Independent travel

Plan a trip you'll remember that reflect you, not one copied off a Pinterest

BootsnAll has been helping independent travelers since 1998. Not trips to Las Vegas on Disney Excursions. Planning advice and wisdom for people who want to figure out the trip themselves and have a travel experience that is not pre-packaged.

What is BootsnAll?

BootsnAll has been helping independent travelers since 1998. Not trips to Las Vegas on Disney Excursions. Real planning advice and wisdom for people who want to figure out the trip themselves and have a travel experience that is not pre-packaged.

Covering120+ countriesRTW trips
Destination Guides

Explore destinations worldwide

Eurail

Train travel across Europe

Round the World

Plan your RTW journey

Travel Insurance

Protect your adventure

Editor’s pick

How To Travel Across Canada by Train, On A Budget

Learn how to book VIA Rail trains across Canada affordably with discounts, advance booking tips, and budget travel strategies for experiencing the country's best routes.

Pamela MacNaughtan
Career breaks
Round-the-world trips
Destinations

Common questions travelers ask us

A round-the-world (RTW) trip is a multi-destination journey that crosses at least two continents and typically lasts anywhere from a few weeks to a lifestyle trip that is 12 months or longer. You can book through AirTreks or airline alliances (Star Alliance or OneWorld) or buy tickets independently. Most first-time RTW travelers spend $20,000–$100,000 all-in for a year of travel. It depends on where, comfort level and speed.

Most popular long-term travel destinations are safe for experienced independent travelers with reasonable precautions. The practical risks are petty theft, scams targeting travelers, and transport accidents — not the things people worry about before their first trip. Might not be the best time to visit the Middle East unless your a war correspondent or Oil Tanker Captain with lots of insurance.

Budget $18,000–$28,000 for a solo traveler doing 10–12 months across Southeast Asia and South America. Western Europe runs $30,000–$45,000 for the same duration. Figures include flights, accommodation, food, activities, and a safety buffer.

Travelers move through places on their own terms, make their own choices, and tend to stay longer in fewer places. We describe Tourists as folks that follow pre-packaged itineraries. Often times, a person on a trip may be both at different times, depending on context. The distinction matters because the planning resources you need are completely different.