Thinking about going on a Round the World adventure?
Great idea!
Here are the things we wish we’d known before we started ...
1. Start early. Very early.
We started doing research and thinking and talking about our trip 9 months before we wanted to leave, and it was only just enough time. It’s a massive undertaking, don’t sell yourself short of the joy of planning.
2. Chat to a travel agent.
Right in the beginning, so you know before you start researching if your route is possible. There are all kinds of rules about round the world trips, including flight segments, direction and number of continents. Get the lowdown early.
3. Ask everyone you know.
First hand advice is so much better than guidebook or website advice. Ask all your friends, and all their friends, and anyone you happen to meet casually, about the places you’re going to visit. And then write down what they say before you forget!
4. Put all the info in one folder.
Knowing what your cousin and that guy you met and your best friend’s mom said about a place is one thing. Being able to find it when you’re planning your route is entirely another. Start compiling a file or folder of ideas, hints, suggestions and places you want to see, and order it by country.
5. Read as much as you can.
Travel guides, websites and novels set in the countries you want to visit are all valuable tools to get you in the traveling zone. Novels are often particularly fun because they give an evocative view of the country…. But websites are handy too. We particularly enjoyed www.lonelyplanet.com - with all the info you’d expect from a guidebook (though not particularly in depth) and www.virtualtourist.com - with personal reviews of every city.
6. Choose a theme.
The world is a massive place, full of all kinds of exciting, interesting and fun places to visit. Choosing a theme for your trip, no matter how broad, will help you narrow down your choices, at least in the beginning. What are you most interested in – History? The arts? Nightlife? Beaches? Let your interests guide you on your way.
7. Decide how fast or slow you want to go.
We’re going for quick and tasty – 2 to 3 weeks in each country, but only going to a few cities or spots in each. We want a taste of each country so that we know if we want to return for longer at a later date. And because of that we have time to go to lots and lots of countries. Others prefer the slow-brewed approach – 6 weeks in one country and then they have a really solid idea of what it’s like. Which one you choose is up to you, but it will have a big influence on your planning.
8. Figure out your travel.
Funnily enough, just because you have a round the world ticket doesn’t mean you’ll be able to fly everywhere you want. Some airlines don’t fly to smaller places, and you might run out of available flight legs. If you do, it’s handy to look for cheaper alternatives. Our favourites were:
Seat Sixty-One -
http://www.seat61.com
An amazing website with all the train and ship info you could ever wish for, including details like train schedules, ticket prices, and where to get tickets.
Air Asia -
http://www.airasia.com
They say they’re the world’s best low-cost airline. They might well be. With flights all over Asia for much less than you’d expect, they’re the perfect way to traverse the continent.
Fare Compare -
http://www.farecompare.com
Fare Compare compares prices between various airlines, offering you what they say is the cheapest deal. While it might not be the absolute cheapest, it is a great way to figure out if planes fly between two points, or if you need to find alternative transport.
9. Scour travel sections.
Not only in travel magazines, which are helpful but perhaps somewhat generic. We had a great time reading the TIME magazine Global Adviser sections, which offer all kinds of quirky hotspots you wouldn’t otherwise find out about.
10. Plan carefully.
There’s nothing worse than being exhausted on holiday, and feeling like you have to have a good time. Travel weariness is inevitable, especially on a round the world trip, so to avoid becoming jaded and exhausted, make sure you pencil in rest days. Days when you can just lie down and watch TV, or read a book, or catch up on your email. Nothing days, with absolutely no touristing allowed. Also make sure you pencil in travel days – if you want to spend a week somewhere, don’t imagine you’re going to travel, arrive, and sightsee all in one day. Set aside a whole day for traveling and you won’t get stressed if there are any delays.
