Posted: 12/4/2012 | December 4th, 2012
Continuing my new series on travel success stories, today we’re going to satisfy Katie as well as Steve Nauman, a 30-year-old couple from San Diego. Katie as well as Steve spent a year saving up for their 11-month trip before they stop their tasks as well as headed out into the world for the majority of 2012.
Nomadic Matt: tell everybody about yourselves.
Katie as well as Steve: We are two 30-year-olds from San Diego, California. Katie had some overseas travel experience prior to our trip, as well as Steve essentially had none, however we truly wished to get out into the world before we have kids, so this past January we stop our business jobs, rented out our condo, as well as took off for a round the world trip.
What type of trip were you planning on doing?
We were planning an 11-month trip around the world. We left on February 1, 2012, as well as have been to South America, Europe, Australia, new Zealand, as well as Southeast Asia.
We plan to return house just in time for Christmas.
Did you have any type of fears when you decided to do this trip?
Yes! We normally make conventional decisions, however we took a large leap of belief when we pulled the trigger on this trip. We checked out articles on your site that provided us general reassurance, as well as it likewise assisted to hear encouragement from good friends as well as household who understand us personally.
How did this site assist you overcome those fears as well as plan your trip?
Your insights as well as advice assisted us during our planning phase as we dove into what RTW meant as well as exactly how to do it. We spent at least six months researching whatever from weather condition patterns as well as itineraries to budgets as well as exactly how to pack our backpacks.
There is so much that goes into planning a trip like this: travel insurance, visas, discovering affordable flights, immunizations, as well as on as well as on.
It can be massively overwhelming when you’re already anxious about the whole undertaking. Your articles provided us solace that it’s possible.
There have been other methods you’ve helped, too. From your $50 a day book, we utilized the coupons to save money on multi-destination flights with Airtreks.
And we selected our diving diving accreditation shop (Master Divers) in Koh Tao, Thailand, based on a discount rate in the exact same book. We likewise bought a Tiger Airways domestic flight in Australia based on one of the travel offer links in your newsletter.
How did you save for your trip?
Each month we put a part of our paychecks into a travel fund to ensure that we had sufficient for our trip as well as likewise for a pillow when we get back. We rented out our condo, which assisted us break even on our mortgage. And, money that utilized to go toward costs like cars and truck insurance coverage is now utilized for bus, train, as well as airplane tickets.
When we revealed our trip to our friends, we were truly surprised that almost everyone’s very first reaction had something to do with money.
But it’s not as costly to travel as everybody thinks. We checked out a great deal of blogs about traveling on a budget plan as well as did our research study to discover the right airline tickets, tour operators, hostels, as well as discount rate cards to make whatever possible.
It takes more work, however it does pay off.
What about life on the road has surprised you the most?
We have been surprised at exactly how much we determine with the word “traveler.” There is a funny however remove designation between “traveling” as well as “vacationing.” before this trip, we had never distinguished between the two, however now we are absolutely specific that we are traveling.
Vacationers get to stay in nice locations as well as spend money on stylish dinners as well as bottles of wine. Travelers nit-pick every expense…and many times end up with a more authentic experience. No doubt, it is harder to travel than it is to vacation. however we likewise believe the difficulties make it more rewarding.
How do you stay on budget plan when you travel?
We travel as affordable as possible. We stay in hostels, usually dorms unless we’re in a country where personal spaces are just as affordable. We do a great deal of research study on our activities to make sure that our dollar is going as far as possible. We take public transportation. traveling better to the street is much better anyway since you get more interaction with locals as well as have a more authentic experience.
We likewise utilize the money tracks app to log every cent we spend. We tag our entrances by country as well as by type (lodging, food, nightlife, activities, transportation, etc.) to ensure that we can keep great track of our budget.
What one thing that you believed would be a difficulty has turned out not to be?
Traveling with countries wherewe don’t speak the language hasn’t been as impossible as we at first worried about. Sure, it can be difficult at times when the language is extremely different (i.e., character-based), however for the most part we haven’t discovered this to be as well huge of a stumbling block.
People are generally patient when communicating. Hand motions as well as a smile go a long way.
What advice would you have for other people who want to travel however may not believe they can?
We were those people. We talked about a trip such as this for many years as well as wondered if we might ever do it. however if you only ever wonder, you’ll never do.
When we broke the news of our trip to our family, friends, as well as coworkers, the response was always the same: “I desire I had done that.” We didn’t want to look back in 20 years as well as state to ourselves those dreaded words: “We desire we had done that.”
The hardest part will be making the preliminary commitment. We understand it’s the hardest part since barely anyone does it.
At first, you will dedicate to it in your own mind. however then you will be required to dedicate to it in a more concrete method — be it a deposit or airplane ticket. when you pull that trigger, there’s no turning back as well as you have no option however to go all in. It’s the most interesting gift you’ll ever provide yourself.
What I liked about Katie as well as Steve’s story is that it echoes many concerns I hear from prospective travelers. The Naumans didn’t have a great deal of travel experience as well as weren’t truly risk-takers however took the leap anyway as well as were amazed at exactly how simple whatever turned out to be.
A great deal of people have this fear — I did! however you recognize when you begin traveling that the hardest part isn’t the travel, it is getting the guts to go.
I hope this article assisted provide you a few of that courage.
Become the next Success Story
One of my preferred parts about this task is hearing people’s travel stories. They influence me, however more importantly, they likewise influence you. I travel a specific way, however there are many methods to fund your trips as well as travel the world. I hope these stories show you that there is more than one method to travel as well as that it is within your grasp to reach your travel goals. right here are more examples of people who provided up living a typical life to check out the world:
Olivia as well as Manny stop the workstation to comply with Their Passion
How (and Why)This 72-Year-Old is Backpacking the World
Why Trish offered whatever She had to Travel
How Helen effectively Traveled as well as Volunteered around Africa
How This 70-Year-Old couple Bucked Convention to travel the World
We all come from different places, however all of us have one thing in common: all of us want to travel more.
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Book Your Trip: Logistical tips as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a affordable flight by utilizing Skyscanner. It’s my preferred browse engine since it searches websites as well as airlines around the globe so you always understand no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilize Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses as well as hotels.
Don’t fail to remember travel Insurance
Travel insurance coverage will protect you against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. It’s comprehensive security in situation anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to utilize it many times in the past. My preferred business that offer the very best service as well as value are:
SafetyWing (best for everyone)
Insure My trip (for those over 70)
Medjet (for extra evacuation coverage)
Ready to book Your Trip?
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