DreamTrip
of a
Lifetime
Quitting jobs, a one-way ticket, no travel plans, and nothing to tie us back!
PREPARATION
Things to Book and Do:
01. Choosing the Start Destination
02. Deciding the Date
03. Home/Pets
04. Your home Vehicle
05. Buying the VISA
06. Health/Immunization
07. Booking Flights
08. Contact Friends/Relatives
09. Opening a Bank Account
10. Choosing a Starting Hostel
11. Travel Insurance
12. Saving Up Money
13. Tell Someone your Plan
14. Communication Apps
15. Scan all Documents
16. Job Hunting
17. Things Taken
18. Keep a Diary
Getting Ready:
Things to Book and Do:
01. First step, was choosing the start destination. Wanting to travel across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Middle-East, we realised it wouldn’t be practical starting off with somewhere as cheap as Thailand and Phillipines, then ending up in New Zealand. Also the opportunity to work in Australia and New Zealand was a thumbs up to gain more cash at the beginning after spending money on the 'expensive' countries, and also keeps you going along the trip.
Start Destination – Australia. Tick
02. Deciding the time of year wasn’t too difficult. Keeping in mind that our summer would be their winter, it was decided that leaving towards the end of our winter, will be the end of their summer – that means the end of peak season, money for lodges and accommodation start cooling down and also more availability. Also as we decided to start off in Melbourne, February weather will still be great and end of Summer! Clothing is also an issue, so not going with too many jackets helped our backpack to be lighter.
Time of Year – February. Tick
03. Home. Pets? Luckily both of us used to live with our parents, and even though we both have pets, it was an easy choice in just not worrying about what happens at home after we leave. This might set people offtrack abit, however I do not think it should be an issue. Other family members or close friends are always an open option to temporary ‘adopt’ your pet, or maybe even call a house sitter checking in your house once a week, or fortnightly, even to assist with reading your mail. You might need to stop any monthly subscriptions (not to overflow your home with papers!), or maybe cancel any internet and phone services whilst you are abroad.
House set on fire – Parents’ responsibilities!
05. Visa. As a Maltese and under 30’s, we were eligible for a year Working
Holiday Visa, or WHV. Applying from the direct website
(http://www.immi.gov.au/) to avoid any extra charges or bundles and
packages from third party websites. Creating an account, on Saturday,
9th August 2014 we applied for the Working Holiday Visa 417, costing us
Eur298.90 each. Within three hours, we received the confirmation email
we were accepted! Entering a rough time frame when we would land, we provided February (we still needed to book for flights!).
Once you get approved, you only have one chance to obtain and actually use the Work Holiday Visa, this is valid for one year to enter Australia – so rough time frame needs to be a good accurate time frame. You do not need to actually stick with the date however.
Visa – Accepted! Tick
06. Health. You do not really need any vaccinations, even in the middle of the Bush! The World Health Organization does recommend that all travellers should be be covered for the following basics however: "Diphtheria, Tetanus, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Chickenpox, Polio, and Hepatitis B, regardless of where their destination is. You can apply for a Medicare Card once you arrive in Australia: Citizens of the UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Ireland, NZ and Netherlands are covered for the duration of the stay. Citizens of Malta and Italy are covered by Medicare (link) for a period of 6 months from the date of arrival."
We had however taken earlier vaccinations when we headed out to Tanzania therefore we were safe from other major diseases: Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Meningitis, and Yellow Fever, so should we decide to divert from plan and go to other places which do require such vaccinations, better safe than sorry and spend a fortune getting these done in another country!
Die from severe diseases? – Maybe eaten by a crocodile!
07. Flights were not too much of an issue. Spent a month after our Visa was granted to book however. Booking with our national airline, checking options from Skyscanner, cheapest for the month – 10th February. Also it was to our advantage that it was only a 24hour trip, rather than one with long waiting time at airports. We personally visited the Malta Airport to book the flights in person on Wednesday, 10th September 2014. Eur701.26 each for a One-way.
One way flight from Malta to Melbourne – February. Tick
08. Contact Relatives/Friends who live in the destinations you are planning to go! It's always nice to meet new families, and catch up with friends. We spoke to families and friends we never really met or remembered, and they greeted us by amazing comfort emails! Obviously this is the other side of the world, and they would understand if you need some help, as long as it is mutual.
Not feeling alone in the world - Tick
09. Bank Account. We chose NAB as it was one of the few banks which had no monthly charges for the first year. ATM's were also all over Australia. We opened up an online bank account first (free) https://www.tfaforms.com/197860, then advised the bank were we will be in order to pick up the Bank Cards. Thurs, 22nd Jan 2015.
Seeing Thousands of Dollars accumulating in the account. Tick
We finally booked with Lords Lodge in St.Kilda for 4days in a 4-bed dorm on Monday, 1st December 2014, deposit Eur22.25 each upfront, the rest paid once arrive on the day.
1st week Roof over our Head – Tick.
11. As Maltese, we do not really have any options for Travel Insurance. Local insurances usually do not cover you for more than a few months outside the country (6-12 months) and won't cover you if you don't have a return fight. We booked our first 6months on Saturday, 24th January 2015, with WorldNomads http://www.worldnomads.com/ – Explorer – majority of high-risk activities included and cheaper if you book as a Couple and a few months. Eur494 per person for the first 6-months. We only had one other options – Columbus, however for the same price range, we went for the well-known and mostly recommended by bloggers, and Lonely Planet.
Shark Attack? Covered! Tick
12. “Too many people spend Money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people that they don't like.” Will Rogers
This is where people panic the most: Have I saved up enough? Will it last? How long did it take you to save up? What if you end up penniless? Surely you had no life before the holiday to save up? First and foremost. Saving up for a holiday does not make you lifeless prior to it. However, if you want to save up money, the answer is obvious! Hold back from that extra beer. Do you really need that top? I can pay for a lesser package per month for interenet, I won't die by just using data when actually needed!
I am going to be open with digits and numbers here. This is one thing no-one writes, and unfortunately no one is open about. If I am here to help friends and readers, and I might aswell say the truth with everything. To be fair, I always saved up money. When the actual confirmation of the holiday took place, I had already €3,500 saved up. This was January 2014. Unfortnately the same month I volunteered for Redundancy, after 4years as the company was coming to an end. €5,150 Package, of which €4,500 were saved up for the trip. HOWEVER, that left me a month without a job, expenses still had to be paid, and a month later joined a company which barely paid me €800 a month. I still went out and had a good time, however I limited on the amount of drinks, went to free events as much as possible, and controlled my expenses. After all, I had to prepare and get ready for money budgetting while abroad! Saving €350-400 a month, however paying €150 monhly rent to my mum and finalizing the garage monthly installments of €500, the saving money was fluctuating alot! Paying for flights, insurances, visas, etc... Creating an Excel Sheet to help me monitor my savings, and creating a seperare bank account to motivate myself, I still managed to have a mini-holiday in July (festival Hellfest in France), and still enjoyed myself throughout the year. Leaving my job in October (completly not worth the stress for the amount of money), I spent another month unemployed, and had a slightly better paying job for three months before resigning in January 2015 :).
I had saved up a total of €8,400 spending money, along with another €3,400 which I wanted to leave in Malta as Emergency Money, or money to get back to, also granting my mum permission and access to this account just in case, worse comes to worse. I also left this Emergency Money in a good Bond, giving me roughly €40 every three months whilst I am away and travelling! There it is. No reason to hide or keep a secret!
We also exchanged €700 worth of cash money to AUD, not via bank, but looked at the cheapest Exchange Money Convertor at the moment.
BlingBling - Let's do this! Tick
13. I know at this stage, you would not have any clue of what is going to happen, and where you are going or staying. But as much as possible, ALWAYS TELL SOMEONE. Be it your family, friends, or create a group or page on a Social Media to always let someone know of your plans and your next destination. This is important because, let's be realistic, things happen to people, and unlike a holiday where people know it is just for a small period of time, this does not really count as a holiday where you will be resting and not integrate with many outsiders. It is always safe to give someone a rough idea of how long you will be staying in one destiation, or if you plan on going to different countries. We created a FaceBook page (https://www.facebook.com/Dream-Trip-of-a-Lifetime-1540244256253999/) initially to keep close friends and families always up to date, even though this escalated with having people we do not know liking the Page!
If 127 hours really happens? Someone should save us! Tick
14. As much as Internet may be a curse, its really a blessing for something like this! Exchange Communication Media with your close ones as much as possible. I basically only have my Mum and Uncle close to me, so I made sure we had Skype, Whatsapp, Facebook, Gmails, and Dropbox in common.
Skype is perfect for calling for free, and video-chatting. Whatsapp is ideal for texting quick messages, voice clips, images and videos, even if they are read hours apart. Facebook - we all know this! Also Messenger has sometimes better calling if Skype fails or if the user is not online. Gmail is a perfect way to send emails, aso another form of chatting. Dropbox and GoogleDrive is ideal for sharing items and documents even as a backup someting happens to your original copy.
INSTALL TEAMVIEWER! I cannot emphasize how useful and good this programme is (No, I am not getting commission for advertising!). You can have someone from home switch on your computer/laptop which has Teamviewer installed on, then once you log in your your device which you are travelling with, you can access anything from home! Good to backup up pictures on the move to the computer at home.
A few hours of peace from socializing with your parents - Unaccepted! Tick
15. Expect the Unexpected! Take a scanned copy of all your cards, such as Driving License, ID Cards, Bank Cards, Passports and print out a soft copy to have whilst travelling, along with giving these soft copies and scans to someone you trust back home. Also having some passport photos of yourself is ideal, and a copy of your CV if you plan to work. Travel Insirances also require receipts of purchased damaged/lost items, so also have a copy of these. Keep these backed up on Dropbox, or Googledrive just in case the soft copies get stolen or damaged too!
Lost my daypack? Documents all backed-up. Tick
16. According to statistics, 606 THOUSAND backpackers visit Australia each year. FInding a JOB realistically, is very hard than assumed. Pimp up your CV before you go, and have a copy printed out atleast. It is recomended to use the Australian Template CV (click here), however personally, the Austrlian Resume is very specific on roles, and if you have worked in different fields, this might be too long. Therefore we kept the same Europass we use in Malta.
Initially we were looking at Office jobs, particularly around Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane area, so we created free online accounts with Job Searching Websites, and flipped jobs throughcthese to get a rough idea:
Seek JobActive Gumtree Workabout TravellersAtWork PomsInOz.
Fruit Harvest is a must, even if you do not wish to obtain your second year visa, the experence is worthwhile! Calling the Helpline on 1800 062 332 or download the latest version of National Harvest Guide which is a must! LINK HERE.
Applying for jobs before arriving is worthless, but there is no harm in trying! Remember employers receive tens and tens of calls everyday from people who are ready to start on the spot, however I do not wish to ake you give up! I am just making you realise the truth in working in Australia, as certain people do think it's easy as clicking your fingers!
Ready to work in rain or shine, with spiders and snakes? Roll On. Tick
17. Do I really need that? I might use it! I NEED that. Oh what if I don't find? Alright, so your country isn't the only country which sells clothes and other items. Extra things taken is just going to add more weight whilst travelling, and you will still probably get rid of stuff/replace stuff/buy new clothes! This was not too much of an issue for me. I don't wear dresses, heels, or make-up. Biggest problem solved!
Clothes:
Summer:
x1 Sleeveless Top
x3 T-shirts
x1 Shorts
Swimwear
Flip Flops
Winter:
x1 Wool Long Sleeved
x1 Wool Trousers
x2 Convertible Trousers to 3/4
x1 Waterproof Jacket
x1 Waterproof Trousers
Trekking Shoes
x6 Underpants
x7 socks
Toiletries:
x1 250ml Shampoo
x1 250ml Conditioner
x1 250ml Body Wash
x1 Sponge
x1 Face Wash
x1 Moisturizer
x1 Toothbrush/Toothpaste
Hair Rubber Bands
x1 29ml Hand Sanitizer
x1 110ml Biofreeze Spray
Shaver/x4 Blades
x1 Lip Balm
x1 Nail Clipper
x2 5ml Sample Face Sunlotion
x1 Small portable Mirror
x1 Brush
Few cotton buds
x1 15g Fucidin Cream
x1 Tweezers
Shared Electronics:
Spare cheap mobile phone
Laptop
x2 Gopros + Accessories
Canon Powershot x12zoom
Canon x50zoom
x2 Headtorches
Cigarette USB
Ipod/Earphones
Bank SecureKey
Travel Adaptor
500GB & 1TB Hardrives
Pendrive
Extra SD cards
Others:
Tissue Paper
Wet Ones
Sleeping Bag
First Aid
Sewing Kit + extra buttons
Cable Ties
Safety Pins
Duct Tape/ Normal Tape
Leatherman
Twist Ties
Small Measuring Tape
Rubber Bands
Sun Lotion
Cards
Mesh Bags to seperate clothing
18. KEEP A DIARY.
I mean, seriously! It will be worth it ;)
Getting Ready:
01. Must Have Mobile Applications:
Wikicamps Australia/New Zealand
Be-On-Road
Offline GoogleMaps
Couchsurfing
Xe.com
Google Translate/WordLens
Campermate (for New Zealand)
Dropbox/Gdrive
Evernote
Offline Games/Aldiko/Kindle
02. Read Newsletters
Lonely Planet Books
Read online Lonely Planet Forums
Download 'SEA Backpacker' Magazine
Download 'Backpackers Travel Magazine'
matadornetwork.com
Join FB Groups of everything you can think of
03. Documentaries/Movies which Inspired Me
Globetrekkers Series
Youtube videos
Into the Wild Movie
A Map for Saturday
Wild
The Beach
Kakadu NP Series (added later)
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (added later)
04. Get Knowledge of the Country
As already stated, download newsletters of the country you are visiting, their customs, history and knowledge on certain 'iconic' places. See the best month to travel (seasons/weather), and places to avoid if they harm/ affect the locals. Such as climbing the famous rock 'Uluru' in Australia, and Riding Elephants and Tiger Temples in Asia. Get basic knowledge of the currency they use, Capital City, and write down important stuff on your phone/diary of Embassies, phone numbers of emergencies such as Police and Ambulance, and contact details of relatives/friends. Popular scams and Tourist traps is ideal to know beforehand too, along with checking what events will be running, festivals and ceremonies.
05. Get Fit
Whatever the reason for travelling and backpacing, getting physically ready is a must! Going on long walks helps when travelling, especially if you need to travel from Point A to Point B with a backpack! We used to use a bicycle occassionally, apart from walking dialy, and going to atleast 2 hikes a week. It might sound lame, but you will regret it when you need to see a viewing point with an uphill, and not have the stamina for it! After all, it doesn't hurt to have this approach! You wil be thanking yourself once you are on the 6th floor somewhere in Asia and the elevator does not work!
Eating healthy helps too. Not lettuce-fed all day, but cutting down on Soda and fast food helps you when you are on the road and always on the go.
06. Get Used to Change
People think backpacking and travelling is being always happy, on a holiday and stress-free! But really, say Goodbye to Luxury, and the life you know.
Things you take forgranted, may feel like a 5-star hotel once you are exposed to it. Such as fridge, freezer, oven, an enclosed toilet, and privacy! Start getting used to uncomfortability. Wash your clothes using your hands! Cook food using basic ingredients. Spend days with barely access to wifi. Go camping beforehand! Catch buses. Live on a strict budget for a few weekends. Once again, it may sound funny, however if you are not menatlly prepared to take such challenges of travelling, it may affect you once you ge tthere, and take you by surprise and make the trip unnecessary shocking!
10. We wern't too bothered with booking the Hostel, however as we were going to head to Melbourne end of summer, we thought it was best to book a week in advance. We usually aren't those type of people, as if we don't like somewhere, we have the freedom to move. However ending up stuck with no accomodation on the otherside of the world... How bad can the hostel be? Choosing a cheap hostel... Looking at:
booking.com/hostels/index hostelbookers.com hostels.com https://www.yha.com.au/ hostelworld.com ebooking.com
Writing an excel sheet with what one hostel offers, and what it lacks (also some offer transportatin from Airport), we were deciding if it would be worth paying an extra $10 for free wifi, or sacrificing to stay in an 8-bedroom dorm instead of an 4. We ticked our three most liked – Pint on Punt, Lords Lodge and Back of Chapel, and sent out an email confirming price for each day, and if a week is booked in advance (prices were varying from booking websites and their actual website).
Lord's Lodge Pint on Punt
8 Bed $180 p.w (€122.86) 6 Bed $162 p.w (€110.51)
6 Bed $186 p.w (€126.96) 4 Bed $174 p.w (€118.77)
4 Bed $192 p.w (€131.22)
Back of Chapel
6 Bed $195 p.w (€133.10)
4 Bed $215 p.w (€146.66)
04. Next problem. Vehicle? I basically sold my car 4-5months prior to the holiday. However I did by a buy a bike (Yamaha125), and wasn't hoping to leave it in the garage, unused for a long period of time. I lent it to my friend because I did not really wish to stop it's license, and not knowing if the holiday is going to work out or not. I was just being realistic. I did however arrange with my friend that once the registration expires (6 months after I would be travelling), to be taken off the road and placed safe in the garage. That would leave me enough time to decide if the holiday was a good decision or not! Leon on the other hand garaged his Landrover a few months before departing aswell, and started using his father's car to travel around the island, which was easier!
Vehicle – Problem temporary solved!