“I want to travel the world, where do I start?”… How many of us have asked themselves this question before? If you are anything like me, you have! Lucky you, I have the answer to your question in this blog post!
How many times have I heard people asking this question: “I want to travel the world, where do I start?”. If you have never traveled before, I get it; it can be overwhelming. And whether you are planning to travel for a year or just a few weeks next summer, I’m here to help you plan everything! After all, I have been traveling for years now…
Follow my 6 steps guide and start planning the trip of your dreams!
This post is all about answering the most asked question: “I want to travel the world, where do I start?”
STEP 1: DEFINE YOUR OVERALL BUDGET!
One of the most common mistakes people make when planning to travel the world is to focus on the destination rather than the budget.
Your overall budget is everything when it comes to traveling. How much money you have will determine where you can travel to and for how long.
So, first things first, think about your budget!
Are you using all your savings to start traveling the world? Are you planning to work while traveling and earn money along the way? There are a ton of possibilities for making money while traveling, so think about it and if you want more tips, take a look at these 13 ideas to travel the world and get paid!
STEP 2: HOW LONG DO YOU WANT TO TRAVEL FOR?
Now that you have an idea of your budget and know how to make money while traveling, let’s dive into the second step of your plan: How long do you want to travel for?
There is no right or wrong answer to this question.
Social media and the internet can pressure you into thinking that you have to travel for at least a year to make it count. This is absolutely not true! Let me tell you, YOU DO YOU!
If you want to travel the world for a year or more, go for it! If you have the budget for it, obviously. But if for some reason you just want to travel for a few months or a few weeks, you absolutely can! And planning your trip will require the same steps!
To determine the duration of your trip, here are the two most important things to take into account:
- Your budget and how much money you have available.
- Your situation: Are you quitting your job to travel? Taking days off work? Do you have responsibilities back home that could influence the length of your trip?
Just think about it, and when you think you’ve found the perfect answer to your question, keep going with step 3!
STEP 3: PLAN YOUR TRAVEL ITINERARY!
Here we go with the third step to answering your favorite question: “I want to travel the world, where do I start?”
Soooo… Now that you have an idea of your overall budget and the length of your trip, it’s time to think about the destination (or destinations)!
Here is what you should take into account to plan your travel itinerary around the world:
- Cost of living in the places you want to visit: We all know that some countries are significantly cheaper than others. Choose wisely and take into account your budget and how long you will be traveling for!
- Overall safety and political situation of your destination: Unfortunately, some places are not as safe as they should be, and traveling there could be dangerous for you. Just do some research before picking your destination. You don’t want to feel unsafe during your trip!
- The proximity between the places you want to visit: You have to be realistic about the logistics while traveling. If you are only traveling for two weeks, it doesn’t make sense to spend one week in Eastern Asia then one week in South America. If you want to visit multiple places, try to pick places that are close to each other!
STEP 4: THINK ABOUT YOUR DAILY BUDGET!
Now that you have defined your overall budget, the length of your trip, and your itinerary, it’s time to plan your daily budget!
Be realistic about it and don’t underestimate your expenses, or you might encounter some problems…
Here are the daily expenses you have to take into account:
- Accommodations: Take a look at Booking or Airbnb to get a general idea of accommodation prices in the areas you are going to visit.
- Food and beverage: You can easily find food prices on the internet. Here’s how: Look up restaurants on Google Maps and check their menus to get an overall idea of the cost of eating out. If you plan on cooking your own meals to save money, check out local supermarket websites!
- Activities: If you’re on a budget, don’t worry; you’ll find plenty of free things to do all over the world. But some activities are a must-do and can quickly add up, so take them into account when planning your trip around the world!
- Extras: You probably won’t have extra expenses every day, but hear me out! There are plenty of unexpected expenses that can occur. You have a headache and need some pills? You lost your sunglasses and need to buy new ones? Or you just want to try a fancy restaurant and treat yourself?
Budgeting is everything, especially if you are traveling long-term! Sooo, to ensure you’ve thought about everything, keep reading and discover the hidden expenses of traveling!
STEP 5: DON’T FORGET HIDDEN EXPENSES!
Before you start packing, take a minute to think about the hidden expenses of traveling and make sure they fit into your budget!
Here are the most important hidden costs of traveling that you might have forgotten when planning your budget:
- Phone plan and internet: If you are traveling long-term, you might need to subscribe to a phone plan. Check the prices before you leave to have an idea and add this expense to your budget.
- Travel Health Insurance: You never know what could happen… And even though some policies are expensive, it’s better to be safe than sorry! Do your own research to find the one that suits you best. Personally, the one I love and use is Chapka.
- Transportation: Depending on how often and how far you are going to move, transportation costs can quickly add up. Take them into account by buying your tickets beforehand or just checking the prices. Don’t forget that for some means of transportation, prices will go up as you get closer to your travel date!
STEP 6: START PACKING, YOU’RE GOING TO TRAVEL THE WORLD!
Now, the real fun begins!
Your budget is set, and so is your itinerary. Time to start packing for your next adventure!
If you tend to overpack, take a look at these 5 tips to pack like a pro!