To finally close our adventure I had a closer look at what you have to think of, organize and spend for 18 weeks on the road. Here it is (in no proper order and not all of this actually happened to us):
- Don't forget the proper vaccination - some of them require a few months in advance.
- Make sure you cancel all unnecessary insurances and memberships on time - keep your local health insurance though as it could get quite expensive in case you are brought back in pieces.
- The weather at home will in most cases be different to your vacation countries when you come back. Make sure you store your winter boots in a place where you can easily find them when you need them. "Some box somewhere in the garage" is not an exactly great idea.
- If you can afford it: Keep your appartment (rent it out, help your sister with a roof over her head during an internship, ask colleagues on project in town, ...). After weeks on the road there is nothing better than the first night in your very own bed. Even if the fridge is still empty and dust bunnies (funny, in German its mice) have errected their mighty kingdom in your living room.
- Take a netbook. Nobody wants to organize 12,000 pics 3 months after coming home ("Honey, where did we take this picture?"). It also helps to geo-tag your pictures either manually with Picasa or automatically with GPicSync.
- Also, the webcam is a handy tool in case of some unexpected announcements at home which can be easier digested by talking to someone and actually look at him/her.
- After you packed - take out half.
- Clean your shoes, your camping stuff, your clothes - Australia and New Zealand don't like foreign dirt in their countries.
- In south New Zealand wear white - Sand-flies are suprisingly attracted to dark colors.
- In north-east Australia stay away at least 50m from water if you don't want to end up as crocodile breakfast. Yes, that includes rivers and boat railings.
- Only pre-book the flights that you need to schedule to a specific day. Try to do that way in advance and use the internet to see whether it might be cheaper to not take an around-the-world-ticket. Local flights can always be booked closer to the actual flight date which leaves flexibility for the opening of this amazing exhibition or a spontaneous legendary party with your new friends.
- Flights around x-mas to the southern hemisphere are quite expensive. Really!
- Sydney over New Year is always fully booked out. Really!
- In Hong Kong every bank issues its own money. To avoid false money you may dance to the money god or eat your plate very empty - there is no way to identify it on your own upon getting it.
- Always carry tissues. They can save lives!
- If you have a campervan the size of a 3-family-home you do not need a Top 10 Holiday Park (or call it Big 4). Do yourself a (gigantic) favor and choose one of the many DOC campsites, at least in New Zealand (Our favourite was Kidds Bush, close to Lake Wanaka). There is no point in paying for a shower if you do not intend to use your bathroom on wheels.
- Make sure you have someone who opens your mail at home (and pays the bills you forgot about upfront ...). Also make sure your secret girlfriend does not send love letters to your old address - there is just so much to explain ...
- Don't send home souvenirs with DHL. It is very expensive and the customs fee doubles in some cases the prize. If you have to send stuff home, try to give it to some friends or at least send it from a private address to a private address and declare it as a "gift" to the recipient. That might save you the customs fee.
- Minivans are also Campervans even if they fit inside the white parking space markings where it says "No Campervans".
- You can get tickets even though you are from the other side of the world.
- No electricity means it is dark after sunset.
- Tipping is not appreciated in every country. Read up on your travelö country and do not trust everything the Lonely Planet says. For Asia use Loose or Reise Know-How (in German).
- In Vietnam you cannot get US$ from any ATM or bank - it is prohibited. But you will need US$ to transfer to Cambodia. So bring the notes. Otherwise: there are forbidden black market money exchange booths in this one street which every bank clerk knows ...
- Smile, you are on holiday! And yes, it doesn't matter if it rains (it could be 46 degrees hot) or the train is late (at least, there is a train). Relax!
- If (usually very young) backpackers are talking about money and how much things cost and where this or that might be even cheaper - leave. They will not stop doing so.
- Nothing is for free, Cambodia even charges you 25 US$ pP to let you out of the country.
- Close to 40% of our total budget was used for transportation & flights. That includes rental cars and gas. If you can choose cheap flights or share trips there is a lot of money to be saved. Or try a bright smile and a love story for your free upgrade to Business Class.
- App. 15% went towards accomodation but only if you camp a lot, use a not-so-luxury-campervan and occasionally surf couches, especially in the cities. Agoda (in Asia), Expedia, Hotel.com and tripadvisor offered some great deals for us. If you stay in (amazing) hotels all the time, this will be more. A lot! Even in Asia and painfully expensive everywhere else.
- Only about 10% of our budget did keep us alive, healthy and happy by eating and drinking. That seems quite low until you know that ...
- another 20% were spent in cash. Not even an excel freak like me tried to track what we spent that for in detail. I mean, come on, I was on holiday ;-)
- As important - money wise - as eating and drinking was obviously Sightseeing. Also close to 10% of the budget. A lot of "sights" come for free and quite a few of them are priceless anyway, while others burn your credit card.
- The rest of the budget goes towards minor important stuff like mobile phone SIM cards (China Mobile SIM Ka!), UMTS pre-paid sticks and new cameras. Buying clothes and souvenirs was not an option as we didn't follow our above mentioned rule of packing only half. Our backpacks were way to heavy with app. 20 kg each.
Have fun travelling!
