Round the World (2013-)2014

LFADAM · Posted: Jan 15, 2013 9:14 pm Post subject: Round the World (2013-)2014

Probably a little early to make this thread, but the more info I get, the better...and I am getting really excited already.

After I graduate in December, I plan on traveling around the world for 4-5 months, depending on how much money I can save. It's something I have been working toward for 3 years now, and is basically the culmination of most things on my bucket list. I want to see new places, meet interesting people, do new things, party, improve my Spanish/Portuguese, and give back along the way.

I have travelled a good bit already so I know how to get around, and I have been researching for hours and hours for about a year trying to find where I want to go, what I want to do, RTW airfares, how to save money, etc etc. I'm hoping wb.com can chime in with some personal recommendations, advice, etc. I have a good idea of where I want to go already and what I want to do, but I'm open to ideas. I will be on a tight budget so being smart/well researched will help a lot.

Right now the rough outline is:
-Start in Berlin, around Christmas or New Years (whenever I can get the cheapest flight)
-Hop through Eastern Europe (couchsurf/hostels for a few nights in each city). Berlin->Prague->Vienna->Bratislava->Budapest->(maybe Belgrade?)
-Fly Budapest to Bangkok around early-mid January
-Spend a night or two in Bangkok before going to a dirt cheap hostel on a beach on one of Thailand's southern islands (~10 days there)
-Spend a couple nights in Kuala Lumpur then revisit my former home of Singapore for a few nights
-Fly Singapore to Sydney and spend ~10 days in Australia staying with a friend
-Fly to South Island, NZ and stay for about 2 weeks with another friend
-Fly Christchurch to Buenos Aires (stay in BA for a couple nights)
-Take a bus to Iguaçu Falls for a few nights
-Take a bus to Rio de Janeiro for Carnaval (Starts Feb 28th)
-Stay in Brazil for about 3-4 weeks. Hopefully work at a wakeboard camp
-Fly Rio to Dominican Republic and stay in DR for about 3-4 weeks
-Fly home

Any input is appreciated. I hope the eclectic wb.com crowd can give some good insight

Faust · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 20 May 2005 Posts: 1496

First things that come to mind are:

-Focus on graduating first Laughing

I knew way too many people that made all these extravagent plans for after graduation, and didn't focus on school... guess what, they failed a class and had to go through the waste of time and money and embarrassment of sticking around for another semester. In fact it's happening to my roommate right now....

-You won't get cheap flights around Christmas or New Years. Also, central/eastern Europe is going to be cold at that time... maybe save it for the end?

-I would go through Africa and India. They can be done a ton cheaper than anything you have on the list, and would also give the biggest culture differences.

eich82 · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 860 City: MTP

LFADAM · Posted: Jan 16, 2013 8:37 am Post subject:

Faust,

definitely important, I will graduate no problem though, not to worry.
-I've thought about flipping the order, but I really want to start small and get bigger-as in start with the most comfortable/generic/fast pace and finish with the places I want to go the most (Brazil) and with the most flexibility and slower pace of life. My plan is to buy a heavy jacket at a thrift store and wear it to Europe, then just leave it there at the end so I dont have to waste packing space.
-I'm hoping Xmas day I can get a cheap flight...usually nobody wants to fly on the 25th so they are cheaper. The earlier I can start the better, because the 1 spot that controls my schedule is Carnaval in Brazil starting February 28th. That is why the first half is more compressed.
-Already gone to Africa 3 times and not too interested in India, at least this go around.

eich82, My family has always travelled quickly...jumping through Europe with a few nights in each place. I kind of like it because you don't run out of things to do and it keeps it exciting. But after Carnaval, I want to unwind and slow down. Being in the DR for 3-4 weeks living cheap near the beach will be a nice experience. I picked the DR because it is the one of the cheapest Caribbean destinations, and they are some of the hardest Spanish speakers to understand. I'm hoping I can live in a small village, practice my Spanish with the locals, enjoy the beach, and live slowly for my finale.

Thanks for the input

jason_ssr · Posted: Jan 16, 2013 10:55 am Post subject:

kiteboard in Brazil and DR

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

FlyZone CR · Posted: Jan 17, 2013 6:36 am Post subject:

Yes dec 25th and jan 1st often have supercheap flights.
Check with Marcelo Giardi for wakeboarding in Brazil. He's multiple times national champ and runs http://www.marrecowake.com.br, distributes wakeboats etc. Good person to get in touch with.

If you fancy doing some wake stuff in Costa Rica...

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

One thing to consider is travel days suck, the more you have of them the more you miss out on stuff. 4-5 months is a long time, but also not a long time, make sure you consider the days lost and travel time inbetween destinations as well as the time it takes to get situated (finding a hostel/hotel, food etc.).

I spend 5 weeks in Spain and Portugal and still felt like a missed a lot because we moved every 3-4 days.

midwestrider30 · Newbie Joined: 29 Aug 2008 Posts: 47 City: north korea

I just got back from visiting my brother in Thailand. I would definitely recommend to stay in Bangkok longer and less time in the southern islands. We were in Phuket for awhile and it is way touristy and expensive. BKK will be much cheaper and there are plenty of opportunities.

LFADAM · Posted: Jan 18, 2013 11:09 am Post subject:

FlyZone CR, I will definitely contact him once it gets closer, thanks.

jryoung, good point. I'm not sure it'll make it better or worse, but I plan on doing several legs as overnight trains/buses so it's one less night to pay for a hostel and you dont miss a day.

midwestrider30, I went to both Bangkok and Phuket when I was young. Not crazy about Bangkok-steaming hot, loud, and polluted. Don't think I want to stick around too long there...but agreed on Phuket-it is touristy. That's why I'm trying to find a good, less touristy island. Looking into Ko Lanta for example. Living in a 3$ a night private hut on the beach for 2 weeks with nobody around sounds awesome.

LFADAM · Posted: Jan 18, 2013 11:25 am Post subject:

This is making me reconsider Phuket Laughing

http://vimeo.com/55791404

STPHNSN23 · Guest

i was expecting babes in that video. what a let down.

LFADAM · Posted: Feb 08, 2014 8:55 pm Post subject:

A little late on the update but I am on this trip right now! Funny looking back on this thread now to see lots of the good ideas proposed by you all. This is what I ended up with. Stoked out of my mind to finally be doing this...

Started in Miami a week ago...spent a long weekend in South Beach at a huge hostel, then a couple days with family an hour north of Miami. Then I flew here to Argentina where I'm staying with two girls who are SICK at wakeboarding and their family, an amazing authentic experience. The rest of the trip will be:

Now till ~2/24: Argentina (mix of Buenos Aires and the river/delta here)
2/24-25: Colonia, Uruguay
2/26-2/27: Iguazu Falls, Argentina/Brazil
2/28-3/7: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
3/8: Los Angeles
3/10-3/24: South Island, NZ
3/24-4/3: Brisbane area, Australia
4/4-4/25: SE Asia (Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Thai islands, Bangkok)
4/25-5/14: Eastern/Central Europe (probably Croatia, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany)
5/14: Home

I'll try to post pics as I go, but if anyone is interested, I post on Twitter/Instagram when I can. @AdamVanDyke97

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

Love it! Embrace it, can't wait for updates!

goofyboy · Posted: Feb 10, 2014 4:35 am Post subject:

you lucky SOB. enjoy every minute of this.

GnarShredd · Posted: Feb 10, 2014 8:17 am Post subject:

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

very cool adam!

<----SUPER jealous!

LFADAM · Posted: Feb 12, 2014 4:10 pm Post subject:

A few pictures:

STPHNSN23 · Guest

i'll be in FL next week. one of the things i'm most excited about is a cuban sandwich and pitcher of mojitos. well that and it not being -3 degrees outside.

Aubs · Motorboat Queen Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9167

Wish I would've known you would be in Miami! Could've met up for a drink - was down there a few days ago!

LFADAM · Posted: Mar 04, 2014 12:29 pm Post subject:

Aubs, ah that's too bad!

I wish I could post pictures here but my computer is still broken...put a handful on instagram though. Iguazu Falls was incredible and I'm currently in Rio de Janeiro for Carnaval which exceeded the hype/high expectations I had. Totally insane-biggest party in the world

Swass · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 427

Way to go on making this happen while you could. Life will soon get in the way of trips like this. Two thumbs up.

LFADAM · Posted: Mar 12, 2014 11:32 am Post subject:

computer is working at the moment...photo dump!

LFADAM · Posted: Mar 12, 2014 11:35 am Post subject:

LFADAM · Posted: Mar 12, 2014 11:38 am Post subject: