1407
16 Apr - 30 Jun £1250
1 Jul - 14 Aug £1575
15 Aug - 15 Sep £1407
16 Sep - 31 Oct £1575
01 - 30 Nov £1407
01 - 31 Dec £1911
This is a "One World Explorer" ticket. There is no mileage limitation but there are restrictions on the number of flights and stops that you are allowed in each continent. There are many different combinations possible so please check with your consultant if you need to vary an itinerary. All dates can be changed free of charge (ex U.K has to be in the same season) and the destinations can be changed for a fee of approximately $US100. Cancelled tickets are subject to a 15% administration fee."
3. Where do we NOT want to go?
[Astro, 4/1/01] Do you know, I really don't fancy Rio de Janeiro for some reason, but if the consensus vote is to go, then I won't grumble. Don't want to stay massively long in Oz unless we plan to work - Western prices for living mean money run out fast. Would love Japan, but very expensive. Have heard Tibet is still very restrictive - you're not allowed out at night, and are told where you can and cannae visit.
[Jackal 10/01/01] Then we'll sneak around under cover of darkness....
[Gonzo 11/1/01] I'm not really fussed about working in Oz. I have to look to getting a working visa. Have already been issued one in '95 but never used it. I don't particularly want to see the US (unless it's the west coast), Hong Kong or India. Anywhere else I am very flexible.
[Astro 12/03/01] You can get excellent info from the UK Government (http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel/) on where to avoid!
4. What preparations do we need to make now?
[Jackal, 4/1/01] Visas depends on where we go, but lots of places you have to get them from the embassy a few weeks before entering, so best to know which we need and when. Visas always cost cash, and some can be avoided with helpful bribes... [note: we do not recommend that you do this!]
[Astro, 12/03/01] Here are a load of British Embassy email addresses. You can email them, asking about visa requirements.
Mexico: consular.section@mail.fco.gov.uk
Please contact your nearest Mexican Embassy/Consulate for information on immigration rules for entry into Mexico. If you are resident in the UK you should contact:
Mexican Consulate
8 Halkin Street
London SW1X 7DW
Tel: 020 7235 6393
Valerie Lucien
HM Consul
No Visa needed - visitors are issued with a travel card when entering the country, which allows stay for 30 days.
Costa Rica: britemb@sol.racsa.co.cr
Honduras: neal.Jackalin@tegucigalpa.mail.fco.gov.uk
British nationals do not require prior entry clearance to Honduras. On arrival you will be granted a 30-day visit visa. These may be extended by 30 days on two further occasions on application to an Immigration Office.
Guatemala: embassy@terra.com.gt
Belize: brithicom@btl.net
Colombia: no embassy details, but the FCO page header went like this! "VIOLENCE AND KIDNAPPING ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS, AND ALL FOREIGN NATIONALS ARE POTENTIAL TARGETS. VISITORS TO COLOMBIA SHOULD BE VIGILANT AND TAKE SENSIBLE PRECAUTIONS."
Ecuador: consular@quito.mail.fco.gov.uk
Peru: "visitors are advised to check entry clearance requirements with the Peruvian Embassy in London before travelling (tel: 020 7235 1917/2545/3802; fax: 020 7235 4463)."
Chile: consular@santiago.mail.fco.gov.uk
Argentina: "British citizens do not require a visa to enter Argentina as a tourist. On presentation of a valid British passport you will be granted a 90-day stay in the country."
Ask consular: Baires@mail.fco.gov.uk
Brazil: "British nationals may visit Brazil without a visa for a maximum stay of 3 months as tourists or business visitors. "
Australia: "Visas are required for all travel to Australia. However, British nationals can obtain Electronic Travel Authorities (ETAs) from their local travel agent, which will allow travel for up to three months as a visitor."
bcg-syd@entrnet.com.au (Sydney British Consulate - there is one for each of the major territories)
Malaysia: "Entry to Malaysia is normally refused to visitors holding passports with less than six months' validity" "Visa information is available from the relevant Embassy/Consulate in London."
Philippines: bremb@skyinet.net
China: "British nationals require visas to enter Mainland China, but not Hong Kong. Visas cannot be obtained on arrival. Carefully check your visa validity as fines can be levied for overstaying. Visitors on a return trip to Hong Kong from the mainland should ensure they have a double or multiple entry visa to gain re-entry to the mainland. Visitors who are transiting China en route to a third country (even if in direct transit, i.e. not leaving the aircraft during a stopover) should ensure that their visa is valid for both their outward and return journey.
Tibet - "Prior permission is required from the Chinese authorities for travel to Tibet". "Visa information is available from the relevant Embassy/Consulate in London."
Vietnam: "A visa must be obtained prior to arrival. Check visa validity and conditions carefully. Ensure correct entry and exit ports are specified."
Hanoi British Embassy : behanoi@fpt.vn Website: http://www.uk-vietnam.org/
Ho-Chi Minh City British Embassy: bgcmc@hem.vnn.vn
Thailand: Overstaying visas without the proper authority is a serious matter and visitors can be held in detention until a fine is paid. "Visa information is available from the relevant Embassy / Consulate in
London."
Nepal: "Single entry tourist visas can be obtained from the entry points of Nepal or from the Royal Nepalese Embassy in London. Visitors wishing to stay more than 60 days can extend visas by up to 30 days by applying to the Nepalese Department of Immigration at New Baneshwor, Kathmandu."
Tel: +977 1494273 or 476815." consular@kathmandu.mail.fco.gov.uk
[Jackal, 24/05/01] http://www.travel-guides.com/navigate/world.asp - for all visa information.
4.2 Preparing Kit, Clothes, etc
(are there any no-go areas? who do we ask about this? Do we need certain kit, such as specific boots, water purification tablets, and so on? What Rough Guides can we scrounge, and what do we need to buy and read? and so on)
[Jackal, 4/1/01] Preparations - Get cash. Get good boots and clothes, but not many. Sleeping bag, tent (?), first aid kits, syringes etc.
[Gonzo 11/1/01] Blacks Camping shop etc is well equipped with the sort of stuff we need. I can probably get hold of mosquito nets for all of us. I have a complete travel first aid kit, but we'll need one each. I have a stack of mosquito repellent. Don't go buying stuff yet until we know exactly what we have already. When I went to India a minimal amount of essential stuff I needed cost well over a hundred quid. Expensive malarky all this.
[Astro, 23/01/01] How are we going to split things up? Do we want to take a number of countries each, and find out as much about them - for example, if I took Honduras, I would find out about visas, possible airport taxes, cities to visit and avoid, Lonely Planet hints 'n' tips, etc.
[Astro, 12/03/01] We should start planning what equipment we need, and what we can afford to miss (i.e., we can pick it up when travelling if the need arrives). I reckon we should consult any great travelling sages - Anthony has some ideas of what to take and stuff. Any of you know others who've done considerable developing-world travelling?
[Gonzo, 24/05/01] Need to start making lists of what our priorities are.
[Gonzo, 25/06/01] With regards Travel Insurance:
http://www.bootsinsurance.com/choosetravel/choosepolicy.asp
http://www.clubdirect.com/
http://www.statravel.co.uk/insurance/index.htm
These are really the ones we should be looking and comparing with from what I can see from my list.
Boots is £279 and looks pretty comprehensive. Its not unlimited, but does go up to £10m, which is pretty good. Is also good to come from a reputable company who we know are not going to go 'bust' during the year (£35 excess on most claims).
Club direct is £223 with USA and £199 without. Not sure how reliable they are (£50 excess on claims).
Have a look and see what you think. STA will be £429 (£40 excess).
I am veering towards Boots, but would be good for you guys to have a gander's first.
[Jackal, 09/08/01] Here are some online shops for travel equipment:
http://www.fieldandtrek.co.uk/ft1/
http://www.edrenalin.com/mountainsupplies/index.jsp
http://www.georgefisher.co.uk/
http://www.9feet.com/?partner_id=msn
5. What money do we need up front?
(eg, for kit, visas, tickets, when we come back and so on and so forth)
[
Jackal 10/01/01] depends on what you want to do and for how long. Oz isn't THAT expensive A*. Its useful place to stop, work for small times in different places and leave with more cash for Asia.[Gonzo 11/1/01] I'd spare at least £1k for your ticket (number out the air) [note - our ticket eventually cost £1689 inc. tax], and a further £500 for kit, visas and miscellaneous stuff. From then on I think as long as each of us has sufficient travellers cheques and a visa card for emergencies we'll be A-OK.
[Gonzo, 18/06/01] http://www.ticltd.co.uk/ Travel Insurance - look for Backpacker option - £ 270 per year.
[Astro 14/08/01] www.hostels.com - just had a quick squiz at the hostel prices in Mexico. Between $3 and > $18. Gives email addresses, addresses, tel numbers. Useful resource for every country in the world!
[Gonzo 14/08/01] Therefore worst case Central America (approx)
= $18 x 2months (60 days) = $1080 (£700).
Best case Central America (approx)
= $3 x 2months (60days) = $180 (£120).
Therefore for our Central America we are looking at a range of between £120 and £700 for 2 months accomodation.
If we take as an approximation that for our year we need to be spending a maximum of around £2000 on accommodation for 1 year. £2000/365 = £5.50 per night = $8 per night.
[Gonzo 17/08/01] Am setting up a direct debit on my visa card. Means you don't get charged on it. Gonna bring enough money for South America in form of US dollars cash ($500?) and US dollars travellers cheques ($1k - $2k?). Once we get to Oz can use Cirrus banking machines etc and can order more travellers cheques there.
[Jackal 17/08/01] I'll take some cash to start and £1k or so cheques. Shouldn't need more than that for first month or 2! Credit card will cover large expenditure. Mother will watch my bank account, as will I occasionally from internet.
[Jackal, 4/1/01] Leave when we have enough money and timing is right for, say, best times to be had! Weather important too. Don't really want to go to a country and be holed up for 3 weeks during hurricane season. I have a wedding probably in Sept 2001 that I really want to go to, so October would be best for me I think. I should have about £10k to spend on travelling then too.
[Astro, 4/1/01] Hoping to have about £6.5k by end of September.
[Jackal 10/01/01] Nic told me she could travel for 2 years on £6k. And happily too.
[Gonzo 11/1/01] I am happy to leave whenever. I think October sounds about right. I am committed to weddings up until 22nd July - so as long as it is no earlier than that it's fine. Just wanna go NOW!!!!!
[Astro, 23/01/01] Can we set a date please, I have to recruit someone into my job, get them in for a cross-over period, and all sorts of work stuff. I also have to figure out somewhere to keep my belongings, and figure what family trips I can / can't afford to make before we go. Anyone fancy October 1st?
[Astro, 24/05/01] OK ... Our date is set for 1st week of October. But when will we actually go? Need to set an exact date. Perhaps 2 days after a leaving do? Give us time to recover and finish off last minute shopping and tearful farewells.
7. How long you guys wanna go for?
[Jackal, 4/1/01] I'm thinking 1-2 years, but am happy to travel alone eventually.
[Astro, 4/1/01] A year's good enough for me, or until the money runs out, whichever is sooner.
[Gonzo 11/1/01] A year is what I am reckoning. Am pretty flexible though - well that's what the ladies say.
[Jackal, 4/1/01] We ought to do some training before leaving to build up muscles and durability. Summer camping?? We're gonna have heavy sacks on our backs - are we up to it yet??!
[Gonzo 11/01/01] Have just come back from the gym as I write this. Healthy eating this year, max exercise and minimal beer consumption. It's the only way. G&T anyone? - good for keeping the mozzies away. Am bang up for summer camping. Haven't aired my tent since Glastonbury. It's still caked with six inches of mud. Hmmm - best do something about that.
[Astro 11/01/01] Going swimming 3 times a week - is good all round exercise.
9. How comfortable are you with turning up in places with no plans and nowhere to stay??
[Jackal, 4/1/01] Homeless isn't nice, and flea bitten beds are sometimes a must. Books are good for advice and great for getting places to avoid on tourist trail. Best idea I heard was for someone to have lots of books and get pages photocopied and sent to post offices around the world as you arrive. Saves having to carry so much shite around.
[Astro, 4/1/01] Don't care - adventures don't happen in cosy 5 star hotels booked 8 years in advance. Internet is pretty much everywhere, so there's lots of opportunities to read up on places prior to leaving the last call of civilisation / previous stopover. Although agree would still be a good idea to send pages in advance. Would need to know which cities we were going to though.
[Jackal 10/01/01] I agree. Nice hotels occasionally, but probably better staying with families if possible??
[Gonzo 11/01/01] Am totally comfortable turning up with nowhere to stay. The joy of the open road. Live life on the edge. Be a little bit wooooah.......a little bit waaaaaaay......can plan ahead and see how it turns out. A lot of the travelling within countries can perhaps also be done overnight. Cheap and cheerful and wastes no time. Nice hotels once in a while just to get energy levels up, decent bath/shower.
[Jackal, 4/1/01] Might want to invest for the future. I know I will sometime soon. Compacts don't always give great views either.
[Astro, 4/1/01] Was thinking of a digital camera / internet phone, so that I can take pics, and download straight to the web and send back to Europe. Then friends can save on CD-ROMs or hard disks for you, and then you have an instant photo album when you come back.
[Jackal 10/01/01] Not a bad idea, but expensive and restrictive. Imagine being up a mountain and battery / memory runs out. Doh! I'm thinking of getting a decent, but fully mechanical camera. No good for v. quick shots, but more reliable. I'll probably send the films directly back to UK to save cash developing. Might be worth getting small compact shite camera for piss-ups. Was also thinking of starting a web page. Could write down diary entries on way round so anyone could read. Might look into this one. Would save on paper and weight too! That's my hippy bit over with! Ha.
[Gonzo 11/01/01] I travelled India with KODAK disposable and got excellent pictures. £7 for 24. Don't want to be carrying around expensive cameras.
I am going to keep an email log of what I have done and where I'd been and keep in touch with people. Can act as a diary for yourself and also keep friends/family up to date with what yer doing. It also really pisses people off too when they come into work on a wet Wednesday morning to hear you are sunning yourself on Copacobana beach ... so can't be a bad thing.
