Have you ever considered a trip around the world? A spin around the globe would expose you to many different cultures, languages, foods and lifestyles within a relatively short period of time. If you can take a hiatus from your job, you could take a month or a year to simply travel from place to place. The possibilities are endless; if you don’t have a lot of time, the fastest way is to fly, but there are other ways, too. Here are a few things to consider:
- Make a list of your must-see destinations. Once you have an idea of where you want to go, you’ll be able to see if it makes more sense to pursue an “around the world” type of trip, or if you should just go to, say, Western Europe this year and Australia next year. If you have destinations sprinkled all over the globe, then this might be the ultimate trip for you!
- If you decide to fly, compare the prices of taking an RTW (Round The World), multi-destination trip, versus booking flights individually. Using discount airlines and flying out of smaller airports might make the latter less expensive, and it could certainly add to the adventure. Still, if you need to worry about things like inconsistent luggage allowances and flying in small planes, booking many flights on your own might not be worth the aggravation.
- Consider cruising for part of your trip. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Holland America are just a few of the cruise lines offering transatlantic cruises, and Celebrity and Princess offer transpacific cruises. This is not really a way to save money, as the cost is usually comparable to flying, but should be looked at as part of the travel experience.
- You could also travel within the continents by land. Transportation options like buses and trains are popular modes of travel, and can get you quite far. If you are feeling very adventurous, you could consider ride-sharing, which is a safer alternative to hitchhiking.
- Think about what type of lodging options you’d like to consider. You could stay in luxury or budget hotels, in hostels or at campgrounds. You could also stay in private homes, either by previous arrangement with family, friends or acquaintances, or through a service like CouchSurfing.
- Be sure to look into the visa requirements for each country that you plan on visiting. Using a travel agent to book your flights for you will cut down on the amount of legwork that you need to do in this respect, but remember that you are ultimately responsible for making sure that you have the correct documentation to enter each country. Some visas need to be applied for a certain number of days before you arrive, and some will require vaccinations ahead of time, so make sure you understand exactly what is required before you finalize your plans.
If budget is not an option, there are cruise lines including Crystal, Holland and Regent that offer up to 104 day Around the World cruises. There are also Around the World by private jet journeys. How much is a 3 week private jet journey? Pirces start at just a mere $50,000 per person.
A trip around the world is so much more than your typical tourist vacation, and is usually something that only a select few are fortunate enough to experience. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, start your planning well in advance of your trip in order to ensure smooth sailing!
