Hey all,

i'm an eighteen year old male, doing the whole 'big trip' backpacking thing.... (I also posted on TT) Costs in Aussie dollars


Just wondering what you think of my intinerary and predicted costs. In terms of budget, I followed lonely planet's suggestions and added a little extra. I don't mind doing it rough !

For flights, i've booked a 5 continent global explorer with One World....

Country City Dates Days Estimated costs

Finland Helsinki 12th to 19th July 7 $700 (staying with friends)

Germany Berlin 20th to 27th July 7 $700 (staying with friends)

Poland Krakow 27th to 3rd August 9 $500

Hungary Budapest 3rd to 9th August 6 $700

Croatia 9th August to 10th September 32 $1,600
Split to London on British airways

Europe 2 months from 12 July to 12th September 61 $4,200

United States New York 12th to 22nd September 10 $1000
(staying with friends)
Colombia 23rd September to 22 October 29 $1,590

Boliva La Paz 23rd October to 18th November 26 $1,040

Argentina Buenos Aires 19th November to 25th December 36 $2,000

Americas 4 months 13 days from 12th September to 25th December 101 $5,080

Singapore 26th December to 31st December 5 $270
(staying with friends)
Thailand 1st January to 25th January 25 $1,035

Laos 25th January to 11th February 15 $600

Burma 11th February to 28th February 17 $550

Asia 2 months and 2 days from 26th December to 28th February 62 $2,455

Total 8 months 15 days ? 224 days $12,000


I think I am going to camp in Croatia for a month because I won't have any money otherwise !!

Ok, reality check time:

Your budgets are way over scale in almost every respect.

If you're staying with friends in europe, you can easily get away with 50$ a day and have a good time, though you can spend more if you buy 10 3 euro snacks throughout the day.

The budget you have is more like a Frommers vacation. If you want to spend that much, be my guest. There are some very fine restaurants and hotels that can help you achieve your goal admirably.

If you have that much money, relax. Take that expensive guided tour here and there.

In NYC you can spend 100 dollars a day no problem. I've done so and that was years ago.

You can also spend 20 dollars a day, half of that on subway tokens.

I did not stay with friends all through europe, and I spent about 9 -10 thousand dollars in a year. i did not starve myself. I saw things.

At the time the Dollar was at the same level it is now.

It is considerably cheaper in Southeat asia, and Latin america.

You'll probably spend a lot in Helsinki. I hear its very expensive.

Bottom line: Cut that estimate by a third, and you'll have a very comfortable time. You can do it on a LOT less if you don't go shopping.

A good shopping trip can bust anyones budget, if you have good taste!!

Holy Moly! I think you should make that 16 months instead of 8. If I had that kind of money, I most certainly would. You would cry, then panic if you saw my budget.

you can get by twice as long for your budget for bolivia