A Little Adrift Around the World Travel Blog - Latest Comments

Re: How to Start a Travel Blog In Five Easy Steps

Birungi Yakub — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 03:34:20 -0000

I am completely impressed by your articles.Thumbs up Shannon

Re: A Little RTW Budget… How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World for a Year? (2017)

Jared Chan — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 04:03:33 -0000

Wow, thank you so much. I'll definitely check out these posts!

Re: A Little Coverage… Travel Insurance Options: IMG Patriot, World Nomads, & Others

Shannon O'Donnell — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 22:58:29 -0000

No, they do not pay me to review it. If you buy a policy I make a commission, which I started years after I first posted this review (the first version of this review was in 2008). I have paid for my own policies and used World Nomads for eight years (they are covering me right now while I am in Vietnam for the past three months, and I pay for it). My review policy is linked in the footer of the site; I only review and recommend products I personally use and believe in. Likewise, I have used IMG when traveling with minors under my care and I recommend them for families (and I make no money if you buy IMG, I just think they have better family policies than WN if something catastrophic happens). Good luck finding the right policy for your trip and situation!

Re: A Little Coverage… Travel Insurance Options: IMG Patriot, World Nomads, & Others

Danny David Leybzon — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 22:43:00 -0000

Are you being paid to publish this review?

Re: A Little RTW Budget… How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World for a Year? (2017)

Shannon O'Donnell — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 02:31:25 -0000

So glad that it opened your mind to some more possibilities out there! As for rents, these are much different than the hotels you are thinking about, although even hotels are significantly cheaper than Australian hotel rates. Right now I am on a renting a bungalow for a week on the beaches of southern vietnam, 100 meters from the ocean, for $15 USD per night. Some monthly rents in Hanoi, Chiang Mai, and other places are in the $150-400 range per month. You'll definitely want to have a read of these two cost of living posts I wrote for Thailand and Mexico: http://alittleadrift.com/co... and http://alittleadrift.com/li...

Re: A Little Expat Living… Cost of Living in a Mexican Beach Town (2017)

Shannon O'Donnell — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 21:51:04 -0000

Hi Alex, it's really a tough call, they all have internet. PV or Bucerias would have it year-round, and in San Pancho there are times the town is without power for a few days because of summer storms. My advice is to join those expat Facebook groups that I linked to and ask your question there. Then, go visit the towns and get a feel for them as you might just like the vibe in some better than others.

Re: A Little Expat Living… Cost of Living in a Mexican Beach Town (2017)

Alex Strong — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 19:47:59 -0000

which is the best beach town in mexico to live with fast internet ?

Re: A Little RTW Budget… How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World for a Year? (2017)

Jared Chan — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 11:11:40 -0000

Wow... this has opened up my mind to what is possible... so really I just need to save the initial flights and a bit of a buffer for a month or so... and if I can get money by working online or something... I can then just continue to live in south east Asia or something for far less than where I live now (Australia). Just one question... how do you get the accommodation cheap? Like do you need to rent a place and sign a lease? Doesn't it cost a lot more to live in a hotels for such a long time? or am I just use to Australian prices...?

Also how is the internet connection in the different countries... are they reliable enough for work... including uploading video daily?

Re: A Little Expat Living… Cost of Living in a Mexican Beach Town (2017)

Shannon O'Donnell — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 20:28:45 -0000

Thanks a great point James, there is a completely different vibe once you get to Mexico. They have a sense of community that isn't nearly as pervasive in the U.S. — I can completely understand why you plan to make PV your base.

Re: A Little Expat Living… Cost of Living in a Mexican Beach Town (2017)

james young — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 17:43:01 -0000

I've lived in both Thailand, and Puerto Vallarta, and I would live in PV long before Thailand.

Re: A Little Expat Living… Cost of Living in a Mexican Beach Town (2017)

james young — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 17:42:09 -0000

I own a condo in Vallarta, and have for years, my plan is to move there before I'm too old. I love Mexico, for those haters in the US, they have no idea that unlike the people in the US, they are not profit driven in everything they do. In fact I was welcomed to a rooftop party down on the Melacon, and I was treated like they have known me forever. The past 15 years I have been going back and forth to Puerto Vallarta, they have a love of life that US citizens don't.

Re: A Little Expat Living… Cost of Living in a Mexican Beach Town (2017)

Shannon O'Donnell — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 08:07:40 -0000

Hi Raj, living costs in New Mexico in the USA will vary a lot depending on where you decide to live (city or rural). Generally, New Mexico is far more affordable than living in states like California or New York. For an idea of costs, I recommend that you look up rents for apartments or houses using a site like Zillow (http://www.zillow.com/). That will give you an idea of the lowest and highest possible rents, and you can then scale up from there depending on where you fall on the spectrum. Good luck with your research!

Re: A Little Expat Living… Cost of Living in a Mexican Beach Town (2017)

RAJ — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 06:11:35 -0000

HI,
Does any one tell me about staying in new mexico state in view of following points?
1. How much money would be required per month for family (per three members)?
2. Safety
3. climate
4. Expenses (i.e. house rent, food, transportation and entertainment) as compared to other states in USA.

Re: A Little RTW Budget… How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World for a Year? (2017)

Shannon O'Donnell — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 22:08:23 -0000

Good question! All of your trip ideas sound incredible. For that €7,000, you will get the most for your money if you stay out of the Western countries. Your money won't go as far in Canada, but even more than that, Canada is a trip that you may find yourself taking later in life when you have more money, kids, etc. It's an easy destination to visit. You should look at picking a spot that really excites you and that also matches the adventurous spirit you have right now. My bet is on Southeast Asia since it's very affordable and also a good spot for a first-time traveler since it's very safe. Since you live in Europe, it's dead simple for you to plan another trip in the future for the Baltics and Eastern Europe. I am going to send you a private email with some more thoughts! :)

Re: A Little RTW Budget… How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World for a Year? (2017)

Andrea Rovira — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 05:52:37 -0000

Hi Shannon! I plan to go on the road next April 2018, so I have one year and a half to save up money. I believe I can save up to 7000 euros (being pessimistic, because I think I could earn more) and I would like to travel for 3 to 6 months. I live in Europe, so I think I wouldn't travel, and I have 3 plans, so to say: 1) A tour including Letonia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Rumania, Eslovenia, Viena. 2) A tour in Canada 3) A tour in Asia (I'd like to visit China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodja and Korea). How much do you think I should save to do so? Which tour do you think it's the most-doable one?

Re: A Little RTW Budget… How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World for a Year? (2017)

Shannon O'Donnell — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 10:04:56 -0000

Hi Claire, thanks for writing. I absolutely think that your gap year is doable and that you can certainly save the funds for that. An entire year in Europe would be hard because of the visa situation, and because it would be very pricey. You can backpack Europe for 90 days on a tourist visa, then you have to leave for 90 days. So with that in mind, you'll be looking at other places you could work and travel. Have you thought about getting a work visa to a place like Australia? They are fairly easy to obtain straight out of school and many Europeans go there and work (picking fruit or waiting tables) and travel and save the funds that way to continue traveling. There should be good information about that online. I have a work and travel page here if you are keen to find a way to work online: http://alittleadrift.com/ho...

As for planning it all out, that's the least of your worries. The planning part is more straightforward once you are on the road, but finding ways to work and save now is, perhaps, the most important part of your plan. That work and travel page should give you some ideas. I have a ton of planning resources on the site (http://alittleadrift.com/rt..., and the working page lists out a lot of other job boards and ideas, from teaching English to finding an online skill. Best of luck! You've totally got this. If you dream of travel, then you can make it a reality with focus and determination to save the funds and work toward that goal.

Re: A Little RTW Budget… How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World for a Year? (2017)

Shannon O'Donnell — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 09:58:48 -0000

That is absolutely within the realm of possible if you are limiting the number of flights that you take. Flights are usually the biggest expense, with accommodation next. So if you can limit the flights, and then pick regions of of the world with affordable accommodation (definitely SEA and Central America... South America can be pricier in areas and in the activities). Best of luck plotting and planning those travels!

Re: A Little Expat Living… Cost of Living in a Mexican Beach Town (2017)

Shannon O'Donnell — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 09:55:05 -0000

That's a great video. And Lo De Marcos is a bit further even than my town, and it's the distance from Puerto Vallarta that also helps keep the costs low. During high season it can be hard to find really affordable rentals anywhere, but if you time it right (at the beginning of the expat season, which is Sept/Oct) then you can surely find affordable places that you can negotiate for a good price since you'd be renting long-term. Best of luck!

Re: A Little RTW Budget… How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World for a Year? (2017)

Mike De Llano — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 01:26:03 -0000

I've heard some people travel for a year in the same continent for under $10,000 USD, South America, Central America, SEA... I hope I get my chance soon!

Re: A Little Expat Living… Cost of Living in a Mexican Beach Town (2017)

Patrick Grimes — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 23:53:16 -0000

Thanks for all the great information Shannon. I Recently viewed a Jerry Brown Travels video of a couple living on the beach in Lo de Marcos: https://www.youtube.com/wat... which appears to be in your San Pancho area. They said they rent a beach front home for six hundred a month and their all in costs are thirteen to fourteen hundred a month including the house rent. I was skeptical of their six hundred dollar beach front rental and other lower cost rentals they mentioned further from beach but after some investigation I believe it. After seeing so many of the high profile and ridiculosly high priced vacation rentals in areas like this you assume expensive must be the norm but fortunately this is not necessarily the case.

Re: A Little RTW Budget… How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World for a Year? (2017)

Claire Lawson — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 13:57:52 -0000

Hey Shannon,
My name is Claire and I'm currently a junior in high school from Seattle, WA. I've have plans to take a gap year or two after graduation to travel throughout Europe. I would like to land in Barcelona, and take the Eurail throughout most of the other countries(Germany, Sweden, England, Czech Republic, Italy, Greece, etc.) I'm aware of the Eurail system, so I will plan on buying a pass. I'm also aware that staying in hostels is probably the cheapest/easiest way to go. The problem is, it's a very vague plan and I am not very familiar with coordinating plane trips, train rides, hostel stays, etc (Since this is will be my first solo traveling experience).
Do you have any suggestions on how to make money while I'm traveling, the steps to take before I go, how to find affordable places to sleep at night (that are close by the Eurail stations), and advice you wish you knew before you started traveling? From your experience, do you think $30,000 is enough to travel with for a year(assuming I also make money along the way)?
Thank you so much for your time,
Claire.

Re: Living in Chiang Mai and Finding Accommodation

Shannon O'Donnell — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 00:52:43 -0000

Hiya! I actually came to Vietnam in Nov instead and have been in Hanoi for the past month and am sort of traveling around the north right now. I won't be in Chiang Mai this winter season. But it's beautiful Pai is just stunning! If you have the pull and a friend there you should absolutely make the leap and go check it out. :)

Re: Living in Chiang Mai and Finding Accommodation

Blair Browning — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 02:45:49 -0000

Did you ever go this past Dec? I just happened upon your post after searching for apt info in CM. I've never been but feeling a pull to go & reset. My friend lives in Pai, ever been? Thx for the post!

Re: A Little Food… A Vegetarian Food Guide to Burma (Myanmar)

Shannon O'Donnell — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 01:48:07 -0000

Aw yay! So glad that it was helpful, and I hope that you have a fantastic trip, Myanmar has long been one of my favorite places.

Re: A Little Food… A Vegetarian Food Guide to Burma (Myanmar)

Christopher — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 22:51:35 -0000

this is a spectacular post!

i'm headed to myanmar next month as a veggie and cannot wait. much appreciation for all your myanmar info, but especially this; my appetite has been thoroughly whetted!

hope all is well