The Round-The-World trip is no longer just a traveler’s dream; it’s a practical reality. Doug Lansky, author of the just-released Rough Guide pre-trip planner “First-Time: Around the World” is living proof. He’s been backpacking the planet for nine years. Tens of thousands of travelers, young and old, set out on their own globe-circling journey every year. Hundreds of thousands more take extended continent-hopping trips. Long enjoyed by Europeans, Australians, and Kiwis, such travels are catching on with Americans.
The Round-The-World tickets certainly make it a much less daunting prospect, but it’s not the best way to circumnavigate the planet for everyone. Doug can help you figure out when to leave, where to go, how to get there, and what to pay for it all. Plus you’ll get his tips and tricks from years on the road.
Doug answered your questions Tuesday, August 3, at 12pm EST.
Doug Lansky has traveled though more than 100 countries while writing his nationally syndicated adventure/humor column, Vagabond, that reached more than 10 million readers in 40 major newspapers. He also hosted an hour-long travel documentary for the Travel Channel, taught journalism at Colorado College, penned the award-winning travel-humor book, Last Trout in Venice, and he writes for national magazines and presents his acclaimed World Travel slideshows (www.douglansky.com) on the college lecture circuit.
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Doug Lansky: Hello everybody. Sorry I'm late.
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New York, NY: What is the best way to hook up with a yacht or a ship to travel the oceans?
Doug Lansky: Head to the Carib at the end of April. Antigua race week. After it's over, boats go everywhere.
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Denver, CO: What do you do to re-energize after traveling for long periods of time?
Doug Lansky: Take a course. Learn how to make some local food or speak the local language. Basically stay in the same place. A beach is nice, but volunteering is even better.
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Margate, NJ: What is the best time to visit Australia/New Zealand? The best weather is probably January and February, but isn't that the time kids are out of school for vacation? What about November or February weather?
Doug Lansky: They're on opposite seasons, so if it's freezing here, it's nice there. Spring and fall are ideal to help skip the crowds. Nov. and Feb. are pretty good. Also, if you get bad weather and you're flexible you can still get to another part of New Zealand where the weather is probably better.
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Decorah, IA: I want to know the cheapest air travel from Switzerland to
Copenhagen and from Copenhagen to Ireland. Thank you.
Doug Lansky: Try www.opodo.com. Also try RyanAir at www.ryanair.com. And www.openjet.com
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Placentia, CA: What are your thoughts on touring Turkey?
Doug Lansky: Security wise? Fine. Interest wise, even better. One of the most fascinating places around. Bridges the gap between Europe and more exotic locales that are actually more dangerous.
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New York, NY: My family and I have traveled to Europe several times and we are looking for something more exotic then western Europe or the Czech Republic without going to Asia. We don't want to spend a fortune. Can you give us some ideas of what is a cheap place to go?
Doug Lansky: Besides Turkey, you mean? Ummmm...how about Morocco? Fes and Marrakesh are both cheap and exciting, provided you don't blow you savings on a rug.
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Ballston Lake, NY: Doug, I am by no means a world traveler. I am looking for something to New Zealand, but a "guided tour" is just not something for me. I would like to do a swap with someone from New Zealand for a 10-day period in February 2005. Is that doable and how would I hook up with someone or a family? I have a farm in rural upstate New York.
Doug Lansky: There are lots of good home swap sites, if you'd like to go that route. Search Google for "home exchange" or "home swap." Also, have you thought about www.wwoof.com.au. Or Wwoffing, as it's sort of called. It's willing workers on organic farms. lots of good contact with people in a very non-Club Med way.
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Poquonock, CT: What's your strategy/process for finding budget lodging in a foreign country?
Doug Lansky: Depends on the budget and country. In Europe in the summer, the cheapest hostels go quick so you need to book in advance on the web. www.hostelz.com and www.hostels.com both work fine. For hotels, I usually Googol a bit: the name of the town plus "hotel". Local discounters sometimes have an advantage. Then, if I have time, I'll email them and tell them the rate I found and ask if they can beat it if I book directly with them.
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Albuquerque, NM: My husband & I want to travel in October for about a week. I want to go somewhere warm with beaches. He likes to go diving and we will be using Delta sky miles. Where would you suggest? Medium budget. We both have passports. We both like doing things outdoors. I've been to the Big Island and I love Hawaii, he's never been. Where would be a good place, receiving best place for money well spent? Thanks.
Doug Lansky: Sounds like the Carib would be a nice fit if you haven't explored it all. Cozumel and Belize are diving meccas. And where there's diving, beaches usually aren't far off. The Cenote dives sound particularly interesting—on my to-do list, anyway.
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Pueblo, Colorado: Hi Doug, My family would like to send my parents to L'viv, Ukraine to see my sister who lives there. Should we get a travel agent or is there an easy way to plan it ourselves and book the arrangements? Could we get a better deal going through a travel agent? We're probably going to send them next spring (2005) possibly in May. Thanks for your input!
Doug Lansky: You might try going with a specialty agent. if you know where there's a big Ukraine population in the US. For example, NYC. If that's the case, you'd probably fly them to NYC with a return ticket, then get an extra cheap ticket from NYC to L'viv, or where ever Int'l flights land. A specialty agent will probably have something Ukrainian in the name's town or monument. they buy block seats on certain flights because they sell many of those tickets.
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Helena, MT: My husband and I are retiring in the fall. We would like to go to New Zealand for November through February, then to Spain and/or France March through June, then back to the western US. Would it make sense for us to purchase a round-the-world ticket?
Doug Lansky: Probably. Worth pricing it out anyway. Try www.airtreks.com. Or give them a call if you can't make good use of their flight planner online. They specialize in that sort of thing.
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Washington, DC: When is the best time to purchase airfare for international travel: during the winter or off-peak seasons?
Doug Lansky: Off-peak is typically when most people don't want to travel—spring/fall and winter (not during Christmas, though. That's probably the best time to book. Flights are roughly half price. I'm in Stockholm, Sweden at the moment. Last time I flew to the US, I paid $400 off-peak. The time before that was $350. And I didn't even have to spend more than an hour looking for a deal.).
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East Orange, NJ: Hi Doug, I plan on traveling to Tonga, Sydney, and the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Is a round-the-world ticket the best way to go? Also, I noticed most of the adventure trips for the South Island are $200/ day. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Doug Lansky: There's something called the "Circle Pacific" ticket. Check for that on a search engine and see what you can get with that. Then compare it to what you get quoted from your favorite travel agent or airtreks.com
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Omaha, NE: Ilove natural hot springs and usually have to travel great distances to find them. I have a few favorite places in Oregon, California, Colorado and New Mexico. I was curious if you knew of any in some out of the way or unexpected places, in the US or abroad, amidst beautiful surroundings. They don't need to be fancy or connected to resorts or spas. Thanks!
Doug Lansky: The place for you is Japan. The natural hot springs are called "onsen" and there's zillions of them. Even books showing where they all are.
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Anonymous: Iwill be traveling to Italy in March of 2005. We are planning on going to Venice for two days, Rome for three and then to Naples for three. Is Naples worth the trip or should we stay north of Rome? Also we had planned on train transportation. Is this better than renting a car? Thanks!
Doug Lansky: Renting a car in Italy is brave at best. Impossible for me to say if some place is worth it. Even places I thought were total stinkholes where loved by others I know. All it takes is some family to invite you in and make you a wonderful meal and you're hooked. Also, bad weather has spoiled some of my favorite places for friends who went there based on my tips. There's a lot of luck involved.
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Olympia, WA: Barging. We're a boating family. We've dreamed of a barge vacation through Europe. Where can we get good advice on renting and equipping a barge? What are the best times, the off times? Is it worth it to consider barging off season?
Doug Lansky: There's a barging book on the market. Or maybe it's off the market on someone's website. I forget where I saw it. Try Googling "book" and "barge" and "Europe" and see what you get. I don't have the answer for you on the off-season question (much is up to you in terms of weather), but it can be done. sounds like a great trip.
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Lancaster, PA: We enjoy Caribbean vacations in the winter. We usually find that meals are expensive. We enjoy fine dining, but don't need fine dining every day. What options are available for dining on a budget? Our next trip will probably be to St. Lucia.
Doug Lansky: Snoop around during the daytime and compare. It's not as easy to keep walking in the evening when you're dressed up and hungry. also, you might try a great appetizer as a main meal and add inexpensive but filling side orders like rice and potatoes.
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Atlanta, GA: Doug, My fiance suggested we honeymoon in Vietnam. Unlike him, I'm not well traveled and have reservations (i.e., nightmares). While I've agreed to do something adventurous and non-traditional, I wonder if this is overkill. Any recommendations for making our first married trip bliss and not a bust?
Doug Lansky: You'll be fine. Just bring a seatbelt. Your biggest worry is the traffic, but it's not anymore dangerous than you are in the US (42,000 die in traffic in the US each year and there are over 10,000 murders, so many Vietnamese are more understandably reluctant to come to the US).
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Las Vegas, NV: Is there any way to know (beforehand) what is a fair price for taxis in ANY country? For example, last month we haggled for a fare with a taxi from Xingang (port city) to Beijing and had no idea if we got a decent price.
Doug Lansky: Always ask someone before you get in the taxi. Ask at the front desk at your hotel or check a guidebook before you arrive at the airport. A good guidebook with have this info—so check before you buy the guide.
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Anchorage, AK: It seems to be much more expensive to fly to South America than comparable distances to other continents. I have looked at some available air passes, but they are no great bargain. Do you have any suggestions?
Doug Lansky: You might look into breaking up the flight. Where can you fly cheaply? Perhaps LA or SF? If you can get a good deal to those places, then pick up the LA Times and look for special fares to S. America. Hope that helps. I met a Japanese guy once who went from Alaska to Patagonia by bike. Don't suppose you're up for that?
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Doug Lansky: Looks like my time is up. Thanks for all the great questions! Happy trails!
-Doug
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