Exploring the world is very different to taking a relaxing vacation to some sunny resort by a private beach. There’s so much to plan and so many precautions to take. This isn’t meant to sound like the “fun police” sucking the excitement out of your travels. In fact, it’s the opposite. If you want to have fun on your journey then you should do all the boring planning and preparations for your trip before you go. That way, you’ll know you’ve already considered the major aspects of your schedule before you even get on the plane. Here’s some useful travel advice for first-time round-the-world explorers.
Do your research.
Before visiting any destination, you should do your research. That might not sound incredibly exciting if you’re itching to get out there and start exploring the world, but there’s so much great reading material out there to help ensure you have the best possible experience when you go travelling. And we’re not just talking about this blog, believe it or not. You should always draft up a rough travel plan before you go exploring. Make a list of the places you want to see and the things you want to do. Your initial research might help you to find some hidden gems that you wouldn’t have thought to visit at first. After all, there’s more to capital cities such as Paris and Barcelona than the Eiffel Tower and Sagrada Familia, respectively.
But research is also wise from a financial perspective. You shouldn’t just leap at the first flight or hotel deal you find. Use price comparison websites to make sure that you’ve weighed up all possible options. You might be missing a cheap deal buried on one of the major sites. Additionally, flights vary in price depending on the time of year at which you travel. That’s well worth considering. You might also want to check sites such as Airbnb and Hostelworld. Hotels aren’t always the cheapest form of accommodation. Do your research to make sure you’re getting the best value for your money. That way, you can stretch your budget further and do more travelling. It’s a win-win situation.
Stay safe.
It goes without saying, but staying safe is important on a round-the-world trip. Whether you travel solo or with friends, you’ll end up meeting new people and getting support from others. However, it’s still easy to get in trouble if you don’t have a smart plan of action for your journey. As mentioned in the previous point, you should do your research. Make sure you know where you’re going. Don’t let taxi drivers take detours to extort more money out of you, for example. As a tourist, you need your wits about you on your trip. You might also want to look into legal options if you get injured while driving. Having a road accident is always stressful, but it’s important that you get the necessary financial compensation if you’re travelling and you get into a car accident. Staying safe and secure in terms of your finances and your health is essential on a round-the-world trip. You’re away from home, and you need a level head in emergencies.
Leave your comfort zone.
After so much advice about being safe and planning your trip, you might not have expected to see a suggestion such as this. But it’s important to leave your comfort zone if you want to truly enjoy your round-the-world trip. If you’re going to enjoy your travels then you need to broaden your horizons. That means you need to do things you never thought you’d do. Maybe it’ll involve climbing up the Harbor Bridge in Sydney or diving off the coast of New Zealand.