"As I traveled around the world for 180 thousand rubles" - an interview with Vladimir Druganova

What is Around the World?

I was born and raised in the city of Tyumen. But I always wondered: we are here and there, in another city, another country, on another continent?

As a teenager, I decided that union around the world. The parents did not support my aspiration, but not prohibited. In 20 years, I was the first time abroad, and 21 went on tour around the world.

Around the World in my understanding - this is where the start and finish at the same point, crossing all meridians.

At first, I moved just a natural curiosity. Then travel became a part of life. The more I move through the world, the more I want to understand why I, and my neighbor is not? How to teach a neighbor to drop barriers and know happiness travel?

In my spare time I spend master classes for those who want to know our planet. I like to inspire people. But I have traveled, even if my experience was not interesting to anyone, and if it were not for the Internet, to share their experiences.

How much is a trip around the world?

The first circumnavigation I spent 180,000 rubles. This amount includes:

• air travel - 72 000 rubles;
• housing - 17 500 rubles;
• visa - 6700 rubles;
• food - about 50 000 rubles;
• communication, entertainment, and other incidental expenses - the rest.

A detailed financial report can be read here. Only note that the dollar then was worth 36 rubles.

More important nuance. I never take a journey cash. Only currency credit cards. Because if you lose the cash, I will remain without a livelihood. If you lose the card, I move the funds for the second and continue the journey safely.

How to prepare for the first single journey?

I do not advise to use ready-made checklists from the Internet, and make your own. It is necessary to calculate the travel budget and prepare a backup plan for each force majeure.

For example, I usually have alternative accommodation in case the hotel, which had planned to stop, overwhelmed. At the same time we must be prepared to sleep in the airport or on the beach, if all goes very wrong. By the way, there's even a list of the most convenient airports for sleeping and instructionHow to do it.

The modern traveler is not required to be able to navigate by compass (if I have to select the iPhone, in a strange place for a long time will rebate), but should be unpretentious and open to the world. The second - the most important thing.

Bring a minimum of things, and then reduce it at least another half.

Traveling only hand luggage. Passport (internal do not take), credit cards, clothing (thermal underwear and a blanket - my must-have), laptop good phone, capable of replacing the camera and video camera - it is something without which no cost, no one my the trip.

Another highly desired, but purely an individual thing - first aid kit. Always I take a band-aid, wound healing and anti-inflammatory agents as well as activated carbon.

How to deal with visas and other documents?

Many of the travel scare is bureaucratic barriers.

Travel can be a passport, and all other documents stored in the cloud, to have access to them from any internet cafe or even a telephone.

It is important to study the rules of crossing the border of each country, which are going, and know some tricks. For example, it is possible to draw a visa during travel. Does not necessarily make them in Russia. Visa to Australia or the US, you can get in Thailand. By the way, round the world with US visa and a half times cheaper - to fly through South America is very expensive and troublesome.

But insurance is better to issue home. I did not go into any travel without insurance. Saving on it, you can fly a lot of money on the treatment in foreign hospitals and repatriation. I felt it myself, when broke his leg in Vietnam and had to return home with three transfers. Benefit had insurance and people with compassion. China Airlines, for example, have replaced free in business class.

When and how to buy tickets?

contrary to popular life hackingI never buy tickets 45 days before. I take a ticket only when clearly know where to go, and I am sure that the trip is not goes wrong. This usually occurs within two to three weeks prior to departure.

I am looking for tickets through SkyScanner (like their feature "Rise", when the destination remains empty and displays all the places where you can fly), and buy through Aviasales or OneTwoTrip (take them by partner programs).

Upcoming flights AppintheAir controlled through the application. There's a handy reminder when opened check-in, push-notification comes and I am among the first to choose a convenient place on the board.

If we talk about the airlines, I like "Victory" (made it five flights of 99 rubles each) and S7 Airlines. I never fly UTair. Abroad usually buy the cheapest tickets, but, if possible, give preference to the sides of the Star Alliance.

What is a round-the-world ticket?

You do not need it. Damn expensive, because none of the alliance (and there are only three) is not cooperating with low-cost airlines.

Imagine the cheapest round-the-world ticket (RTW-ticket) will cost you $ 2 500 (more than 150 000 rubles). And this is just four flights! Budget flight my next world tour will be about 86,000 rubles, I made 11 flights, including to Australia.

How to choose a hostel or hotel?

The single travel prefer hostels. Not only because it was cheaper, but also because you can meet other travelers.

To understand what a room in the hostel will suit you, remember the train ride. Comfortable only in the coupe? Choose hostels with four- or a six layout. Do not disdain reserved seat? Welcome to any hostels in the world!

There is indirect evidence, which can be found good hostel.

• Behavior rules. In decent schools is always a time limit: you can not bring guests to make noise after eleven, to keep things in the washing machine and so on. The more the hostel rules, the cleaner and more comfortable it will be.
• Limit of stay. In good hostels can not stay longer than a week or even a couple of days. If there are no restrictions, it is likely that there settled migrant workers or prostitutes.

Accommodations looking through Hotellook or "island." In this case, always put a tick "free breakfast" and "free Wi-Fi». You save much when these services are included in the price.

Does kauchsorfing?

And how! I love Couchsurfing.com. Even I shot a video on how to use this service.

Most hospitable people from the countries where I have been, by the way, here in Russia.

How to communicate with the local population?

At the time of start of the first world tour, I know English at the level of cat, home, sorry. But while traveling well tightened language. If you do not understand what is happening around, the risk to life and activates the brain - teach new words and phrases instantly.

Also I recommend to learn a few phrases in the language spoken in the country where to send.

• "Hello!", "Thank you", "Sorry" - simple politeness, which is very appreciated by the locals.
• "Stop, stop!" - will come in handy on the market or, for example, in the massage parlor.
• "How much?" - if you ask the local language, you can get a foreigner, who is well versed in the local realities and that it is not necessary to inflate the price.
• "Where?" - helps in many situations, you can see where some tourist attraction or a toilet.
• "I need help" - if you are filing an SOS signal in plain language to people, they will come to your rescue. Well, with this phrase in a foreign country, you can do any conversation to start.

How to eat in the journey?

I never eat in tourist areas. It should move up to 200 meters from the Louvre Museum, both in the cafe very different prices. At traveling abroad always use Groupon - helping to save on food.

If you have just arrived and terribly hungry, do not rush just to get acquainted with the local cuisine. As the saying goes, not knowing the ford, not poke your nose into the water. Go to the "McDonald's" or another well-known institution, operating under franchise. Then the locals will tell you which serves the most delicious dishes in a restaurant they go the whole family has been seven years.

On what else can you save?

1. Moving around the city. I try to book accommodation near the center and use public transport. In the entire circumnavigation once rode in a taxi. In the future I plan to try out cross-country tours and bike rental.
2. Communication. I always make out SIM-card with unlimited internet, if you plan to stay in the country for more than four to five days. And do not miss the opportunity to enjoy free Wi-Fi.
3. Tours. I never use the services of a guide: I am interested to experience the spirit of the place, rather than listen to someone talk. If you want to know the history of this or other venues, and offers "Wikipedia".
4. Souvenirs. You need it at all? But if you must, try to pay in local currency (some cache can be removed from an ATM).

Will the second round the world?

Yes, in January 2017. By the time it lasts for five months. Approximate route: Russian - UAE - Nepal - Maldives - Thailand - Malaysia - Singapore - Indonesia - Australia - United States - Colombia - Iceland - Spain - Russia.

With the current exchange rate of the dollar budget is 200 000 rubles. But this time it will be more difficult. I plan to make in the course of travel and take part in two competitions Ironman. To participate in it at the time I was inspired Layfhaker. :)

By the way, if the readers were still some questions about the round the world (and not only) travel, is ready to communicate in the comments.