2008 Project: Backpacking trip

Todo list (Updated April 30)

Encrypt and hide laptop data

Decide files to bring along

Finish shopping list

Shop appropriate stuff

Print boarding pass information

Possible route (Updated April 26)

Casablanca to Marrakech to Fes. Then north east to Melilla & Spain. probably to Malaga cause we only have 3 weeks. Then down the coast of Spain to and Gibraltar. Cross over to Ceuta and eventually back to Casablanca

Packing list (Updated April 30)

• Papers
• Passport
• Medical Immunization info
• copies of all document
• Embassy phone #
• Insurance phone #
• Boarding pass info
• Sleeping
• Mat ($15)
• Sleeping bag
• mosquito net
• Clothing
• 5x underwear
• 7x socks
• 5x tshirts
• 2x jeans
• 1x jakcet
• Electronics
• Camera
• Camera batteries
• Camera battery charger
• eee PC
• eee PC charger
• External HDD
• ethernet cable
• Electric plug converter($11)
• Medicine
• Pedialyte powder ($12)
• Imodium ($3)
• Cipro ($4)
• Pepto Bismal ($4)
• Tylenol ($3)
• NyQuil ($7)
• Band-Aid ($4)
• Survival
• Fire starter
• Emergency water filter (straw water filter?) ($12)
• Iodine water treatment ($17)
  
• rain coat
• Med kit
• Forever flashlight
• Magnesium
• Utility knife (Checked baggage)
• Electrical tape
• Duct tape
• Convenience
• Sunscreen
• Tooth brush/paste
• Soap
• Sunglasses
• Bandana
• Thread/Needle
• Swim suit
• Mosquito repellant

Progress (Updated Jan 31)This is my initial forecast so far and will be updated as I put in more detailed items. With the informations I currently have (and not factored in the list yet), the cost will definitely be higher. Jesse told me that daily spending averages $40 to $100 instead of the $20 advertised by back packing guide “Lonely Planet”. I will also have to factor in the vaccination costs which, according to Jesse, values at “a couple hundred dollars.”

Health (Updated Jan 14)Vaccines to get: Diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and polio and hepatitis B, hepatitis A, meningococcal meningitis, rabies and typhoid.

YELLOW FEVER AND CERTIFICATE!

Costs-cutting (Updated Jan 14)

Plane ticket will be the biggest cost of the whole trip so it’d most productive to cut cost from there. I am therefore manually going through each booking company and determining the cheapest ticket. Royal Air Moroc seem to be the way to go.

Financial planning (Updated Jan 14)

Current cost estimate: $3700

Since this is going to happen in May, right after the tax report and at the same time when I have to repay a semi-huge investment loan. I have to evaluate the spending against my RRSP contribution. The questions I have to ask are:

• Will I be able to contribute enough to RRSP or should I leave the credit to next year?
• If I borrow from my HELOC, Credit Card, RRSP Loan, will the cash flow be sustainable?

I will definitely have enough cash for it, but I also want to contribute to my RRSP. I have a gut feeling that I won’t be able to pull off both trick, but that’s still up for detailed review.

Data gathering (boring stuff)

Budget:

Morocco: $20 x 21 = $420

Spain: $60 x7 = $420

Total: $840

Emergency: $1000

Air Fare research sites(Updated Jan 31)

Tips for buying tickets: Wired

Meta ticket search Bookingwiz

Helpful ticket price tracking sites: Farecast.com, SeatGuru.com

Air Fare monthly average price (Updated Jan 31)

Data from Cheaptickets using CMN (Casa Blanca) as a benchmark

YMQ to CMN

January $1099 ~ $1148

Febuary $$984~$1069

March $984~$1290

April $984 ~$1145

May $1013~$1069

June $1148~$1125

July $1322~$1422

August $1069~$1607

September $1148~$1223

October $1020~$1259

November $1020~$1060

December $1020~$1069

 

 

 

 

Plane ticket: ~$1500

Actual air fare price research (Updated Jan 31)

YMQ -> AGA (Agadir):

$1564 (Flight networks)

$1287 (cheaptickets) Royal Air Maroc 207 421

$1291 (Orbitz) Royal Air Maroc

$961 (cheapoair) Corsair Flight 901 330

$1678 (ravelocity) American Airlines Flight 4762

$1281 (Kayak) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207 423

YMQ -> RAK (Marrakech):

$1459 (Flight networks) Multi airlines

$1631 ( Travelocity) Delta Airlines

$1289 (Travelation) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207 401, Return Flight 404, 206

$1234 (Orbitz) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207 401, Return Flight 404, 206

$1230 (CheapTickets) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207 401, Return Flight 404, 206

$1223 (Kayak) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207 403, Return Flight 400, 206

$1249 (Cheapoair) Royal Air Maroc

YMQ -> CMN (Casablanca Mohammad V):

$1295 (Flight network) Air France Flight 345 2196, Return Flight 1697,344

$1308 (Travelocity) Northwest

$1147 (Travelation) Air Canada Flight 884 Air France Flight 2496, Return Flight Air France 1697 Air Canada 885

$1072 (Orbitz) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207, Return Flight 206

$1068 (CheapTickets) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207, Return Flight 206

$1063 (Kayak) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207, Return Flight 206

$1028 (Vayama) Corsair Flight SS901, SS2515 Return Flight SS2514, SS900

$1035 (Cheapoair) Corsair Flight 330, 737 Return Flight 737 330

$1072 (ATI Flights) Corsair Flight SS901, SS2515 Return Flight SS2514, SS900

YMQ -> RBA (Rabat):

$1293 (Flight Network) Air France Flight34, 2958 Return Flight 2759, 344

~ $1400 for everyone else

YMQ -> TNG (Tangier):

$1299 (Travelation) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207 662 Return Flight 471, 206

$1244 (Orbitz) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207 662 Return Flight 471, 206

$1240 (Cheap Tickets) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207 662 Return Flight 471, 206

$1233 (Kayak) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207 664 Return Flight 471, 206

YMQ -> FEZ (Fez):

$1165 ( orbitz) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207, 652 Return Flight 653, 206

$1161 (Cheap Tickets) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207, 652 Return Flight 653, 206

$1219 (Travelation) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207, 652 Return Flight 653, 206

$1154 (Kayak) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207, 654 Return Flight 653, 206

$1179 (Cheapoair) Royal Air Maroc Flight 207, 652 Return Flight 653, 206

YMQ -> NDR (Nador)

~$3000

YMQ -> OZZ (Ouarzazate)

~$1200

YMQ -> EUN (Laayoune Hassan I)

~$1500