BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi guys,

Been looking at the boards for about 6 months now and have come up with a rough budget and itinerary but don't know if I am close or trying to do too much with too little money. Any advice is much appreciated!

March 24 Leave NZ!
Sth Amercia $90 per day (excludes Chile where we will be working)
Chile Work until end of May
Peru 18 days(Macchu Picu, not sure of costs here $1000 close?)
Bolivia 31 days
Argentina 25 days

Canada Work - 30 days (accommodation with friends)

Europe - $210 per day
Oktoberfest 8 days
Czech Republic 7 days
Spain 20 days
Morocco (from spain), $120 per day, 22 days

India - $80 per day 21 days
Nepal -$80 per day 21 days

Sth East Asia $80 per day
Laos - 19 days
Vietnam 16 days
Cambodia 21 days
Thailand 21 days

Prices are for me and my partner (not each), happy with eating were locals eat, making lunchs etc, backpacker accommodation but would prefer our own room (dorm room okay for Europe if we need to). Plan to leave in 2009.

We will get a RTW world ticket to each continent which is not included above but then plan to go overland where possible which I have included in my estimates.

Thanks for any advice

I think money-wise you're fine. The only place I could see going overbudget by any meaningful margin is your 8 days at Oktoberfest...Europe's expensive to start with, doubly so during well-known festivals and anything else that draws the crowds. Assuming that your Czech time isn't entirely in Prague, it should even out, though.

Timewise - I odn't know...some of your times seem short, some seem about right. Just try to keep to the minimum number of flights so that you can adjust your days without feeling rushed.

I think if you are looking at 80 bucks a day in SEA for two people that could be right...I think if you get to SEA and you have say 60 in general you should be fine...if you stay in guesthouses and hostels no worries...if on one day you go shopping and buy stuff and the next day only have 40 with the street food being 1-2 dollars for a nice lunch that should suffice...Europe will take a toll on your budget...

I think your budget in Europe might be a little under actually...I can imagine the prices during oktoberfest for the tickets to tents alone being high as well as the mark up on accommodation especially if you want a privte double...not sure about the other european cities you are going too...India: If you are going to Mumbai I would be weary of the prices for doubles at budget hotels and hostels...It can run you pretty close to your budget for a night...same with delhi as I here accommodation is quite high in the big cities in india as space is limited...

also timing seems just fine 19 days in Laos though seems like a lot...the pace to life is slow and i'm just curious as to when you will be there...im assuming you aren't going to be in SEA during the rain season? If you are beware you will get wet...I was there during end of may through june and the weather was great...looks like you are spending about 2 months 2 weeks in SEA I'm hoping its during april may june...

Thanks guys,

Thinking we may have to cut a couple of days from Oktoberfest and add them to working in Canada. Not the end of the world can always go back later in life.

In regards to India, really want to go there but didn't really have any idea on prices. May have to do some more research and re-think budget.

The itenerary is not set in stone and we will be changing it as we need to, so if we find we have seen everything we want to in Laos will just move on sooner. Maybe a good place for a few days out to relax?

Going to be in SEA from end of December to early March, is this a bad time?

Thanks for all your help.

Sorry, I'ma little stretched for time just now but quick comment that Dec-Mar in SE Asia is a perfect time to be doing it!

I think your budgeting is sound.

We have also budgeted 80USD per day as a couple for CA, SA and SEAsia. Actually we have also budgeted 80 a day for Oceania but we will cross that bridge with a working holiday visa when we come to it.

India can be incredibly cheap. For 80USD per day you can really live in luxury. We once spent 14 EUR in 2 weeks on a lovely beach with our own chef - that is one extreme. In India it is our responsibility as travelers to ensure we haggle hard for everything so we don't distort local pricing and drive inflation (and avoid getting ripped of!).

Good luck!

I spent ~20 days in India and by far my biggest expense was transportation. I wanted to see EVERYTHING (impossible!), and since I was in Southern India for a friend's wedding and wanted to go to Northern India to see some of the sights, I bought a multi-leg airline ticket from Jet Airways that was a substantial investment. But it was worth it for me because I didn't know when I'd go back.
If you are staying in one region (both north and south have a ton to see, highly recommend Kerala), lodging and food expenses are really cheap. Train is affordable. I stayed in locally run cheap motels for USD$15/night and hostels for much less. Granted this was in 2005.

Have fun!!