Are You Broke, Married, Have Kids or Older? Consider a Round the World Trip

Posted by brian in e-book, ebook, round the world trip, RTW trip, travel resources

There is a common misconception that round the world travel is the domain of only three types of people...

The Rich
The Single and/or Childless
The Young

Not true and I'll show you why.

1. Only the Rich Can Travel Around the World

credit: amagill

The rich are not the only group that can see the world. You don't need to be a Travel Channel host, have the last name of Trump or Hilton or recently have hit the lottery to be a globetrotter and the envy of your friends and family.

A round the world ticket can cost as little as $1500US.

Yes, that little.

It all depends on where you decide to go. Give up your $30 a week Starbucks habit for a year and you'll have enough to take you across the Atlantic and Pacific on one ticket and get those funky stamps in your long neglected passport.

Hostels and websites like couchsurfing.com and www.wwoof.org make cheap and CLEAN accomodations accessible.

More and more people are also working from the road, using their skills to fund their travels as they see the world.

2. Only the Single and/or Childless Can Be on a RTW Trip

Yes, even the Bradys could do a round the world trip

Once you have a family, you're suppose to be at home, with the minivan (do they even make those anymore?), soccer practices and birthday parties at Chuckie Cheese. It would be irresponsible to take a child, even worse a toddler, on the road for weeks, months or years at time, right? How about multiple kids?

Wouldn't taking children on long haul flights and subjecting them to airport security and strange foods halfway around the world would be cause to call Child Protective Services?

So wrong.

What about the advantages of a trip like this?

Bonding your family together through shared experiences?

How about your kids learning new languages, experiencing new cultures and being well-rounded citizens of the world?

Check out my friends at http://soultravelers3.com, a family of 3 that has been traveling for 3+ years.

Their young daughter even gets piano lessons via the Internet!

There are many other families like this traveling around the world and soaking up what the planet has to offer in person and not from a big screen TV.

3. Only the Young Can Travel Long Term

credits: mcohenchromiste

I got an email from an older gentleman recently. He wanted to ask some questions about the e-book. Whether it covered HOSTELS and how it might help him.

When I say older, he was in his 70s and was going to travel with his 'lady friend'...

Maybe you've raised your children (maybe even your grandchildren). You need a new challenge in your life.

If you're in your 50s, 60s and beyond, you can travel far too. Don't be intimidated.

You've lived your life for other people. Now it is time to live your own dreams.

Just because you have an AARP card doesn't means you need to sit at home. The world needs your wisdom and no matter how old you are, even you have something NEW to learn.

Your age is a valued asset, not a liability. Share your gifts with the world and you will get the same back.

If you have the time and the inclination, you'll find a way to make it happen.

The "No Debt World Travel" e-book can help you get there by debunking these myths and any other misconceptions you've had about long-termtravel.

Check it out here @ http://www.nodebtworldtravel.net

17 comments

Dolphenstein says February 4, 2010 5:01 PM

I also recommend using ridesharing when travelling from city to city. You can use craigslist.org or dedicated rideshare sites like liftsurfer.com to find lifts.

brian says February 4, 2010 7:28 PM

@Dolphenstein
Thanks for the links to resources. Never heard of liftsurfer until you mentioned it.

NuNomad says February 4, 2010 8:05 PM

You are so right, Brian. I can attest as a mom who is by far not wealthy and traveling with 3 children. There is nothing to stop you from achieving your travel dreams if you are determined to make them a priority.

Candice says February 4, 2010 10:53 PM

Ahh, agreed, but it's the debt that holds me back!

Kymbugs says February 5, 2010 4:57 AM

that's so true about the elderly. When I was backpacking around New Zealand on the 'affordable' Kiwi Experience bus, we had an elderly retired couple travelling with us. They were ever so sweet.

AirTreks Nico says February 5, 2010 1:23 PM

I like what you said about families being smart to give their children the gift of world travel.

On a trip to Rio in '05 I met a traveling family with two small kids of 5 and 3. They were in the middle of a 4 month sojourn to South America. The kids looked so wise and calm and were totally soaking up their surroundings. You could almost see them learning.

I think without this kind of experience, children are limited in their potential to be citizens of the world.

brian says February 5, 2010 5:53 PM

@NuNomad
Your kids are older so you have a different set of issues, but the end result is still the same. You're closer as a family, the kids (and you presumably) got an education you could not have gotten any place else.

@Candice
Yeah you don't want to go away and have subpoenas waiting for you when you get back.

@Kymbugs
You'd be surprised how spry and fun-loving older folks traveling are. I admire them especially when you see a couple who has been together for a long time and don't seem like they are about to kill each other.

@AirTreks Nico
Kids traveling are definitely more 'refined', if you can ever use that word for 7 year old. Nothing worse than a rude, obnoxious kid ANYWHERE. Didn't see many of those traveling.

Brooke vs. the World says February 5, 2010 9:30 PM

Very cool and true. There are so many opportunities out there people are quick to pass up because they think they can't!

Soultravelers3 says February 6, 2010 3:38 AM

Thanks so much Brian, for the "shout out". Extended, slow world travel as a family is an amazing experience & much easier, cheaper and enriching than most people realize.

We travel the world & live large for MUCH less than we lived at home. We do this on 23 dollars a day per person!

The educational experience for our child & time together to bond deeply has been astounding. She was 5 when we began and now is 9 & I can say this has been the best decision of our lives!

The travel industry has fooled people, because world travel does not have to be expensive. Consuming & maintaining "stuff"...now that is expensive & does not enrich like "experiences" do.

Ordinary folks like us CAN do this & I'm passionate about letting others know. Thanks for spreading the word!

brian says February 6, 2010 3:00 PM

@Brooke vs. the World
THINKING you can't before you even look into it is the worst thing people can do to themselves.

@Soultravelers3
So true. Traveling long term can be cheaper than living in a Western country. The numbers truly shock people, especially if you are in Southeast Asia.

No Hurry Curry says February 6, 2010 6:35 PM

We're not old, but we're married and not rich (yet) and learning more during each day of our trip than we did in our entire two years of work after college. The only problem: now we have to go on another RTW trip someday - there is way too much to cover!

Dave and Deb says February 7, 2010 11:00 AM

So true! Anyone can travel if they want to. Especially if they follow the advice in your book!

brian says February 8, 2010 9:34 PM

@No Hurry Curry
It's that different type of learning that you get when you travel that is so thrilling. One trip really isn't enough...unless it's a LONG term trip of a year or more.

@Dave and Deb
Thanks!

Cherrye at My Bella Vita says February 19, 2010 5:37 AM

What a great reminder to everyone out there who doesn't think they can DO IT! I'm already dreaming of my next trip ... guess I better toss out my coffee! :-)

brian says February 21, 2010 3:27 PM

@Cherrye at My Bella Vita
Drink your coffee and book the trip. No need to throw it out...

xpat says February 23, 2010 11:10 AM

inspiring.. I like point number #1!

brian says March 8, 2010 1:54 PM

@xpat
I think that may be the most important point to make. The 'apparent' price is what really scares people off into thinking a RTW trip can't be done. Once you start running the numbers it is much easier to believe you can do it.