Comments on: By The Numbers http://thewidewideworld.com/rtw/2009/07/06/by-the-numbers/ A Family RTW Travel Adventure (2008-2009) Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:38:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Oisin http://thewidewideworld.com/rtw/2009/07/06/by-the-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-11006 Oisin Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:37:35 +0000 http://thewidewideworld.com/?p=303#comment-11006 Ok I am very curious now about the overall cost and also by the reactions you got, it must have been alot. But everyones experiences differ I guess. I dont know why people would be shocked by your spending just because they might not spend what you did. Ok I am very curious now about the overall cost and also by the reactions you got, it must have been alot. But everyones experiences differ I guess. I dont know why people would be shocked by your spending just because they might not spend what you did.

]]> By: Neil http://thewidewideworld.com/rtw/2009/07/06/by-the-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-10057 Neil Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:43:08 +0000 http://thewidewideworld.com/?p=303#comment-10057 Spreadsheets are great for relative pricing. It's not too hard to figure out where past travels have intersected, and therefore what factor to multiply all the other numbers by to arrive at a decently personalized estimate. It does bother me when you get the rude people who insist that spending a different amount from them is somehow sacrilege. Spreadsheets are great for relative pricing. It’s not too hard to figure out where past travels have intersected, and therefore what factor to multiply all the other numbers by to arrive at a decently personalized estimate.

It does bother me when you get the rude people who insist that spending a different amount from them is somehow sacrilege.

]]> By: Craig http://thewidewideworld.com/rtw/2009/07/06/by-the-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-10040 Craig Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:48:42 +0000 http://thewidewideworld.com/?p=303#comment-10040 @ScubaKay - first, let me say that I agree that most feedback re: budgets is positive - and people are very grateful to have others share specific information. I guess I get my back up when the very small minority think there's one right way to do this... I've talked to enough families now to know that there are many, many ways to do a RTW... they key is figuring out for yourself what will work for your family. And, by the way, the families I've contacted before, during and after our trip have been extraordinarily generous with their time, information and recommendations. As for the other side of the budget equation: When I planned our "road budget" (as opposed to the budget necessary to keep the lights turned on at home), I got a lot of valuable information from the Andrus Family web site (www.sixintheworld.com) and John Higham's web site (www.360degreeslongitude.com). John, in particular, has a very specific accounting of what he spent. I had an overall/all-in target number, a daily "not to exceed" number (which worked most places), and a daily spend guesstimate for each country we were in... (Told you I overplanned!) I'm amazed to tell you that on a average daily spend basis (including everything: airfares, tours, accommodations, food, etc), our final average daily spend was within a dollar of what we had estimated. Our overall cost was quite a bit less than the gross amount budgeted because we traveled 285 days instead of 365. How's that for more than you'd ever want to know!! :) @ScubaKay – first, let me say that I agree that most feedback re: budgets is positive – and people are very grateful to have others share specific information. I guess I get my back up when the very small minority think there’s one right way to do this… I’ve talked to enough families now to know that there are many, many ways to do a RTW… they key is figuring out for yourself what will work for your family.

And, by the way, the families I’ve contacted before, during and after our trip have been extraordinarily generous with their time, information and recommendations.

As for the other side of the budget equation: When I planned our “road budget” (as opposed to the budget necessary to keep the lights turned on at home), I got a lot of valuable information from the Andrus Family web site (www.sixintheworld.com) and John Higham’s web site (www.360degreeslongitude.com). John, in particular, has a very specific accounting of what he spent. I had an overall/all-in target number, a daily “not to exceed” number (which worked most places), and a daily spend guesstimate for each country we were in… (Told you I overplanned!)

I’m amazed to tell you that on a average daily spend basis (including everything: airfares, tours, accommodations, food, etc), our final average daily spend was within a dollar of what we had estimated.

Our overall cost was quite a bit less than the gross amount budgeted because we traveled 285 days instead of 365.

How’s that for more than you’d ever want to know!! :)

]]> By: ScubaKay http://thewidewideworld.com/rtw/2009/07/06/by-the-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-10036 ScubaKay Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:07:14 +0000 http://thewidewideworld.com/?p=303#comment-10036 Christian - we posted our $$'s on our blog. There were a couple naysayers, but most feedback we got was positive -- curious cats and future travelers appreciative of the information for their planning purposes. To keep the naysayers at bay, I suggest just including a description of your travel "style", goals, and experience to set expectations... Craig - I'm curious about the other side of the budget equation -- the planning and estimation. How did you determine how much you needed for this trip? Did you use other travelers blogs/insight? Your own travel experience? Rough guestimation? Welcome back to the statues - looking forward to your blogs on the transition back and next steps! Christian – we posted our $$’s on our blog. There were a couple naysayers, but most feedback we got was positive — curious cats and future travelers appreciative of the information for their planning purposes. To keep the naysayers at bay, I suggest just including a description of your travel “style”, goals, and experience to set expectations…

Craig – I’m curious about the other side of the budget equation — the planning and estimation. How did you determine how much you needed for this trip? Did you use other travelers blogs/insight? Your own travel experience? Rough guestimation?

Welcome back to the statues – looking forward to your blogs on the transition back and next steps!

]]> By: Doug Spiro http://thewidewideworld.com/rtw/2009/07/06/by-the-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-10033 Doug Spiro Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:41:41 +0000 http://thewidewideworld.com/?p=303#comment-10033 Craig, You and Dani are truly "King and Queen of the Producers! My head is still spinning from everything that went into your trip. As with any production you can do it cheaper or you can spend more but I agree that no matter what the cost it was one amazing adventure! Well done! Craig,

You and Dani are truly “King and Queen of the Producers! My head is still spinning from everything that went into your trip. As with any production you can do it cheaper or you can spend more but I agree that no matter what the cost it was one amazing adventure!

Well done!

]]> By: Craig http://thewidewideworld.com/rtw/2009/07/06/by-the-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-10020 Craig Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:38:48 +0000 http://thewidewideworld.com/?p=303#comment-10020 @ Christian, Let's just say that some people have strong opinions about what you should spend when you travel. And they are convinced that their way is the right way - and they quick to let you know if you are doing it "wrong." Now, if your budget (and travel experience) happens to be "right" you won't get any grief. If it's not, then look out! Good luck and travel safe, Craig @ Christian,
Let’s just say that some people have strong opinions about what you should spend when you travel. And they are convinced that their way is the right way – and they quick to let you know if you are doing it “wrong.” Now, if your budget (and travel experience) happens to be “right” you won’t get any grief. If it’s not, then look out!

Good luck and travel safe,

Craig

]]> By: Christian Haugen http://thewidewideworld.com/rtw/2009/07/06/by-the-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-10017 Christian Haugen Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:59:56 +0000 http://thewidewideworld.com/?p=303#comment-10017 Did you really get that much bad feedback after publishing how much you spent? I was planning on posting a detailed travel budget for my 6 months on the road when I returned back home, but might reconsider that if it's as back as you are saying. Did you really get that much bad feedback after publishing how much you spent? I was planning on posting a detailed travel budget for my 6 months on the road when I returned back home, but might reconsider that if it’s as back as you are saying.

]]> By: Sebastian (a lady) http://thewidewideworld.com/rtw/2009/07/06/by-the-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-10015 Sebastian (a lady) Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:29:36 +0000 http://thewidewideworld.com/?p=303#comment-10015 Great, thanks for the link. I knew that I'd seen a photo with a big stack of books, but I couldn't find it again when I went looking. Great, thanks for the link. I knew that I’d seen a photo with a big stack of books, but I couldn’t find it again when I went looking.

]]> By: Craig http://thewidewideworld.com/rtw/2009/07/06/by-the-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-10002 Craig Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:48:10 +0000 http://thewidewideworld.com/?p=303#comment-10002 Sebastian - We've got a list of good resources we relied on in the Travel Resources section of the site (See: http://tinyurl.com/on998l). Once on the road, we relied on the Internet as opposed to any books. We used Trip Advisor and HostelWorld to pick places to stay. WikiTravel was very helpful. And we read tons of location-specific web sites that we found through simple Google searches. Best, Craig Sebastian – We’ve got a list of good resources we relied on in the Travel Resources section of the site (See: http://tinyurl.com/on998l). Once on the road, we relied on the Internet as opposed to any books. We used Trip Advisor and HostelWorld to pick places to stay. WikiTravel was very helpful. And we read tons of location-specific web sites that we found through simple Google searches.

Best,

Craig

]]> By: Sebastian (a lady) http://thewidewideworld.com/rtw/2009/07/06/by-the-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-10000 Sebastian (a lady) Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:08:32 +0000 http://thewidewideworld.com/?p=303#comment-10000 We're still living the life of Riley, with the government paying to relocate us around the world every few years in return for military service. I have to confess that your posts on Japan were an inspiration to get out and enjoy our current home country more. Looking back at your adventures, I'd be curious which books and other resources were the most helpful. Which encouraged you to take the plunge? Which were the most helpful in the midst of the adventure? Are there any that in retrospect were misleading? We’re still living the life of Riley, with the government paying to relocate us around the world every few years in return for military service. I have to confess that your posts on Japan were an inspiration to get out and enjoy our current home country more.
Looking back at your adventures, I’d be curious which books and other resources were the most helpful. Which encouraged you to take the plunge? Which were the most helpful in the midst of the adventure? Are there any that in retrospect were misleading?

]]>