Who hasn’t dreamed of leaving everything behind and traveling the world? It’s an exciting adventure worth experiencing at least once in your life, if you can afford it. But before you head off to the other side of the world, you first need to prepare.
Don’t plan too small, or you’ll have to deprive yourself and miss out on this unique experience, but don’t plan too big, as you’ll need to consider the savings you’ll need to return to ‘normal’ life.
A little tip for when you’re there, traveling: use a spending tracking app that offers multiple currencies: this way, you can enter everything you pay, and it makes tracking and sticking to your budget much easier. Check in every 2-3 months to make sure you don’t find yourself short even though your trip isn’t over.
Plan your world tour itinerary
Don’t make a detailed plan for every day, of course. The idea is to know the main stops, especially to plan flights, for example. The advantage of a world tour is that you can change your mind quite easily and decide to extend your stay somewhere or, on the contrary, skip a stopover.
If you’re traveling with several people, choosing can be difficult depending on each person’s preferences. Make a list for each person and then compare your preferences. Once you’ve narrowed down your top destinations, go online to websites that list the best time to travel to a particular destination. Then choose the ideal itinerary for your world tour based on the seasons and connections between countries.
Get a health check-up and necessary vaccinations
Before leaving for several months, it’s important to check that your health is okay and that you’re fit to travel. Depending on where you’re going, there may be mandatory or recommended vaccinations: be careful not to leave it to the last minute because you may have to wait several weeks before getting a second dose, for example.
Prepare your papers and other important documents
Obviously, make sure you have a valid passport for the entire duration of your world tour. Make photocopies and have digital versions. Don’t forget to find out early about VISAS and other administrative procedures for entering certain countries. If you plan to drive, your national license will not be recognized in all countries, so you must take the necessary steps to obtain your international license (valid only when accompanied by your national license). Of course, take your credit cards and inform your bank of your trip: this will prevent you from having your card blocked in the middle of Asia because the bank thinks it’s fraud!