“It’s a bit of recklessness”: meeting with these Bordeaux residents who are going on a world tour

Whether they are novices to long-distance travel or seasoned adventurers, more and more people with a thirst for escape are embarking on a world tour. Bordeaux residents share their experiences before and after their departure.

"Break the routine." While there are as many reasons to leave as there are travelers, getting away from shopping lists and work seems to be the watchword for future nomads preparing to travel the world. "Sud Ouest" met with some Bordeaux residents ready to embark on such an adventure, with their backpacks as their only luggage.

Among them are novices to long-distance travel and seasoned adventurers, like Caroline and Mathieu. Married young, they nevertheless let themselves be swept away by the whirlwind of life. "We've never gone far with the children, but the departure of a couple of friends to London followed by Mathieu's dismissal completely stunned us." Back from their first trip to Thailand last February, what started as a joke quickly became a hastily put together plan for a departure on August 31st. "Yes, it's a bit reckless, a bit courageous, and even a bit crazy," confirms Caroline. "But hey, if it doesn't work out, too bad, we're going home!"

Behind the yearning for freedom and letting go, there's a whole lot of planning to do before the big day. Whether it's for those who are new to support groups or those who have been planning their trip for years. Because once their desires are defined and the itinerary mapped out, the hardest part is yet to come: finding accommodation, getting vaccinations, and getting insurance. Caroline and Mathieu have booked accommodation and plane tickets for the next four months and plan to travel about every five days.

Behind the aspirations to let go and freedom, there is a whole organization to plan before the big day.

As for Géraldine, who recently left with her husband and two children, she spent more than six years scouring blogs and podcasts. "The internet and social media are a double-edged sword: you can find as much valuable information as anything and everything else," says the mother. So much so that she ended up wondering which brand of shoes to buy. Not to mention the printed T-shirts, travel journals specially designed for children, and Instagram accounts to feed.

Conversely, Franck, on the eve of departure, conscientiously drew a line under social media and rainwear brands. At 30, he and his girlfriend have been planning their world tour for several years. "What for? If we're missing something there, we'll find something." Laurine and he have only booked their first flight to Peru and will let the people they meet guide them. One thing is certain, however: the paper guides are staying in the closet. "It would be too cumbersome to take them for each destination," Laurine says.

To save time, Mathieu relied on ChatGPT: "I give it my destination, I ask it what there is to see and I gradually refine our route according to our criteria. Eventually, it gets to know me. I don't even have to explain to it that we're going around the world."

When you're preparing to travel the world, the question of transportation and its carbon footprint can also tip the balance. Franck and Laurine have chosen to limit their number of plane trips to three: to South America first, then to Southeast Asia, and then back home. The idea is also to keep things as cheap as possible. Over nine months, they plan to spend €11,000 each, less than twice the per-person budget of some families.

Because you still need to secure some form of income for several months. All of the travelers we met are homeowners and have decided to rent out their house or apartment. Géraldine and Damien had to take out an additional loan to cover the cost of their trip, which was enough to pay off the mortgage on their property. "Once we've enjoyed it, it'll be easier to save." Conversely, Laurine and Franck have amassed a small nest egg since they started working, even if it means limiting themselves on outings and other purchases.

“We spend a lot of time preparing, but we never prepare enough for the return.”

"We spend a crazy amount of time preparing, but we never prepare enough for the return," warns David, who has traveled around the world and is also co-founder of the Bordeaux-based collective Les Voyageurs anonymes. Career change, moving: many are making a 360-degree turn. There can be a "boomerang effect," assures Christelle, who also initiated the collective in 2022. Despite the pleasure of reuniting with family and friends, the two travelers find it difficult to communicate with them and feel the need to stay in touch with others who have had the same experience. Until everyone gets back to their lives.