When to go?

[Beej]

Myself and my husband have been dreaming about travelling around the world for years... we've done lots of trips together including some longer ones so have got an insight into long term travelling and know that we would like to do more of this!

We have set ourself's the goal of paying off all non mortgage debts by the end of the year which will then mean that we can save like crazy for the following 2 years... meaning that we have around 3- 3 1/2 years until we would like to be on the road.

We know that we will have to do the odd job as we go along as we definitely won't have cash saved but don't want to spend every day working! What we are looking for is guidance on how much we realistically need to get us on the road with a chance of not having to work non stop looking to travel for 2-3 years!

Thanks in advance!

Beej

[mark manley]

A little more information would be helpful, particularly how many bikes you will be taking and what they will be, a pair of 1200GS will add £££££ to you expenses but both of you on a 650 will save you a lot.
My best estimate if you travel fairly cheaply, camping where possible and cheaper hotels, food and not too much is £15-20,000 a year, that is based on me spending £10-15,000 as a single traveller. A lot depends on where you are and if you like to take the odd trip such as a safari or cruise which will add to the bill.

Good luck with the saving. it will be worth it.

[Beej]

Thanks for your reply Mark. So far the amount is roughly what we expected which is good to know! Although still a LOT to save!

We are looking at going on 2 x Yamaha 250 Serrow. We are hoping that this will cut our petrol costs and also would be able to share the weight of any spares we decide to take! We know that they will not go as fast as big bike's but will be lighter to pick up and also easier to park safely (seen pictures of similar bikes inside hotels!), and will cost less to crate for shipping / flying! Also... we hope not to be in a rush!

Ideally we would like to leave from home (Scotland), and return going overland as much as possible, only shipping or flying when we run out of earth! Probably heading east, maybe south east depending on what time of year we manage to leave!?! The main bit of the trip for us is north to south america which is where we plan to spend much of our time... at least a year if not more!

We will do touristy things and if we are lucky enough to make it to Africa then a safari would deinately be on the list! As would be going on an ice breaker ship from South America... but we know that these types of trips will hugely put our costs up! But then again, we probably only going to be able to do this once! Over all the years as a backpacker or bike traveller we have always done things which we want to do as the chances of getting back to do them later on in life is uncertain!

[Stray Dog]

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[mark manley]

Originally Posted by Beej

We are looking at going on 2 x Yamaha 250 Serrow. We are hoping that this will cut our petrol costs and also would be able to share the weight of any spares we decide to take! We know that they will not go as fast as big bike's but will be lighter to pick up and also easier to park safely.

A good choice and perfectly fast enough for most places, in much of the world you will only be cruising at 50-60 mph.

Originally Posted by Beej

As would be going on an ice breaker ship from South America... but we know that these types of trips will hugely put our costs up! But then again, we probably only going to be able to do this once!

I don't know if they still do but the cruise ships to Antarctica used to sell off their last empty berths cheap, well relatively, in the travel agents in Ushuaia, you have to be there on the day to get one but they are a fraction of the normal price.

[Beej]

Thanks Stray Dog & Mark!

Great to hear that other people think that the Serrow is a good choice!

I have also heard about the travel agents in Ushuaia selling off the berths... here's hoping that we can get a place when we get there!

Now we need to resist all notions to spend money and to travel at the moment which somehow just seems wrong but I fear a necessary evil!