I've spent over a year saving up for my late 2009 trip and though I try to stay positive, lately I must confess to having some doubts.
We've got the US economy melting down, and the dollar set to inflate to record levels, which will take those currencies pegged to it down as well. Then there's oil getting more expensive all the time, and airlines going bankrupt on my left and on my right. When you throw in climate change, terrorism, and food shortages, it's enough to bring you to tears. Argh, it's depressing just to type. So here is my question, is RTW travel (and travel in general to a lesser extent) still going to be around in a few years? Is this the twilight of easy global traveling, or will the industry adapt to the changing world climate?

Okay, so I'm a doomer, I admit it. But I believe my question is a valid one.

What do you think?

It is easy to get down because of the news, but there have always been and always will be barriers. Don't let them influence you. The price of airfare may rise because of oil, but oil is actually down signficantly from its previous high. The dollar may lose in value, but the same is happening to other currencies.

Besides, if you don't travel what are you going to do instead? Sit on your money and wait for good times?

I hear you about the news. I do a good job tuning out a lot of it, but this bailout has really got my attention, and then it got me thinking. Like I said, I've been saving for quite a while now, sacrificing and living most frugal, all for my trip. I would hate to think it could be in jeopardy.

I guess the fall back plan would be to buy some land and hunker down, though believe me, I don't relish that thought.

the world is on the brink of cataclysmic change... preparation is pointless, go on with your plans and off yourself when shit truly hits the fan (well, at least that's what I'm going to do)

I agree with Skobb.

I am going on with my current travel plans, 'cause what else am I going to do? Things may be going batshit, but as long as I can afford to travel, I'm going to be out there.

I don't see massive, world changing things happening. The economy's down. It's happenned before and will happen again. Oil's up, so yes, airfares will rise, requiring maybe a slightly longer savings period.

I think your biggest risk, in the short term, is that much of this bailout will be monetized, which will hugely devalue the dollar, so hedging currencies might be a plan to deal with that, or planning your trip to take advantage of dollar-pegged countries.

Other than that, as far as I'm concerned, so long as you have a job, the overall health of the economy shouldn't affect your trip plans. And if you lose your job, maybe it's a good time to take your savings and go hang out somewhere cheap until things improve.

Yeah, we've been planning for a year and a half and leave on October 15. 19 days away. It sucks what's going on, but what are you gonna do? Not go? F#*% that!

Yeah, no use worrying about it, just go, I am in the same situation, leaving May of 09'. We just cut out Oz/N.Zealand and added more time in SE Asia.

It's better to go now then to come back in the middle of a downturn like I did. Maybe by the time you get back, it'll be all sorted out.
Don't cancel your plans b/c of this. It's tempting because if you are like me and worry about your future financial security, then things seem bleak. They will seem less so while sitting on a beach in Goa than sitting at home watching CNN everyday.
As for your money not going as far, maybe just alter your plans a bit, go to less continents that you need to fly to and concentrate on more local travel within one area, instead of flying all over the place. And if you can keep some money aside to give your return home a little cushion.

The further we got into our planning and researching, the more we started changing plans. We decided we wanted our money to go as far as possible, so we decided to cut it down to two general regions-S. America and SE Asia, then on to India. We're going to focus on some of the cheaper areas in the world to travel.

Step 1: Turn off your TV. (more specifically the news)
Step 2: Go.
Step 3 - 9,999: Your choice.

Thanks for the feedback everybody- I love the positivity! After reading your comments things don't feel quite as bleak and they did before.

I'm still a bit worried about this whole financial meltdown, as any sane person would be, but it's full speed on the RTW- until the wheels fall off.

I hate to say this but the "financial meltdown" or "ultra death crisis" or whatever the news is telling you is not as bad as you think.

Did you have a hard time getting a loaf of bread this morning?

When I was in Yugoslavia I saw the street covered in Dinars that even the most destitute of homeless people didnt even bother to pick up. You needed 500 Billion to buy food for a day.

Sorry but you have been manipulated, its a news trick.

It just sounds really smart to say "wow we are so screwed, panic badly".

And it seems like only bad news gets attention.. The fact that we live longer than ever before, have more luxuries and more commodities than ever before gets the blind eye to anyone trying to get noticed.

The history of travel easily shows that traveling is always getting cheaper and faster and more efficient. Why should anything change because a few banks made some bad choices? Its not like anything like this has ever happened before either.

I believe that traveling will keep getting cheaper and more efficient and better. Historical data is on my side. It took 5 months to cross the atlantic at one point in time, now it takes 5 hours. Look at the historical significance of mans accomplishments.

There will always be doomsayers. Laugh at them.

I hate to say this, but saying that there is no financial crisis right now is just plain stupid.

It's not simple as turning off your TV and making it all go away. Anybody with stock in AIG, WaMu, or any of the other financial institutions that have gone belly up over the past 6 months knows that.

I'm all for having a positive outlook, but to say that the current financial mess is fictional and only a product of media manipulation is just plain delusional.

Caio from Florence, Italy!


Astrochump...

I didn't say there is no crisis, I said its not the end of the world... Crisis is GOOD for people like me, it creates perfect buying opportunities.

Also... Uhm.. but I DO have those stocks you mentioned... And many MANY more. Hundreds more in fact. Many of which have gained many percentage points during these times.

Maybe I should mentioned that I am a certified NYSE stock broker. Along with 4 different financial certifications.

My dividends alone have fueled the last 6 months of straight travel. I trade stocks from all parts of the world and have been doing this for quite awhile.

Sorry but I am going to have to disagree with you, go back to watching the news and get a few ulcers for me. Maybe the stress of listening to uneducated news sources will shorten your lifespan just enough so that your government pensions go straight to the rest of us. Thanks.