As you plan your RTW whirlwind tour, eventually comes the time to create your country dream wish. While every young traveler would love to see all 195 countries in one go, probably more logical to breaker up your 12-months into bite size pieces.
1st, start deciding on a departure date. This gives you a clear goal and lets your family/friends know you are serious.
2nd, start deciding what continents and in what order.
- South America-Europe-Asia
- South America- Africa-Asia
- Europe-Asia-Australia
- etc
3rd, start choosing countries. Create a wish list alone or with your travel partner(s). There are a lot of countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, what must you see? what can you skip?
4th, start researching airfares. RTW ticket vs. A La Carte?
Huge debates are raised about which one is best for you. Here are some PRO-CON‘s for a RTW ticket.
PRO
- Your main travel legs are already paid
- Flights leave from major international hubs
- Tickets are good for 12 months and allow for some flexibility
- Some countries require proof of departure ticket
- You do not have to fly in and out of the same cities
CONS
- Flights usually must go in one direction, Eastward or Westward
- Some tickets have mileage/continent limits and can hamper your travel plans
- Tickets are very expensive, upwards of $4-6k
- Don’t have the freedom to dramatically change your itinerary
- What if you find yourself extending your trip past 12 months?
Well, you don’t have to decide today, most people buy their RTW ticket about 2 months before departure, this is the point when there is no turning back.
5th, start mapping your route to the seasons. why? Does anyone ever want to go see Moscow in February or visit India during monsoon season? *Remember that the Southern hemisphere has the opposite season than the North, so in December, they are in Summer.
6th, start looking into what countries that are your ‘must sees’ need visas. Russia is very picky about what they require, others can be gotten at US embassies, some simply by picking one up at the border is acceptable.
7th, start investigating what shots you will need. What countries are a risk for Hep A or Japanese Encephalitis? If you stick to 1st world countries only, I wouldn’t stress it. But if you plan on spending time in jungles, slums, or places with questionable sanitation, good idea to get your shots.
8th, start budgeting what you think your average daily spend will be (excluding major travel) based on the countries you have picked. How much does a stay in a hostel or guest house cost? Food costs? Incidentals? Tours? Bars? Internet?
9th, start saving. In addition to your daily cost, you’ll need to add in your airfare, either RTW ticket or a la carte. Also figure in an extra 20% for emergencies. There are some nice spreadsheets on budgeting from Go Backpacking.
PLEASE NOTE: My itinerary has since changed since this post was written due to some unforeseen circumstances (lost my 2 travel partners). Please see my new post: Around the World Travel. Part 14 (New itinerary)
On a RTW (round the world) ticket also ask if there are fees involved in changing dates of departure. Those costs can add up quickly.