So I downloaded the wordpress app onto my iPod touch so I can keep my blog updated on the road. Currently writing this from my iPod to test it. =)
counting down the days
There are 198 days left until I hit the tarmac @ Heathrow airport
I started at 222 (when I booked my flights)
So long to go!
meet my new house
Yes I know my trip is over 7 months away but I’m very impatient and really really wanted to get my most important bit of kit – my backpack. The thing I’ll be lugging around on my back for a year that will contain my whole ‘world.’
Backpacks are measured in litres and after researching I have come to the conclusion that a 60 – 65l will be best for me as this will enable me to take as much stuff as possible without either breaking my back or increasing the chance of me toppling backwards onto say the New York subway lines or into some canyon in Australia. I also need to run for buses and trains with this baby on my back too and I know the bigger I get, I will just fill it up!
There are two types of backpacks – the toploader – which I had on my last trip. This is your typical drawstring on the top backpack in which you pile stuff in from the bottom upwards. Not very useful when that last clean pair of underwear you want is hiding right at the bottom.
The second is the holdall type which opens on its side. This is more common with backpackers and it’s advantages are that it’s more secure and you can access all your belongings at once. The disadvantage is that when you do need something in a hurry you literally have to expose all of your belongings to get to it. Not very ideal if you’re in the middle of a crowded street.
I have looked at various packs and reviews on the web and have decided on the Gelert Jet Set 60 + 15. It has come recommended by many girls most likely due to the fact that it is hot pink and black. *ahem* Now the colour scheme is a factor in me choosing it I will admit but I haven’t chosen it for this reason alone I promise you!
It’s made by Gelert who make high quality travel equipment and I have seen good reviews of it in independent travel sites. It’s the holdall type, is 60l with an expanding section, zip away straps (very handy as backpack straps tend to get caught in airport luggage carousels) and a waterproof rain cover. Plus did I mention it’s hot pink and black?
It also comes with a 15l daypack attached. I are not 100% if I will use this until I see it as my daypack will be my day to day bag and I want one that I am really happy with.
I managed to find it on Winwood Outdoors site at a competitive price but if you sign up to their newsletter they will give you a 10% discount. Bargain!
The NEW Jet-Set range of Travel style Rucksacks are loaded with features and are ideal for Travel Expeditions & Backpacking.
Main Bag Features: cmH37 x D12 x W27 Size: Daysac
Padded adjustable back system with ‘stow away’ shoulder straps
Zip out expanding section
‘Open Out’ easy access main compartment
Adjustable / Detachable shoulder strap with comfort grip
Side & Top rubber grip grab handles
Inter locking security zips
High visibility rain cove
Daysac Features:
Padded shoulder straps
Interlocking security zips
Front zipped pocket & side mesh pockets
CD/MP3 port
Weight: 2.5kg
Material: 600D Ripstop Polyester
Rucksack Size: W30 x D23 x H65 cm
did i forget to mention?
26th May is the day I am leaving on a jetplane!
here i come world!
Today I took the plunge and booked my flights. I am so excited/nervous/confused/not entirely sure what I am doing! I decided to go with Flight Centre as they seemed to offer the best deal with regards to changing my flight dates. I called Paul who I talked to the first time round. He is very friendly and helpful and he travelled roughly the same route as me around the same time as I did so I felt like he knew what he was talking about.
I was quoted £1600 and as they wouldn’t charge me for date changes I only had to change 3 flights and they would be the cheapest. (And I knew I would change at least 3 as I had to book ‘dummy dates’ – you can only book flights up to a year in advance). So imagine my delight when he told me that my final quote came in at £1498, £13 more expensive than my cheapest quote! Needless to say I booked straight away.
My final route looks like this: London – New York//Los Angeles – Fiji – Auckland – Sydney – Singapore//Bangkok – Singapore – Mumbai//Delhi – London.
Note that I am flying into Singapore, then out of Bangkok back to Singapore. Unfortunately I couldn’t get a direct flight from Bangkok to India and I really didn’t want to work my way down from Bangkok to Singapore so I have an internal flight. Also he advised me it would bring the price down if I flew into Mumbai and out of Delhi.
My flight itinerary has been emailed to my inbox and this is all I need to check in which I find quite weird! No more paper tickets, just show them the printout and they check it against your passport number!
Just insurance left to get now as well as travel kit which includes a brand spanking new passport. (Thank god, goodbye awful passport picture).
here i come america!
I booked my Trek America trip across the US! I’m going travelling!
The trip cost me £1403.10 which includes my return trekker 10% discount. On top of this I will have to pay £174 in food kitty payments and £186 in local hotel payments.
I depart from New York on Sunday 30th May and arrive in Los Angeles on Saturday 26th June. The trek takes me across the North of the US and into Canada. Through Niagara Falls (not literally!), Ohio, Chicago, South Dakota, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Montana, British Colombia, Vancouver, Seattle, Oregon, San Francisco and Yosemite. I’ll be camping on all but 5 nights.
To see the full itinerary, click below….
lets get this trip on the road!
soooo, i have been trying to get quotes recently from various travel agents in an attempt to get this trip on the road!
i had budgeted £1800 for my flights but was hoping for something more round the £1300 – £1400 mark (or even less!) but i had a nasty shock when i was told that doing both north and south america was pretty much out of the question as that would take my ticket to £2200 upwards. eek!
so after much thinking i have decided to compromise south america for the moment. i am aware that this may seem a bit of a daft idea as i have done most of the other countries on my itinerary but i have come to this decision based on a few reasons -
- i set my heart on doing this trek america trip as it was one of the best parts of my last trip, and i really won’t be able to do it combined with south america.
- i was already worried about south america as i knew i had no way near enough time to do it. 3 – 4 months was only enough for a few countries and i really wanted to do it in-depth!
- i can always come back and do south america as a separate trip. taking 6 months out just to do south america sounds more doable than a 3rd rtw trip!
okay so i am back to my original itinerary with a few little tweaks and it reads like this: (the // denote an overland section)
London – New York//Los Angeles – Fiji – Auckland – Sydney – Singapore//Bangkok – Delhi – London
My quotes were as follows:
STA: Cost of changing date (per date change):
£1600 £35
£1600 Free
£1485 £10 – 20 plus local admin fee which i estimate would add up to £50
£1499 £80
I have estimated that I will make at least 3 date changes (Australia to Singapore, Thailand to India and India to UK) so with STA that would cost me £105, Trailfinders would cost me £150, Travel Nation would cost me £240.
That means the cheaper flight tickets outweigh the more expensive ones and Flight Centre comes in the clear winner! They make a deal out of free flight changes too which reassured me that it wasn’t just a line to get me to buy the tickets!
It’s just all about getting the guts up to book them now. As I have the money I have been telling myself there is absolutely no reason to not book them in the next few days so it’s now or never!
I may book the trek america trip first as this is what my flight dates as hinge around, had been debating whether or not to push it back a month as this means a month extra pay but if i already have enough money and some extra then what is the point!
sta don’t love me =(
I’ve been trying to get a quote today from STA travel for my round the world flights but I don’t seem to be having much luck! They have a really cool planner that lets you play around with flights and lets you know about free stopovers and then get a quote. It’s here if you want to have a look.
The only problem is this is the second time I have submitted a trip plan and the second time they haven’t gotten back to me. I know the best way to go about it is call them or even better go to a branch in London (which I think I will do when it finally comes to booking the tickets) but I am not serious about my route yet and really just want to play around with the options. The planner did mention something about £1030 excluding taxes and fuel surcharges which does sound pretty good to me. I think the taxes etc would add on an extra £300.
This is the route I put forward to them:
London -> New York -> overland to L.A. -> Fiji -> Auckland -> Sydney -> overland to Cairns -> (possible free stopover in Papua New Guinea) -> Singapore -> overland to Bangkok -> Free stopover in Sri Lanka -> Delhi -> (possible free stopover in Ethiopia) -> London
I just think it’s amazing that you can get an 8 hour return flight to New York for around £500 from ‘mainstream’ travel agents or you can get a round the world pass comprising of an 8 hour flight, a 10 hour flight, another 8 hour flight and lots of 3 – 6 hours flights for around £1300! Immense!
trek america
There are two Trek America trips that are really catching my eye. I want to do one of the longer ones as I think the longer on the road the better! I also want to do one cross country so I get to see as much as possible!
I have to admit I did find it really hard choosing which one to do as last time I chose the best one to do and I just want to do it this time as well! Check it out here.
The two I have narrowed it down to are:
Americana Road Trip (28 days) New York to San Francisco.
This is a classic American road trip ‘in search of the wonderfully wild and wacky America. It´s not just about seeing America, it´s about experiencing some of ‘the biggest’, ‘the best’, ‘the oldest,’ and ‘oddest’ sites, sounds and attractions in the world.’ It takes you to such places as Graceland, the home of Elvis, Memphis, Nashville, the almighty Vegas and Roswell. The only downside is that I have been to a lot of the places already, though they were amazing the first time round!
Transcontinental North(28 days) New York to Los Angeles
This is like the other half of my previous trip. It takes you to places like Niagara Falls, Chicago, Yellowstone, Ohio, Canada, Seattle and San Francisco. It doesn’t go to Vegas which is where I really want to go but it is one of those places that you could easily visit even as a standalone holiday.
I think I am leaning towards the latter. This means I get to see all new places and it just just feels it’s the other half of my USA trip!
It costs around £1358 (including my 10% return trekker discount) plus £374 for the food kitty and extra lodging and then around £500 for the optional extras depending on how many I want to do. Sounds a lot but it is well worth it and the initial payment won’t come out of my ‘on the road’ travel budget.
