Round the World via South America

Round the World via South America

An Interview with Yolande Squire and Ewan Dinwiddie

Name: Yolande Squire

My RTW route: London >> Ecuador >> Peru >> northern Chile >> Bolivia >> Rio >> Santiago >> Auckland >> Sydney >> Singapore >> London

How would you rate your RTW destinations on a scale of 1 - 5? 1 being completely rubbish to 5 being completely awesome?

Ecuador (4) Peru (4) Northern Chile (4) Bolivia (5) Rio (3) Santiago (2) Auckland (4) Sydney (4) Singapore (1)

What was the best destination of the lot and why?

My favourite destination was Bolivia with its amazing scenery culture and people. There's lots of things to do and all very cheaply!

What was the worst destination of the lot and why?

Singapore was my worst destination. I found it pretty boring with not a lot to do apart from shopping, and that's only fun if you have money! Also, the weather was very unpredictable and its not a very attractive city, especially if your stuck indoors!

What was the absolute highlight of your RTW trip?

Volunteering in a shanty town in Lima, Peru. Also, the salt flats in Bolivia.

Looking back now, what would you have done differently when planning or booking your RTW trip?

I would have gone overland from Rio through to Buenos Aires instead of flying to Santiago. Also I might have started in Australia and New Zealand as the more our money ran out the more expensive places got!

What top tips would you pass on to anybody about to book their RTW ticket or head off on their trip?

• Talk to people who have been where you're heading already to get the best tips for how to use your time and money.
• Get off the beaten tourist routes as that way you'll get to see the real country and people. It's also where the best experiences are!
• Don't dress like a westerner as you are a perfect target, especially if you are careless with your belongings.
• Try and learn the local lingo or at least attempt to - you'll get a much better response from people and you'll find that they are much friendlier than if you just expect them to speak English. Its amazing how much more willing to help you out people become with just a little more effort on your part.
• Buses are a great and cheap way to get around as flying often limits you quite a lot. I found that I saw a lot more of the country by bus than I would have otherwise. However, be aware they are far from the quality of the National Express, especially at night - they are always a good source of travelling tales though!

Name: Ewan Dinwiddie

My RTW route: London >> Bangkok >> Sydney >> Santiago >> Rio de Janiero >> London

How would you rate your RTW destinations on a scale of 1 - 5? 1 being completely rubbish to 5 being completely awesome?

Bangkok (4) Sydney (3) Santiago (2) Rio de Janiero (4)

What was the best destination of the lot and why?

Rio - girls, beaches, caipirinhas, football, favellas and amazing views.

What was the worst destination of the lot and why?

Santiago - not a huge amount to do there and definitely not as much character as other South American cities.

What was the absolute highlight of your RTW trip?

Angkor Wat at sunrise.

Looking back now, what would you have done differently when planning or booking your RTW trip?

Very little. No big regrets.

What top tips would you pass on to anybody about to book their RTW ticket or head off on their trip?

• Plan well in advance.
• Don't take too much.
• Don't try to do too much in a short space of time.
• Don't listen to negative comments from parents, friends etc...
• Use gapyear.com.