Travel is one of the most amazing experiences in life. It’s the opportunity to visit new places, meet new people, try exotic foods, and see how different cultures live. Embarking on a world adventure is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will stay with you forever, but all of the planning that goes into a long trip can be stressful. To help, here are some top travel tips to help you plan the perfect round-the-world adventure.
Get serious about saving
Before you can start planning your world adventure, you need to decide how you are going to fund your trip. According to advice on popular travel blog Hostelworld, an around-the-world trip will usually cost around £20,000. You need to decide how you are going to save this money and how long this will take. Some people sell or rent out their homes; others spend a few years working and saving, or move back in with their parents, while other people work online while traveling to fund their trip. Whatever you decide, it is important to get serious about saving and have a financial plan in place to help you achieve your savings goal. Remember that even little lifestyle changes, for example, skipping your morning Starbucks, can make a big difference.
Create a travel wish list
The first step to planning your round-the-world trip is to decide where you want to go. Do you want to spend most of your time backpacking in South East Asia? Or, would you prefer the more Western comforts of Europe or Australia? Start by making a list of all the destinations you want to visit and section them geographically to make it easier to plan your travel route. You also need to consider the fact that some countries have a small window of time that provides the best traveling experience. Make sure you check for things like monsoon seasons and plan your route accordingly to ensure that you have the best experience.
Decide how long you will need
The amount of time you can travel for will largely be down to your budget. However, it is crucial to think about how long you want to be away from home for. Most people spend around one year completing a round-the-world trip, but perhaps you are more suited to a six-month organized trip, or maybe you would prefer to book a one-way ticket with the possibility of being away for a few years. You should also consider whether you have any special events, like weddings, coming up that you would want to be home for.
Stick to your budget
It is vital to have a travel budget before you head off on your trip. Consider how much it is going to cost to visit each destination on your route, and plan your budget accordingly. For example, you may be able to get away with a pretty low daily budget in somewhere like Thailand, whereas you would probably need to increase this if you visit places like Australia or New Zealand. When calculating your budget, make sure to factor in things like accommodation, transport, food, and activities. You must review your budget regularly and stick to it – you don’t want to run out of money halfway around the world! It may be a good idea to take out a credit card that you can use in any financial emergencies. It can sometimes be difficult to get approved for your first credit card if you have little or no credit, but there are some options available. Check out Bonsai Finance for some great credit card options no matter what your credit score or history.
Pick a route and book flights in advance
It is understandable that lots of people want the freedom to book things as they travel and change their plans along the way. However, it is worth having a rough route in mind. Remember that you will save a lot of money by booking flights in advance, and planning the most efficient travel route between destinations. It always makes financial sense to visit all the destinations in a geographical area, before moving on to the next place. That being said, there is no rule to say that you need to plan every part of your travel itinerary before you head off. Leaving some parts unplanned will allow flexibility and spontaneity – you may learn about some amazing new travel destinations from other travelers and decide you want to visit!
Remember to add downtime to your itinerary
It is easy to get carried away when planning a travel itinerary and end up organizing a jam-packed trip. However, it is important to keep in mind that traveling can be stressful and tiring – it will involve lots of moving, organizing, and time spent learning new cultures and traditions. You don’t want to be moving location, or off on a trip every day, or you’ll quickly become exhausted and could make yourself ill. For that reason, it is crucial to plan lots of downtime and rest days, so you can relax and take some time to really enjoy your surroundings.
Try to pack light
If you are someone who ends up packing 10 outfits for a weekend break, then you need to think carefully about what you pack for your trip. It is always best to pack light. However, if that’s something you are not good at you can search for luggage storage locations around you. For instance, at luggage storage kings cross will keep your belongings safe and secure until you need them back. This will make it easier to move around and stop you for paying expensive luggage fees in airports. Remember that you can always buy more clothing and anything else you need while you are away. There are also plenty of great travel accessories to make traveling easier. For example, compression cubes are a great way to organize your clothes and create more space in your bag. You also need the make the big decision of whether to take a backpack or a suitcase. Obviously, a backpack is the traditional option, however many people find a suitcase to be more convenient. Remember that different things work for different people, and the important thing is to pick the best option for you. To help you decide, you can check out this useful guide on the best travel bags.
Be prepared to face challenges
Finally – be prepared to face challenges. It is unlikely that things will run smoothly throughout your trip. Even if you have planned your itinerary down to the last degree, things may still go wrong at some point or another. Whether this is a missed flight, having items lost or stolen, or coming down with a serious episode of food poisoning. The best thing you can do is plan for these scenarios by having quality travel insurance in place, getting the recommended vaccinations before you travel, and keeping an open mind. The most important thing is to enjoy yourself and have a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
