My Favorite Budget Travel Resources

Throughout the long waiting period between my initial round-the-world dream and my actual trip, I've sated my desire for adventure by researching destinations.  I scour the web and the library for sources that will tip me off on where to go and when, cultural and natural highlights, costs for daily activities, weather, and transportation.  I check the Lonely Planet website like some people check Facebook  -- frequently and almost without conscious thought.  Granted, this is one of many travel philosophies; some people prefer to start their adventure with nothing more than a backpack and one plane ticket.  After that, whichever way the wind blows is where they'll end up.  Although I see the appeal of this lifestyle, I am (for now) a less daring kind of traveler.  I like the security that comes with knowing roughly what to expect when my plane lands in a frightening new place, and although I have no desire to micro-schedule my time in a country, I do like to pick out a few things to do/places to see so I have a rough itinerary.  Because of this, I've spent a lot of time reading/watching international travel resources, and I've emerged with a list of a few that have proved invaluable to me:

Books

Rough Guide: First Time Around the World, Doug Lansky
 This, as far as I'm concerned, is the one book every traveler should have when planning an extended trip.  It provides ample inspiration and great tips on how to make the most of your adventure.  There are entire chapters dedicated to costs/budgeting, packing, and planning itineraries.  The last 80 pages of this book provide continent and region-specific information, which can be useful for initial planning.  I have read portions of this book three times, and I'm still learning new stuff!  

Vagabonding, Rolf Potts
Definitely a book to read before you leave on your trip.  It's important to note that this is NOT a travel guide; it's about adopting a mindset that compliments the long-term travel lifestyle.  Rolf Potts is a talented writer and explorer who has chosen to share his revelations (both large and small) about the art of travel.  If your major motivations for backpacking include simplifying your life, immersing yourself in different cultures, and making connections with local people, this is a great book to read.  


Websites and Blogs

Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com)
I don't know if I really need to explain this one...if you haven't looked at Thorn Tree (LP's travel forum), you should!  Fellow travelers can provide first-hand advice on almost any aspect of traveling, which can either save you from a nightmarish experience or lead you to forming one of your favorite trip memories.

Boots n' All (bootsnall.com)
I stumbled across this wonderful site when I first started researching RTW travel about four years ago.  Boots n' all is an independent online travel resource that feels less commercial than Lonely Planet and is mainly geared towards extended travel.  There are some wonderful articles about planning a RTW trip, all of which I would recommend reading.  Like Lonely Planet, Boots n' All has a great forum where you can ask/answer questions about pretty much anything.

Amanda and Jess's Year of Travels (www.amandaandjess.blogspot.com)
This blog is absolutely the root of my inspiration.  Four years ago, when I was a student at Boston University, I read an article about two recent grads who were traveling around the world.  The article provided the URL for a blog chronicling their trip, and once I clicked on it, I was lost for the rest of the night....and for about a week after that.  I couldn't stop reading!  Almost immediately, I started a "RTW" notebook, complete with maps and country-specific travel info.  To this day, I still enjoy looking back on the experiences of these two awesome girls for inspiration.  Check out their blog if you can!

A Little Adrift (www.alittleadrift.com)
An incredible resource chock-full of valuable info and inspiring stories.  Go forth and learn!


Legal Nomads (www.legalnomads.com)
Great stories, in-depth research, and beautiful pictures from a corporate lawyer turned world traveler. 

13 Months (www.thirteenmonths.com)
A great website chronicling the travels of newlyweds Grace and Susan.  They provide excellent advice on topics such as planning a safari, picking an island base for exploring Australia's Great Barrier Reef, and getting ready to go gorilla trekking in Uganda.  Plus, beautiful pics and videos.

Lost Girls (www.lostgirlsworld.com)
3 friends, 4 continents, 1 unconventional detour around the world.  Wonderful resource for female travelers!
There's a book, too!  

  
Films 

A Map for Saturday, Brook Silva-Braga
A unique documentary made by the very talented Brook Silva-Braga, a 20-something guy who quits his job to travel the world for a year.  I love watching this film when I need a little inspiration -- there's a ton of beautiful landscape footage and interviews that provide an inside look at the backpacker scenes in different countries.  Recommended!  http://www.amapforsaturday.com/trailer.html

Justifying a Post-Collegiate Year Abroad

I have always been wary of the time period immediately following college; a time where the structure of day to day life seems to fall apart because your hours aren't filled with classes, meetings, and homework.  The academic responsibility is gone, and you're left in a kind of "what now?" daze.  I have been in school for 17 years, and I'm starting to figure out that I don't quite know how to exist outside of that model.  I do know, however, that I don't want to solve this problem by jumping into graduate school.  As a young scientist, I know this is expected of me; how else will I be able to compete with my peers?  Won't I lose my connections in the academic world if I don't stay in school?  My disdain for the competitive nature of a science career sometimes threatens to override my passion for living things.  There is so much I need to learn, both about myself and about my world, before I can be 100% sure that I am strong enough to dedicate myself whole-heartedly to a career.

I don't think the greatest personal growth on my journey will occur as a result of the places I visit or the things I do, but from being in these situations alone.  I will be forced to rely on instinct and to trust myself completely.  The loneliness that comes with solo travel will, I hope, encourage me to reach out to people in ways I never would at home.  The fact that I get to explore different cultures and landscapes is just a beautiful added bonus!  I have been thinking about a this trip for four years, and I am so happy to have finally reached a point in my life where I have the freedom to make it reality.  College, while invaluable, was a a time of consistent struggle for me, and I emerged more than ready to step back from academia.  In my mind, now is the time to learn by living in the world and to fulfill great dreams.  The weeks or years suspended between stepping stones are mine to mold, and I am going to fill them with enthusiastic exploration.  Somehow, I feel like that's justification enough.
 

Beginnings

Well, it's t-minus...a long time...but what better time to start a travel blog than now? For the most part, my pre-departure posts will be short and will serve the purpose of helping me keep track of things. I'll be writing as I figure out money, visas, vaccines, insurance, packing, and my itinerary in an attempt to provide a resource for future adventurers :) Right now, I'm tackling the biggest problem that stands between me and my trip: lack of funds. My fairly straightforward (but daunting) plan is to work my butt off until I have the amount I'll need; I'm really hoping I can get where I want to be financially by next July. I think I'm on the cusp of employment, so that will leave me with 10 full months to meet my goal...we'll see!

Thanks for reading.