BootsnAll Travel Community

I know the budget question has been done to death, but I've been reading a lot about average costs per day, but not so many examples of how much a RTW costs.
I was planning on US$5000 (hoping for more) for a budget trip through SEAsia (and beyond- until the money runs out) but I've been intimidated by all these posts about taking 20 or 30K.
Can you give me some examples of how much your trip cost, where you went and how long you were able to travel? I just need some actual numbers to put it into perspective.
Thanks

Hi Lauren I totally feel your pain. I have been planning an RTW for probably two years now, and I am finally leaving in November! I don't know exactly what I'm going to leave with yet (probably 15k, but we'll see). If it makes you feel any better I did 6 months in Central America with $1700 US in the bank. Granted I found a job and stayed put for a while, I also had family friends I could crash with/as a saftey net if anything were to happen. The real point of this post is that while you should absolutely do your best to save your little heart out, once you reach the point where you've just got to get out of dodge, do it. However much money you have, just make it work. The bottom line is that you do it, and you have a hell of a time.

I think this question is really should be based on you. I mean some people spend a lot more than others. Look at costs for destinations and just decide from there. However for a year RTW, 20k seems like a popular number to go with. However I've seen people do it for less than $10,000. It all boils down to how much comfort you personally need to live.

Here's all my details.

I stayed in dorms when they were available, ate in cheap restaurants or on the street and didn't drink too much. I did buy a lot of souvenirs though. I wasn't on the cheapest of budgets possible (I went to plenty of museums etc.) but I wouldn't say I was mid-range at all.

Maybe it sucks to save so much money but I lived with my parents for 5 years to save money and didn't buy any big ticket items. Plan it right and you should be able to save too.

I don't really believe you can travel for $10,000/year now. I think you can live in one place, like India or maybe in a few select cheap countries but you can't take a train every 4 days to a new town on that budget. I met plenty of people sitting in Agra who wouldn't pay to see the Taj. They just sat around all day. That's fine, if that's what they want from travel. Personally, I think it's worth sticking it out at home to save a little more cash.