7 Tips to Make your Round-the-World Trip a Reality

7 Tips to Make your Round-the-World Trip a Reality

1.      Do the big picture planning first. Rough out a year in full and plan to balance your trip time between expensive and less costly areas. Two months in Europe may equal six months in South East Asia.  Do some general searches first to find out cost-of-living and best weather options. Far better and cheaper to spend several months on one continent and to get a good feel for a few countries than rush-rush-rush around the world.  You will enjoy yourself more.  One thing that will probably happen is that you add to your list of places to visit and so your travel plans may grow.

2.      Read and research the areas linked with your personal interests so you are indeed a traveler, not a tourist. If you are interested in art, then focus on the major galleries you want to see.  If you are focused on an environmental issue, see where you can get involved.

3.      Figure out your biggest expense – transportation – first. One idea is to visit one or two areas thoroughly rather than flying from place to place. When moving from one region to another, compare round-the-world trips from the airline alliances with repositioning cruises, especially those in the shoulder season – typically spring and fall. Many people fly or cruise into the major city or port and then book their side trips with an agency when they get there.  These can be done by train, bus, car, boat, or plane. Sometimes you find the best options for the local trips when you are in the country itself, rather than online.

4.      With the above in mind, become comfortable with on-line technology and information sites. RTW travellers generally book a few months in advance, but not the full year. Even though you may be booking your big events with an agency, you will probably be booking some things online. For example, we always book first-night hotels through one specific site. Get familiar with some websites, and try them in advance, if possible. Far better to use sites from your home country or major agencies when booking your flights, for example, than from tiny airlines that could go out of business tomorrow.

5.      Assemble the electronics you’ll need – camera, netbooks, mp3’s, and connectivity devices. Remember you probably won’t have your current cell phone access if you are out of your country for months at a time. Set up your Skype and Magic Jack accounts at home so you work out any snags and can use them right away. Set up on-line photo storage or plan to bring a portable hard drive.

6.      Make sure you have credit cards from the two major suppliers, Visa and MasterCard, and that you cover the various interbank systems. We have found two bank accounts, one regular bank and one credit union works best. Call your credit card companies and advise them of your travel plans. Make sure you know all your PIN codes for both your credit and debit cards. Canada and Europe use PIN numbers almost exclusively, while South America and the United States still use signatures.

7.      Reduce or eliminate your home expenses, especially as you come close to leaving. This includes renting or selling your home and vehicles and putting your possessions in storage. Doing this may free up several hundred dollars of on-going monthly expenses.

By planning well in advance, you can go forward and have a fabulous trip.