Peter Lancaster of Argentina.
Courtesy of Peter Lancaster
Peter Lancaster, 31, was laid off from his technology job in California last May. Although he was sad to leave the job he loved, he finally had a chance to take a real break and enjoy a little bit of his life.
By the end of June, he sold most of his belongings, put the rest in storage, gave his cat to a friend, and left for his first destination, Mexico City.
Over the next eight months, Peter traveled to eight countries: Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Guatemala, Japan, Ecuador, and Brazil. During this time, he says he spent about $20,000.
In the end, his plane tickets and transportation were his biggest expenses.
Colombia and Guatemala are the most affordable destinations, while Argentina and the Galapagos Islands are the most expensive, he added.
Here are six things he learned during his overseas adventures.
The biggest principle Peter stuck to while traveling abroad was to stay flexible and understand that plans could change along the way.
About six months into his trip, Peter met and fell in love with his girlfriend Alejandra, or as he liked to call him, his “pp” (short for “Peruvian Princess”).
His original plan was to stay in Peru for four days, but after meeting Alejandra he extended his stay to six weeks.
“I met her in Cusco, Peru. When I was doing laundry, she saw me struggling and helped me. Then we went for drinks. “I decided to do it,” he told CNBC Make It.
Peter and Alejandra take a walk in Argentina.
Courtesy of Peter Lancaster
“You might want to plan your itinerary, but the truth is, your plans will vary greatly depending on who you're meeting,” he said. “Be open-minded and change your motivation from seeing as much as possible to perhaps spending a little time with someone.”
“Having an 'undefined' schedule makes it much easier to be flexible,” he added.
“I never had more than a week's worth of clothes,” he says. “The downside is that you have to find a place to do your laundry, but the upside is that it’s easy to move around.”
For the first three weeks, he traveled with only a small backpack. Along the way, he was able to purchase the items he needed.
Because I carried less, I was able to be more agile when plans inevitably changed.
After arriving in Mexico City for the first time, Peter began to feel homesick. “He wanted to go home because he thought, 'Oh, it's going to be a long trip,'” he said. “But then I started making friends and we quickly became friends.”
Peter Lancaster and his Guatemalan tour group.
Courtesy of Peter Lancaster
He chose to stay in hostels for most of his trip to save money and meet other travelers.
“Just start talking to people,” he said. “Everyone is really approachable and all think the same thing.”
When traveling abroad, it is important to take due care.
“I think it's always good to have the mindset that a lot of people might be trying to scam you,” Peter said. “Take your time” when making purchases and decisions, he recommends.
If something is too good to be true, it is probably too good to be true.
peter lancaster
Traveler
“Use the buddy system, especially in a foreign country,” he said.
Locals can usually tell if you are a foreigner, which can put you in a dangerous position. Therefore, it is important to always be aware of your surroundings and circumstances.
“I don't understand people who like to travel and eat hamburgers and pizza,” he said. “When you go to McDonald's, it's more expensive than other local restaurants.”
While abroad, Peter focused on enjoying local cuisine, which further enriched his travel experience.
On February 29, Peter returned to the United States, satisfied with everything he had experienced.
“If I had an unlimited budget, I probably would have kept working, but I looked at everything and felt like I was ready to work,” he said.
“I'm happy… It's really nice to be able to take time off and have like a different routine than going to work,” he said.
by peter lancaster
Courtesy of Peter Lancaster
