Round the World trip Tips any needed Thank you

anna_24

eproctophilia wrote: »

Excellent, Didn't think of Cambodia and Laos, why is Burma changing? is it for the good or bad?

I'll check out the train option to those places then that might save some money too instead of flying to each of the places.

Is your career break with the NHS Anna?

Thanks

No, not NHS, University, although the rules are fairly similar! Fingers crossed it all gets approved - should be a problem, or so I've been told! So much to think about for both of us!!

danandjens_worldtravels

DKLS wrote: »

Glad I wasnt the only one, lots of people keep telling how Fab Oz is.

Indeed, everyone said it was great, but we just didn't get it. Way too hot, but we were only in Queensland, would like to see Sydney and maybe Adelaide and Melbourne...may go back one day.

Another thing for the OP to consider is https://www.helpx.net or WOOFING we've helpx'd in all the expensive places, (UK,Aus,NZ) as well as keeping costs down its a great way to meet people and do as the locals do. You can view the basics of the site for free, but have to be a member to get full contact details and send messages, We paid around £20 for two years membership in 2008 and its still working!!! Never WOOF'ed but some hosts are on both sites.

Small practical travel tips...
if there is more than one of you sharing a room, when you get off the bus/train both sit in a cafe, have a drink and relax. Then one of you goes off without bags and find the room, its so much easier to get around without all the bags. It took us a week or so to work this out, but everyplace people are hot and sweaty looking for a room carrying huge bags.

try to leave the country with as little cash in local currency as possible (obviously), however when this doesn't happen ask travellers going the other way to exchange with you, cuts out the middle man and you both go off an agreeable rate, often the amount you have is relatively small but still worth changing especially at a no fee rate.

eproctophilia

anna_24, hope we both get approved! i also think that it shouldn't be a problem based on what i have seen my colleagues do.

DW, i have bookmarked helpx.com, never heard of this place and its a top suggestion! I am on couchsurfing which is a decent site and good way to meet some people and get some insight into the places you go.

WOOFing i had to google. didn't realise that is what it was called lol.

currency tip is useful too. sounds like you are experienced!

I think a decent translator in the non english places would be a good idea, Franklin do a 16 language one for about 50 quid on overstock.com.

is it worth it for a translator?

Doshwaster

eproctophilia wrote: »

I think a decent translator in the non english places would be a good idea, Franklin do a 16 language one for about 50 quid on overstock.com.

is it worth it for a translator?

I'd say it was a waste of money. I've never been anywhere where I couldn't get by with English, my very poor schoolboy French and Spanish or just pointing and smiling.

If you are going to South America it may be worth a crash course in Spanish. There are some good ones on YouTube.

In any country it's always worth trying to learn the 7 most important words in any language: hello, goodbye, yes, no, please, thank you and beer

danandjens_worldtravels

Doshwaster wrote: »

I'd say it was a waste of money. I've never been anywhere where I couldn't get by with English, my very poor schoolboy French and Spanish or just pointing and smiling.

If you are going to South America it may be worth a crash course in Spanish. There are some good ones on YouTube.

In any country it's always worth trying to learn the 7 most important words in any language: hello, goodbye, yes, no, please, thank you and beer

What Doshwaster said!

Experienced? Well some things I just don't worry about anymore, but not made it all the way round yet so still a lot to learn.:D

eproctophilia

dos cervesa! por va for! i was looking for vaccination information and netdoctor is a great website! tells you exactly what you need to know even if you don't know where you're going!

typhoid and hep a recommended for cambodia.

Peccary

Hello,
You are making me jealous, this time last year we planning our 6 month trip to south america and now we are back at work!
You shouldn't rule out SA for diet reasons. In the "wealthier" countries meat is a major part of the diet. In the Andes, rice and potatoes are the staples. You could also cook for yourselves if you picked hostels with decent kitchens. I adore Latin America so am biased but you shouldn't miss it.
I back up what everyone has said about Laos, a beautiful place still developing for travellers. I never wanted to leave Luang Prabang. If you skip Cambodia you will miss Angkor Wat!
Practicalities, take a visa and a mastercard just in case, some places accept one or the other.
Carry a USB stick or two for photo back ups, we intended to back up online but often found the internet not good enough.

eproctophilia

good shout, usb stick noted. Found some good websites in the main cities about gluten free eating so its looking more likely i'll head there.

why didn't you go? I think anywhere i go will be good but its difficult to make a plan when there is loads out there haha. i know my budget and time length, just looking into vaccinations these ones are free on NHS:

cholera
diphtheria, polio and tetanus booster
hepatitis A some combined vaccines, such as combined hepatitis A and B
meningitis C
typhoid

these ones aren't

hepatitis B
Japanese encephalitis
other meningitis vaccines
rabies
tick-borne encephalitis
tuberculosis
yellow fever

anna_24

eproctophilia wrote: »

good shout, usb stick noted. Found some good websites in the main cities about gluten free eating so its looking more likely i'll head there.

why didn't you go? I think anywhere i go will be good but its difficult to make a plan when there is loads out there haha. i know my budget and time length, just looking into vaccinations these ones are free on NHS:

cholera
diphtheria, polio and tetanus booster
hepatitis A some combined vaccines, such as combined hepatitis A and B
meningitis C
typhoid

these ones aren't

hepatitis B
Japanese encephalitis
other meningitis vaccines
rabies
tick-borne encephalitis
tuberculosis
yellow fever

I had all the free ones when I went last time, but didn't go back and get the boosters etc, so looks like I'm going to need some more too!
Don't forget the anti-malarials too (and the DEET repellent!)

Peccary

We did go, we are already back! 6 months in South America wasn't long enough!

We got the free vaccinations on the NHS but found the chargeable ones were cheaper at a travel clinic as when we booked the flights with STA we got a discount voucher. We only got the Hep B and yellow fever in the end after weighing everything up. Our yellow fever card was never checked but (on paper at least) some countries require proof of vaccination when coming from a country where it is endemic