Around the World in 80 Days! Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? Maybe you fancy yourself an honorary descendent of Phileas Fogg, or at the very least his sidekick, Jean Passepartout. Those gentlemen are fictional characters, of course, but you can certainly take a trip around the world. And you don’t need to travel by balloon for the privilege.

People dream of taking time off and traveling around the world. However, most people put it off, thinking that the endeavor is cost-prohibitive and too challenging to execute. The good news is that this worldly adventure is within your reach with the right research and planning. Today’s global travel industry even boasts specialty companies and vendors that offer this type of trip.

Here is everything that you need to know about executing an exciting global trip that will make memories that last forever.

Itinerary

You will get the most out of your time and money if you plan your itinerary wisely. The first step in this process is to determine your must-see destinations and attractions. From there, you can devise an itinerary that hits all of your requirements. You might even choose a theme: wonders of the ancient world, perhaps, or the world’s best ski resorts, golf courses, or surfing destinations.

Do yourself a favor and be very selective about things you absolutely “must see,” especially if you’re traveling on a budget. The more flexible you can be, the more likely you are to find inexpensive ways to travel between destinations.

One key determination to make is in what direction to travel. Traveling from east to west is typically easier on the body in terms of jet lag. Slowly moving westward throughout your trip will minimize these impacts. However, travelers with a lot of time to devote to this trip will not notice the impacts as much if they decide to travel west to east.

Timing

The first thing to decide when planning your big journey is for how long and when to travel. Your budget and personal life circumstances will dictate how much time you should allocate to seeing the world. There is no right answer to this question. While some people can tick off their bucket list items in a month, other travelers want to be gone for an entire year.

After you have decided how long you are going to be gone, it is time to figure out what time of year you should travel. You will need to accept that it is unlikely that you will hit great weather in every destination, particularly if your travels take you to both hemispheres. The goal is to create an itinerary that provides average weather conditions that you know you will be able to handle.

Preparation

Once you have narrowed down an approximation of your travel dates, it is time to dive into the nitty gritty of the trip preparation. When choosing your destinations, be sure to consider personal safety. This means avoiding areas of conflict and choosing safe neighborhoods to base your stay. This is also a good time to ensure that you are up to date on vaccines for your destination. On a practical note, you also need to spend a considerable amount of time checking all of the travel document requirements. For example, will you need a travel visa for your destinations or will a passport suffice?

When packing for your trip, remember that less is more. You will enjoy more spontaneity and ease of travel if you pack light. There are a variety of tools that can help you with this goal, including packing cubes and specialty backpacking luggage.

Cost

Nobody wants to talk about the cost of such a significant travel experience. However, you will be remiss if you do not devote a good amount of time to working the ins and outs of your budget. Do not let cost be a prohibitive factor of making your travel dreams come true. With a little research, you might be surprised how reasonable such a trip might be, especially if you’re willing to stay in hostels. Don’t worry: “hostels” means something very different in other countries. They’re not just for backpacking students. Depending on the country, hostels can be a great way to see the world, without compromising on comfort.

If you plan on taking your time on your trip, you might look into securing remote work so you can work from anywhere in the world that has decent Wi-Fi. In today’s post-pandemic world, remote positions are becoming viable for many people in many professions. If a remote job is not in the cards for you, consider picking up work along the way to supplement your travel budget. As a bonus, living and working along the way will provide new opportunities to experience and commune with the local people.

Transport

One of the most challenging parts of a global trip is understanding and deciding on your transport options. Unless you are going on a global cruise, you will need to plan on some amount of air travel. Savvy travelers typically recommend a combination of transport options (planes, trains, automobiles, etc.) to provide you with the most flexibility as well as a more varied travel experience.

While you are researching your transport options, you will also want to decide if you should purchase a package deal or book all of the elements a la carte. Some people like to know exactly where they’re staying every night. Other are fine with seeking accommodations when they arrive. This is one area of the travel planning portion that you may want to lean on the expertise of a travel professional.

Have you ever taken a trip around the world? Tell us about it in the comments below!