Good news, Travel Geeks: Your round the world travel dreams CAN come true!

Thanks to travelers-turned-writers like Brian Peters, Travel Geeks (even newbies like me!) can finally drop their monotonous jobs and live up their dreams globetrotting. Don’t believe me? Then read his new e-book, No Debt World Travel: The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the World – Even in an Economic Downturn.

I admit, I did not believe it either at first glance. Recalling the financial drama my family and I were in just by taking a short trip to Italy last year, I went into Brian’s book thinking there has to be a catch. No way can a post-collegiate twenty-something in severe student loan debt just up and go on a worldwide adventure. I was wrong. Well, to some degree.

Brian’s book is a refreshing step-by-step guide on pursuing your travel dreams. Though I do not intend to circumnavigate the globe anytime soon, I did learn how realistic my dream of returning to international waters could be. Is it simple? Not entirely, but doable? Absolutely! The great thing about the No Debt World Travel guide is that planning and practicality is all it takes. If you are serious about traveling, there are ways to make it happen without breaking the bank. Brian outlines his tips, advice, and resources based on trial and error experiences as well as the overwhelmingly positive results he gained from his lengthy trip. Chapters include everything from hostel searching, travel insurance, and visas to learning the basics of a new language, eating new food, and how to stay safe abroad. Some of my favorite tips that Brian points out are easy to use budget formulas such as doubling your bed/stay rate to find your daily budget. Also, traveling off-season is a given but knowing what destinations’ off-seasons are is helpful too. I also was completely blind on securing your finances both domestically and internationally by communicating with your banks – good tip for those of you planning to leave for a good while. Also, did you know there are several options for buying round the world tickets? I surely did not. Now I know how to beat the system!

Another great point Brian makes is the role of a travel agent. Though most of us independent travelers have become increasingly dependent on blogs for travel resources, travel agents may have secure relationships with other agencies that can help you when you least expect it. Good to know!

In addition to learning the basics of traveling the world, Brian discusses healthy and safety precautions to consider for various destinations. Travel insurance, embassy registering, and vaccinations are among the most valuable steps to take in the preliminary stages of travel. These factors remind us that it is better to be safe than sorry, so paying a bit more to keep your health and safety in tact is always worth it in the end.

By far my favorite, and most useful portion of the No Debt World Travel e-book is the checklist. Brian provides checklists for just about everything essential to your travels: hostels, packing, financial security, insurance, and more. All planning needs are summarized in a “Before You Leave” and “Quick Checklist” page. I appreciate the honest time frame Brian gives readers. He breaks down the planning stage, making your trip manageable and easier to accomplish. This is good for an organization freak like me!

Overall, No Debt World Travel: The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the World is written simply, with inspiring stories, and a doable attitude for Travel Geeks of all levels. I would recommend this e-book to anyone looking to take their first travel leap in 2010. Now I’m motivated even more to get out and see the world!

Read more posts by Alisha

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 at 1:15 PM and is filed under Community Interest. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.