Hello everyone,

I am new to this board and amd planning a extensive rtw trip that will kick off end of June - July. I apologize early for the frequent posts reguarding various areas and general traveling questions that I will be posting in the future. I feel a little at odds because in a way I will be winging it which is great but I am a first time country leaver and solo traveler. It also seems like everyone else has ever their trips planned. So... here is my question today...

Any advice, ticket info or itenirary help reguarding the following plan would be greatly appreciated. My main concern is not missing anything major along the way and not taking a route that is redioulous or out of my way resulting in a waste of time and funds. So this is my roughly planned route as of now.

Bus from El Paso to Zacatecas, Yucatan,(many other things along the way) Central America, South America, Fly from Brazil to New Zealand(does this make sense, it seems flights from S. America are pricey but I love this direction!) I will get a Magic Bus 12 months your package (only 500 for North Island get S. Island for a buck) Then to Australia, eventually Asia, Nepal, India, Europe...

It gets a bit fuzzy after Aust. as far as def. plans. I will have about 15,000 when I leave in July I will be getting a work visa in either New Zealand or Aust. So any ideas or advice? Anyone done Magic Bus before, is that a good deal? Sorry for the long winded post. Thanks alot.

Jeannine

I'm not sure what time of year you are arriving in these countries but have you checked out the weather. This is so important, we changed the way we went round the world after I checked the weather out.
We have not travelled yet to South America but did the rest of your trip.
We did OZ 3 month (arriving Oct), NZ 1 month (arriving 31Dec)4 month in Asia arriving at the beginning of February taking in Singapore, Malaysia, Thialand, India, Nepal,Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong.
Some tips for RTW travel.
Get yourself a bank account which doesn't charge for withdrawing money from ATMs this can save you a fortune.
Keep your cash, debit/credit cards in different places.
Take additional debit/credit cards as back ups.Debit/Credit cards can stop working for no apparrent reason.
Buy a money belt to keep anything in that if lost would be a dissaster.
Put your day backpacks on your front when in crowds.
Don't be shy about asking for discounts.
Photocopy passport,driving license,prescription(medical)prescription for specs.
Set up two internet email accounts and e-mail yourself with all the information you may need when travelling,Visa,Embassies,Fight details,important addresses and telephone numbers.
I always take earplugs and safe hands.
check out my website for all the places we visited that my be of interest.
www.getjealous.com/trio
Get your registered on www.hospitalityclub.org
Best of luck and keep safe
Jean

Hello Jean and thank you so much for all of your helpful advice! In answer to your question I have considered weather but figured I would be able to make due. It appears that in June in Latin America it is rainy season. If I arrived in New Zealand around Oct. which while be spring and I think that is good... (right) I have heard the rainy season in Latin America is bearable and mainly rainy at night. Any thoughts on this? Once I get to N.Z. I will be there for at least 6 months or so, probably more. Thanks again and happy new year!

- j

Hey there Jeannine,

Price for Magic Bus sounds about right and I really enjoyed my time with them (I used them for the West Coast of NZ). So if you're doing six months in NZ I'm guessing you want your work visa there? Speaking as someone who studied abroad there a semester (in Auckland) I approve, it's a great country for it.