travel around the world for 6 months

How Our 6 Month Round The World Trip Changed Our Lives (+ Tips!)

Considering a 6 month round the world trip soon? We’ve been there!

I originally published this blog post in early 2016, on the cusp of starting what we then believed to be a 6 month RTW adventure that would see us backpacking parts of Europe, Southeast Asia, and South America.

Fast forward 7 years, and it turns out that 6 months of backpacking the world turned into a full-time travel lifestyle that has spanned more than 50 countries and counting, entirely reshaping our lives along the way.

Our travels have truly been beyond our wildest dreams.

The decision to go backpacking for 6 months eventually led to us camping in the Sahara , learning to scuba dive in Thailand , climbing a volcano in Guatemala , traveling overland from Mexico City to Bocas del Toro, Panama, visiting most European countries, road-tripping on several continents, and spending a month or more basing ourselves in cities as diverse as Rome , Istanbul , and Cape Town .

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Eventually, we spent a year living in Lisbon, Portugal, and racked up enough long trips to Italy that we can say we’ve spent a year each there, too.

Oh, and we added our dog Ranger to our pack, and who also travels with us now!

For posterity (and, okay, primarily for my own nostalgia), I’ve saved our original post announcing our intention to go backpacking here, complete with all of the excitement, nerves, and anticipation that bleeds through it.

Toward the end of this post, though, I’ll share a little more about where we are now–as well as a few important things we would have done differently when planning a RTW trip if we knew in 2016 what we know now.

Table of Contents

Our Original 6 Month RTW Trip Announcement

What actually happened on our 6 month round the world trip, what we would have done differently, planning a trip.

I have written and deleted and rewritten the opening paragraph of this post at least a dozen times.

It appears that the words just aren’t going to come out right on this subject, but I am so ready to have them out there that I’m just going to have to settle for adequate ones.

Jeremy and I are leaving in May for a 6 month round the world trip.

In the internet world, this is not a big deal.

In our world, it is an enormous upheaval of our entire lives and everything that we thought they would be at this point, and it is an epic adventure.

In mid-2015, we found ourselves growing more and more discontent: with our jobs, with the beautiful house we had bought less than a year before, with our city, with the entire 8-to-5, double-income, double-commute, spend-the-weekend-recovering-from-the-work-week-while-also-squeezing-in-all-your-chores life.

We had already discussed and decided that we would work toward early financial independence from biweekly paychecks (I know, this trip is not exactly moving that goal forward, but hey–we’re not perfect).

Still, though: that was a long, long way away.

Several (for now theoretical) kids away. A lot of gray hairs away. And way, way too many congested commutes away.

We needed out. We needed gone. We needed a whole new lifestyle.

We needed (and yes, this is hopefully the corniest line I’ll ever type), an escape clause from the contract we had apparently signed after college graduation with suburban, corporate America.

From there, we started to discuss seriously: if we were going to redesign our lives, what would they look like?

Kids were a major theme for the future, but we knew that wasn’t a path we were in a hurry for.

Downsizing was a big one: what in the world were we thinking, buying a 2600 square foot house on a tiny lot that made us feel like we were drowning in space inside and claustrophobic outside?

Seriously, that decision now feels utterly insane.

Moving away from San Antonio was also a repeated idea–when we moved there right after Jeremy graduated college, we agreed to give it two years.

We love the food (breakfast tacos, TexMex, and kolaches are all pieces of heaven), but the city feel and heavy traffic was not for us.

2023 Update: turns out we absolutely adore cities, the bigger and more complex the better (spoiler: we very happily moved to New York City of all places). We just don’t like commuting in cities or living in car-dependent neighborhoods!

On top of that, of course, was our big, seemingly unattainable dream: travel.

Long term travel , the kind with a one-way plane ticket and plenty of time to wander as we please.

The type of travel that came with a loose itinerary, and the ability to make plans and decisions along the way.

Adding all this up, we cobbled together the vague idea of a plan: since we knew we wanted to leave San Antonio , we would sell our house.

Assuming that went well, we would take advantage of this transition period and leave on a round the world trip for 6 months.

After wrapping that up, we would return home and decide on our next chapter.

Moving back to our hometown is on the shortlist, but frankly, we’re a little gun-shy about making hardline predictions about our future at the moment.

After all of the discussing and what-iffing, the doing… well, the doing went exceptionally fast. Our house was under contract less than 2 months after putting it on the market.

Our first few destinations ( Spain , Italy , Morocco ) are outlined, with plane tickets purchased and some accommodation arranged.

I have triple and quadruple-checked our budget, and we are squeezing every last penny we can into it while also holding our breaths and hoping the money lasts as long as we hope that it does.

Now, we prepare, prepare, prepare–and wait (oh, okay, and go on an awesome 2 week road trip to Savannah , Charleston , and Atlantic Beach, North Carolina ). 

It took less than a month for our carefully-organized (read: obsessively overplanned) 6 month backpacking itinerary to veer wildly off course.

Years later, I can still remember the decision like it was yesterday.

Rather than double-back from the blue city of Chefchaouen, Morocco to Fez, where a pre-paid Ryanair flight was ready to whisk us off to… Milan ? Venice ? (I honestly can’t remember which), we decided to extend our stay in Chefchaouen once.

And then twice.

After almost 2 weeks in Morocco and nearly a month of traveling at a breakneck pace, we were already exhausted.

The prospect of the long, hot, bumpy bus ride back was just too unappealing for words.

Instead, we stuck around Chefchaouen for a while, and then headed to Tangier and hopped a ferry back to Spain, where we promptly fell in love with both the town of Tarifa and the joy of traveling spontaneously.

And, sure, yes, we lost one of our debit cards in Tarifa, only took about 10 photos of our entire week-long stay there, and one of my clearest memories of our stay is rejoicing upon finding an Old El Paso taco kit in the grocery store (our homesickness for TexMex never went away).

Importantly, though, the electrifying feeling of freedom and opportunity also sunk in during our time in southern Spain.

Here’s what our 6 month RTW trip ended up looking like:

6 Month Around the World Trip Itinerary

Spain ( Madrid , Toledo , Tarifa), Italy ( Bolzano , Lucca , Florence , Volterra , Pisa, Monterosso al Mare ), Morocco ( Marrakech , Erg Chebbi, Tinghir, Air Benhaddou, Fez, Chefchaouen).

Spain (Tarifa, Seville ), Italy ( Milan , Trieste), Slovenia ( Piran , Mojstrana, Triglav National Park, Bled, Lake Bohinj, Ljubljana), Croatia ( Split )

Croatia (Split, Hvar , Dubrovnik ), Bosnia and Herzegovina ( Mostar , Sarajevo ), Thailand ( Bangkok , Koh Tao )

Thailand (Bangkok, Koh Tao, Chiang Mai ), Laos (Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane ), Cambodia (Phnom Penh, Koh Rong )

Cambodia (Koh Rong, Siem Reap )… and then the USA.

Yep, after all that careful planning, we ended up not only making it to South America in our first six months of travel (that actually wouldn’t end up happening until early 2018, when we spent a month in Colombia ), but we also took a break before six months was even up.

As it turns out, planning that far into the future wasn’t our strong suit–and still isn’t.

We ended up spending a couple of months at home with family, and then a few days after Thanksgiving, boarding a flight to Mexico City that would end up turning into our six-month adventure of backpacking overland from Mexico City to Bocas del Toro, Panama –which just about brought us to the one-year mark of full-time travel.

After Our First Year of Full-Time Travel…

How we pulled off the next six years and counting is mostly a story for another day (hint: travel blogging is a big part of it, and is now our sole income source).

But, we ended up staying fully nomadic until mid-2020 when the global crisis finally caused us to (temporarily) hang up our bags.

At that point, we headed back to the Lone Star State and spent a year rebuilding our business while based in Austin (2020-2021), and then moved to Lisbon, Portugal for a bit over a year (2021-2022).

As of 2023, we are happily based in NYC (for now?) and continue to travel far and wide in our pursuit of living our personal versions of a deeply fulfilling life.

Overall, we are beyond thrilled with how our decision to go backpacking for 6 months turned out, even and possibly especially because we never could have predicted it!

That being said, we were still fairly novice travelers when we kicked off our RTW trip, and we certainly made plenty of mistakes along the way ( getting scammed in Marrakech is one memorable one).

Looking back, here’s what I would tell our ambitious, mid-twenties selves before they got started traveling the world.

Don’t plan too far in advance.

It took less than a month for our carefully-planned 6 month travel itinerary to fly out the window.

Today, we wouldn’t recommend putting money down on anything more than a couple of weeks in advance, unless it’s a bucket list experience that you’re planning your trip around, like a festival.

Be open to changing your itinerary.

Did we end up not getting around to a lot of things we planned to do on our RTW trip?

Most definitely–for example, we still haven’t been to Malaysia, Ecuador, or Vietnam!

Instead, we ended up with a lot of unforgettable experiences that never even occurred to us before we started traveling, such as scuba diving in Mozambique and chasing waterfalls in Chiapas .

Get rid of more than you think you should.

When we initially sold our house and got rid of most of our belongings, we absolutely did not get rid of enough.

Objectively, we didn’t keep a ton, but going through the boxes years later, it’s laughable what we thought we needed.

At this point, we’ve actually gotten rid of (almost) everything and furnished places from scratch 3 times (not including our pre-travel lives), and each time the “to keep” pile gets smaller.

If you’re planning an open-ended trip, especially if you’re paying for storage, keep only what is nostalgic or entirely practical.

Take more photos than you think.

During the last 7 years, photography has gone from something we use to remember our trips by to a component of our business, and as such we have an absurd amount of photos… but often not the ones we would like.

Take photos of scenery, yes, but make sure to put yourself in some of them, too.

Even if you don’t like how you look at the time, the years have a way of softening edges and turning a photo you were critical of yourself in into a priceless snapshot of your happiness at the time.

I also wish we had more photos of temporal things like bustling markets, restaurant meals, and dogs and people we met along the way.

Those photos don’t seem as valuable at the time, but they tend to grow in sentimental value with the years in a way that standard scenery photos don’t.

Buy a few souvenirs.

Because of the very nature of backpacking the world for six months, we bought shockingly few souvenirs during our first year abroad.

While we still consider ourselves minimalists and don’t necessarily recommend buying things in every destination, I wish we had a few more physical items to remember our adventures by.

We have exactly two surviving souvenirs from our first year: a carved elephant from Thailand and a vase from Nicaragua.

Were they impractical to carry? Yes. But we deeply cherish them both.

Say yes more than no.

Just a couple of months into our 6 month round the world trip, we visited Krka National Park in Croatia.

At the time, you could swim in the waterfalls there–but we were tired from a long day of travels and didn’t like the idea of riding the bus back to Split damp, so we passed.

Fast forward several years, and you can no longer swim in the falls.

I wish we would have said yes.

Most travelers who stick with it long enough have an anecdote or two like that–and the bottom line is, with the exception of incredibly dangerous things, people regret saying no a lot longer than they regret saying yes.

Pack less than you think.

Oh, how we agonized over our packing list!

From clothes to travel gear, we spent weeks checking and double-checking what we needed, trying to anticipate what we would want or wear, and making sure we wouldn’t run out of anything.

Honestly, we should’ve spent about 10% of the energy on it than we did.

It simply does not matter nearly as much as many travelers, us included, think it does before they set off.

The exceptions?

Prescription medication, and high-quality essentials that might be a pain or expensive to source abroad (like your backpack, camera, or hiking boots).

When it comes to things like t-shirts, drugstore shampoo, or flip-flops, though, you’ll find them for sale just about everywhere relevant.

Keep a journal.

I absolutely adore it and desperately wish I had kept a travel journal of some kind during that first 6 month round the world trip.

At the time, I thought blogging would be more than enough writing, but sharing RTW travel advice, or even stories, is simply not the same as notes you keep only for yourself.

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About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

8 thoughts on “How Our 6 Month Round The World Trip Changed Our Lives (+ Tips!)”

Best wishes for an awesome trip! I’ve done my traveling slowly, too, but in chunks – unlike you, I wasn’t smart enough to realize how badly I needed to see the world before I had three kids! Lucky for them, they got dragged around on a bunch of those trips, and now they have the itch themselves. Not sure if your RTW trip will take you places I have or haven’t been, but I look forward to seeing where you go.

Thank you! We are so excited–less than a week to go until departure now!

I think it’s awesome that your kids have had a chance to travel extensively too–we sure hope to do the same, but they certainly throw a huge wrench into things like 6 month adventures.

Happy travels!

So excited to find your blog!! I’ve always dreamed of traveling & so regret not doing what you guys did– taking months, even years, to see the world before kife, work, chires, marriage, kids made it seem so daubting & impractical. I had the bug early & at least was able to spend 3 months livong in Oaxaca Mexico before grad school started. Anyway—NOW way latter, separated, in my early 50’s and still raising my 14 year old son, I’m trying to make a plan–if it’s possible, for he & I to do some traveling. I am permanently disabled from my career so recieve a modest but stable check. Every month. Our plan of moving accross country in a couple years could be the time to put what little we keep in storage & go. He may finish school early at 16 or finish doing alternative on- line school. What are some of your best ideas to save money traveli g through Europe? Wether we do months at a time or 3 or 4 week trios then return….any udeas would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thank you so much, Ann! So glad you have found our site inspiring.

For our best Europe travel tips, including on budgeting, I recommend looking here: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/europe-travel-tips/

If you search “budget” or “trip cost” in our search bar, you’ll also find write-ups on budgeting in several destinations in Europe, including Slovenia, Croatia, Ireland, and Italy.

Hope you and your son have a chance to hit the road soon!

Do you have a blog post about your dos and donts for packing for a trip like this?!

I actually don’t! It’s on my list of things to write eventually, but my biggest advice is not to stress too much about it and to budget a bit for some clothes/accessories along the way (I still have very fond memories of my elephant romper from Thailand!)

If you search “Central America Packing List” on our website, I wrote that list during our nomadic backpacking days and it’s pretty close to what we carried for the first couple of years. We also have some general Europe packing lists that cover the bases on some of our favorite travel gear that comes with us everywhere (our current favorite anti-theft daybag, etc.)

Love your blog! My husband and I are planning to tour the world soon! Would love to connect with you on this! Thanks

That’s so exciting! We’re always happy to answer a few questions for travelers as they plan. 🙂 Good luck with your adventures!!

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The World on my Necklace

A Travel Blog by Katie Chavez

Our 6 Month Travel Itinerary: Oceania and Asia

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.

I originally published this 6 month travel itinerary in November 2019 at the beginning of what was going to be a 6-month trip. Unfortunately the last part – Nepal – was derailed by the pandemic (we finally visited in early 2023) but the rest of the trip was incredible and I wanted to republish this post to inspire anyone else that is interested in doing a similar itinerary. Enjoy!

I can’t believe I am already over a week into my big international trip! I have been thinking about it a lot the last few months, and realized that I hadn’t really told you guys what our plans were, other than a casual mention here and there.

Although I am pretty much always traveling – I am in year five of living nomadically – we tend to travel most of the year within the US.

Toby works about eight to nine months of the year building festivals and events around the country, and since July last year until April this year, I was going through the process of getting my green card, which meant that we weren’t able to do our winter international trip last year.

That’s why we are traveling for six months this winter, rather than our regular two-three months.

Now that Toby’s jobs are all over for the year and I have my green card, we are finally ready to do an epic international trip again, and we have been looking forward to this one for a long time!

So without further ado, here is our 6-month travel itinerary:

6 Month Travel Itinerary

End of october: hawaii.

I left the US to start the trip on the 29th October, and spent two nights in Waikiki to break up the otherwise long flight to Sydney.

I only had one day there so spent it relaxing at the beach, enjoying fish and chips and a lava flow cocktail overlooking Waikiki Beach, and eating Leonard’s famous malasadas – it was great to be back, if only for a short while.

November – December: Australia and New Zealand

On the 1st November I landed in Sydney where I spent six nights visiting friends, returning to my favorite haunts from when I lived there, and beach-hopping and hiking. I love visiting Sydney in spring because the jacaranda trees are blooming all over the city and it is so pretty.

From Sydney, I flew home to New Zealand – my first time back in 16 months – which is where I am now.

Toby was meant to be joining me here but we found out his visa was going to take months longer than we originally thought, so we changed our plans around, and I will be spending four weeks here before joining Toby in Asia, visiting friends and family in Auckland , Tauranga, Hamilton, Matakana , and Rotorua. 

Me and my bestie Kurt are also planning to do a little road trip through Taranaki, spending two days hiking the Pouakai Circuit in Egmont National Park, then visiting a friend in Tokoroa, and visiting the stunning Blue Spring in Putaruru.

December – January: Thailand and Laos

We were originally meant to be spending this time traveling around the South Island of New Zealand, but I am excited to return to Thailand to visit one of my last countries in Southeast Asia – Laos.

We start our time in Bangkok at the beginning of December for a week, where I have to get more work done on my teeth. Hopefully, we will also have time to explore more of Bangkok – there are so many things to do in Bangkok !

From there we want to visit Koh Kood, Koh Mak, and Koh Chang, meant to be home to the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, then after a possible return to Bangkok to have stitches cut out, we will fly up to Luang Prabang in Laos, working our way south to Cambodia.

I can’t wait!

January – February: India

India has been on my travel radar for a very long time, and we are finally going there for a month from mid-January!

The plan is to be super tourists and visit Rajasthan , Delhi, Varanasi, and Agra for our first visit, but as we have a whole month I am hoping we can get a bit off the beaten path in this region.

In Rajasthan, we want to take trains between Jaipur, Udaipur, Bundi, Jaisalmer, Jodphur , Pushkar, the Great Thar Desert, and Ranthambore National Park. If you have any other places we have to visit in Rajasthan – please let me know!

My Dad is going to join us for the whole month, and my brother-in-law is planning to meet up with us at some point too. 

February – March: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is another country that I have been wanting to visit for a long time and we are finally making it there! I want to travel all over the country, visiting historic sites, beautiful beaches, tea plantations, and mountain villages.

I am yet to start my real travel planning for Sri Lanka but know a few key places I want to visit including Kandy, Ella, Galle and Sigiriya.

March: India

As you can get two one month visas for India pretty easily these days, we thought we would return to celebrate Holi after our time in Sri Lanka for around ten days to two weeks.

I have heard that the Holi celebrations around Goa are pretty great so we will probably explore some of the more chilled beaches there, then head east to Hampi, an ancient village and UNESCO World Heritage site that is full of temples.

March – April: Nepal

Our month to six weeks in Nepal will be all about hiking – well mostly. I want to do at least two weeks of the Annapurna Circuit, if not the full three weeks, which will take us between mountain villages and stunning scenery in the Himalayas. 

I am also interested in doing the Poon Hill hike while we are there, but that will depend on how we are feeling after the Circuit!

Along with hiking the Circuit, I am also looking forward to experiencing chaotic Kathmandu and chilled Pokhara.

May: Hong Kong and Macau

We should be finishing up in Nepal around the end of April or beginning of May and looking to fly back to the US. From what I have seen, a lot of the flights from Kathmandu into the US are through Hong Kong , so depending on the state of affairs there in May, I want to add a one-week stopover there.

While in Hong Kong, I would also like to spend a day or more in Macau but we will see.

So that’s it, our travel plans for the next six months! To say I am excited is an understatement – it already feels good to be back out on the road.

If you are planning your own extended trip, make sure you get travel and health insurance. Safety Wing is my go-to and they are cheap and easy to claim with – it also auto-renews every month unless you turn it off so you don’t have to think about it.

Check out my Travel Itineraries and Bucket Lists for further inspiration:

• My Travel Bucket List for 2019
• My Travel Bucket List for 2018
• My Travel Goals for 2017
• My 2015 Travel Plans Revealed
• Update and my Travel Plans for 2014
• Summer in Alaska Itinerary
• The Ultimate Big Island 7 Day Itinerary

6 Comments on Our 6 Month Travel Itinerary: Oceania and Asia

This trip sounds amazing! I’d love to spend six months in this part of the world. Can’t wait to hear about all of your adventures!

Thanks – I am so excited!

Wow, I really envy you your Nepal plans, it looks so beautiful there! I hope you would have an amazing time there (and everywhere else). 🙂

Thanks Lucie – so excited about Nepal!

Happy and safe travels! Glad to see you’re back on the road this winter. I’ve been a lot more circumscribed this year due to moving costs and changing availability of work and things, so I’ll live a little vicariously through you!

Hey Lisa – great to hear from you! Are you still in the UK? Yes I’m excited to be doing a big International trip again 🙂

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Destinations

Experiences.

• Photography

Plan Your Trip

Plan your rtw trip.

Finding the right round the world trip planner can be difficult. This is first and foremost because many such tools on the internet are only for planning (and, in some cases, booking) RTW flights. The truly difficult part of planning a trip around the world is deciding where to go, how long to stay and how to arrange your trip, so the content deficit (let alone how rare it is to find a quality world trip planner) is frustrating for many travelers.

The good news? Whether you want to travel all around the world, or simply want to visit multiple continents during a single trip, this guide covers all the bases you’ll need to hit as you plan your trip.

Of course, I’ll also touch on the particulars of buying a RTW ticket, including a somewhat contentious recommendation on my part. I’m about to share a great deal of information with you, but I promise: Planning a RTW trip is much, much easier than it looks.

Booking Round the World Flights

Many a round the world trip planner (which to say, any airline alliance website create for the purpose of selling flights) will tell you that booking a single RTW ticket is essential for a round the world trip. However, I don’t agree with this. In addition to the fact that having a single travel the world for a year itinerary (even a flexible one) can lock you in on a trip that will be anything but predictable, it’s often more cost effective to book individual segments, particularly if you have some miles or points to play with.

Let’s say, for example, that you live in the United States and want to fly around the world westward. After taking advantage of a rock-bottom one-way flight from the US to Japan or China , you can take advantage of low-cost flights as you explore Southeast Asia and Australia , then gradually make your way to Europe (and from there, Africa ), flying to South America before returning home, often for only a few hundred dollars per segment. A round-the-world ticket, on the other hand, which often only includes long-distance flights, can easily cost between $2,000-3,000. And that’s without the fees you’ll certainly have to pay to change it as your plans evolve.

How Long Does a Round the World Trip Take?

Whether or not you work with an around the world trip planner, you should keep in mind that as you plan a round the world trip, the issue of timing can be surprisingly far in the back of your mind, particularly if you’ll be traveling to regions of the world you’ve never visited. While two weeks traveling through Japan or Western Europe can allow you to cover a lot of ground, it’s woefully insufficient in places like India , Africa or even much of South America. In general, it’s safe to assume you’re probably underestimating how long you’ll need to devote to your trip.

Broadly speaking, I’d say the best round the world holidays last a minimum of six months, though I have personally taken epic trips in a shorter amount of time than that. On the other hand, I’d caution against traveling for longer than a year at a time, as being away from your “real life” for such a period can have other impacts on your well-being, ones you might not be able to anticipate right now.

How Much Does a Round the World Trip Cost?

Another deficiency of many a round the world trip planner (which is once again to say a flight booking tool) is that it provides only a piece of the cost puzzle—your round the world trip isn’t only going to cost a few thousand dollars. Generally speaking, the average cost of traveling anywhere in the world is between 50-150 USD per person, per day, which means that a conservative estimate for the cost of the ultimate around the world itinerary for a six-month trip (without your “big” flights) is between $9,000-27,000. Not cheap!

Of course, there are ways to decrease the cost of a travel around the world itinerary, whether you manage to find the cheapest round the world ticket, take advantage of opportunities for free or discounted stays (whether you couch surf or do some sort of volunteer program) or simply keep your dining out and shopping to a minimum. In general, however, I’d recommend over-estimating your budget than under-estimating it, if only so you don’t end up as a “begpacker.”

When to Take a Round the World Trip

When you travel around the world will depend upon where you want to go. While most of the sample round the world routes I’ll recommend in the next section are fairly evergreen, some destinations are better during certain months than others, and planning according to this can influence the rest of your travel trajectory.

For example, let’s assume you want to see the cherry blossoms in Japan , probably the world’s most famous seasonal spectacle. Whether you choose from my round the world trip ideas below or commission a custom 6 month travel itinerary, you’ll want to arrange the rest of your RTW trip to optimize the weather in all your destinations. You might head to Nepal after Japan, for instance, to trek when the country’s famous rhododendrons are blooming, or visit Australia and New Zealand before Japan to catch the tail end of warm weather Down Under.

Round the World Trip Ideas

The best of six continents.

Most round the world trip planners will want to see the “whole world” on their trips—all six inhabited continents, and potentially even Antarctica. Regardless of where your RTW travel originates, the general path you will follow is North America-Asia (Australia/New Zealand)-(Middle East/India) Europe (Africa)-South America-North America, or maybe in reverse depending upon where you start and what time of year you’re traveling.

In terms of a general flight path, this might look something like the following: Los Angeles-Vancouver- Tokyo – Bangkok – Sydney – Dubai – Paris -Cairo-Cape Town-London-Buenos Aires- Bogota -Houston. Needless to say there are countless variations, from a 6 month round the world trip to ones much longer!

Wonders of the World

Rather than taking a comprehensive approach (which can lead to a year or even longer on the road—again, not an option for the majority of travelers), you can start your world travel planner based on a finite list of world wonders, be it classic ones you find on an Asia trip planner like the Great Wall or ones you designate yourself, such as Barcelona ‘s Sagrada Familia church or Ethiopia’s “Door to Hell.”

Assuming you take a more classic route for your around the world itinerary, you might go about planning a round the world trip between wonders as follows. From Chicago to Beijing (for the Great Wall), then to Delhi (for the Taj Mahal), to Cairo (for the Pyramids ), to Athens (for the Acropolis), to London (for Stonehenge), to Rio de Janeiro (for Christ the Redeemer) to New York (for the Statue of Liberty). Again, this is highly customizable!

The Backpacker’s Trail

I’ve taken great pains within this round the world trip planner to be honest and sober about the cost of traveling around the world, but this is still a sort of trip that people on the backpacking spectrum can take. Specifically if you decide to string together affordable destinations like Southeast Asia, India, Eastern Europe, Andean South America and Central America.

For instance, if you’re seeking a cheap around the world itinerary, you might fly from Denver to Kuala Lumpur (via China, as Chinese airlines are the cheapest), then fly to Mumbai or Delhi for a month or two there. From there, head to Ukraine or Poland to begin a month or so backpacking Eastern Europe (I particularly like the Balkans ), before taking a flight (probably a multi-leg one) to Lima (where Peru and Bolivia await) or Cancun, from which can you head south to affordable Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua.

Five-Star Frolic

On the other end up to the spectrum for a world trip itinerary, travelers without a set budget can enjoy a round the world business class (or even first class) romp that pulls out all the stops. Rather than focusing on a set range of destinations, you can plan your trip based on luxurious hotels and experiences, be it a Tanzania safari from the opulent Four Seasons Serengeti , sampling award-winning in-flight products and services from airlines like Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines or dining in foodie capitals like Tokyo and Paris.

If you’re planning a luxury round the world trip, it makes sense to enlist the help of a professional (me or someone else), since the price of such assistance (usually between $100-200 per week of travel) is minimal compared to the overall cost of such a RTW trip.

Other FAQ About RTW Travel

How many stops do you get on a round the world ticket.

Whether you’re planning a 6 month round the world trip or plan to stay on the road for years, I am a proponent of piecemeal booking of air travel, rather than committing yourself to a RTW ticket. Therefore, I consider the number of “stops” permitted on such a ticket to be superfluous.

How do I plan a trip around the world?

Unless you are a very experienced global traveler, I recommend against trying to plan a trip on your trip. Rather, work with a professional (such as Yours Truly) to arrange a travel the world for a year itinerary. Or for longer than a year, or shorter—you get the idea.

Are round the world tickets worth it?

No! As I’ve expressed many times during this round the world itinerary, I am not a fan of RTW plane tickets. They rarely cost less; booking and changing them requires a pedantic phone call—or rather phone calls, since you’ll have to call in every time you want to make a modification.

Round the World Trip Planning

The best round the world trips are the ones where you get out on the road and go where the wind takes you, but that’s not realistic for most people. Whether because of finite funds or a “real life” you need to get back to, round the world trips require more planning than you’d probably like, even if you’re generally an adventurous and spontaneous traveler.

“So,” you might be asking, “can you plan my round the world trip for me?” The answer is yes, though there are a couple caveats. Because of the length and breadth of most RTW trips, many travelers want a more skeletal version of my typical “Travel Coaching” itinerary, which is typical extremely detailed and includes day-by-day recommendations. As a result, my pricing for planning RTW itineraries differs from what I’ve published on my Travel Coaching page , so I’d advise emailing me directly with any inquiries.

The Bottom Line

No matter how extensive a round the world trip planner you’ve been seeking, I’m confident that mine has met your needs. For most travelers, it’s simply a matter of learning your RTW flight booking options, assessing the cost of your RTW trip and deciding upon destinations and routing. However, others might want to hire a world trip planner (or a least a skeleton of it, which puts in place a broad trajectory) on their behalf.

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Nikki On Her Way

Travel more, travel better.

Our Once In A Lifetime 6 Month Trip Itinerary

28.07.22 | Nikki Gibson | 5 Comments

In August of 2021, my husband and I left for 6 months of travel through Europe and Asia. We made it to 18 countries on our itinerary, and lived out our dream of traveling the world together! It was amazing, and sometimes it truly feels like a dream to me.

I’m going to detail our eventual 6 month travel itinerary, how long we stayed in each place, how we decided where to visit, and the method that we used to plan our trip. 

When we left, we did not have a solidified itinerary for the countries we would visit. Armed with a list of potential destinations, we flew to Turkey as our first stop, and made it up from there! 

If you ever decide to do something similar to us (which you totally should 😉 ), you can use this information to help create your own itinerary! 

When we left, many borders were closed or very difficult to get through *ahem thanks virus ahem*, so we stuck mostly to Europe and ended up in Asia at the end of our trip.

But, that being said, we were able to stretch the $30k we had saved in 1.5 years over about 6 months for two people!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.

The 18 Countries We Visited In 6 Months of Travel

Table of Contents

Turkey – 2 Weeks İstanbul – İzmir – Selçuk – Ephesus – Pamukkale – Antalya – Cappadocia

Bosnia & Herzegovina – 2 Days Sarajevo

Croatia – 2 Weeks Dubrovnik – Trogir – Šibenik – Zagreb

Spain – 15 Days Mallorca – Soller \ Barcelona – Zaragoza – Bilbao – San Sebastian – Madrid

Italy – 3 Weeks Naples – Rome – Florence – Montaione – Cinque Terre – Ortisei – Fie allo Sciliar – Venice \ Lake Como – Milan

Vatican City – 1 Day

Slovenia – 4 Days Ljubljana – Lake Bled

Hungary – 3 Days Budapest

Czech Republic – 1 Week Prague – Karlštejn – Cesky Krumlov – Jiřetín pod Jedlovou

Austria – 10 Days Vienna – Salzburg

Germany – 11 Days Berchtesgaden \ Cologne – Baden Baden

Ireland – 9 Days Dublin – Donegal – Galway – Cliffs of Moher – Dingle – Cashel

France – 6 Days Paris – Blois – Amboise – Le Havre – Étretat 

Scotland – 11 Days Edinburgh – Inverness – Isle of Skye – Fort William – Glencoe – Glasgow

The Netherlands – 3 Days Amsterdam – Breda 

Belgium – 1 Day Bruges

Switzerland – 8 Days Chur – Lucerne – Bern – Engelberg

Thailand – 1 Month Bangkok – Chiang Mai – Koh Phi Phi – Krabi – Khao Sok – Koh Samui – Koh Tao 

This list is in chronological order of where we visited on our 6 month travel itinerary , with a few exceptions. We went to Italy, Spain, and Germany twice, but I’ve listed each of those countries based on the first time we visited. I’ve separated the visits to those countries with a \ between locations. 

READ ALSO: Why We Decided to Quit Our Jobs and Travel What 6 Months of Travel to 18 Countries Cost Us Travel Camera Gear – What’s In My Camera Bag | Travel Blogger Edition

How We Planned Our 6 Month Travel Itinerary

People always balk when I tell them we only planned the first 2 weeks of our 6 month world trip. And honestly, I can admit it does sound kind of chaotic.

Before we ever left for our trip, we had actually done a ton of planning for our 6 month travel itinerary. Just, not necessarily for our destinations or the daily activities we would do.

Rather, our pre-trip planning was mostly financial in nature (like setting up our Charles Schwab debit card that reimburses us for ATM fees anywhere in the world and racking up credit card points to use for free flights).

The rest of our trip was spent planning as we went. 

The planning process on the road looked a little something like this:

We would sit down after a day of exploring and talk about where we wanted to go 5 days from then, do some research about where to stay, what to do, and how to get there. 

Then, we would book our flights, trains, cars, hotels, etc. once we knew where we wanted to go.

It really was that simple! Sometimes you need to plan further ahead than that and book tickets for major tourist attractions or popular activities. But, usually you don’t need to plan very far out! 

As someone who has dealt with anxiety her whole life, I understand the need to over-plan or be hyper prepared. 

But, I will share with you that I felt less anxiety while we traveled than ever before, even when I didn’t know where we would be sleeping the following night. I found some sort of freedom in the flexibility we created.

How We Decided Where To Visit on Our 6 Month Travel Itinerary

Most of what drove our decisions of where we would go next was money and convenience. 

When we were ready to move on to the next destination, we would look at the map, notice nearby cities or countries, and then look up train or flight prices to get there. Likely, we would choose the cheapest option or the closest one, and go from there!

Easily the most important factor that determined our 6 month travel itinerary was cost. The cost of transportation, the cost of food, the cost of accommodation, all of it. 

We made a spreadsheet pretty early on into our planning where we collected all of our research about what it would cost to visit x country. I ended up putting some pretty estimated costs because it can be pretty hard to tell how much it costs to travel a country based on other people’s stories. Everyone travels differently, so you have to take it all with a grain of salt.

It’s better to overestimate how much it’ll cost to travel long term than to underestimate how much you’ll need.

I put in the estimated daily cost, multiplied by 2, and then multiplied again by the number of days we might want to travel there in order to give us a general idea of how much we might need for 6 months of travel.

This process helped immensely in visualizing the money aspect of our trip. I was able to see how quickly the cost could add up and how being frugal in certain places would save us money and help us to travel for even longer.

READ ALSO: What 6 Months of Travel to 18 Countries Cost Us 14 Simple Tips To Make Your Next International Flight A Breeze

Transportation

We traveled by train to a lot of places, just hopping to the next country over. For example, Slovenia and Hungary share a border, so we took a train from Ljubljana to Budapest.

Traveling by train in Europe is one of the best ways to get around, and is often very cost-effective, too. 

My favorite ways to search for available train routes and tickets are Omio and Google Maps .

Sometimes, flights can be very inexpensive, but you just need to look at the itinerary. Most of the time, those €15 flights are a horrible itinerary. Other times, flying was a great option for us, so it just depends.

There were some times that flying was our only option, like when we traveled to Ireland or Scotland. 

In other instances, where we traveled to next was determined by our family coming to visit us. We met up with my dad and stepmom in Spain, Colton’s parents in Austria, and my mom, stepdad, and siblings in Switzerland. We planned around those meetups and tried to make it a logical progression of our trip.

Make A Logical Travel Itinerary

You can decide where to go next based on a number of factors, but I believe the easiest way is to approach it logically. Not only will this be the easiest way to plan, it will also probably save you money.

Instead of flying around Europe in a path that resembles a 2 year old’s scribble drawing, travel in one direction and do short hops from one place to another. You’ll spend less time on trains or planes, and more time exploring. 

You’ll likely save money by doing this as well, as longer flights tend to cost more, as well as train tickets. 

If you’re traveling to multiple continents and doing a full round-the-world trip, the best idea is to decide a travel direction. Like, East to West, or vice versa. 

Traveling that way isn’t always possible and sometimes an awesome flight deal can be too good to pass up on, so don’t beat yourself up about it. 

It’s just going to make your travel planning that much easier, and will likely be the most cost-effective method of traveling. 

Bucket List Points of Interest

Before you ever leave on your trip, have an idea of your must do activities and must see locations to help guide you. 

We had a master list of places we were open to visiting, plus some must-do activities, like a hot air balloon in Cappadocia, the thermal baths in Budapest, or the Bernina Express in Switzerland.

Having an idea of what you want to experience on your travels will help guide your decisions about where to travel to!

If you’re looking for some incredible experiences to add to your bucket list, check out these blog posts and our YouTube Channel .

READ ALSO: A Magical 10 Day Trip to Turkey How to Get Around The Five Villages of Cinque Terre One Of The Best Things To Do In Switzerland: Bernina Express Train

If you’re planning to travel long term, you’re likely to run into a few different seasons and climates. 

We traveled with these carry-on suitcases , so we initially packed for one season and type of weather: warm. Because of that, we stayed in the Mediterranean climate as long as we could before Fall arrived. 

When we met with Colton’s parents in Austria, they brought us a suitcase with our cold weather clothes, and that’s when we made the switch to colder weather.

If we wanted to, we could have designed our trip around chasing the warmer weather, but we knew we wanted to experience Fall and Christmas in Europe. 

Not everyone will have people that will come visit and bring them a new wardrobe, but you can purchase clothes along the way and leave other items behind. That’s what we did during the transition season of Fall. 

You could also pay to have a family member ship you some clothing items in order to make the change between seasons, but I really think you can find good, cheap clothes in most places abroad, so make the switch that way!

Building an itinerary with the climate and your wardrobe just makes sense, and jumping back and forth between warm and cold just won’t work!

Once we decided we were going to Thailand in January, we sent clothes home with my family at Christmas time, and bought a bunch of clothes in Bangkok!

READ ALSO: What & How To Pack For Long Term Travel Packing For One Week In Europe, Summer & Winter 10 Tips to Pack Efficiently in Your Carry-On 10 Essential Items To Pack For A Trip to Europe

How To Get Around While Traveling Full Time

Transportation to, within, and from each country you visit will be different everywhere.

You may fly to one country, then take a train to another. For us, we made those decisions based on price. You may value comfort or convenience more, so you should make your decisions with that in mind.

In Europe, train travel is not only cheap, it’s also easy and efficient. That makes traveling by train one of the very best ways to get around in Europe. We also traveled by ferry, scooter, taxi, and by foot. Planes, trains, and automobiles!  

While in Asia, we found that flying is affordable and convenient, and often much more efficient and comfortable than other modes of transportation like buses or trains. That being said, we also traveled by tuktuk, scooter, ferry, van, and taxi.

Apps like Rome2Rio or Omio are super helpful when trying to determine the best way to travel to your next destination. They’ll show you what routes are available, likely cost, and transportation providers to book with.

In Ireland, we decided to rent a campervan , while in Scotland we rented a regular car for our one week Scottish road trip . While in Slovenia, we traveled to Lake Bled on a bus. In Thailand, we took a ferry to Koh Tao . It all just depends on your needs and your budget!

You’ll need to look at how you want to travel and what type of travel is available to you, then make your decision from there.

Plan Ahead Or Make It Up As You Go?

Your greatest asset when traveling for a longer period of time is flexibility. 

Now, some people need to have a plan in order to feel secure, and that is totally fine! But, I want to give you some reasons why I think you should not plan your long term trip out entirely before you leave home.

We chose not to set our itinerary before we left for our trip for this reason alone: we wanted the flexibility to change plans if we wanted or needed to. 

Imagine you booked a hotel for 5 nights, and about $600 in Barcelona, 6 months from now. You’re currently in Positano, Italy and flights are looking to be $300 one way. For some reason the price of flights has gone way up!

But, you have an ‘appointment’ in Barcelona with that hotel you booked months ago! You have no choice but to spend the $300 a person for your flights, or cancel your booking and not get your $600 back. 

If you left your itinerary open, you would be able to take a train to Florence for so much less and get to explore Italy more, then travel on to Barcelona later when it’s cheaper.

This may seem like a trivial example, but that’s just one of the reasons flexibility is important when traveling. 

I promise you’ll be able to find a place to stay even if you book at the last minute. There were plenty of days where we didn’t book a hotel for that night until the day of. And it was fun to be so spontaneous!

READ ALSO: How to Save Money for Travel – Budget & Save for Your Next Trip Travel Camera Gear – What’s In My Camera Bag | Travel Blogger Edition

Resources To Use For Long Term Travel Planning

Google Drive is my best friend and second brain when it comes to travel planning. I create tons of spreadsheets, dump my chaotic thoughts into Keep, track bookings with Google Calendar, and share all of it with Colton so we can be on the same page. 

For flights , I always use Google Flights or Skyscanner to find the best deals. They make it easy to search, and you can even track flight prices on your phone using their apps to keep an eye on the routes you’re interested in.

To book hotels all over the world, use Booking.com . There is no better website that does it all. In Asia, you can also check Agoda , but Booking.com is how we booked all of our accommodations in Thailand. It’s so easy to book a hotel right in the app the day of and have all the information you need right there. For unique accommodations, use Airbnb .

For travel planning , Wanderlog is my favorite website to keep my thoughts organized. You can plan a very in depth trip, or use it to brainstorm ideas and keep them organized. It’s free to use, and there is also an app you can download to your phone. 

For transportation planning , use Omio , Rome2Ri o, or Google Maps . You can find available itineraries, transportation options, and prices. Plus, Omio and Rome2Rio will show you what types of transportation are available to you from point A to point B, how much it would likely cost, and what provider to book with.

Of course, blogs, YouTube, and TikTok are also fantastic resources for planning and learning about travel!

If you’re planning a 6 month travel itinerary, or longer maybe, drop any thoughts or questions you have in the comments!

About Nikki Gibson

Nikki is a traveler, photographer, wife, and blogger. After she and her husband left their jobs and took a 6 month sabbatical trip to Europe and Asia, Nikki is writing about their travel experiences and sharing travel guides, tips, and tidbits.

Reader Interactions

February 12, 2024 at 4:44 am

Hi Nikki, My husband and I are planning to travel to Europe for 6-9 months in around 2 years. We are already planning and talking about what we want to see and do and which countries. We are torn between actually renting a base flat somewhere (Netherlands or Italy) and then do trips for a day to 3 days to different places. Or another plan is to have a base for 2 months in three different countries and do our day trips as planned. What are your thoughts on this sort of planning? We will be (60 and 61 at the time we plan to leave) This way we can also immerse ourselves in a few countries for longer periods. I would love your thoughts on these ideas.

February 13, 2024 at 8:01 pm

Hi! Sounds like an amazing trip you’re planning! I like the idea of having bases as you go that you can travel out from. I think it makes this style of travel much more sustainable. I would think that having ‘regional’ bases would be a good way to do it! That way you aren’t spending a bunch of time backtracking if you are getting further and further away from your one base. Rather, you can go in sections. Sounds amazing! You are also welcome to email me if you’d like to chat about it more at [email protected]

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6 Month Around The World Itinerary

* INSIDER TIP:   Check out our Around The World Itineraries and combine them for an unlimited time around the world. Use our tips to Enter and Exit the itinerary.

Looking for a 6 Month Around The World Itinerary. Look no further. We’ve updated our 2024 6 Month Around The World Itinerary for every region in the world.

Quite simply, we have done all the work for you !

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Round the World How-To

Inside: the ultimate guide to planning a dream vacation around the world, from rtw tickets to choosing your bucket list itinerary..

Let’s face it, the pandemic was a punch to the gut for travel lovers around the world.

Never did I think I’d see a day when I couldn’t just bebop onto a transatlantic flight. Or just, say, leave my own home. But there we were.

When I (literally) dusted off my passport in early 2021, the thin layer of dust accumulated was borderline soul crushing.

But fear not dear globetrotters, the pandemic era is finally in the rear view mirror and international travel has rebounded with a heart-warming zeal!

So now what?

You’ve got some lost time to make up for, that’s what.

And there’s no better way to do it than with a life-changing, Bucket-List-crushing, dream vacation around the world .

Take my word for it…I’ve done 10 around the world trips, visiting more than 175 countries on all 7 continents along the way. And you can, too.

But I probably don’t need to waste my time selling you on the idea of a trip around the world. You found this site. I suspect you’re on board.

So let’s start with the basics.

What is a Round the World Trip?

Simply put, a Round the World (RTW) trip is a circumnavigation of the globe, either in an eastward or westward direction. Start in one city and continue east or west until you get back to it. That’s all there is to it!

Tip: West is best for combatting jetlag, while east saves time and hotel nights ($$) with overnight flights. (I’m cheap and usually short on time, I fly east. )

Read More: 8 Reasons to Stop Dreaming & Start Planning a Trip “Around the World in 30 Days “

Of course, while the concept of round the world travel is simple, the variables are far more complex.

For example, you may be wondering…

How many days do I need for a RTW trip?

What you’ve probably seen on YouTube and Instagram from round the world travelers is true.

Most quit their jobs, sell their possessions, and hit the road for a year or more with big dramatic flair. Of course, that kind of nomadic commitment is not for everyone.

And I’m living proof that there are other options.

My first 9 RTW trips were approximately 30 days each. The lone exception was RTW #10, my honeymoon , which clocked in at a pretty incredible 3 months.

I’ve also done 30-day trips focused on various regions of the world like Europe , Central America , Oceania , the Balkans , and the Himalayas (a great option if there’s a specific part of the world that interests you or you just hate jetlag).

For me, a month is the ideal amount of time to travel.

Long enough to truly disconnect and explore. Yet short enough that I’m unlikely to throw my carry-on (we’ll get to that) suitcase out the nearest train window because I’m tired of every single thing in it.

There’s no right answer to how long your round the world trip should take. I know someone who went around the world in 5 days (zero stars, do not recommend) and someone else who started 10 years ago and is still going strong.

So, two weeks, a month, or even 6 months to travel around the world? It’s totally up to you.

The bottom line: Take as much time as you can, anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months will do. If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that you never know if you’ll have the chance to do it again.

A trip around the world sounds amazing, but how do I get the time off?

When I wrote the first edition of The Grown-Up’s Guide to Globetrotting 11 years ago, this topic was a central focus and the largest hurdle to taking a career-friendly trip around the world. After all, most Americans are stuck with a measly 2 weeks of annual vacation leave (the horror!).

So, how do you travel the world without tanking your career?

Amazingly, on this front, the COVID-19 pandemic gifted us with one gleaming silver lining:

WORK. FROM. HOME.

Yes, even the stuffiest of Fortune 500 corporations have finally come around to the idea that work from home can (and does) work – with the right employee.

This revelation is especially thrilling to me as someone who has been working from home (combined with business travel) for more than 20 years.

In fact, my friends will tell you that my life mantra has always been:

If you can work from home, you can work from Rome. Jenny McIver Brocious

Or Paris. Or Bangkok. Or wherever floats your boat. You get the idea.

There’s a lot more to making this work successfully from exotic locales – time zone challenges, reliable internet, etc. (I go into that in detail in the book) – but I can assure you, it can be done. And it beats the pants off working from your dining room table.

The bottom line: You can use the WFH option to increase your available time for travel. Add days or weeks onto your trip or schedule a trip just to work from somewhere inspiring.

What’s on your Bucket List?

And now we come to the fun part. This is where the magic happens.

Where in the world do you want to go?

I speak from experience when I say that there are few things more thrilling than sitting down in front of a giant foldout map of the world and plotting out your dream vacation .

Maybe you already have a dozen exotic destinations in mind. Or maybe there are places in the world you never considered visiting because they always seemed too far away.

The beauty of going around the world is that the entire world becomes just a short flight away.

How many destinations should I choose?

The answer will directly correlate to how much time you plan to take. My month-long trips have ranged from an uber-ambitious 15 stops on Round the World #1 to a more relaxed pace with 8 stops on Round the World #2 .

Here’s a simple, 3-step plan to crafting your round the world itinerary:

• Make your wish list.
• Compare it to the number of days you have to travel.
• Adjust accordingly.

Critically evaluate how long you actually need to see each place on your wish list.

For some (like me), 2-3 days per destination can be a good rule of thumb. Devote more time to your “ Top 5 ” must-see destinations and maybe just spend one day exploring the city you only added to the itinerary because it was right there and you couldn’t just skip it (you laugh, but I guarantee a few of these stops will sneak their way onto your itinerary!).

Remember that a short-term round the world trip, however incredible, is not going to be an in-depth cultural experience at every stop. Think more Amazing Race and less Under the Tuscan Sun .

It IS, however, a terrific way to get a taste of new and exciting places and start building a new wish list for future trips.

Depending on your interest level, you may not need a week to see the Pyramids , I did it in an afternoon and it was magnificent. A full day at the Taj Mahal and a morning walk along the Great Wall of China were enough to fulfill my dream of seeing those world wonders.

But that’s me. And I’ve been told I can be a little, ah, overly-energetic when I travel. You do you.

Need some destination inspiration? Here are 30 of my favorite travel experiences around the world:

Around the World in 30 Extraordinary Travel Experiences

And here are the Top 50 places I think should be on every Bucket List:

50 Amazing Places for Your Travel Bucket List (2024)

Round the World Flights: The RTW Ticket (your new best friend)

I am fortunate that my years of excessive business travel have one nifty little side benefit, I have a crap ton of airline miles.

So when I discovered the magical world of “ Round the World airline tickets ” years ago, those Delta miles not only afforded me the opportunity to take that first RTW trip but to take it in first class with Delta’s Skyteam Alliance.

Sadly, the days of booking a RTW ticket with miles went the way of the dodo bird in 2015. I won’t lie to you, I wept openly when Delta first announced it (followed quickly by United and American).

But all is not lost if you’ve been hoarding miles like pandemic toilet paper. All major US airlines now allow one-way award booking. Meaning you can still use your miles to route yourself around the world, one one-way flight at a time!

And honestly, the old mileage RTW tickets were a deal but they were a BEAR to book and had zero flexibility. One-way award booking gives you a ton more flexibility plus the option to mix economy and business class legs (for longer flights) on your journey. This is a BIG perk.

Here are a few more tips for you “ Up in the Air ” business travelers out there with miles & points to burn:

How to Use Points & Miles to Redeem Your RTW Dream

No miles, no problem

Two of the three major airline alliances do still offer paid RTW ticket options. Delta’s Skyteam Alliance is the exception, they discontinued the RTW ticket option completely a few years ago. The airline alliance RTW tickets are not cheap and you’ll spend extra time connecting through hub cities but you can earn a ton of miles as you travel.

If that option interests you, start here:

• Oneworld – World Travel (American, Alaska)
• Star Alliance – Round the World (United)

The affordable RTW ticket…

If redeeming (or earning) miles isn’t your jam and you truly just want the most affordable way to see the world, skip the airline alliances and head straight to:

• Airtreks – This site is more service oriented, you enter a proposed itinerary and a travel planner will contact you to create the perfect customized itinerary.
• BootsnAll – This one is more DIY. You can create and book an itinerary yourself online.

Unlike the airline alliances, these two round the world airfare specialists utilize all airlines to create your dream itinerary. This will often yield both the best price and the most direct routing for your trip.

WARNING: Once you start playing around with the trip planners on these two sites, you may become addicted to the global possibilities.

Tip: You guessed it, I’ve covered all the ins and outs of booking RTW tickets in the book.

Hotels vs. Airbnb – Where to stay?

Once again business travel rewards can be handy when planning a round the world trip.

My Marriott and Hilton points have been offsetting the costs of my round the world trips for years. Not to mention affording me swank rooms at hotels and resorts that were WAY outside of my round the world budget, like these:

But if you don’t have points, not to worry! I am a firm believer that a quality, affordable hotel can always be found, even in the most expensive destinations. My go-to hotel site (when I’m not using points) is Booking.com .

Tip: If you’re not a member of any hotel frequent guest programs, sign up for all of them before you go. It’s free and you’ll earn points as you travel. Many also offer perks during your stay, just for being a member.

If you’re not a fan of chain hotels or if you’re going to be in one spot for more than 3 or 4 days, I’d highly recommend an apartment rental. They can be considerably cheaper than even the most economical hotel and having a kitchen can be a tremendous cost-saver as well. Not to mention it’s just fun to live more like a local!

One of my favorite apartment rental sites is Airbnb but I’ve also found that more and more apartment rentals are also listed on Booking.com (and the fees there are often cheaper than Airbnb). That said, I’ve booked with Airbnb all over the world (including the Tuscan villa we used for our wedding – below!) and never had a bad experience. If you haven’t yet rented through Airbnb, click here for my discount code. You’ll get $40 off your first rental and, when you book, I’ll get $20 off my next rental…that’s a win-win!

Who should I travel with on an around the world trip?

If you’re married, it would probably be rude to go without your spouse (try it at your own marital peril).

But if you’re single, this is a question that deserves serious consideration. If you’ve never traveled solo, your gut instinct may be to find a friend or family member to travel with.

But before you do that, consider this…

A solo trip around the world is perhaps the best gift you can ever give yourself, especially for women. It’s empowering, it’s safe and it just might be the best travel experience of your life.

Read More: Why Every Woman Should Travel the World Solo (at Least Once) & How to Stay Safe Doing It

No matter what you decide, choose carefully.

How to pack (carry on only!) for an around the world trip

Yes, you read that right. I just casually floated the idea of traveling around the world for a month or longer with nothing but a carry-on bag.

If you’re a guy, you were probably not at all alarmed by the previous paragraph and thought, “ Couple of t-shirts, some shorts, underwear, got it. ” You can scroll down to the next topic, this section is not about you.

Now, for my globetrotting ladies. I’m going to ask you to trust me on this one (we’ve known each other for 10 or 15 minutes now and I feel like you get me).

With so many flights involved in a RTW trip, carry-on is truly the only option.

Reuniting with a lost bag can quickly become a logistical nightmare when you’re changing cities every few days. (And I can assure you that no one at the lost baggage desk understands what “ RTW ticket ” means.)

If you don’t believe me you can read all about the one time I broke my own rule and ended up spending an entire day at baggage claim in Paris on Round the World #4 . (Actually, don’t. It’s mind-numbing reading and definitely not my best work.)

You can do this. You don’t need all the “ stuff ” you think you do!

(For the things you do need, here’s all the Stuff I Love most!)

I have traveled for as long as 3 months out of just a carry-on (and in case I forgot to mention it, I’m a girl!). I do freely admit, however, that I was over just about every item of clothing in that suitcase by the end. I also confess I checked a bag to Antarctica. Because Antarctica .

How do I do it? This excerpt from “ The Grown-Up’s Guide to Globetrotting ” is guaranteed to help you overcome your RTW packing challenges:

How to Travel Around the World with Just a Carry-On: A Girl’s Guide to Traveling Light

What else do I need to know for a RTW trip?

We’ve covered the big-ticket items – how long to travel, how many places to visit, with who, how to find RTW tickets, where to stay, and what to pack. So what’s left?

Well, a LOT actually. But hey, that’s where my book comes in (insert shameless plug here).

I’ll end with a hit list of other tips, tricks and things to consider when planning your once-in-a-lifetime (or maybe more!) round the world trip:

• Apps : For currency conversion, I like Oanda. And Google translate is also incredibly handy to have around.
• Thoroughly research entry requirements for ALL countries you plan to visit well in advance. Almost all visa applications can now be completed online.
• A good universal power adapter & converter is a must. More than one is a plus if you have lots of devices (and don’t we all these days?).
• Check with your doctor for any immunizations you may need for your destinations. I got the works before my first trip and haven’t had to worry about it since (other than the occasional prescription for malaria pills).
• Consider purchasing travel insurance, for a trip of this magnitude, it’s a must! Especially in the post-pandemic era. Here’s a good independent review of the benefits of travel insurance and the options available: 10 Best Travel Insurance Companies
• Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your planned date of return because all countries have different requirements on this.

And finally…

Get the Book!

For more comprehensive advice on planning your route, booking RTW tickets and everything else you ever wanted to know about traveling around the world, get the ultimate resource guide to planning a RTW trip (without quitting your job!):

Round the World in 30 Days: The Grown-Up’s Guide to Globetrotting

Now get out there and start planning the around the world trip of your dreams!

As Phil Keoghan says at the start of every season of the Amazing Race,

“The world is waiting for you!”

6 Sensible (and Not-So-Sensible) Round-the-World Travel Itineraries

Recently I shared five planning tips for creating your ideal round-the-world travel itinerary. A reader suggested that a few sample itineraries might make useful reading, and the opportunity to play around with RTW routes for a better reason than purely my own amusement was too good to pass up.

Vagabondish is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Read our disclosure .

For the sake of simplicity, I’m going to start every route in New York. I don’t live there, but I bet more readers do than in my current hometown in Western Australia, and wherever you are, you’re more likely to be able to adapt a route going through the US to suit your own situation. I’m using my favorite RTW site TripPlanner for the price estimates.

So to start off, and following my own advice, let’s look at some routes that include what I would call “sensible” destinations.

A Varied Route: Not Just Beaches, But Not Too Much Cash

New York — Barcelona — Athens — Cairo — Dubai — Bangkok — Sydney — Auckland — San Francisco — New York

For just over $3,000, it’s possible to get a RTW ticket stopping at places as varied as Gaudi-haven Barcelona, historically soaked Cairo (I hadn’t thought of Athens, but it got thrown in by TripPlanner as a free stopover), the modern architectural marvel of Dubai, and a stop in Bangkok which you could turn into a beach sojourn in a quiet part of Thailand. Getting home again could see you explore parts of east coast Australia and New Zealand before soaking up the San Francisco Bay atmosphere.

If you’re looking for variety, think big. Nobody says you have to stop at the biggest or most well-known cities. Many standard routes would head to London or Frankfurt rather than Barcelona, but why not head straight to the cities that really interest you most?

A Not-Overdoing-It Route: Don’t Squeeze the Whole World In

New York — Moscow — Singapore — Tokyo — Honolulu — Vancouver — Seattle — New York

Too much variety can be too much of a good thing. This route’s cheapest variant comes out at around $2,500, and I picked it using a handful of cities that have really interested me of late. Singapore and Seattle were free extras thrown in by the system — places where these routes would make stopovers anyway — but Moscow, Tokyo, Honolulu and Vancouver make to me a fascinating and relaxing vacation which also doesn’t need to last more than a few weeks.

A Cheap Route: Cheap Fare, Cheap Living Costs

New York — Shanghai — Bangkok — Delhi — Amsterdam — New York

For just over $2,000, you can get around the world with a few stops in the cheaper parts of Asia and one of the slightly less expensive cities of Europe. If you spend most of your trip in China, Thailand and India, or other areas of south-east Asia where living and traveling expenses are relatively low, you’ll have enough cash to enjoy a European stopover like Amsterdam on your way home.

A Summer Route: Don’t Pack A Coat

New York — London — Vienna — Hong Kong — Bangkok — Singapore — Perth — Melbourne — Christchurch (NZ) — Auckland (NZ) — Los Angeles — New York

This gets trickier, and we’re talking about a longer trip, nine months or a year. Say we start in New York in April — that’s spring in the northern hemisphere. Head to Europe for the northern summer. As the seasons change, enjoy the eternal warmth of tropical Asia, then when the southern hemisphere summer begins in December, head to Australia and New Zealand for a few months. Summer all the way, and you’ll have really cut back on your clothes packing by avoiding cold weather. But for a relatively reasonable $3,500, you’ve really seen a lot of the world in your shorts and T-shirt.

A Quick Route: Around the World in Much Less Than 80 Days

New York — Paris — Dubai — Hong Kong — Los Angeles — New York

While this is not really my style of traveling, I still think that giving someone the chance to see some very different corners of the globe, even if it’s only for a short time, is better than staying at home. You get the romance of Europe typified in Paris, a stopover in Dubai and an easy Asian thrill in Hong Kong, starting from around $2,200. This is the kind of route you could fit into a two-week vacation. I’m not recommending it, but if you can’t get any more time off, then it’s a viable alternative.

An Eccentric Route: Writer’s Choice

New York — Miami — Lima — Mexico City — Los Angeles — Tahiti — Auckland — Sydney — Ho Chi Minh City — Singapore — Mumbai — Delhi — Moscow — Frankfurt — Madrid — Casablanca — London — New York

Like I said: go wild. This is the ultimate RTW route I’d take if money was no object (it comes in at around $5,000). I’ve still chosen it with relative care about which connections are sensible, so that I don’t spend half of a year away sitting at airports.

Lessons From Itinerary Planning

If you sit down to plan your own round the world itinerary, be prepared to spend a reasonable amount of time at it. Over the years, I’ve looked at so many different routes — and thank goodness that the marvels of the internet makes this easy to do without the help of travel agents, who would never be patient with all my questions and ideas — that I have a good idea of the various routes that exist the world over. As you practice, you’ll get the hang of it too, and soon work out that getting in and out of South America is tricky and usually expensive, whereas hopping around Asia is usually relatively cheap.

Of all the possible travel planning you can do, designing a round-the-world itinerary of flights is probably one of the most enjoyable. Open yourself up to the millions of possibilities that exist. Take your time to play and adjust your route to see what else you can squeeze out of it — a few dollars saved, or an exciting stopover added. Enjoy your RTW planning, and then make sure you tell us about it so we can share the excitement a bit too.

Love those suggestions! I spend many-a-bored moment at work working and reworking RTW itineraries on AirTreks.com. LOL. Good day dream tool, to be sure.

cool article. Because of the nature of RTW flights you can also fit in some really great destination that would otherwise cost a lot of money on single trips, like Svalbard and Easter Island.

Definitely agree with you there, Mark. And hopefully now and again we can turn some of those daydreams into reality. Which of course leads to a whole host of other places we want to visit and more dream itineraries and …

After visiting Southeast Asia, I would definitely recommend replacing Singapore with Bangkok for anyone looking for a cultural experience. Not to mention it is way cheaper. Also, you briefly mentioned that South America can be expensive. How much more should you plan on spending to get there? Technically you are going AROUND the world in those scenarios, but you’re skipping an entire continent. I’ve never been there, but it seems worth seeing. Was there any more motive behind skipping SA, or is it simply just the cost?

Hi Dave, That’s true, I only headed to South America in that very last itinerary (the “dream” one at around $5,000) and the only reason it didn’t feature in other itineraries is the cost. For me it’s more practical as a destination where you head there and back, rather than try to include it on a RTW, unless it’s a really long trip and time/money aren’t so much of an object. Don’t get me wrong, there are a million reasons to get to South America!

I have enjoyed reading your articles and postings about RTW travel. My wife and I, cafe owners on the east coast of the US are in our 40’s-50’s are are hoping to take a long (2-3 year) trip around the world which would take us to a large number of destinations. What we are trying to understand and figure out is this: if, for instance you wanted to go to Europe and see England, Ireland, Scotland and then Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Croatia, Greece and on to Turkey what do you do regarding flights? Do you fly from country to country and use trains/buses/cars to get around to places within the country? Do you fly into one place, rent a car or use trains, and travel to many spots before flying out of another country? How do you think of those issues? Do you establish a base or travel from place to place?

You best and cheapest travel method in Europe is over land, via train. I’d recommend flying into a major city and branching out from there…Ireland and England can be visited via boat. It’s really a matter of time vs money. Perhaps you have both?

I like the “eclectic” itenerary with a few exceptions/additions. Can you give me some advice regarding adding Tanzania/Serengeti, Bhutan, Turkey? How much time would you allow for the trip as a whole, or for your trip? What would be a reasonable expectation of total cost?

Great ideas! How does this route sound:

Boston – Rio de Janeiro – Marrakesh – Paris – London – Edinburgh – Amalfi Coast (or Cinque Terre) – Dubai – Varanasi – Hong Kong – Los Angeles – Boston

It comes in at around $4000, so I’d be saving up for a while. I’m planning on doing this sort of thing my whole life, where I save 15% of my salary each year for travel. So, is there anything on this list that I should save for later, rather than stay for 2-3 weeks (which I plan to do for the RTW)?

Changed: (Parentheses are for the number of days I’d spend there.) This one isn’t definite, yet.

Boston – Edinburgh(5) – London(3) – Paris(5) – Malta(10) – Marrakesh(7) – Dubai(10) – Hong Kong(10) – Los Angeles(5) – Rio de Janeiro(12) – Boston

This route comes in at $3796 to $5200 an it’ll take a little over 2 months to travel. It might be just me, but I don’t think there’s enough variety, since Marrakesh and Dubai are together; LA and Rio are together; and so are Edinburgh and London. Anything I should add/subtract? I travel for any purpose. It can be exciting and adventurous or relaxing.

I’m not really definite on Malta, because I wanna add some Italy, but Malta is the cheapest for travel and a lot of people say they prefer it to the Amalfi Coast and Capri. And then for Edinburgh, I’m not really into haunted castles, but it seems like a cool place other than that.

i don’t know about this – but i for one wanted to do – SA (5) – Brazil (4) – lima (6) – Rio (5) – and after that i get lost because i want to fit in Spain (5) – Greece (6) – Turkey (6) – Jordan (4) – Russia (8) – trans siberian train (5) – and then even worse is i want to do cambodia (5) and vietnam (5) about 65 days – you think its too far fetched or is it possible within these many days – i am also wondering how these RTW flights be possible.

About to retire at age 72, still workout every day, am planning on a one year vacation as follows: September -mid December: NYC-Panama City-Guayaquil- Galapagos-Lima-(Have already spent two years in South Pacific-Aus-NZ) South Africa (3 weeks including Safari)- Morrocco-Brussels. THEN RT Brussels-Florida for the winter and to see family. Mid- March back to Brussels- 2 months rail Europe- Turkey-Dubai-Mumbai-Chiang Mai-Myanmar- Seoul- Tokyo- Vancouver and home in July for rest of summer (Have already visited China 4 times and Indian Golden Triangle, Thailand, and Vietnam/Cambodia) Would appreciate thoughts from anyone who has bothered to read thru all this.

Peter, I noticed in reading your post that you wrote December, 2013, yet mentioned getting ready to travel September so my thoughts are that should be preparing to go in the next couple of months or so. Is that right.

Then you mention stopping in Florida for family. I was interested because I too am just sort of retiring (run a small sole agent travel business) and would like to keep my hand in travel through a web blog while moving around the world.

Will you be traveling alone and have you researched that or have you done much of solo traveling before. If you are expecting to stop by Florida sometime in the future, and will have started a RTW, I would love to chat with you more.

Possibly you could return and email to me at [email protected] and we could chat. Thanks, Saundra

Thanks for a comprehensive list of itineraries, my wife and I did a RTW trip 10 years ago with Russia and Egypt NYC Canada and so much more. We need do it again but with 2 little ladies from Perth WA! Need to include NZ, Disney land, LA? London, ooh maybe India and China? Better still we could pop over for a cuppa and discuss?

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Our world trip – 5 continents, 28 countries, once around the world in 192 days

Travel is our great passion and we love to discover new countries and places. And so at the beginning of 2014 we had the crazy idea to just take a break from our long-term jobs and go on a world tour for 6 months. So let´s do it. After a long planning and preparation, the adventure began for us on December 15, 2014 in Iceland and took us across the Caribbean to South America, Central America, Hawaii, Australia & New Zealand, the South Seas, on to Asia and finally to Africa. Our goal was to orbit the world in 6 months, seeing some of the most interesting and important places on the planet.

Table of contents

Making dreams come true!

The most important thing ahead: our world trip was magnificent! Absolute madness. The best we’ve seen so far. The journey of our lives ❤

Making a trip around the world is certainly the dream of many. We just wanted to take a break over a long period of time, forget the usual everyday life, no longer think in weekdays and weekends, travel far away countries, get to know new cultures and experience extraordinary places and dreamlike nature. Everything was right for us and we could not have found a better moment: we are healthy, independent, have no obligations and have worked out the necessary financial resources over the years to make our dream come true. A mad 192 days lay ahead of us – packed with dreamlike experiences and activities.

“ We are gone and turn our backs on Germany for six months… ” – To say that and to put it into practice is certainly not an easy decision. There are simply too many reasons to oppose it. Reasons such as work, family, housing and of course the cost. But a break and a trip around the world was our big dream – and we were able to realize it together. So why a world trip?

In keeping with our thoughts on the world tour, Focus has the title theme in october 2014 in issue 41, “I’ll get out of it… The Dream of the Sabbatical” with very interesting reports on different dropouts published. You can read the report here.

Once Around the World – Our Itinerary

5 continents, 28 countries and once around the world in 192 days – that was our plan. We wanted to see the fascinating blue ice caves in Iceland, spend New Year’s Eve at the Copacabana in Rio, climb the Inca site Machu Picchu in Peru, explore the wildlife of the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, marvel at one of the seven new wonders of the world chichén itza in Mexico, stand in front of an active volcano in Hawaii, experience the Ayers Rock in Australia at sunrise, , running a piece on the Great Wall of China, releasing baby turtles in Indonesia to freedom, taking a selfie in front of the Taj Mahal in India, watching wild animals in the Serengeti… and so much more. And in just 6 months. A tight plan – but perfect for us.

The itinerary of our world tour took us across all 5 continents to 28 countries and about 50 cities. We flew 57 times and covered a total of 108,000 kilometres of flight. This is certainly not the ideal ecological footprint! But otherwise, such far-off destinations as Bora Bora or Hawaii simply cannot be achieved in a meaningful way.

Planning our world trip

Packing your bags for 6 months and simply saying “We’re gone” is more than exciting, but it also requires a lot of planning. One of the most frequently asked questions about our trip around the world was, “Did you plan everything or do everything spontaneously?” And the answer to this was clear to us from the outset: Excel, Google, Swoodoo, TripAdvisor and voucher portals are our best friends: we are among the planners 🙂

There are certainly many different approaches to a (world) journey: some just want to enjoy the free time and see where it takes them. Without great preparation, without time pressure. Just live into the day without knowing where you might sleep the next day. Others, on the other hand, plan at least roughly the goals and then look individually on site, where they stay and for how long. This is generally a good approach and certainly works perfectly if you want to concentrate on a few countries or regions and then experience and explore them all the more intensively.

Our approach was completely different: our goal was to see as much of the world as possible in the 6 months. 2 weeks in the same city, in the same hotel, on the same beach is nothing for us. There are so many beautiful places in the world that we haven’t seen before, and we wanted to take as many of them as we could during this break. That is definitely a challenge. And that can only be done with good planning. From our first spontaneous idea of a world trip to the realization of the first flight, we had taken a good 8 months for all the preparations. Talking to the employer, route planning, hotel selection, insurance, vaccinations and so much more – there was a lot to do…

Such an accurate advance planning is a lot of work – but has many positive aspects. On the one hand, we did not want to deal with where we are tomorrow, how we get there and where we can spend the best place to stay during the world trip. This was too uncertain for us, especially during peak travel times. Some flights (especially intercontinental flights) are often booked out quickly. It’s good to know how to get from A to B beforehand. And another aspect is certainly the budget. If you spend a lot of time planning, you can also do a relatively good research on which hotel or which flight is cheapest at what price and with which services. There is a lot of time spent planning this kind of time. We started with the rough planning of our destinations a good 8 months in advance and refined our plan over the weeks more and more… a lot of time that we didn’t want to spend during the world trip. Because during the trip we just wanted to enjoy 🙂

We knew that the exact planning could make it stressful, because we were bound to a rather strict schedule. And there can always be something in between (flight failure, weather, delays, illness, etc.). That was our risk. But until now, such planned trips with the necessary buffer in the right places have always worked quite well. And having such a large schedule is – with the dream goals – rather positive leisure stress.

The budget for our world trip

We had planned a common daily budget of 200 EUR for hotels, food, rental cars and excursions. However, flights were excluded.

200 EUR per day sounds a lot at first, but in some of our destinations such as the Serengeti, Bora Bora, the Galapagos Islands or Rio de Janeiro on New Year’s Eve. Also certain activities such as day tours, sightseeing flights and also diving can quickly exceed the daily budget. On the other hand, you can already find really attractive hotels in Southeast Asia for less than 20 EUR per night. In the end, you simply have to find a healthy mix that you can live with in the end. All in all, you should be able to plan quite well with your fixed budget and in the end it was a mix of “sometimes super cheap days” and then again “ohh, today it gets really expensive”. But it was also important to us to enjoy the time on the ground and to take everything with us – because in the end we might have regretted not having done this or that for financial reasons. After all, who knows if you will be in this place again at some point to make up for it?

Our travel arrangements

If you go on a world tour for half a year, there are a lot of things to consider and clarify in advance. Luckily, there are now a lot of helpful tips and testimonials in many other blogs and forums. Here, too, we have collected the most important questions that have occupied us in our travel preparations.

How long do we want to be away? Which countries do we want to see? How do we plan the itinerary? What is our budget? What does our employer say? How are we insured abroad? How can we be reached? What about running costs? Who takes care of our mail? Do we still need special vaccinations? What are the entry requirements for each country? What else do we have to do before then? Which suitcase is best? What do we take with us… and how much can all this actually weigh?

After it was clear that our employers would approve us a pre-funded sabbatical for 6 months, we first went to the rough planning of the route. If you have a world map in front of you and can simply draw a desired route for 6 months, it’s really fun. So just open Photoshop, load a world map and draw wildly on it 🙂

But as beautiful as the route on the map may sometimes look, it doesn’t always make sense. Our original plan was to travel first from Frankfurt to the east to India and from there on via Vietnam, China, Japan, etc. But after looking at the climate tables of the individual countries, these destinations were not the perfect solution at this time of year. Then we were looking for a way to get from South America to the South Seas and on to Australia. But there aren’t that many flights and a one-way flight can easily cost 1,200 euros per person. And although we would have liked to have seen the Easter Islands, this route was out of the question at this price. At the end of the world tour we had planned a longer tour through China to Tibet and on over the Himalayas to Nepal. But also this tour we had to take out of the planning, because this is not so easy with the visa for China (if you are travelling in the world).

So you come across some obstacles, which you should definitely consider in the planning of the world trip, so that you do not experience any nasty surprises afterwards. Apart from the 3 days of Iceland at the beginning, we had an average temperature of more than 25 degrees in the remaining selected countries – which is quite pleasant for 6 months. Funny here was the fact that the coldest place on our trip – according to climate tables – will probably be Las Vegas in February. We didn’t necessarily expect that now. It can get really hot in Delhi in June at almost 40 degrees.

Vaccinations – Precautions in good time

Before our trip around the world at BAD Health Care in Darmstadt, we received extensive advice on the necessary and meaningful vaccinations. Luckily, we’ve had some vaccinations through our previous trips. And what we still lacked, we have added. And the best part is that our health insurance company has taken over the (not quite cheap) bill without any objections. In the end, we had the “we-are-ascare-against-everything-vaccinated” package: yellow fever, rabies, hepatitis A, cholera, Japanese encephalitis, meningococcal, typhoid. In addition, we have equipped ourselves with malaria prophylaxis tablets.

In the BAD Health Center we have seen a very good travel vaccination card, which we do not want to withhold from you:

Packing suitcases for the world trip

One of the first questions for us was: suitcase, backpack or travel bag? A suitcase is usually very robust and practical – but because of the size and weight, we ruled this out relatively quickly. Then we had a look at an Osprey Sojourn 80 travel backpack with wheels, which is in itself very well rated. But since we didn’t want to do classic backpacking and also had our normal backpack with us, a travel backpack didn’t really make sense. In the end, we opted for a Samsonite Univ-Lite roll travel bag. It has a volume of 94 l and weighs only 2.8 kg. Practically, we found above all the “double deck” construction with the division of the interior with individually separated compartments.

The thing with the “How much can our luggage weigh?” is certainly the easiest to answer. With more than 50 flights, we are more or less guided by the airlines and their permitted baggage allowances. Many airlines offer 23 kg, but especially with the low-cost airlines you have to be careful. Here, the baggage allowance is sometimes only 15 kg, which is really not much. In the end, we packed with the goal of getting below 20 kg, which we did well.

Our packing list

The following things went with us for 6 months on a world tour:

➥ Photo equipment: SLR Camera, Canon EOS 70D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, Polarization Filter, GoPro Hero 4 & a Nikon Coolpix for underwater photography. Since the equipment was not quite cheap and a lot can happen in six months, we decided to take out a camera insurance from The PHOTO-ASSekuranz from P&P. For a whole year, this cost us just under EUR 67.

➥ Documents: Passport, identity card, flight and train tickets or vouchers, PADI diving card & logbook, international and national driving licence, certificate of international health insurance, copy of the yellow fever vaccination, credit card, extra passport pictures (for visa-on-arrival), US dollars in cash, list of important telephone numbers

➥ Utensils: Pillow, Travelsafe 12L, sunglasses, earplugs, padlock, suitcase strap, suitcase scale, neck pillow, sleeping mask, notebook and pens, sunscreen, cube cup, detergent, sewing gear, snorkeling equipment

➥ Clothes: compression bag/vacuum bag, quilted jacket, sweater/cardigans, fabric pants/jeans/short pants, t-shirts, dresses, socks, underwear, bikini/bathing pants, cappy, raincape, sneakers/sneakers/flip-flops, wash bag

➥ Travel pharmacy: Disinfection spray and wipes, disposable gloves, dressing material (mull compresses, patches, wound strips), antibiotics, pain pills, tablets for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever, sleeping pills, malarone, grippostad, ACC acute, ointment against mosquito bites (tiger balm), fenistil gel, pain gel, thermacare heat condition

➥ Technique: Camera bag, charging cable, memory cards, battery, spare battery, USB cable, laptop, smartphone, dive computer, external hard drive, iPod & headphones, power adapter, headlamp

Here’s a little time-lapse video of how we packed our two travel bags for the world trip.

Our travel reports

In total, we have written 171 travel reports about our trip around the world. From the start of our trip in Iceland to the end of the trip in Tanzania. You can view all travel reports here.

Our 360° Selfie Video

Every new destination was super exciting and exciting and captivated us. We have seen insanely impressive nature, got to know great architecture, new cultures and people and can observe many animals up close. With our travel blog, the many photos and videos, we not only wanted to share our experience with other people, but also to create a wonderful memory of the trip. Not a day goes by to this day when we don’t talk about individual anecdotes of our journey or look at a few more photos. They are memories that have been so deeply imprinted that we will hopefully never forget them.

We had already seen some cool 360° selfie travel videos before our trip around the world and wanted to have such a memory for us as well. So we planned to unpack our GoPro Hero 4 with selfie stick and shoot a round video in every special place. Sometimes it’s not that easy, but the result at the end is just an incredibly great memory that we still like to look at today.

The conclusion of our world tour

We have had a six-month world tour. After we had slowly got used to our everyday life again, it was time to draw a small conclusion. And, what was it like? What was your highlight? And did you get along with each other? These are the most common questions we have often been asked after our return.

The most important thing ahead: it was terrific. Absolute madness. The best we’ve seen so far. The journey of our lives. Making a trip around the world is certainly the dream of many. We just wanted to take a break over a long period of time, forget the usual everyday life, no longer think in weekdays and weekends, travel far away countries, get to know new cultures and experience extraordinary places and dreamlike nature. Everything was right for us and we could not have found a better moment: we are healthy, independent, have no obligations and have worked out the necessary financial resources over the years to make our dream come true. A mad 192 days lay ahead of us – packed with dreamlike experiences and activities.

What was the most important thing our journey taught us? We were particularly impressed by the many people we met on our journey. No matter how poor they were, whether they live in a corrugated iron hut, keep themselves alive with 2 euros a day or don’t know how to feed their family. These people have so often radiated pure joie de vivre and have always been friendly. We often bring little things to the palm tree, be it the queue at the supermarket checkout or a delayed train. There are so many more important things in life and we can be so happy. And yet it is often difficult for us. Why, in fact?

The privilege of travelling the world is priceless. Although we have also noticed during our trip how many others are fulfilling this dream. No matter where we were, whether in the Amazon, Tanzania or Fiji – everywhere you met German travellers, who also took a longer break. We love travelling. Our world is so incredibly diverse and although we have experienced so much now, there are still so many wonderful countries and places for us that we would like to see.

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Six-Month Travel Budget: The Cost Of World Travel

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Our full-time travels for the past six months have taken us to Australia, the Balkans (with a detour to Rome) and the Netherlands – and we are drastically under budget from a year ago, with an average spending of just $53 per day! We took what we learned from budgeting for our year-long, round the world (RTW) trip and have made a few adjustments that are clearly reflected in our six-month travel budget review.

First, we’ve slowed our speed of travel substantially with longer stays – clocking our longest stay during our travels at 10 weeks in one place. Second, we’ve added Housesitting into the mix. While housesitting in Melbourne, Australia and Nijmegen, Netherlands , we completely eliminated our housing cost (in exchange for taking care of pets!).

During our RTW trip, we targeted spending $100 on average for daily living expenses – and came in under, spending an average of only $89 per day! We still use that figure as a general measurement for our spending, but are mostly concerned with overall averages. We also keep track of other expenses – flights, insurance, technology and other admin fees – but exclude those from our daily limits and tally them as in a separate report.

Six-Month Travel Budget for Daily Expenses

Tracking our dollars has become a habit – a good habit, we believe – that allows us to more clearly see where we spend our money.

Lodging – $3,158.50 Total | $17.25 Daily Average

Housesitting is an entirely different way of traveling. In exchange for looking after someone’s home and (usually) caring for their pets, we get a free place to stay. No money is exchanged, as it’s mutually beneficial for both parties. The traveler stays in a home free of charge and the home/pet owners get a caregiver without cost. Since the unique situation lends itself to immersing into the community, we like to look for longer stays to really make it worth it.

While housesitting has accounted for 17 weeks of our travels for the past six months, we still had 75 nights in which we paid for accommodations. If we average the cost of paid accommodations only over those 75 nights, it comes out to $42/night, which is almost exactly what we averaged on our RTW trip.

The exchange of pet sitting for free accommodations has allowed us a bit more freedom in where we decide to travel and the types of lodging we secure. Staying near the center of Rome ($68/night) to meet up with family and in a modern B&B in Nijmegen ($86/night) were easily averaged out over the past six months with the housesitting piece in place.

We spent 52 nights in the Balkans – and averaged $31/night in accommodations. We used Airbnb exclusively for our stays in the region, which included Croatia ( Zagreb , Rovinj , Zadar , Split ) and Bosnia-Herzegovina ( Sarajevo ).

We bookended our Melbourne housesitting experience with a week-long stay in Seaford, Australia ($52.50/night) and a five days in Hobart, Tasmania ($58.25/night).

Food – $2,996.25 Total | $16.37 Daily Average

If there has been one consistency in all of our world travels, it is our ability to be frugal with food . In the past six months, however, it has dipped slightly from our standard $20 per day to $16.37. We attribute the drop to staying in one place for a longer time. We can buy in bulk.

Eating out – especially in countries like Australia and the Netherlands – can be expensive, so most of our meals in those places were home cooked. We (and by ‘we’ I mean Sarah) made a diligent effort to find and use recipes that allowed us to sample the local cuisine. Pumpkin soup in Melbourne and stamppot in Nijmegen were two of our favorites.

In the Balkans, however, food is significantly less expensive. We were able to eat out at nice, sit-down restaurants for about $30 total – including wine. Take-away options of local specialties (like burek, cevapi and kebabs) were about $3 each.

We found affordable places to eat amazing food in Rome as well. A heaping portion of the pasta of the day cost about $6.50 and a decent portion of pizza-by-the-slice cost about $3. But, the big winner in Rome is gelato, where two scoops cost less than $2!

Drinks – $1,847.75 Total | $10.24 Daily Average

For us, having a few drinks is a social event. It’s more about interaction than intoxication. We tend to be fans of local craft brew over mass-produced beers, which ups our price in most regions. A pint of local beer in Australia can cost as much as $12 – but we still managed to create mini-pub crawls! In the Netherlands , it is significantly less, but not exactly cheap. In the Balkans, craft beer is more difficult to find, but when we do, it’s not much more than any other beer on tap and costs about $3.

Transportation – $1,026.50 Total | $5.60 Daily Average

Our transportation category includes everything that isn’t a flight. We never rent cars, generally steer away from taxis and actually prefer walking or biking whenever it is feasible. Tickets for mass transit – buses and trains – are mostly what make up the costs for our transportation. Although, occasionally, we use airport shuttles when early flights or lack of alternate transportation requires it.

In Melbourne, we stayed in a suburb, but well-connected trains swiftly ushered us into the city and surrounding areas for about $2.50 a ride. We thought we wouldn’t be able to visit Hobart without a car , but found it to be quite easy (and affordable!) with the local bus system.

In the Balkans, we used long-haul buses to get from Zagreb to Rovinj, Rovinj to Zadar, Zadar to Split and from Podgorica to Sarajevo. These weren’t necessarily expensive, but weren’t dirt cheap either and cost anywhere between $15 to $30 per ticket.

Mass transit in the Netherlands is brilliant. A single transportation card is used for buses and trains throughout the entire country – and when using the card rather than paying cash, it activates discounted rates. The bus from where we stayed in the village of Beek-Ubbergen to the city of Nijmegen was $2 per ride and the train to Amsterdam was about $20.

Entertainment – $279 Total | $1.52 Daily Average

Our entertainment costs are at an all-time low, but that isn’t all that surprising to us. Not only are we excelling at seeking out affordable alternatives to pricy tours, we are inherently easily entertained (which bodes well for us!). In Melbourne , we took advantage of many of the city’s free offerings and cut out the expensive tours. Entertainment is also affordable in Croatia, where dipping our toes in the Adriatic Sea and watching sunsets didn’t cost a kuna. Our day Touring Istria , which was a highlight of our time there, was provided by the tourist board, but we did pay entrance fees to Krka National Park ($14 each).

We were in Rome to meet up with family, and we were glad to find that Sightseeing in Rome  was much more affordable than expected ($13.25 Forum/Coliseum combo pass and $22 for entry to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel – both of which were full-day activities). The extent of our entertainment budget in Sarajevo was spent on an afternoon exploring the Abandoned Olympic Bobsled Track . During our two-month stay in the Netherlands, we were committed to updating our blog, which didn’t leave much time for entertainment. When we did tear ourselves away from our devices, we explored the beautiful nature surrounding the village, with our dog– a cost-free activity.

Miscellaneous – $431 Total | $2.35 Daily Average

Our miscellaneous fees are random fees that don’t fit into any other category. For example: Pay-for-Toilets, postage and clothing items. But, honestly, the biggest cost in this category was the $225 we spent for Wi-Fi in Australia. (It should have gone into our Technology column, but got pushed into this category by mistake.)

Total Six-Month Travel Budget for Daily Expenses– $9,766 Total | $53 Daily Average

With the combination of free accommodations through housesitting and our decreased spending on entertainment, our overall daily average for daily expenses has plummeted. Now that we have completed our main administrative objectives, we anticipate venturing out a little more. Our future travels are taking us to Iceland for a short trip and then on to Costa Rica for a five month housesitting gig – and we are excited to explore both places!

Expanded Six-Month Travel Budget

Intentionally excluded from our daily expenses in our six-month travel budget are the following categories: Flights, Insurance, Money Exchange Fees and Technology.

Flights – $1,374 Total | $62.50 Average per Flight per Person

We have taken 11 flights in the last six months (including an epic travel day of 4 flights lasting 40 hours): Ohio to Los Angeles – Los Angeles to Melbourne – Melbourne to Hobart – Hobart to Melbourne – Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur – Kuala Lumpur to Frankfurt – Frankfurt to Zagreb – Split to Rome – Rome to Podgorica – Sarajevo to Munich – Munich to Amsterdam.

Insurance – $3,252

In the last six months, we switched from basic insurance to upgraded (read as: costly) coverage and then back to basic travel insurance. We paid for our current travel insurance for one year in advance, covering us through November (which means this cost will be zero in our next six-month report, yet we will be covered!).

Money Exchange Fees – $167.50

Paying international transaction fees to my own bank annoys me. We have two credit cards that don’t charge international fees, but cash is still king in many parts of the world. At markets and even at some supermarkets, foreign credit cards are not accepted, so having cash is a must!

Technology – $540

Programs, help desk memberships, updates and upkeep all get lumped into this category. So far, we’ve managed to keep our costs relatively low.

Grand Total Of Our Six-Month Travel Budget: $15,100!

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Love and Road

6 months traveling around the world – Costs and Secrets

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Time flies when we are having fun! This quote has never been so true! We are celebrating 6 months of traveling around the world. Our Love and Road Travel Project turned into a life-changing experience. 183 days of happiness, fears, smiles and tears.

Half of a year is gone and after the celebration (October 24th) we decided to put some numbers together and make our first traveling around the world spreadsheet. Prepare to be amazed by some figures, scared about some details, and laugh at our misadventures.

It´s time to reveal our secrets! Keep reading because at the end we share our costs of traveling and how it was cheap to see the world for 6 months then live in Brasil. 

Traveling the world kick-off

On April 24th we left Brazil for an open plan long-term trip. Just one-way ticket, savings, some secrets to budget backpacking , and lots of dreams. The idea to start a travel blog was born a couple of months before and that´s how Love and Road began.

Love and Road 6 months journey

Continents – Africa , Asia and Europe

Countries – Croatia , France , Italy , Monaco , Morocco ,  Portugal , Spain  and  Turkey

(during this trip just 8 countries, but in total, we already visited 29 countries since 2006)

Cities – 57

Different Languages – 7 (Arabic and Croatian are damn difficult)

How we traveled during these 6 months?

To cross all the 8 countries we traveled by different modals.

By Boat – 2 times

By Bus – 14 times

By Car – 2 times

By Flight – 6 times (we use Skyscanner to check the best fares)

Hitchhiking –  8 times

By Train – 6 times ( EURAIL Pass is awesome!!! BOOK HERE!!! )

Where did we stay during these 6 months around the world?

We are big fans of Comfy + Clean + Well Located & Cheap Accommodation. Following these features we stayed in:

Campervan -1 time

Car – 1 time

Flat/Studio – 2 times

Friend’s house – 3 times

Hostels –  2 times

Hotel –  4 times ( Booking.com and Agoda are our choices for searching and booking hotels)

House sitting – 2 times

Shared House/Apt – 13 times

Tent – 2 times ( Moroccan Desert and SONUS Festival )

What did we buy during this period?

Apart from accommodation, transportation and food, there were some essentials (and non-essentials) that we must buy, and here are they:

New clothes:

Rob – 1 T-Shirts + 2 pair of jeans + underwear + socks + 1 jumper

Nat – 2 tops + 1 pair of flat sandals + 1 skirt + 1 pair of jeans + 1 legging

Electronics:

1 Notebook Asus F200M

Toiletries:

As usual, we had to buy soap, shampoo, body lotion, toothbrush, and all the stuff we need to be clean and beautiful. Talking about beauty, I will make a confession: we bought anti-aging for the first time!! We are not getting any younger so we invested in a Day & Night Clinique Face Care ! I loved it and Rob… He doesn’t want to talk about it! 

1 small Backpack

2 Dry Fast Kingcham Towels

We are traveling around the world with a big backpack and a small front bag. That´s what fashion calls a minimalist style! So everything we bought was to replace some old items. What did we do with our used stuff? We donated. We made some bags and give them to homeless people in Istanbul.

Getting sick! More painkillers, please!

Rob says that is the weather, but I keep annoying him that he´s getting old and weak. Botton line, we got sick and hurt ourselves a couple of times in these 6 months traveling around the world. Nothing major, but bad enough to make us homesick and meh.

Sickness Scores:

Rob – 5 (2 times flu, cold sore crises,  diarrhea, and a twisted ankle)

Nat – 6 (I win!!! Back pain, mosquito bites allergy , urinary infection, keen injury, flu, and diarrhea)

All the problems were sorted out with medicines we bought at the local pharmacy. We do have travel insurance but didn’t need to use it. To avoid getting sick we are trying to eat healthily, drink lots of water and do some exercise.

Talking about travel insurance, here is a guide about long-term travel insurance . We listed the companies we use and recommend, plus what you need to know before buying insurance and using it. 

What did we LOVE during this worldwide trip?

Food – Italian (we both agree that Italians are masters in cooking and eating)

City – Barcelona  and Izmir . We couldn’t decide between these two sunny cities.

Beach – For me is Cala San Pedro, Rob chose Playa dos Muertos, both are located at the Cabo de Gata Park , Spain.

Best Party – Hard to pick just one party, but definitely was the week we spent in Barcelona. The summer parties were better than the Sonus Festival we attended in Croatia.

To see all the pictures about these places check our  Instagram !

Beautiful Strangers and the amazing people we met!

We met awesome people in these 6 months of traveling around the world. Old friends, former work colleagues, new friends, and a bunch of nice strangers crossed our way. Each one made a special contribution to our story. The moments we spent together are recorded in our hearts and souls.

Thank you guys! You are amazing! After meeting all these new people we can say:

Most handsome Men – Turkish, especially from Istanbul. (Believe me, girls, they are stylish and good-looking)

Most beautiful Women – French (Rob wanted to include the Russians and Polish, but they are out of this trip.lol)

Friendly People – Italians

People that talk to themselves – Porto, Portugal

Party Animal People – Spanish (I love them!!)

Worst moment of long-term traveling

For us, the worst moment was when we got the news that my cat had passed out. That was our first loss while traveling, the first moment we talked about going back home.

Best moment of our 6 months traveling

So far the highlight of our trip is the Moroccan Desert. Such a unique experience, a dream that came true!

It´s not a regret, but we would organize our Moroccan Tour in a different way. Would spend more money to get a private tour around the countryside and desert.

Also, I regret we didn’t start the Love and Road blog before traveling. It´s hard to manage time between travel, work and study.

We are Proud of

We are proud and happy of catching up with old friends. During these 6 months of traveling around the world, some of the meetings were meant to happen others were by destiny.

It was awesome to see you guys: Dariia Makarova (4 times we ran into each other), Hudson, Paulinho, Belem & Haiko, Captain Dario, Paolo, Senem, Saoro and Mehmet.

You can live a simple life because at the end of the day you will miss the people you love not the things you bought.

Relationship vs Traveling

Not easy to live together 24 hours, seven days per week… I think we didn’t kill each other because Rob is super patient and I am great fun! 😉

Work Hard, Play Hard

The Love and Road blog is part of our life project, however, we didn’t imagine that it would be so time-consuming and tiring. We are doing it with love and I´m really enjoying it, but it´s hard work. Actually, blogging is a full-time job and if you want to know more, our friends Nick & Dariece put together great tips on how to start a travel blog, click here to read it .

We know there are lots of details that we have to improve on the website, however for four months (the blog was launched in July) I think it´s going pretty well!

What do you think? Leave your opinion in the comments! 😉

How much does it cost to travel for 6 months?

With a tight budget and expensive tastes, we are courageously traveling around the world. Not easy but totally possible. After checking our spreadsheet and here are our expenses figures:

Accommodation – USD 3.902,00

Attractions – USD 1.201,49

Eating out – USD 3.329,57

Groceries – USD 1.856,21

Party – USD 1.231,46

Pharmacy – USD 390,87

Purchases – USD 651,13

Souvenirs\Post  – USD 122,75

Transport – USD 2.901,00

WC – USD 13,55

Average per person / per day: USD 53,95 (that´s less than we used to spend per person per day in our daily life in Brazil).

If read until here you might want to have a look at our travel budget for 1 year and 2 years traveling the world. Right?

1 Year around the world – Travel budget and saving tips

2 Years around the world – costs, tips and how we live a nomad life

In the beginning, I thought it would be boring to write this article, but actually was an amazing way to remember our story. Six months traveling around the world doesn’t sound like too much, but if you start thinking about moments, feelings, memories it becomes an eternity.

Crazy Lovely Life. At this same time last year, I was at our home in Brazil, maybe working or organizing the house, dreaming about travels. Today I’m writing this post inside a night bus, leaving Pamukkale and heading to Cappadocia in Turkey.

Rob is already sleeping beside me, outside pouring rain and darkness. No big plans for the future just some booked destinations, and I never been so happy. I’m so grateful for these 6 months of traveling around the world, and hope our journey won’t finish soon!

Lots of LOVE from the ROAD!

42 thoughts on “6 months traveling around the world – Costs and Secrets”

This is a well written article and very informative. So seldom do travelers include actual costs and in such detail. I know I didn’t/don’t even keep such accurate records, but probably should. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Dale!!

The idea is to show how it is possible to travel the world without being rich, and have tons of fun! As we have a tight budget we have to keep everything under control. We take notes of our daily costs so we can organize our money.

Keep following us because we´ll be posting how much we spent in each country we visited. So far we already talked about Portugal, and there are plenty of new information to come! https://loveandroad.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-travel-in-portugal/

All the best and safe travels!!

Olá! Esse é o primeiro post que leio do blog e adorei. A forma como é organizado, bem escrito e engraçado. Impecável. Parabéns. Planejo largar o emprego e fazer o mesmo, sozinho, em março do ano que vem. Vamos ver se consigo manter a coragem. hehe

Sucesso com o blog!

Espero que tenha dado certo!!

Fico super feliz em saber que curtiu o post e o blog!! 🙂 Se tiver algum dica ou dúvida para organizar sua viagem pode contar com a gente. E parabéns pela coragem!! Largar tudo é “Viver a Vida” é para poucos… Muitos usam a desculpa da falta de dinheiro, mas na verdade só é preciso ter sonhos e acreditar!!!

Tudo de melhor! E quando estiver na estrada manda notícias!

Great post! It’s fun to see other travelers post the details about their travels and budgets. Were your costs per person or as a couple? We lost some weight too, but not as much as you did – great alternative to a diet, hey?

Happy travels!

Hey Landon!

Glad that you liked the post! That is a 100% true… Not easy to keep all the records, but I think it’s worth! I´d say travelling is an amazing diet! Good for your body and soul! 😉

All the best! Nat

What a great way to recap your six months! And very interesting to see what it can take to get away and travel like that by looking at what it costs – on average – per day.

Great photos and I’m looking forward to reading more about your travels!

Hey Patricia!!!.

So glad you enjoyed reading the post… The truth is that you don`t need lots of money to travel, you just need to organize your priorities and save some cash… There are plenty of ways to travel on a budget and have tons of fun! Happy Holidays!

Ha, I think the hardest language for me was Greek – hopeless from the start! Great recap.

Tks!!! Greek is really hard too! Don’t remember a word in Greek 🙁 Safe travels!!!!

You guys are fab and inspiring! Intend to travel around the world for 6 months. Just trying to get all the right destinations and Stack up a little more cash. It is on my bucket list and I guess an adventure to remember for eternity!

Go for it Clavier!!!

Travelling is one of the most rewarding things you can do in life! We just celebrate one year on the road, and no regrets at all!! All the best to you and if you need any tip just let us know. 😀 Nat

Wonderful to read your story and experience while traveling. Your details of people you met, times you were sick, and costs tell your story in an intricate and meaningful way.

Tks Brooke! This is something really special, the people we met. I think we are very lucky for meeting such nice and welcoming people! cheers!

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Heyyy,Heyyy !!! 🙂 Both of you are awesome! I am following your adventures as much as I can and thinking of you sometimes,hope all is ok…

When I see my name & Izmir on the article ,I really feel very very happy! Thanks for that!

Crossed my fingers to see you both again, somewhere, somehow…

Hi Mehmet, We are so happy for meeting you!!!! And tks so much for making our stay in Izmir sooooo good! For sure we will return to Izmir!!!! Hope to see you soon! Cheers!

Great writeup! Thanks for all the detail. Looks like an amazing time.

Hi Penny!! We are having a wonderful time indeed! Glad that you like the post! Thanks for stopping by! Cheers, Nat

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What a cool article. I’m glad you did what you did. It feels great to travel and we have done the whole NZ like that in 6 months with absolutely next to nothing. We had so much fun like you did with no regrets. Keep up the great work.

Thanks Marc!!! NZ is on our list!! There is no better thing in life than travel and live the moment, enjoy every second and every place you visit!!! Thanks for stopping by! Cheers,

Awesome! and yes, Croatian is a difficult language:)

Hi Tanja!! Croatian is difficult, but now that we are in Asia, I have to say that Thai and all the Asian languages are damn hard to learn. hahahaha Cheers, Nat

Que delícia de post! Estou voltando a Portugal agora, ao final de fevereiro, e ficarei 3 meses pelo menos pela Europa! Já larguei meu trabalho antigo e,finalmente, iniciei uma nova jornada na minha vida: criei o trabalho que amo e virei nômade digital! Bora viver! Vou acompanhar o site de vcs. Parabéns ao casal! !

Que bom que gostou do post 🙂 E parabéns pela iniciativa! Bom ver mais e mais “almas livres” rodando o mundo. Pode fuçar o blog que vai achar matérias sobre a Europa, Ásia e África. Beijos e boas viagens!

Hey Nat Thanks for sharing…I’m going to leave my life behind for 6 months to travel yayyy. I don’t have a travelling companion. Are there any countries you think are unsafe for me as a single female? Thanks Lisa

Hi Lisa, It’s hard to list the countries that are unsafe, I have friends that have travelled alone in India, Marocco, Turkey and never had a problem, even though these countries are on the list of “not so safe for women travelling alone”. I would say, to go wherever you want to, just be careful. Read about the place and the costumes before travelling, dress respectfully and look after yourself. There are way more good people in the world than bad ones. Happy Travels, Nat

This is such a good way to make sure you are on track! Perhaps I’ll try to keep as good of a record as this… perhaps I will get lazy and forget haha!

That’s so true Courtenay, It’s hard to remember and take not of everything, but that’s the only way you can keep track of your expenses 😉 All the best, Nat

Gostei muito do site e da coragem de vocês de viajar pelo mundo. Fiz um pouquinho isto com meu marido, mas apenas por Marrocos numa autocaravana e gostaria de dar umas dicas para uma próxima viagem por lá. Para viajar bem por Marrocos não precisa de muito dinheiro. O Câmbio favorece o Dólar e até o Real, mas acho que a melhor maneira é ir de autocaravana. Viajar sem destino, comprar comida nos lugares públicos, fazer a sua comida. O turismo lá é muito forte em quase todo o país e o turista é muito bem tratado. Se fizer amizade com alguém lhe levam para casa e comem com eles. É um lugar mágico onde cada cidade tem seu jeito de viver e antes de tudo muito respeito a sua cultura. Acho que esta é a dica para viver bem em qualquer lugar. Em muitos locais é bom cobrir o cabelo, evitar roupas decotadas, estar sempre junto do marido. Os marroquinos acediam muito uma mulher sozinha. Curiosidade…. O único problema para um casal viver uma vida nômade assim são os filhos. Se isto não está nos seus planos ok. Caso pensem. Até os primeiros 5 anos eles podem estar todos os dias consigo. Depois precisam ir para uma escola formal. Conheci muitos casais nômades, que chegou o momento que o filho pediu aos pais para ter uma vida dita normal e isto era mesmo importante para seu desenvolvimento como pessoas. Passado a fase escolar, pé na estrada novamente. Boa sorte e que continuem com muitas histórias para contar.

OI Divane!! Obrigada pelas dicas, o Marrocos é realmente um país incrível! Imagino que viajar de caravana tenha sido um experiência maravilhosa! Pois é, filhos ainda não estão nos nossos planos, quem sabe no futuro. Por enquanto seguimos viagem, fazendo amigos e conhecendo novos lugares. Tudo de melhor para você, abraços Nat

Hi Rob or Nat

My partner and I (uk) are thinking of doing this but after her studies in forensic anthropology and archeaology so we’re looking at working our way around countries. I am 59 so would be 60 but have a military background dee is 51 so would be 52 worked all her life bringing up daughter and spent last 3 years doing degree.

How would be the best way to begin looking into this as I’ve seen Kenya Cyprus Falklands and quite a few others but dee has never been abroad due to not having a pp. As this will be a gap year were looking at student accommodation and working or researching are way around so as dee can pick up info for her masters.

Any ideas pls

Hello Keith,

Sounds like you guys have an exciting year ahead!

The key is to decide the for how long you want to be on the road and the itinerary. From there you can start checking the accommodation options. Pay attention on the Visa requirements, some countries have different policies for researchers/students.

I have been wanting to do this for a while now, busy with business and child raising but the closer they get to graduating high school the more I know I have to do this. Where should I start to do this research of where to go first? And is a woman by herself even recommended? Are you guys still doing this? Thanks

Hi Aura, Yes, we are still traveling 🙂 We recommend a few books on this page . and yes, there are a lot of solo female travelers out there. Cheers,

Hi there! I’m about to leave on a 6 month journey abroad, on my own. I leave the USA in 12 days. I just wanted to let you know that your post pumped up my excitement to get going!

So happy to hear that Anna! Happy travels!

Very helpful!! Thank you so much for including costs!

You are welcome!

Hi Anna, I want to stay my worldwide trip soon , How is your trip going with all these restrictions worldwid

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Planning a 6 month Europe trip – What to know

Travelling for 6 months is an exciting step away from ‘normal life’. We completed this bucket list style trip in 2022 and it is something we will never forget and don’t regret! If you are thinking about an extended trip, we urge you to take the plunge, it will definitely be ‘lifechanging’ (cliché, we know). Starting to plan such a big trip can be exciting, but also daunting. We planned in small parts over the course of 1-2 years, and have a few tips that may assist you. See the list below of our recommendations for planning an extended trip. We have also put together a complete guide to Europe travel here!

What to know when planning a 6 month Europe trip

Start planning early:.

If you are planning a long Europe trip (or any destination), planning is needed, even if you want to be spontaneous when you are over there. It will take you longer than you think! There are so many things you don’t think about, and planning in advance makes things a whole lot easier. Additionally, planning in advance gets you excited about the holiday, and this anticipation is one of the things we love about holidays!

Book your flights early:

Similar to above, booking your main flight to/from your destination early can pay massive dividends. We booked out return flights to Europe over 6 months before we left, costing us about 50% of what the flight would have cost if we booked it last minute ($1500 per person return from Australia compared to over $3000). If you are booking early make sure there is an option for flexible date change or cancellation.

lots of research!

This is the fun bit! Start doing your research. Talk to friends who have travelled! Watch a travel documentary (we loved food based travel shows like ‘Somebody Feeds Phil’ when we were planning). Hit up Youtube, there’s heaps of great content out there! Read a travel blog (I’ve heard there’s a decent one called 2 Cups of Travel). But seriously, travel blogs are amazing for planning itineraries, or when looking at new countries you don’t know much about. Instagram is also a great place to get some travel inspiration. Watch some travel reels or check out some photos and ‘Save’ them for later. Tess also loved using our Europe Lonely Planet book! We started this ‘research’ at least 2 years out, and this was one of the most exciting parts of the trip.

We also found that our research allowed us to ‘find’ some unique locations like Lake Ohrid, Gjirokaster, Kas, Lake Bled, Polignano a Mare and more! These were some of our favourite places from our travels!

Visas & passports:

This is the boring but essential part of travelling. Your passport needs to have at least 6 months until expiring from the date you return! This is important, as if you have under 6 months you might not be allowed to continue/start your trip. Visas will vary depending on your country. Many countries like Australia have access to Schengen Visa’s, which is an ‘automatic’ visa that you get for many of the European countries. We have provided a few links below to help you learn more about it, but suggest you look into the Visa’s in more detail. The only country we had to apply for a separate visa for was Turkey, which can be done online up to a few days beforehand.

• Schengen Info: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/
• Smart Traveller (AUS Info): https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/before-you-go/the-basics/schengen
• Demystifying the Schengen Zone (Europe Travel Info): https://europetravelinfo.com/schengen-zone-europe-rules-tips-links/

Bugeting – Save the $$:

Yep, travelling isn’t cheap. You will likely already know this, but saving is key. There are also many hidden costs that can come with travelling like fines, mistakes, last minute changes, medical expenses and much more. If possible, it is worth trying to save a little in an ‘Emergency Fund’ for these hiccups that may occur. You will also find that things can cost a lot more than you think. An example of this is how expensive we found the trains when travelling through UK and Europe. We also urge you to consider your daily budget, including things like accommodation, transport, spending money and more.

Need data? WIFI or travel sim card:

In the modern age, internet access is crucial for all parts of life, including travel. Popular apps like Google Maps, and access to all of your itinerary documents (e.g. boarding passes), happens with internet access. Whilst WIFI access is available in many locations overseas, if you rely solely on this, you will have times without internet. You can often pick up a local SIM card at airports or in cities which gives you calls and data for that country or region.

We used a travel E-Sim (through Airalo), a feature on modern phones where you can gain access to internet data without purchasing a physical SIM card. We found this a good process, particularly as we were regularly changing countries, and some of the local physical SIM cards didn’t cover all of the regions we visited.

Travel Insurance is a must!

You never think you need cover until you do! Baggage will regularly be lost (especially in peak season). Medical emergencies and accidents happen. Missed flights, delays and more aren’t unusual. Perhaps you will have to change your plans due to an emergency! Once you have booked your initial flights and have a set “plan”, we urge you to book travel insurance. Check if your credit card offers travel insurance when you purchase international flights (ours did), otherwise there are many companies out there providing policies to cover you. Important note: if you have a pre-existing medical condition, include this in your claim, and be sure to read the fine print of the policy to ensure you are covered.

We have included a link below to Safety Wing , a travel insurance company that we use. We find it is very reasonably priced, and geared travelers like us, especially those doing extended periods of travel. In particularly, Ky loves it as they have policies that cover gear like camera and drones when on the road.

Organize your travel bank and credit cards:

This is a really important point to save you $$. We organized a travel credit card (28 Degrees Mastercard) which allowed us to have no overseas transaction fees. However, we didn’t initially think to organize a travel friendly bank card. By the time we realized it was too late, and over the course of our trip, it probably cost us $100s in ATM and transaction fees. We used our credit card for all purchases where possible, however many countries in Europe are still ‘cash heavy’, thus withdrawing money was needed. Banks such as ING, HSBC, Citibank, and Chase all offer great travel card options. Check with your bank, or look into these options. Try to go for a card with no transaction fees and no or low withdrawal fees. Some cards also let you have more favourable currency exchange rates. Plan this early and you will save the $$.

Download some of the key travel apps:

There are so many great travel applications out there that make the process of planning and travelling so much easier. We have compiled a list of some of our favourites which can be found here! These help with everything from making reels to learning new languages.

Make travel easier with these helpful travel apps!

Buy some packing cubes!

There’s lots of different travel items that can save you time and effort (a blog for another day). However, the one we think you absolutely MUST HAVE when travelling are packing cubes . Tess found these when we were planning our trip and they have saved us both many times. They make living out of a suitcase a lot easier and make the repacking of bags much faster. Buy them online (e.g. through Amazon ) or through popular discount chains like Target/Big W etc. Don’t think about it, just do it! We used a similar set to the ones listed below ( see here ). Check out some of our other top picks of what to buy for your travels here!

Think about how you want to document & remember your travels:

Your dream ‘bucket list’ trip will be here before you realize, and also gone before you can even properly comprehend it. Therefore, we think it is a great idea to consider planning before you leave how you will best document and remember your trip. During many previous holidays we hadn’t found many good ways to document our travels. However, before leaving in 2022, we decided to start this blog, our social medial channel ( see here ), and also put together highlight video (e.g. see below). This allowed us a platform and method of recording our highlights and moments as we went, giving us an incredible catalogue of highlights to look back on. Additionally, we purchased extra equipment, like our drone, and our GDome , to allow us to capture some of the incredible moments we experienced.

While our methods may not be how you would look to remember your travels, we urge you to consider this before you leave. Perhaps it will be a journal? Or maybe photobooks when you return? Polaroid photos? A summary video of your highlights on return? Let us know if the comments below how you have documented and remembered your travels!

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WANT TO SEE MORE food recommendations & TRAVEL MEMORIES?

Our Europe travel guide for 2023 & 2024

What you should buy before your next trip!

Take a look at some of the best hidden gems from our travels !

Find out a little bit more about the people behind 2 Cups of Travel!

Check out further highlights from our time in the Europe! Take a look!

Please note: this post contains affiliate links. This means that if you purchase or book anything using these links, we get a small percentage of the sale,  at no extra expense to you . This helps us to run the site.

Tags: blog , Europe , itinerary , planning , travel

Comments (16):

May 5, 2023 at 9:02 am

Hi there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m absolutely enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.

May 5, 2023 at 9:10 am

Thank you! We don’t use twitter, but the best way to stay up to day is subscribe to the blog, or follow our Instagram channel ( https://instagram.com/2cupsoftravel ).

May 13, 2023 at 10:02 pm

How did you get around the 90/180 days in the Schengen area? If you travelled for 6 months.

May 14, 2023 at 6:59 pm

Hi Brodie, great questions. Did it in a few ways: 1. Non-schengen countries – think most of the balkans, morocco, UK, croatia (isn’t schengen anymore), turkey etc 2. Visa waiver exemptions – need to check through your country/embassy pages to determine if you have visa waiver options. We used one for the netherlands.

Kerry Watkins

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2CupsofTravel

January 1, 2024 at 8:28 pm

Thanks for the lovely feedback! We don’t usually offer guest posts but have partner websites which may – see out contact page to email us and discuss further!

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How to plan the itinerary of your trip around the world?

Last Update: 08/04/2024 0 COMMENT

Planning a trip around the world itinerary is no mean feat… To tell the truth, we’d spent quite a few evenings discussing, researching, imagining, compromising, and uncorking a little bottle to keep us going… It has to be said that there are quite a few things to take into account when planning a long-term travel itinerary: desires, budget , climate, etc. But don’t panic, we’ll help you sort it all out!

Should I plan an itinerary around the world?

What should you consider when planning your trip around the world itinerary, how do you plan a trip around the world itinerary , final tips for traveling around the world, what are the cheapest countries to visit, some ideas and examples for round-the-world itineraries.

You are currently reading the third chapter of our free ebook How to travel the world , in which you will find all the necessary advice and preparations for your trip around the world!

In addition to the version on the blog , there is a PDF version to read it peacefully on your computer, smartphone, or tablet, or to print it 🙂.

This is perhaps the first question to ask, and as far as we’re concerned, there are two schools of thought:

• Are you going on a trip with no return date ? Then an itinerary is not essential, or perhaps just for the start of the trip when you cross your first countries.
• Do you have a limited amount of time in which to travel around the world (6 months or 1 year)? In that case, an itinerary is a good way to structure your trip.

Why plan a round-the-world itinerary?

Initially, we weren’t too keen on having an itinerary all mapped out before we left on our trip around the world… We wanted to leave room for the unexpected , for encounters, and keep as much flexibility as possible. Nevertheless, we decided to sketch out the route of our trip for the following reasons:

• Drawing up an itinerary forced us to put our ideas on the table , share our respective desires, and give our adventure a direction.
• It also forced us to find out about certain destinations and countries that interested us. For example, we started our trip in China, and I can guarantee that having information on local customs, transport and practical tips in our heads helped us a lot when we got there.
• Generally speaking, doing your homework when traveling in a country that’s not your own is simply a mark of respect for its inhabitants. It shows that we’ve taken an interest in local customs beforehand, and can help us avoid certain faux pas.
• As we opted for round-the-world tickets , we had to have at least a rough outline of our travel itinerary . It doesn’t have to be ultra-precise, as round-the-world tickets are quite flexible. However, you should at least know the direction of the trip and more or less the regions that interest you.

However, drawing up a round-the-world itinerary doesn’t mean drawing up a day-by-day plan for the coming year! It gives you an overall idea of where you want to go, at what season/time of year, the must-sees, what to avoid…

Our around-the-world itinerary changes

Keep in mind that nothing is set in stone, and you need to remain flexible . The key is to know that you can change your itinerary along the way , according to your wishes and the conditions. Even if you go off on your own, there will always be a time when you’ll have to worry about administrative and environmental issues. This can range from visas to weather conditions to budgeting (an unforeseen event?).

To tell you the truth, our itinerary around the world changed drastically during our round-the-world trip… We knew our adventure would start in China, and then continue in Taiwan for 4-5 months in Southeast Asia. The length of our stay and the order in which we planned to visit the countries in this part of Asia were radically altered during the trip. For example, we were supposed to stay 20 days in Vietnam, but ended up staying twice as long!

Also, we eliminated Australia from our plans and completely reversed the order of the South American countries. As we arrived 3 months later than planned on the American continent, our climate and itinerary logic was turned upside down and we had to adapt to optimize the seasons. So why bother planning an itinerary at all? In fact, having an initial roadmap served us well, as it forced us to think about these details in advance!

To take things a step further, we’ve gone into a little more depth on the subject in the article “How to make a success of your round-the-world trip” . In it, you’ll read about the importance of listening to yourself and remaining flexible during a long-term trip.

Do I need a return ticket?

When you say itinerary, you say return… Depending on your project, it may be worthwhile to buy a return plane ticket.

Example: you’re going away for 6 months, not a day longer (due to professional or other imperatives). In this case, it may be worth buying your plane ticket before you leave, as you’ll be returning home on that date, whatever the cost. We’ve devoted an entire article to round-the-world tickets if you’re interested!

There are several things to bear in mind when you start planning the itinerary of a round-the-world or long-term trip. Here’s a short, non-exhaustive list to get you started!

The duration of your trip

The length of your trip is a complex equation, depending mainly on your budget , your professional availability (sabbatical leave or not), and your desires . To give you an idea, most backpackers travel between 6 months and 1 year around the world. You can of course choose to travel for longer, but the budget automatically becomes more substantial.

How to travel longer?

However, it’s not necessarily proportional and still depends on your future choices. If you go away for longer , you also stay longer in one place. And that means significant savings , whether on transport or accommodation. Renting a studio (or other) over several weeks/months is cheaper than sleeping in hotels or guesthouses. We did this in Ecuador and Argentina, and thanks to this more “static” stay, we were able to extend our world tour by 6 months! The important thing is that we had the freedom and, above all, the desire to do it.

Another solution for traveling longer is to have a job that allows you to be mobile and work en route. In the chapter dedicated to budgeting, we’ve written a whole section on jobs that allow you to travel .

What is the optimum duration of a trip around the world?

After returning from our trip, we recommend that you take a minimum of 6 months to get the most out of your adventure. Why? Because that’s the minimum length of time you need to completely cut yourself off from your daily routine and visit several countries. The truth is, it’s hard to enjoy a country and its culture if you’re only there for 1 week 😉.

6 months is a good length of time if you’re planning to travel to a single continent or a specific region. A road trip to South America, a trip to Oceania, or a backpacking trip to Southeast Asia… In short, 6 months gives you plenty of time to explore!

On the other hand, if you want to travel around the world on several continents , then I’d advise you to plan more than 6 months’ travel . This allows you to change countries and continents several times, without having to race against the number of countries crossed.

Your expectations and desires when choosing countries

This step can be critical when you’re planning a round-the-world trip with at least two people, whether with friends or family. You’ll need to agree on the places to visit and the things to do, as each of you usually has very specific expectations.

Our advice: draw up an itinerary on your own (without cheating 😉). Then, once everyone has their own itinerary, pool them together and start negotiating! Ideally, each person should draw up a small list of their dream destinations (must-sees) and those they’d like to visit. Then it’s a bit like school: we keep score before making the final choice! One thing’s for sure: we’re going to have to make some concessions …

Fortunately for us, we were pretty much in agreement! Fabienne simply postponed her desire to discover South Africa. For obvious budgetary reasons, this was the most reasonable decision. And it’s only a postponement!

The “difficulty” of the countries

This is a very subjective point… With hindsight, it’s not really a criterion that concerns me anymore. I’ll mention it anyway, as it influenced my choice of countries when preparing the trip around the world itinerary.

Not all countries are created equal, and some may require a little more travel experience than others. Factors influencing the difficulty of a country include insecurity, extreme poverty, political instability, the status of women, climatic/environmental conditions, etc.

Take each country’s situation into account before making your decision. For example, we decided to start with Asia instead of South America. The reason? We felt more reassured by the idea of having a little more backpacker experience before discovering Latin America. What’s more, we’d have acquired a few good reflexes before venturing into certain countries “reputed to be more dangerous” . I use quotation marks deliberately, because of course, an incident can happen anywhere… Just because you’re in a country with a high crime rate doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll end up with a gun to your head – far from it!

In general, all it takes is a little common sense and a few basic precautions . If you’re interested in the subject, we’ve written a full article on travel risks and, more specifically, another on safety in South America .

Cost of living by country

Once again, money is an important factor when planning an itinerary for a round-the-world or long-term trip. For example, the average daily budget for travel to Laos is just 22 euros. To Australia? 57 euros. To the USA? 98 euros! As you can see, 1 year in Southeast Asia and South America won’t cost you the same as 1 year in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the USA or Europe.

Once again, it’s time to make some country choices. This is exactly why we decided (during the trip) to eliminate Australia from our final itinerary. Giving up 1 month in Australia allowed us to spend 2-3 more months in South America on the same budget!

For more information on costs per country, please consult our complete article on the round-the-world budget and all our articles devoted to travel budgets . At the bottom of the page, you’ll also find a list of the cheapest countries to travel to!

Climate and seasons

We all agree that travel includes a certain amount of adventure. But personally, if I could avoid arriving right in the middle of the rainy season in Asia, or when it’s -25°C in Mongolia, it would be better, wouldn’t it?

Of course, it’s possible to travel to a country even if it’s not the best season. It may even make the trip a little more pleasant: (often) fewer tourists and lower prices! But it’s worth planning your itinerary according to the wet and dry seasons.

To create our itinerary, we drew up a table showing the ideal seasons for each country . We took into account the average temperature and rainfall for the 12 months of the year. If we had to plan our round-the-world trip again, today we’d use our buddy Nico’s super tool, the a-contresens planner (soon in English!), which automatically generates a table of climates . But we’ll talk about the planner a little further down with an example.

Once again, making an itinerary doesn’t mean putting up barriers . To illustrate this, let’s go back to our initial planning. We actually stuck to it until we reached Taiwan. Then we realized that we didn’t want to travel that fast… So we arrived in Laos in mid-February instead of January, and in Indonesia in April instead of February! In the end, we landed in South America in May, starting with Patagonia. But the climate was already getting too hot for that time of year. So we changed our plans and flew to Quito, where we learned Spanish for 2 months ! In short, we ended our South American tour in January in Patagonia instead of August in Colombia!

The direction of your trip

If you opt for a round-the-world ticket , you’ll be obliged to choose a direction for your trip: either eastbound or westbound . With this type of ticket, you’ll only be able to cross the Atlantic and Pacific oceans once.

On the other hand, forget the idea of enjoying spring in Argentina, cherry blossom in Japan, surfing in Australia, smoking a cigar in Cuba, summering in Russia and then wintering in Asia with a stopover in Tahiti! We’re going to have to make some choices (again!).

Carbon footprint and slow travel

More and more people are taking these trips around the world: traveling around the world without flying , traveling slowly and more responsibly … This philosophy and this way of travel have a major influence on the itinerary.

Around the world without flying

It may seem impossible to travel around the world without taking a plane , especially when it comes to crossing oceans and seas. But some have done it! Making this choice pushes the travel experience even further.

Perhaps you’ve heard of Thor, a Dane who traveled around the globe in 10 years, without once flying? He crossed the globe and visited 195 countries, traveling by land and sea.

But others have succeeded in meeting this “challenge” within the “standard” duration of a round-the-world trip: Ed spent just 381 days across the world without flying.

If you’d like to find out more, take a look at Carbone 4’s FAQ , which deciphers all the preconceived ideas about aviation and the climate.

Slow travel

A year is both long and short. There’s no point in planning to visit 30 countries in such a short space of time! Visit less, but better .

A country the size of China covers 9.6 million km 2 . That’s roughly 17 times the size of France and 234 times the size of Switzerland… So do you really think you can visit China in 2 weeks ? It’s as if you had less than a day to visit France and wanted to know what there was to see at all costs… Impossible!

Between you and me, if you’re taking a year off , it’s probably not to race against the clock. So take it easy, plan a reasonable number of countries and make the most of it! So take it easy, plan a reasonable number of countries and enjoy! You’ll still have plenty of time to discover the rest of the world later in life. And who knows, maybe you’ll develop such a taste for travel that you’ll stay on the road for 10 years!

There’s no need to worry too much about visas ! You can easily apply for visas for most countries along the way. Remember that there are only a few countries that require a little more organization for this administrative side of your round-the-world trip. I’m thinking in particular of Russia and China.

We started our round-the-world trip itinerary in China because we wanted to stay there for between 2 and 3 months. In the end, that’s not such a long time when you consider the size of the country! But to get a 3-month visa, we had to apply from the Chinese embassy in Switzerland, and it wasn’t possible to get such a visa en route. So we applied for our visa from home before leaving for the first country on our trip.

Now that you know what you need to pay attention to, here’s our little method (which is, after all, very personal) for preparing a travel itinerary.

The inspiration phase

This is obviously the part we prefer when we’re in “sponge mode” . You look for information online, scour as many travel blogs as you can for inspiration and ideas, watch great videos, listen to travel podcasts, and so on. The idea is simply to come up with a list of things we dream of doing and places we absolutely want to discover.

Before our trip around the globe, we had a big map of the world in our living room. Whenever there was a country we had to see, we’d put a little pin on the map. That way, we always had the map in front of us and could better visualize distances and borders. And that’s how, over the weeks, we saw our project evolve and our itinerary take shape. The map is also a good way of pooling your desires if you’re traveling with several people, and of making compromises.

Integrating constraints with the planner

Once you’ve got your dream list, sort it out by taking into account the constraints we mentioned earlier. For this, we really recommend using the planner on the a-contresens blog , run by Nico and Aude.

Nicolas is a passionate traveler, but also a real geek. Having just returned from his first trip, he decided to create a tool to help future travelers plan their itinerary . The planner helps you integrate all the constraints into your itinerary around the world:

• budget : behind the planner lies a database containing thousands of travelers’ budgets. Using all this information, the tool estimates the average daily budget for each country. Once you enter your provisional itinerary into the tool, it will give you an approximate budget for your trip. Frankly, for our part, this approximation turned out to be very close to reality.
• climate : the planner integrates very precise information on climate and the best seasons to travel in each country. You’ll automatically get a great table that tells you if you’re in the right places at the right times!
• visas : you’ll also find helpful information on visas (for French nationals) in each country.
• and much more : safety information, recommended vaccines, important telephone numbers, internet, etc.

The site is very intuitive when it comes to planning your itinerary. You enter your dates, stages and routes, and in just a few clicks you’ve got your around-the-world itinerary!

Our itinerary around the world

Below you’ll find the map we created with the planner for our round-the-world trip. Let’s face it, it wasn’t quite as accurate before we left, and we corrected it on the way home to post it on our blog. Once you’ve clicked on it, you’ll notice the buttons at the bottom right of the map displaying the estimated budget for your trip around the world, as well as the climate map (which we took the trouble to make by hand!). Pretty cool, huh?

Today, it’s the best tool you can have for a clear and precise itinerary , whether you’re on a round-the-world trip or a long-term trip. The planner is already in its 3 rd version!

We came across the planner by chance in 2011. We were total fans and signed up straight away. We didn’t know it, but we were only the 2 nd to sign up. We used it throughout our trip, scrupulously entering our numbers. In 2015, we met Nicolas at a conference and since then, he’s become a very good friend who we see very regularly. Just goes to show that even great friendships can come out of budget planning!

Making an itinerary is good. Not sticking to it is even better!

Even if you’ve spent a lot of time planning your around-the-world trip’s itinerary, be flexible and don’t hesitate to change what’s planned according to what you meet and what you feel like doing at the time. A round-the-world trip is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity . You’re entirely free to do what you want when you want. Zero constraints! It would be stupid to miss out on a great experience just because it wasn’t on your original itinerary.

In our case, we changed practically all the dates of the flights included in our round-the-world ticket. We traveled longer in China, stayed almost 2 months in Vietnam, skipped Australia, and reversed the order of our trip to South America to take a 2-month Spanish course in Quito. None of this was planned, but it was what we wanted to do at the time !

Here’s the video of our 7 weeks in Vietnam! If you’ve read everything so far, your brain must be fried!

🎶 Money, money, money 🎶 ABBA sings it very well and I don’t need to hum it to you. As mentioned above, many travelers leave with a budget defined in advance ! As a result, money can be a bit of an issue, especially when it comes to choosing which countries to travel to!

When we planned the itinerary for our round-the-world trip, I dreamed of going to South Africa (I’m still dreaming about it, by the way) and seeing the Northern Lights in Norway (we did that after we got back!). For his part, Benoit wanted to discover Japan. And Tahiti was on our radar, not to mention Australia and New Zealand!

In the end, we didn’t visit any of the countries mentioned above! So no, we’re not weathervanes who change your mind as often as you change your underwear, but it’s the fruit of a logical reflection based on our round-the-world budget . That’s right! These are among the most expensive countries in the world!

Let’s be honest for 2 minutes. The world is a vast place, and there are plenty of cheap countries to visit on a trip around the world ! Not that these countries will ever be off our list! But it just made sense to put them aside when it came time to leave for 18 months on a limited budget.

So here’s a (non-exhaustive) list of the cheapest countries to travel to . We’ve based it solely on countries we’ve visited.

The cheapest countries to visit in Europe

• The Baltic States : Estonia , Lithuania and Latvia are the cheapest countries in which to travel. We spent 2 months there in winter, and it was a great experience.

• Greece : We love this country, especially the Cyclades ! Our last visit was in the middle of winter, outside the tourist season, which kept the budget down: 25 euros per day per person.
• Spain : Ah, tapas, sunshine and good wine! We’re big fans! Budget-wise, it depends a lot on the region, with the big cities being more expensive. On average, you should expect to pay around 35 euros per person per day. We spent 6 weeks in Menorca in autumn 2017 and the whole of winter 2018-19 in Tenerife .
• Croatia : We’ve never been there together: Benoit with friends and me with my best friend! We both have great memories! Budget: around 35 euros per day (partying 😉). In 2019, we went back (2 of us!) via Zagreb .

The cheapest countries to visit in Asia

• Laos : A superb country not to be missed! The budget for travel there is around 20 euros per person per day. Find out more about Laos here .
• Cambodia : A must for road trips in Southeast Asia. Cambodia too can be visited on a more than reasonable budget! Expect to pay around 20 euros per person per day.
• Vietnam : Our favorite country in Asia! We spent 2 months in the country instead of the 3 weeks we had planned, that’s for sure! For a trip to Vietnam , allow around 23 euros per person per day.
• Indonesia : Beautiful landscapes, wonderful people, divine cuisine! The budget for our trip to Indonesia was 22 euros per day, but it included plenty of activities: surfing lessons, volcano climbing, trekking, etc.
• Thailand : A bit of a place to go for backpackers, but also a wonderful country and people! Budget in Thailand : around 22 euros per day per person.
• China : Our first round-the-world trip and first culture shock. We loved it! Budget: around 22 euros per person per day, but this depends on the region. Find out more about a trip to China here .

The cheapest countries to visit in South America

• Bolivia : This is probably the cheapest country in South America ! During our visit, we had a budget of 21 euros per day per person, with plenty of activities!
• Peru : A sublime country offering many hiking possibilities! The average budget for Peru is around 25 euros per day per person. If, like us, you do a lot of trekking and sleep regularly in tents, then the budget can be reduced even further. For us, the budget for Peru was 20.7 euros per day per person.
• Ecuador : One of our favorite places in South America! We spent 3 months there during our trip, and it paid for itself! The average daily budget is around 25 euros per person per day (excluding the Galapagos).

You’ll notice that I’ve wholly omitted Oceania and Antarctica from the list. The only reason is that the cost of living on these continents is much higher, or the costs associated with getting there are astronomical!

I had intended to give you a few ideas and examples of around-the-world itineraries. In the end, I’d simply say let your desires guide you . In fact, there are almost as many itineraries as there are backpackers. There are no limits (except perhaps for certain war-torn countries) and I feel I’d be doing you a disservice by giving you ideas for more or less classic itineraries.

And while it may sound a bit cliché, more than the destinations you’ll discover, it’s the journey to get there that really counts, and the experiences you’ll make along the way.

If you want some sample itineraries, we suggest you use the a-contresens planner search engine below. It contains thousands of trips around the world itineraries, so you should be able to have a bit of fun!

Now, we hope you have a more or less clear idea of your around-the-world itinerary! For the rest of your trip preparations, we’re going to tackle a subject that divides backpackers a little, round-the-world tickets . Are you following?

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Europe Trip – 6 Months, 16 Countries, 55 Cities, 11 Languages

At A Glance

• 55 cities,
• 16 countries.

That’s one third of the 44 countries in Europe.

• And 8% of the world, out of the 195 countries in the world.

Get more travel tips & hacks for your favourite destinations!

55  cities,, 16  countries., and  8% of the world, out of the 195 countries in the world..

And that’s the number of places I’ve covered in 6 months while travelling around Europe from January to June 2015.

Equipped with my Europe packing list , I set off to Europe for the first time, and I’ve discovered a world far bigger than I’ve imagined.

You can find some of the Europe trip itineraries from the cities I’ve been to below in that 6 months in Europe. This is especially useful if you’re looking to travel Europe on a budget .

In chronological order, I’ve been to:

• Zaanse Schans
• Trouville-Deauville
• Georgensmünd
• Cinque Terre
• Vatican City

You may find links accompanying each of the destinations I’ve been to. They contain my personal experience while spending the 6 months in Europe, as well as some handy tips for making the most of your experience there.

Planning a trip to Europe needn’t be stressful or overwhelming. You can start with this list of 50+ Europe travel tips that teaches you the best way to travel Europe. The cheapest way to travel Europe is by budget airlines, buses and trains.

Europe is a cluster of countries that are relatively close by, so travelling between cities and countries are less arduous than countries like USA or Canada where the land area is massive!

This page will be continuously updated with up to date links, so keep checking back!

If you have further queries regarding the destinations I’ve been/ how to budget, feel free to ask me !

‘Til then, au revoir !

Neglecting to broaden their view has kept some people doing one thing all their lives. – Napolean Hill

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Isabel Leong

Full-time travel blogger at Bel Around The World and SEO coach roaming the world at a whim, Isabel helps aspiring content creators and brands get the most out of their online presence by attracting organic leads/traffic and achieving financial freedom with her Skyrocket With SEO course. She's closely involved in and has been featured as a speaker in other travel & digital nomad networks & podcasts such as Traverse, Travel Massive, The Nomadic Network and Location Indie.

Hi! I'm Isabel, a full-time traveller and digital nomad from Singapore. In the past 10 years, I've lived in New Zealand , Japan , Kauai Hawaii , Mexico , Costa Rica and Bali . Pulling from my own world travel adventures and blogging lessons, I share my tried and tested tips, so that I can get YOU to work LESS and play MORE!

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Bel28 is a sunday in Singapore.

This looks awesome, what a great trip 🙂 Which one was your favourite ?

It’s hard to say – each gave me a very special experience. I loved the mountains in Switzerland, the plains in the Cotswolds, the hot air balloon in Turkey, the cosmpolitan Amsterdam and the tarts in Portugal! Have you been to these places? 🙂

Wow! That is really amazing….traveling the world, meeting people, learning cultures, marveling nature as well as man-made architectural wonders…this is what great life is made of.

Yes I can’t agree more! Everyone should take the time to do that once in a while- to truly LIVE.

wow this is amazing!

Yeah when I look back and see how far I’ve gone, I amaze myself too.

Yes I am sure!! amazing!

Thanks a lot Lynz 🙂

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Hi, do you have the itinerary for your travels? It’s quite difficult planning how to get to places and which places to go next! 🙁 Thanks in advance!

Hi Pee Jay,

Thanks for popping by!

Where exactly are you looking at? I might have depending on which destinations you’re going to! 🙂

Hi Isabel, most of the countries which you have visited are in the Schengen region (except UK).How did you manage to stay in the regions for 6 months? According to the travel rule, traveller only can stay in Schengen region for 90 days out of 180. Kindly advise

Hi Edison, Thanks for your query! I was on a student exchange that’s why. 🙂

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As a Brit I am slightly biased, but please return and see more of the country! Especially Devon and Cornwall; Pembrokeshire; and the some of the cities and national parks up north such as the lake district and Yorkshire dales. Scotland would be its own trip entirely !

Granted a lot of what I would show people would involve a lot of coastal walks and hikes up mountains which isn’t everyone’s thing.

What an excellent guide and list. Thanks for sharing!

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I've been traveling around the world for 6 months - here's the most epic thing I did in each country

Harrison Jacobs/Business Insider

The world is full of adventures.

• This past March, I left New York to travel around the world as Business Insider's International Correspondent . Over the course of 5+ months, I have so far visited 12 countries and had countless adventures.
• I decided it would be fun to pick the best, most epic adventure that I had in each country, from off-roading in the desert in Inner Mongolia to visiting one of the seven wonders of the world in Jordan and partying all night in Seoul, South Korea.
• While I hate travel bucket lists, I hope that sharing my favorite recent adventures may provide some inspiration for both travel junkies and those looking to take their first trip abroad.

I'll be honest: I hate bucket lists.

To me, they turn what should be a freeing experience of discovery - travel - and turn it into an endless checklist where you constantly feel inadequate against the things you haven't done.

I prefer traveling with less of a plan. I pick a country beforehand, and maybe a few destinations within, and trust that I'll encounter amazing people, sights, and adventures so long as I say yes.

When I left to travel as Business Insider's International Correspondent this past March, I approached the trip the same way.

From China to Russia to Israel, I have found myself in the middle of more adventures than I can remember. There's been off-roading in the desert in Inner Mongolia, visiting one of the seven wonders of the world in Jordan, and partying all night in Seoul, to name a few.

With twelve countries checked off on the trip so far, I decided it was time to pinpoint my favorite adventure in each place. Perhaps you'll find some inspiration for your next trip abroad.

Here's what's gone down so far:

The trip started off with a bang in Hong Kong, where I attended Art Basel Hong Kong, the premier art fair in Asia for millionaire and billionaire collectors to buy and sell art. The fair peaked with an elaborate soiree organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

The star-studded party was held at Hong Kong's Jumbo Kingdom, the world's largest floating restaurant and featured a mix of celebrities, art world big shots, artists, collectors, and — thanks to a last-minute invite — yours truly.

The party's experiential theme evoking 1930s-era Hong Kong was designed by Burning Man veteran Jason Swamy, a co-founder of artist collective Robot Heart. Some attendees, however, found the allusions to opium bars and Asian courtesans to be tone-deaf.

Read More: We partied at the exclusive, sexy Hong Kong party with the art world’s elite on a 62,000-square-foot floating restaurant — here’s what it was like»

After Hong Kong, I headed to China, where I spent a whirlwind five weeks traversing from Shanghai and Beijing to far-flung cities on the ancient Silk Road. In Inner Mongolia, I befriended a group of Chinese adrenaline-junkies who were part of an off-roading club.

The off-roaders invited me to join them on a two-day tour through the desert. They'd already been driving for nearly a week, but they couldn't get enough of racing over massive sand dunes and camping in Mongolian camps in the middle of nowhere.

The adventure was not without its dangers. A number of times the jeeps got stuck crested over a sand dune and another jeep had to tow the others out. And, that's to say nothing of how we were chased by park rangers because foreigners are only supposed to go in to the desert with official tour guides, not a local off-road driving club.

Read More: I tried to climb the 'plank walk' in China known as 'the most dangerous hike in the world,' but just getting there was the hardest part»

Next, I headed to Bali, Indonesia to decompress. The city of Ubud has been well-known as a spiritual and mystical center to Balinese for centuries — Ubud means "medicine" — and over the last several decades for new agey tourists.

It may sound hokey, but I did a full-day spiritual retreat that included yoga, "ecstatic dance," a cacao ceremony, and workshops of "authentic relating." I was very skeptical before going in. By the time it was over, I had cried twice.

The retreat ended with a dance party and a sound healing ritual. Located on a beautiful estate outside Ubud, the retreat felt otherworldly. There was no need for alcohol at this party; everyone was already buzzing.

Read More: I woke up at 2 a.m. to hike two hours up a mountain in Bali to see the sunrise — and it was completely worth it»

In Singapore, I spent several days trying as much Singaporean food as I could manage to fit in my stomach. Singaporean food is known for being a tasty mix of Chinese, Indian, and Malay cuisines. It may not look pretty, but these are flavors you've likely never tasted before. It is the most interesting and unique cuisine I've ever had.

The best places to try Singaporean cuisine (and a shortcut to understanding the city-state's culture) is in "hawker centers." Built in the 1950s and 1960s to make street-food more sanitary, while preserving the local food culture, hawker centers are large open-air complexes of food stalls where Singaporeans eat every day. There are dozens of centers across the city, each specializing in different dishes and cuisines.

One of my favorite Singaporean dishes was rojak, a traditional fruit and vegetable salad. There are different types of rojak with Chinese, Indian, or Malay flavors, but the basic idea is that you select what you want in your salad and, depending on the items, they might fry them up or serve them fresh with sauces.

Read more: Every amazing, strange, and delicious food I tried during an epic 6-week trip to China »

When I headed to South Korea, I knew I had to sample Seoul's famous nightlife scene. I met star Seoul-based YouTubers Alfred "Haeppy" Leung and Alexander "Xander" Varley of WeFancy, who agreed to take me out in Gangnam, the insanely wealthy neighborhood known for all-night parties, plastic surgery clinics, and high-end real estate. The night, of course, started with lots of soju and fried chicken.

Check out WeFancy on YouTube here»

After drinking and eating more than our fill, we headed to a nearby hookah bar in Gangnam, where Varley and Leung explained Seoul's wild party scene. Many of the top clubs in Korea are owned by K-Pop celebrities and are just about impossible to get into unless you know someone. Thankfully, I knew someone. Or, rather, they did.

We headed to Arena, one of the hottest clubs in Seoul, around 3 a.m. After Leung and Varley sweet-talked the bouncer, we danced until sunrise. The scene was like something out of a movie — packed to the gills and champagne bottles popping, as if it was everyone's birthday. The partying lived up to the hype. The hangover did, too.

Read More: Inside notoriously ritzy Gangnam, 'the Beverly Hills of South Korea' that's home to the country's biggest celebrities»

I headed to Russia in June to attend the 2018 World Cup, but the best thing I saw in the country was something I didn't plan for: St. Petersburg's "White Nights." The city is so far north that towards the end of June there are around 22 hours of sunlight each day. This photo was taken a bit past midnight.

The White Nights peak with the Scarlet Sails festival. It's the biggest night of the year in St. Petersburg. Everyone comes out to the banks of the Neva River to watch a grand display of fireworks, a water show, music, and the sailing of a replica 1700s-era boat with red sails.

Everyone from children to teenagers to grandparents was in the streets of St. Petersburg celebrating. Just after 1 a.m., it became clear why it is called White Nights.

Read More: Much of Russia is blanketed in sunlight nearly 24 hours a day this time of year — here's what it looks like at every hour»

Visiting Masada, an ancient fortress built atop a mountain plateau near the Dead Sea, is the highlight of many travelers' trips to Israel. There is something undeniably powerful about waking up at 4 a.m. and hiking up a mountain in absolute darkness.

After about an hour or so of very strenuous hiking, I reached the fortress just as the sun was rising. The entire complex, a stunning set of ruins, was enveloped in golden light.

The fortress overlooks the Dead Sea. Walking through the fortress once occupied by King Herod at sunrise, it becomes apparent why the location was so attractive to the king, both from a defensive position and as a place to relax.

Read More: What it's like visiting one of the world's greatest treasures, the 2,000 year-old mountaintop fortress Masada»

While visiting Israel, I felt it very important to see the Palestinian territories. I visited Hebron, the biggest city in the Palestinian West Bank and a place that some call a microcosm of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The city is divided into a Jewish and a Palestinian-controlled sector.

I visited Hebron on a "dual narrative" tour. Half the tour was guided by Eliyahu McLean, an Israeli Jew, and the other half was guided by Mohammed Al-Mohtaseb, a Palestinian from Hebron. Each told their side of the conflict in Hebron. At the center of their contesting narratives is the site known as the Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslims and the Tomb of the Patriarchs to Jews.

The experience was something like "Israel-Palestine 101." I was deeply affected by the conflicting narratives of both sides, the many painful events suffered in Hebron, and the way in which the city feels a military camp with checkpoints, jeeps, and platoons spread across the city.

Read More: I visited the most contested city in the Middle East, where Israelis and Palestinians are separated by a gauntlet of military checkpoints — and the harsh, complicated truth of the conflict was immediately clear»

In Jordan, I fulfilled one of the few things I've actually put on my internal bucket list: visiting the ancient Nabatean city of Petra. Ever since seeing the rose-red sandstone facades featured in Indiana Jones as a child, I knew I had to go.

The archaeological site, now considered one of the seven wonders of the world, was as magnificent as I imagined it. Al Khazna, or the Treasury, is the first structure you see upon entering the city. At 150 feet tall and around 100 feet wide, it is the masterpiece of Petra.

Read More: One of the 7 wonders of the world is a 10,000-year-old city hidden in the desert — and in real life, it's more incredible than you can imagine»

The tour in Jordan was made even more epic because, after leaving Petra, I spent the night in Wadi Rum, a desert valley in Jordan. It has played the part of Mars and distant planets in countless movies, including "The Martian," "Star Wars: Rogue One," "Prometheus," and Red Planet."

Read More: An otherworldly desert in Jordan has doubled as distant planets in movies like 'Star Wars' and 'The Martian' — after seeing it myself, I can tell you it's just as breathtaking in person»

The cheapest flight out of Israel was to Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean also known for its long history of division and strife. Ever since a coup in 1974 and a subsequent invasion by Turkey, the island has been divided into the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The island is astoundingly beautiful. I decided to rent a car and do a road trip to traverse both sides of the island.

About 3,600 square miles in size, Cyprus has tons of different geographical features from natural ports to mountains, valleys, and rock formations that make driving the island a pleasure. Kyrenia Harbor, on the Northern Cyprus side, is one of the oldest sites on the island.

Driving Cyprus not only gives you a window into the many landscapes of the island, but also the many cultures that have developed there. The capital, Nicosia, is a divided city, but it is easily visited. The old city looks like what I imagine a city in the Ottoman Empire looking like.

Before I went to Greece, I thought the best thing I would do in the country was party in Mykonos. I was very wrong. After escaping crowded Mykonos, I went to Tinos, an island 30 minutes away by ferry, and found a breathtaking landscape, untouched beaches, and historic Greek villages built into the mountainsides. I rented a car and did a day trip across the island.

For those looking for a taste of classic Cycladic life, Tinos may well be paradise. During my drive, I stopped in Volax, a village of 51 people (51!) built among a unique geological formation of giant round rocks.

Driving in Tinos, you feel lost in time. I could have sworn that the day I spent driving around the island lasted a week. But maybe that's because I was terrified as I whipped up and down the mountains from village to village on the seemingly endless one-lane roads.

Read More: Forget Mykonos and Santorini. I found a little-known island in Greece that's twice as beautiful and half the price»

After Greece came a spontaneous trip to Bulgaria to visit some Bulgarian friends I had met in Bali. They had told me to meet them in Sozopol on the coast of the Black Sea. During the summer, the capital of Sofia empties and everyone heads to the beach.

The vibe is like a Bulgarian Jersey Shore. It's probably not a place you would end up at unless you knew a Bulgarian, but it's a ton of fun. There are clubs and bars all along the beach where people party day and night. It's not uncommon for people to arrive at the beach bar Bash on Friday night and not leave the bar until Sunday, sleeping in the sand when they get tired.

Due to zoning restrictions, there aren't really hotels on the beach. Instead the beach is lined with campsites, RVs, trailers, and tents. It makes for one big communal party. I "glamped" in one of these tent-huts.

If you drive a bit away from Sozopol down the coast, you can easily find beaches that are practically empty. Veleka Beach in Tsarevo is known for having the Black Sea on one side and the Veleka River on the other. You can swim on both sides.

It's been a strange, fascinating, exhilarating, and exhausting trip so far. And these adventures only scratch the surface of what I did, and what you could do, in these countries. I find that the more I travel, learn, and experience new worlds, the more I want to do it. I suppose that's the beauty of it.

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A Little RTW Budget… How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World for a Year? (2024)

Last updated on January 4, 2024 by Shannon

When I left on my first round the world trip, I asked veteran travelers a key question: How much does it cost to travel around the world ?

It was the single biggest factor impacting my trip length and destinations, and the number of things that impact a long-term travel budget are far different than a two-week European vacation.

Estimates varied wildly, and knowing where my own around the world trip would fall in that spectrum was a great unknown. I had no idea how long my travel savings , my freelance income , and travel blogging to would keep me on the road, so over that first year, I tracked every single dollar I spent while traveling.

Since that first around the world travel, I’ve spent more than a decade of traveling, and budgeting for short- and long-term around the world travel is my specialty. My upbringing was modest , yet I was still able to save the money to travel and work remotely for all 15+ years of my world travels.

Table of Contents

Breaking Down the Cost of World Travel

Let’s dive into a very detailed breakdown of what it costs to actually travel around the world for one-year trip —the hard costs associated with around the world travel, and the factors that most dramatically impact your travel budget.

I’ve included some notes on the impact of the Covid pandemic on costs that are likely here to stay—from the dramatic inflation hitting the U.S. and the UK to increased costs at hotels as many of them make permanent their increased sanitation measures.

How Much Does Traveling the World Cost?

Generally, $20,000 is the baseline cost for a trip around the world for one person for one year. This estimation falls in line with popular recommendations that budget travelers can spend an average of $50 a day on the road, and allows additional budget for flights and vaccines.

You’ll spend up to $30,000 for a budget trip that includes fewer hostels, and more upscale accommodation, transport, or food. Traveling as a couple or family does not directly double/triple/ etc the costs because lodging and transport are shared expenses.

As you’ll see in the detailed trip budgets below, world travel costs for mid-range to budget-luxury world travelers can run as much as $50,000—or much more!

My Personal Round the World Trip

On my first RTW trip, I traveled around the world for for 328 days (11 months) through 15 countries and I spent USD $17,985 .

Then I decided to keep traveling. I’ve been on the road since 2008, still “traveling” as of 2024, although from my home base in Barcelona, Spain .

In the years since I originally posted my cost breakdown for world travel, other backpackers have loved the precise and meticulous details of just how much I spent throughout a year of active world travel. And even with rising global food costs a decade later, people still travel on similar budgets —yes, so many elements impact travel costs that you can still travel the world for the same price as a trip 15 years ago (more on how that’s possible later).

Let’s dive into the good stuff. The following tables and charts further outline my around the world trip costs including the country-by-country expenses and budget.

Just want the cold hard costs? Navigate my Google spreadsheet by the countries listed at the bottom of my full World Travel Budget .

My Total Costs to Travel the World for a Year

My final costs of $17,985 for the nearly year of world travel completely include of everything from getting jabbed in the arm for my Yellow Fever vaccine to buying all of my pre-travel gear , my travel insurance , all of my plane flights , bus rides , camel safaris , and surfing lessons , and straight through to my first delicious sub back on home soil when I passed through Philly on my final layover.

What does that number not include?

Some personal choices upped the cost of my round the world trip: an external hard drive for photo storage, a new camera (old one was waterlogged in Australia ), and a rental car splurge in Ireland . My personal total, inclusive of all of that, was just under $19,000 … so it’s still a bargain considering I was on the road for nearly an entire year.

In the above category breakdowns, consider:

• Lodging includes all accommodation; I couchsurfed in a few countries and stayed with friends a couple of times.
• Food includes everything from three meals a day to snacks, and funding for my chocolate obsession.
• Entertainment covers going out on the town, sharing beers with friends—this will be much higher if you drink often. My budget was for drinking on average once a week.
• Activities includes my volunteer program in Nepal, and all tours, trips, and group adventures—everything from diving to ziplining to visiting temples and museums .
• Transportation excludes flights, but covers all intra-country transportation like buses, trains, taxis, and tuk-tuks.
• Misc is a catch-all and a large portion of costs there came from paying for fast internet—it was pricey to make sure I had a strong connection for my work. It also includes shipping things home, gifts, and toiletries along the way.
• Flights includes puddle-jumper little flights between countries in the same region—I did not use a RTW ticket, but instead booked along the way ( here’s why ).

Budget of Daily & Total Costs Per Country

Don’t forget to check out my well-loved Travel Planning Resources .

And consider using the blank, formatted spreadsheet to log your own RTW travel budget (this is a Google Spreadsheet, either save a copy of this to your own Google drive for editing, or download as an excel file!).

How Much Will Your Dream Trip Cost?

Finding a way to travel the world is a mental obstacle as much as a financial one. Every situation is different, but I believe that if you truly prioritize travel, then it’s possible to plan and execute an around the world trip. The problem is, there’s crappy information out there about how to make it happen—just as many bloggers don’t really share straight costs to travel the world. Many bloggers have shared posts with a handful of tips about how much they saved for their dream trip, but they don’t break down how they arrived at that final figure. You may read this information and see my budget, but it leaves you wondering if your own world travels would cost the same.

For that reason, I wrote two entire guides to address your current hurdle. One is about creating a realistic anticipated budget for your trip. The other is about saving for world travel.

How much will your dream trip cost? I wrote this guide to specifically answer the most common question I was emailed by readers: how much will a specific route/itinerary costs.

In it, I share comprehensive and thoroughly practical advice about understanding trip budgets and understanding your own style of travel.

The guide is a full treatise on how to estimate what your dream trip will cost and it includes case studies from other long-term travelers who tracked their trip budgets.

I spent ten years on the road, and nearly that long talking with with other travelers about how they budget for travel. Using the aggregate of their knowledge and experience, I’ve outlined a road-map to taking a long-term trip.

I wrote this guide to empower travelers and travel dreamers anywhere in the world with the tools to plan their trip. The guide breaks down average traveling costs for the world’s most traveled destinations, which you can use with the fully customizable Trip Budget Worksheet to create an accurate anticipated budget for your dream trip. Available on  Kindle, ePub, and PDF .

True wealth is having the freedom to do what you want with your life. Many travel dreamers get waylaid by the financial side of life.

If you’re new to personal finance, or lost about how to start saving for a big goal, this book distills hard-learned information into easily actionable steps specifically targeted at giving travel dreamers tools to become financially literate.

This book provides a thorough deep-dive into the principles of saving money, common obstacles, overcoming debt, and the tenets of strong personal finance. It offers a streamlined process to create substantial changes in your financial life.

If money is your primary obstacle to leaving on a long-term trip, this guide breaks down exactly the shifts you can make to change your financial situation.

Many travelers look at my adventures and experiences these past 12 years that I’ve traveled and they dream of also traveling through the cultures, stories, and conversations. This guide gives you the tools to move the needle from dreaming to doing. Available on Amazon Kindle  or as a PDF bundle with the budget book .

How to Decide on Your Final World Travel Budget?

Travel was my bootcamp for life. My around the world trip was the single best investment in both my personal growth and my career. Throughout life we are presented with a series of choices—each has the ability to help us create the life we dream of living. I am forever glad I chose to travel our beautiful world. ~ Shannon O’Donnell

Creating an accurate anticipated budget for your world tour is an important step—you certainly don’t want to plan for a year but run out of funds in month eight! Each person has different goals, a unique world trip itinerary , and differing travel styles. These factors can create significant differences in the total cost of a round the world trip.

Assess How Much You’ve Saved for World Travel

A round the world trip is not as expensive as you assume. Most anyone reading this post has the ability to save for travel if it’s a true priority. My family is quite poor and I put myself through college with merit-based scholarships. Instead of counting on help from family, I budgeted for the trip, and I traveled with the budget I had—not the one I wish I had.

Before leaving, I purged everything I owned and saved ruthlessly in the countdown months. When calculating if I could afford my trip around the world, I even accounted for my student-loan and medical credit debt repayments (because yes, I was actually in a fair bit of debt ). I took on side-hustles to sock away money. And then I worked on  freelance SEO remotely  for the entire year.

Compared to my life in LA, where $1,200+ went toward rent and bills each month, I used that same online income to travel the world, digging into my small savings for my travel gear and long-haul flights . I wasn’t sure how much my trip would cost when I left to travel, and the information just wasn’t out there like it is now.

Now you can play with your travel route and your travel style and come up with a tally in just a few hours for what your dream trip will cost. In fact, I believe so much that world travel is affordable that I wrote a budget guide and spreadsheet to help you price out your dream trip and have all the possible resources you need at your fingertips.

Decide Your Route & Speed Around the World

This is the single biggest indicator of how much world travel will cost. Slow overland travel lowers costs, and you can minimize the number of flights needed.

To save money, also consider visiting fewer places. Every travel dreamer over-packs their around the world route. You surely have a dream list, but unless you have unlimited funds, then you should scale back the number of regions/countries that you will visit.

When I first planned my trip, a long-term traveler advised me to cut five countries from my itinerary. Looking back now, I can’t even imagine where they would have fit! It’s my route and speed that allowed me to travel for under $20K.

Read: How to Plan an Around the World Itinerary in 8 Steps

Determine the Types of Countries You’ll Visit

If you add in developed countries like Europe, Japan, Australia, and the United States, your daily budget will double. Instead of spending $25 per day in SEA and India, you will average $75 to $100 per day in most developed countries.

For that reason, weight your trip in favor of developing regions of the world. Save Europe or the U.S. for a shorter trip later in life, and add a few off-beat locations to your planned route—these are most often the sleeper-favorites by the end of your RTW trip.

If You’ll Eat Local Food, Street Foods, & Shop in Markets

How you eat on your travels impacts your bottom line. Eat locally from mom and pop restaurants, and sample eats from street food stalls. Contrary to many assumptions from first glance, these locations are perfectly safe so long as you adhere to a few standard food safety practices.

Local food is a window into the culture, so dig deep and eat like the locals, asking the vendors questions and learning more about each country’s food peculiarities. Also, when traveling in Western countries, shop for groceries and prepare your own breakfast at the very least.

Read: How to Eat Street Food Without Getting Sick and buy the Food Traveler’s Handbook  to learn even more about safely enjoying street eats

Factoring Covid and the Pandemic into you Round the World Trip

The fact is, although wealthier and Western countries have moved on from the pandemic, this is not case in all countries. Vaccine iniquities and underdeveloped healthcare systems mean that many countries struggled for years.

If you’re planning world travels, be prepared increased costs to test or meet Covid requirements if another strain were to pop up during your travels. What might this look like:

• Some countries may suddenly re-close to travelers from certain countries.
• Some countries will continue to require proof of vaccination before entering (this may last for years given that proof of vaccination is already required for other illnesses, namely Yellow Fever).
• Travelers may be forced to quarantine, sometimes unexpectedly if you test positive, and this may take place in government-run hotels that cost quite a lot.
• Crossing land borders could be pricier than anticipated—for the three years of Covid, the land border between Belize and Mexico cost ~$225 to cross , and it usually costs about $20.
• Travel insurance companies are now mostly considering Covid endemic , but that can change as official travel warning levels change in your home country. Buy your travel insurance with care.

In short, assess the trip you have planned, and read up on Covid policies. Where you choose to travel should likely remain fluid once you set out so you can adapt on the road.

Note that budgets and guides give clear examples of how travelers can truly spend on average $50 per day on average to travel the world. And using the tips above, you can lower these figures even more, if needed.

You could likely travel with as little as US $12,000 per year if you stick to one region—overland for a year from Mexico to Argentina; or overland through China, Southeast Asia , and India.

The price of a budget trip jumps to US $25,000 to visit many regions rapidly. If you prefer mid-range accommodations, that might increase your expenses by $10,000; same goes if you’re prone to splurging on expensive extras like helicopter rides, diving, and adventure activities.

The bottom line : Understand your route, travel style, and goals before you can develop an accurate anticipated budget for travel.

Recommended Next Steps

It’s easy to see the numbers, be inspired for a bit and then never take action. If you’re actively planning your RTW—fantastic! My site and those of my friends contain every essential resource you need to plan world travel .

If you’re currently working, studying, or just dreaming of traveling, I have resources for you as well. And if you want a second look at those spreadsheets, visit my full RTW budget as a Google Document that will open in your browser.

Or head to the free blank spreadsheet to track your own expenses as you travel around the world . You can save an editable copy of these to your own Google Drive, or download for your own use.

Eight Steps of Planning a World Trip

• Save for Travel & Eliminate Debt
• Build a Realistic Trip Budget
• Plan Your Around the World Trip Itinerary
• Pick the Right Travel Insurance
• Pack for Long-Term World Travel
• Work Remotely While You Travel
• Stay Healthy on the Road
• Browse Free Destination Guides

Resources & Further Research

World travel budgets.

• ALA readers Jesse and Ally sent me their couples budget for a trip that ended in late 2019—they came in at $38.2K for two people for 342 days traveling through everywhere from South America (Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina) to Southeast, South Asia, and even Japan. They didn’t sacrifice on fun RTW trip activities: They hiked Machu Picchu, toured the desert in Morocco, did scuba diving here and there, and more.
• A mid-range couples budget of shared expenses for a year came in just under $20K per person .
• A meticulously detailed couples backpackers budget came in at $36,532 (an even $50 a day).
• A solo male traveler for two years on the road averaged about $20K per year .
• A list of  travel budgets by region of the world .

Books to Read First

• How to Travel the World on $50 a Day .  Published by Penguin and now in its second edition, it shows you how to stick to a budget while you’re traveling. It’s an guide for travelers new to budgeting on the road and weighs heavily toward backpacker-style travel with basic tips and hacks to save money by using travel cards, points, etc.
• A few of my favorite travel books include: The Geography of Bliss , Wild , A Thousand Splendid Suns , The Great Railway Bazaar , and Behind the Beautiful Forevers .
• My two low-cost guides designed for world travelers include How to Save for Travel and How Much Will Your Dream RTW Trip Cost?

On-the-Road Travel Resources

• ALA Travel Guides share comprehensive information on what to know before you go in each new destination. 
• Grassroots Volunteering is ALA’s sister site, offering a database of responsible travel companies and volunteer experiences all over the world, as well as Responsible Travel Guides about how to use travel as a force for good.
• Cost of Living Guides show you how affordable it is might be to live outside your home country. You can sometimes elongate world travels by months or years by stopping in these affordable locations.

Working on the Road

• How to Start a Travel Blog : Record the highs and lows of your once in a lifetime trip. This no-nonsense page details the process and won’t upsell you on any courses you likely don’t need. Just basic facts of how to start your first blog, and maybe even make some money along the way.
• Finding Freelance Work for Digital Nomads . Since money is a huge factor for many travelers, this resource page thoroughly covers remote work—something I’ve been doing since 2005.

I truly believe that world travel is possible for most people. When and how is unique to each person, but by prioritizing and planning travel, you can make an around the world trip possible.

Essential Travel Planning Resources

❗ Yes, you need travel insurance . IMG Global is the travel insurance I’ve used for well over a decade of traveling solo, and with kids. Here’s why .

🧳 Smart packing can save your trip. Shop my favorite travel gear , including all of the packing essentials for world travel , gear to keep you safe on the road, my favorite travel books , and more.

🛏️ Find great accommodation . Booking.com is essentially the only hotel booking site that I use. It has a wide and affordable selection of traditional hotels, but also hostels and vacation rentals, too. Use these pro tips to find the best travel accommodation .

📍 Navigate more effectively. Rome2Rio is super handy to assess the full range of transport options between two cities—shows everything from flights to trains, buses, minibuses, and more. If you’re booking a rental car, I’ve always found the best deals on RentalCars.com .

✈️ Book affordable flights. Expedia is one of the first places I look for low-cost flights .

☕ Peruse all of my tips for round the world travel , or learn how to move and live abroad .

391 thoughts on “A Little RTW Budget… How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World for a Year? (2024)”

Can you recommend a travel insurance provider?

I recommend IMG Global for most world travelers. Here’s my full rundown .

The best way to experience seamless travel through breathtaking landscapes is Gothenburg to Oslo train route.

Hi there, great article, thanks, very very helpful. I also do these things when travelling on a budget: 1. Try to find the fee-free and low-fee ATMs in a foreign country. 2. Get fee-free cards from home 3. Avoid withdrawing cash from credit cards as the cash advance fee is very high 4. Withdraw maximum amount ATM gives me 5. Book directly with hostels/hotels to avoid extra commissions

Do you offer personal help/training on this?

I don’t see how you can possibly only send that amount on accommodation. That works to only $8.50 a night. You’d have to be staying in some very skanky bed bug ridden dives for that amount.

The you clearly didn’t read everything. I couchsurfed, I had accommodation included in the fee for my volunteer experience in Nepal (so that month is not included in the accommodation line-item), and I also met many travelers early in my travels who hosted me later in my travels when I passed through Europe. Plus, shared dorms are pretty cheap outside of the US, Europe, Australia, Japan, and the like. Guesthouses truly do cost about $15 a night split between two if you travel with someone. Think a bit more creatively rather than trolling and you’ll get there. fwiw, I have never gotten bed bugs in 15+ years, so I’m doing something right, and I’ve met travelers who got them at 5-star resorts, so price isn’t always an indicator of cleanliness my friend, and you’d be wise to note that if you travel in developing countries.

This sounds about right. My partner and I travel half the year every year and I budget (In CAD which I’ll put today’s USD exhange rates for) 2200 CAD/1,650 USD a month for flights and accomodation (I know it’s weird to combine these, but I sold my partner on travelling by telling him that I could make all the flights and hotels add up to the same as our rent in Toronto, Canada and that’s stuck – so the more I spend on a flight, the cheaper I try to find accomodation for that month)

1400 CAD/1050 USD a month for food (a mix of groceries and eating out. Drinks we have with meals count in this category)

800 CAD/600 USD a month for activities (Going out for drinks counts in this category, as does public transit)

Bringing our total to 4400/month or $26,400 for dix months for two people. (3300 USD/month, 19800 USD) So if we did the whole year we’d be close to 39,000 USD.

That said I also usually spend another 500-600 on clothing because I love to shop – but I don’t consider that part of the travel budget.

Believe it or not – I actually spend more when I stay home in Toronto the other half of the year than I do while travelling. Food in Toronto, Canada is really expensive – as is alcohol – as is entertainment. Tho in fairness I do live on a boat on the Toronto Islands, but it works out to costing similar to rent for a two bedroom apartment downtown.

Anyways, thanks for sharing!

Very informative, Thanks for the share.

Came across your blog, I was wondering what current costs were. I travelled for a year in 2015 with about $9k, so today that would be a bit over $11k. I did a mix of hostels, nice hotels (usually thru mistake rates, or points), backpacking (ie camping), and some volunteering for room/board (I think 6 or 7 weeks total). Mix of cheap places like in parts of SEA and also expensive places like Japan, Pacific Islands, or Europe for instance. I didn’t include pre-travel purchases though for gear. Another perspective, anyway!

Great breakdown, thanks!

Thank you for sharing so much of your information! I am just starting to think about our retirement travel, which is still several years off. This information is so wonderful to review for those of us who have a dream of travelling throughout the world and are in the planning stages. I hope you are able to continue to follow your dreams.

Good luck with the planning—this past year has been a bad one for traveling in general, but a great one for planning and dreaming! Best of luck. :)

I have done a RTW twice in the pass, first time 4 months, second time 6 months, now at the ripe old age of nearly 60 years old woman alone I find myself planning on travelling threw South East Asia and beyond for a year or more, thanks for all the great info. It is so exciting to be doing this again, if it was not for my daugther here in UK, I would stay abroad for good, I will be teaching online so that helps with cost, and I always keep £1,000 aside for emergency at home in UK and abroad, you never know what may happen.

Now is the perfect time to start planning a trip, and dreaming about travel when the world reopens. Do you think you’ll do a longer RTW this time? My first one was 11 months, but after that I found the sweet spot was between 6-8 months to maximize the long plane flight over and time exploring on the ground, but still have enough energy and enthusiasm to really enjoy each place. SEA remains one of my favorite places in the world, so I hope you have an incredible time exploring it.

Would u please advise ir suggest 1st time where u went RTW

Wow, absolutely incredible. Thank you for sharing your story, Shannon! Going on a solo-RTW trip has been something I only could dream of, but after reading your posts and other similar posts, i’ve realized this is a realistic goal i can achieve. Super excited to begin planning my South America trip! Let the saving begin!

I am so glad to hear that this resonated! You can absolutely make a RTW trip happen when you’re motivated and able to save. Best of luck and let me know if there ever anything I can do to help once you start planning! :)

Marvelous work!. The blog is brilliantly written and provides all necessary information I really like this awesome post. Thanks for sharing this useful post.  I really enjoyed reading this blog. I like and appreciate your work. Keep up the good work.

Hey Shannon,

I love the blog! I definitely agree with seeing less countries in your first trip and staying longer is a huge one that can save you money. We just did Croatia in a month and tried to see the whole country. We wouldn’t say it was a mistake but definitely realized it’s maybe seeing less places but getting more out of each place!

Love the blog and enjoy your 10th year of being on the road!

Thanks Dom and Jo! So glad you guys also found it true that staying longer in one place can really help your budget’s bottom line! And to be fair to you though, a month is still a lot longer than many people spend exploring Croatia, so I am sure you have some incredible experiences under your belt from being there even that long. Happy travels. :)

These are great travel tips! Whenever we travel, I always make sure that we stick with our budget and one of the best things I’ve learned is not to be so touristy. We try local and live like local. I love these tips. Thank you so much for sharing.

Thank you for this! I’m planning a year-long RTW trip with my husband and two daughters, who will be 9 and 10 when we depart. I know it’ll be life-changing! We’re skipping W. Europe to keep things inexpensive and to see places the children may not easily get to later in life. I’m wondering if, in your research, you came across information or calculated yourself how traveling as a family changes the math? Multiplying your number by four, even when looking at your specific country worksheets, doesn’t seem quite right, so any tips? Your total equals $219/day for a family of four for a year, and I’m not sure how much to reduce that by due to economies of family travel. I saw your Further Research section and will dig deeper there. I appreciate your thoughts, and again, thank you for giving me such a fabulous starting place. So grateful for the details and transparency!

Hi Stephanie! Thanks for you message, that’s a really great question and it doesn’t have an easy answer. It’s definitely not going to be multiplied by 4, because in many cases your accommodation will be doubly more expensive—that’s probably what I would anticipate. Not sure how keen your kids are to share a bed, but in some cases if you are getting places with two double beds, or even just two rooms, it’s likely double the cost. That will fluctuate depending on where you are. Airbnbs are a great idea, but depending on where you are you’ll likely be in guesthouses in rural Loas for example, not renting apartments, and that will average out the perhaps more than double you might pay for a nice 2br Airbnb in Bangkok, for example. But with things like pull out beds/couches in Airbnbs, and that you’ll be saving on breakfast costs when you’re using them, I think double’s a safe bet there.

Lots of places offer a discount for children on public transport (although when my niece was 11 she was much taller and more developed than the similarly Asian children so they gave me a hard time on the kids discount), and things like a taxi would cost the same were it just you and your hubby, or your kids too, so that’s not going to be times four for overland transport. Flights though, of course, are times four!

Big name activities again may offer a kids discount, but it’s not going to be much in the grand scheme—they may get discounts or into a few museums free, but for tours and such it’ll be times four.

Those are some thoughts off the top of my head! Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help as you start planning! :)

That’s amazing information!! With my wife we are planning to travel from January for over a year, we are a little bit concerned about the budget, we think we can together up to $45K AUD not sure if that will be enough. We are planning to use the site TrustedHousesitters as much as possible to save cost of Accomodation and the plan is to start in South Asia, moving to Europe and finally South America but I’m not sure if the money will be enough. Thank you for all the tips and reccomendations, would be possible to see Scott’s link as well? I’m quite interests to see his expenses around 4 different continents. Thanks in advance

Hi Camilo! Congrats on the upcoming trip, January will be here before you know it, and I definitely think that your planned trip is doable on 45K, but you’ll want to play with the amount of time you spend in each region. Longer time spent in Europe will eat into your budget, so make sure you play with your dailies and length of time in places like SEA, so you don’t run out too quickly in the middle in Europe!

Thank you Shannon for the quick replying. We are planning to spend at least 6 months in SEA and squeeze de budget to the maximum to have enough for 3 months in Europe, I know that will be the most expensive part of the trip. Shannon, any recommendations on insurance?

Yes, that’s an important topic and I have a whole post about it here: https://alittleadrift.com/backpacker-travel-insurance-world-nomads/ It gets into when I use World Nomads, and when I’ve gone with IMG since I’ve used them both over the past eleven years!

My wife and I spent $33k for 12 months and kept a very detailed budget. We traveled in 4 continents and through 30+ countries. We have a detailed budget overview and I also built an excel tool that lets you track your own budget.

That’s a great budget. Your spreadsheet looks a lot like my own spreadsheet—including the former color scheme , layout of the final stats page, and more——but all without any attribution or acknowledgement of modification, so I’ve deleted the links to it here. If you’re keen to link to my post and share where you got the inspiration for your own spreadsheet, I am happy to add the links so others can view your trip totals. Glad you had a good trip, but attribution would have been appreciated since it’s evident you know how much work went into it.

Hi Shannon,

Thank you for sharing this information with all. I am quite impress with your traveling costs and need some advise. I am planning a trip to Eastern Europe and Africa, places like: Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Tunisia, Egypt and more. The current plan is for one year and maybe around 12 countries. Part of the plan is to move from one country to another using ground transportation, sleeping in hostels, buying food at the grocery store, and some activities could include hiking and maybe cooking classes. How much money do you think I need?

Hi Chicho, that’s a good question so I would recommend that you figure out your anticipated fixed costs like flights and visas and travel gear and insurance, and then estimate the daily costs in each of your planned countries. Once you research daily travel costs by country, it will actually help you decide where you should spend more time and less (some countries can cost more than you anticipate, while others might be far more affordable). Play with the numbers and days you’ll spend in each place, then you’ll have a good estimation of how much you’ll need to save!

Thank you for your valuable information! I will do more digging, my budget is not limited and time is open. I have this strong desire to travel because when I was 8 to 9 yrs old I traveled to Iceland, and Europe, visited 7 countries and lived in Spain on the beach in house we rented. Also lived in England and Germany. I long now to travel more then before because finally I can afford to do it. I am 66 and in excellent health. But I know there is no time to waist. Wait advice in planning can you offer? I do not want to waist money. But I want to maximize my enjoyment. I know I want to return to Spain. And my Spanish is now 95% or higher. I might consider renting houses as I travel. Maybe buying? Can you offer me your wisdom tailored to my situation. I am blessed that my dreams are coming into port. And my last days of life I want to broaden even more my appreciation of what I have. Thank you for your answer, ahead I await your attention. Jerry

Hi Gerald! Thanks for reaching out, it sounds like you have a great adventure on the horizon. For planning, I really recommend that you first pick a date and timeline for setting out and leaving—your planning will contract or expand to fit whatever time you give yourself. Then it becomes a question of getting the other things in order—health insurance on the road, your route, etc—all of that is harder than actually buying the ticket and making your dream a concrete reality on the horizon. And to that end, I think you should travel some to Spain, as well as any other places that call to you. It’s definitely easy to rent places for a few months, and that will allow you to start seeing the world and also learning what you want in a new homebase. Spain is a very different place, so come check it out before buying—it sounds like you are ready for a bit more freedom than a house would allow. If you decide on Europe, the long-term/retirement visa will take a bit of time (3 to 6 months or more), but can easily be done when/if you decide you want to settle there. :)

Gerald, I’ve been traveling for the past 3 years as a solo 70-year-old. I sold my house and have never looked back. Considering you are fluent in Spanish, you might think of doing a trip to those countries to our south. I just returned from a 5-month trip through Ecuador, Colombia, and Panama. During those 5 months, I could count on two hands, the number of Americans I met along the way. For some reason, most Americans don’t think of traveling to South America. I speak very little Spanish but thoroughly enjoyed my trip with no problems. It would probably be much easier and more enjoyable for you. All three countries were very interesting and very safe. I never once felt for my safety. Speaking of budgeting, I spent approximately $2,100 per month, which included 13 separate flights. Also, I did look to see what a furnished apartment would cost while in Boquete Panama: $600 bucks will get you a very nice place in the cool tropical highlands.

What an amazing informative article about traveling and budget! Thank you!

It’s a great article. It has everything you need to travel around the if you the budgeted capital. It has a very detailed content including some images and links too. Thank you for posting this article. Happy posting.

It’s a great article, finally some honest data. But girl, please… I don’t want to be that person. But Amsterdam is not a country! It’s a city in the Netherlands. It’s such a shame that tourists think Amsterdam is a country own. There’s so much more to the Netherlands than just Amsterdam.

Hah, you are not the first to point that out, but I’m still going to leave it just like that. The Netherlands is the only country where I visited just one city, so I think it’s disingenuous to say it’s the budget for traveling the Netherlands when I only visited what is likely the most expensive place in the country. And then on the visuals side, it’s just too long to write Netherlands (Amsterdam)—it didn’t fit. So alas, I made a choice that I know frustrates the die-hard geography buffs. Happy travels :)

Good stuff to know. Thank you. Any chance you, or someone you know, has written a book on surviving in countries where you don’t speak the language? I would like to go to China or Brazil but I only know English.

Good question David! And one I know many travelers face. English is the best language to have in a foreign country, because it’s usually the default language of tourism. But, a big exception to that is China, where a large internal tourism industry makes it harder than some places to visit without any language. But there are work-arounds. I traveled through China using an app on my phone to help communicate, and I had essential phrases written down by a local (I am vegetarian, so I always had that on paper.

As for books, one you are absolutely going to want is a wordless, pointing book. This one and this one are good: https://amzn.to/2QqhO9J and https://www.amazon.com/Point-Travellers-Language-Original-Dictionary/dp/3980880273/ – One of these will get you a long ways in both of your planned travel locations (and are better than an app because they will never run out of battery).

Then, download the Google Translate app, which allows you to point your phone camera at text (on a menu or bus station sign) and it will translate the text into English. You can easily buy a SIM card when you arrive and pop it into an unlocked smartphone.

You could also hire a local guide. Even if you don’t use a tour/guide for the entire time, planning an English-language tour (everywhere will have these) will help you acclimate in the first few days. Urban Adventures offers great day tours, as does Context travel and some others. :)

Hope that helps!

Thank you for sharing these travel tips—some I have never read elsewhere. I love traveling too, and I am planning my budget now to figure out how I can travel the world.

Hi my daring thank you so much for your lovely article I read it word from word. I have never done a Euro trip and I was born in Aus. My partner is Serbian born in Croatia and he has a house in Knin (somewhere in the country). We want to go traveling around Europe for 1 year with 30,000 between us. He has a house in Croatia so will save money there. We want to rent a nice car and go around in style on a budget to all countries but the roads are not safe. What is your suggestion and how expensive is the flights between each country?

Hi Jen, thanks for stopping by, sounds like you have an incredible adventure you’re planning. Your budget will surely work, especially if you plan wisely how you spend that 30K (not sure if you are talking Euro or US, but both would work, though certainly more leeway if you are talking Euro). Most of the roads in Western Europe are quite safe to drive, and with the open EU borders it’s a great way to get around. Your budget will allow for $82 a day for the both of you. Although that is on the low side of a budget many would recommend, because you are traveling for longer you can aim for that as an average expense. So in Switzerland your rate will be far higher, but you can easily spend under that daily average in Portugal and Spain. So by watching where you visit and perhaps even doing a vacation rental somewhere for a month or two, you could really maximize your budget and experience a ton. If you are flying (I am really unsure why you said the roads are unsafe?), flights are very cheap… you can do a search on Skyscanner but if booked in advance flights in Europe can be as low as $20-$50 to hop between cities, with a max price usually of 150 one way, and I’ve only paid that when I am booking within a week or two of flying. There are also great train passes and such, which are affordable if you book ahead as well. Hope that helps! :)

absolutely great read! What do you reckon, would 50,000 USD be a good budget for 2ppl for a year around the world? No europe countries Mostly South Asia, souh America and some African & Middle estern Countries thrown in for good measure. We have friends in Aus so we would stay with them for two weeks or so… Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

That’s a pretty good budget in general, especially since it doesn’t include Europe! It’s enough in general, but also depends on how you consider your travel style and the speed once you are on the road. Transport and moving quickly ramps up costs, but if you are taking a slow pace as you go, $50K is definitely in the range of budget+, with some mid-range splurges on accommodation when you are in affordable places like South Asia and such. Africa and the Middle East might not be as cheap as you first think, so do some research on a per-country basis when you start planning your route! :)

In little over a month I will begin my last High school year, and I was thinking about doing a gap year before university and travel across southeast Asia. Which and how many countries would you recommend me visiting?

Hi Emma! What a wonderful opportunity you have ahead of you. With a gap year to fill, your best bet is to head out on the road with a rough idea of how you will start, but then leave the rest up to chance. You will meet so many people on the road as you travel, and within weeks and months you’ll have new friends you may want to join, or you may find a place you love so much you want to stay for a while longer. I have a few resources on the site for planning a route and what to consider. Head here: https://alittleadrift.com/rtw-travel/#planning – for advice on what sort of things you should consider when picking a route. And then this page lists out my own route: https://alittleadrift.com/rtw-travel/round-the-world-travel-route/

I hope that helps! SEA is a wonderful place to start travel—it’s a forgiving place for new travelers and there are heaps of other backpackers and traveling culture to help you get your feet under you. It’s also safe, the foods amazing, and the culture is incredible.

Shannon- Just wanted you to know that you have been an inspiration for me and thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us – it is invaluable! That said, I recently put in my notice at my job and leave May 10th for a year around the world ( which I hope to be able to extend longer :) ) I am so excited! Planning question for you- how far in advance did you plan ? I am in this limbo between not wanting to over plan and would like to keep some spontaneity in my travels but also want to make sure i have safe accommodation as a single girl traveling alone. Another added caveat for me is that I will be traveling with my pup so I have that added concern as the places I stay and the airlines I fly on must accept pets. Thanks in advance!

Thank you so much Steph, it makes my day to know my site has been helpful and inspiring as you plan your travels. I also know how tricky it is to find a balance in the planning. Your situation is trickier than many with the dog going alongside, as there will be some other hurdles depending on the country requirements. I know sometimes places require a standard microchipping, and then proof of entering from a rabies-free country, or things of that nature. I am thinking that you are going a bit slower and sticking to a few regions? Friends have been forced to kennel/quarantine their dogs for up to two weeks when entering some places, so it’s that type of information that you would really need to know far ahead of time. So the balance of over-planning would perhaps be that you extensively research pet requirements for each place on your route. Then, my advice for the rest is that you plan a place to stay your first week, making sure it’s pet friendly, and then figure out the rest as you go. I knew a rough route for my RTW trip, but past that, the actual nitty gritty details of what to see, it’s so much easier to plan those things as you travel. It not only makes it much less stressful in these last months before you leave, but it’s just easier and a lot more fun to ask locals and take advice on the ground. I hope that helps! I am sure you’ve found it, but there is a research portal with information for most countries ( http://www.pettravel.com/passportnew.cfm ) and that should help! Please report back on how it all goes! :)

$3,130.77 for a year of nomad lodging? I’m sure you ‘couch surfed’ a few times and stayed with lots of ‘friends’. ;)

Yes, I definitely did couch-surf some and I had a house-sitting gig in Amsterdam. I also paid for a volunteering program for a month, and the fee included housing (but in the calculations it’s in a different category). But I also chose places where my money went further. My cousin and I spent six weeks in India, where we were splitting the cost of a $12 private room each night. Same in Southeast Asia — I would often share with another backpacker and we could sleep for less than $10 each. When you figure I spent half my time in more affordable countries, it makes a bit more sense!

Hi Shannon, I love the spread sheet and have downloaded a copy for our own RTW trip which starts in 6 weeks! I just wanted to find out how to add more tabs across the bottom without losing the formulas? thank you!

Six weeks! That’s so soon! You can actually right-click the tabs at the bottom and click “Duplicate” – that will add one! Then, depending on how many you add, you will have to adjust the front page that auto-calculates. That’s a bit trickier, so if you add all the countries you need and share your Google Document with me then I can help you make sure it’s calculating correctly!

thank you Shannon :-) yes it’s coming round really quickly! So I’m not great with this technology stuff haha, I’ve added all the countries I need, how do I send this via Google? it’s just saved to my documents at the moment :-)

You can send me an email at [email protected] and attach it there! I will take a look! :)

Laura- I am heading out on an around the world just about the same time as you! I leave May 10th. How about you? Where are you headed?

I cannot tell you how incredibly lucky I feel I am to have found your website! The information you share with all of us is invaluable. I have read all that you have shared on all of the topics you have discussed in this post! I admire you so much! I will be travelling later this year and will want to talk to you.

Thank you Marg! I am so glad that you found it useful! So wonderful that you are traveling soon — don’t hesitate to let me know if I can help with anything. :)

I’ve edited a list resources for finding seasonal jobs – these have helped me get nearly every seasonal job I’ve had. Most of the jobs provide housing which is deducted from your wage. So you don’t need to worry about finding your own place to live, and food is often included as well. If you’re willing to work while you travel, it’s a really excellent way to see the world on a small budget.

http://jacquelineboss.com/2017/12/15/work-in-beautiful-locations-close-to-nature-resources-for-seasonal-jobs/

That’s a great article indeed! A really wise thing to do before going for a trip somewhere is to think over everything twice. Once bitten twice shy, you know. So, think over all the problems you might face up with. Make sure the accommodation you chose for your stay corresponds its actual price. Get in touch with the owner beforehand. Thank you again for this post. I wish next year everyone has a chance to have their own dream trips.

Great article!

After deciding that it was time and purchasing a really inexpensive one-way flight from FLL to Auckland, I have been reading and researching on what my next step should be. I think I have a plan (sort of, maybe, I don’t know AHHH), but would you be able to direct me to articles, boards or anything on what type of meet up opprutunities are out there. I am a 31 year old female and am doing this adventure solo. I don’t mind being solo, but I think it would be great to meet up with people who are also traveling for more then a vacation.

Hi Stephanie, congrats on the decision to just set out and travel! I know that can be such a scary leap. I can definitely help you find ways to meet other solo travelers, although you will definitely and absolutely meet them along the way as well. Especially if you are staying at low-cost and budget accommodation (like hostels) — it’s nearly impossible not to make new friends if you want to find people heading out on day trips and what not. For boards, there are some great FB groups where you could share your route and ask if others are looking to meet up along the way: – https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesolofemaletravelernetwork/ – https://www.facebook.com/groups/solowomen/ – ww.facebook.com/groups/solowomentraveltribe/

Then there are forums and such. Nomadic Matt has a “travel companions” tread in his forums: http://forums.nomadicmatt.com/forum/39-travel-companions/ As does Lonely Planet Thorntree: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/categories/sell-swap-meet-up

I hope that helps get you started! :)

Hi Stephanie!

I am also going to do this around the world solo too! and I am 31 this year as well. I am thinking if I dont do now, when would I have the chance to do it? ;p

Is this a book? :D If not, pls make it one!!

Found it, never mind. :D :D xxx

So glad you found it! Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions as you read it. :)

Thank you very much for sharing!!!

I bet you had an amazing experience on that budget as well. It’s so doable at every level. Some people assume it’s hugely expensive, while others assume you have to stay at hostels. Looks like you guys had a wonderful trip without sacrificing comfort!

great and inspirational story and in fact it also provide the best and in depth knowledge about the Cost per day on different countries. Thanks and God bless you :)

So glad you found it helpful!

Hi Shannon, Thank you so much for all the time dedicated to your passion and thank you so much for sharing all of that with us. I will make a big use of your Google template, with my partner we plan to leave our lives here and start our passionate and adventurous journey to the unknown. I like the fact that you are ultra precise on everything, I keep your website as a reference. We have started a website and I will write blogs and articles on our journey, I will not forget to mention and link your pages; it’s just the beginning so if you have other advice and experience with blogging, digital marketing, …. I’ll be happy to take it on board.

Thanks again Shannon for everything, enjoy the ride! Marlene

I am so happy to hear that you plan to use the Google template! It’s still so handy on my own travels. As for the blog, it should be a passion project for you, something you love to build even if you never make money, and it should provide value that you can’t find elsewhere. Either a truly unique perspective on it all, information others aren’t sharing, or a niche that hasn’t yet been done. Find a voice and a story to tell and others will read. I wish you all the best luck! :)

Ma’am. I love all the detail you went into about saving for a RTW trip – something I’ve always wanted to do and am currently in the process of saving up for. I do have a question though (and I apologize for the ignorance – i just can’t seem to get an actual answer for anything). What are the visa requirements for just going on holiday to a different country? Will I be required to get a visa for every country I plan on visiting on this trip? I saw that you got an Indian visa, but no others were listed that I saw. Does it matter how long your there as to where or not you need a visa?

Wow… this has opened up my mind to what is possible… so really I just need to save the initial flights and a bit of a buffer for a month or so… and if I can get money by working online or something… I can then just continue to live in south east Asia or something for far less than where I live now (Australia). Just one question… how do you get the accommodation cheap? Like do you need to rent a place and sign a lease? Doesn’t it cost a lot more to live in a hotels for such a long time? or am I just use to Australian prices…?

So glad that it opened your mind to some more possibilities out there! As for rents, these are much different than the hotels you are thinking about, although even hotels are significantly cheaper than Australian hotel rates. Right now I am on a renting a bungalow for a week on the beaches of southern vietnam, 100 meters from the ocean, for $15 USD per night. Some monthly rents in Hanoi, Chiang Mai, and other places are in the $150-400 range per month. You’ll definitely want to have a read of these two cost of living posts I wrote for Thailand and Mexico: https://alittleadrift.com/cost-of-living-mexico/ and https://alittleadrift.com/living-costs-chiang-mai-thailand/

Wow, thank you so much. I’ll definitely check out these posts!

Hi Shannon! I plan to go on the road next April 2018, so I have one year and a half to save up money. I believe I can save up to 7000 euros (being pessimistic, because I think I could earn more) and I would like to travel for 3 to 6 months. I live in Europe, so I think I wouldn’t travel, and I have 3 plans, so to say: 1) A tour including Letonia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Rumania, Eslovenia, Viena. 2) A tour in Canada 3) A tour in Asia (I’d like to visit China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodja and Korea). How much do you think I should save to do so? Which tour do you think it’s the most-doable one?

Good question! All of your trip ideas sound incredible. For that €7,000, you will get the most for your money if you stay out of the Western countries. Your money won’t go as far in Canada, but even more than that, Canada is a trip that you may find yourself taking later in life when you have more money, kids, etc. It’s an easy destination to visit. You should look at picking a spot that really excites you and that also matches the adventurous spirit you have right now. My bet is on Southeast Asia since it’s very affordable and also a good spot for a first-time traveler since it’s very safe. Since you live in Europe, it’s dead simple for you to plan another trip in the future for the Baltics and Eastern Europe. I am going to send you a private email with some more thoughts! :)

I’ve heard some people travel for a year in the same continent for under $10,000 USD, South America, Central America, SEA… I hope I get my chance soon!

That is absolutely within the realm of possible if you are limiting the number of flights that you take. Flights are usually the biggest expense, with accommodation next. So if you can limit the flights, and then pick regions of of the world with affordable accommodation (definitely SEA and Central America… South America can be pricier in areas and in the activities). Best of luck plotting and planning those travels!

I just randomly came across this because as you mentioned, you get addicted to long-term travel…lol. I was trying to get some ideas for my 10k I’ll have saved up this year. But, wow! Seriously, 10k RTW is possible, I’m surprised that 5 yrs ago you didn’t think that. I spent 8k last year and went to 25 countries in Europe, Asia (South, Southeast, Central, and East/North), Middle East and Oceania. This year I’d probably concentrate on South America where I’ve not been yet, which should be even cheaper. I did things like a private 12 day tour in Mongolia, spent a month in Japan (usually expensive) etc. It’s definitely possible. I have friends who did this on even less, they hitchhiked and couch surfed most of the time (I only did this a couple times though I did get some accommodation/food free from some volunteer things I did. On the other hand I also stayed in 4-5 star hotels sometimes too.)

Hey Shannon, My name is Claire and I’m currently a junior in high school from Seattle, WA. I’ve have plans to take a gap year or two after graduation to travel throughout Europe. I would like to land in Barcelona, and take the Eurail throughout most of the other countries(Germany, Sweden, England, Czech Republic, Italy, Greece, etc.) I’m aware of the Eurail system, so I will plan on buying a pass. I’m also aware that staying in hostels is probably the cheapest/easiest way to go. The problem is, it’s a very vague plan and I am not very familiar with coordinating plane trips, train rides, hostel stays, etc (Since this is will be my first solo traveling experience). Do you have any suggestions on how to make money while I’m traveling, the steps to take before I go, how to find affordable places to sleep at night (that are close by the Eurail stations), and advice you wish you knew before you started traveling? From your experience, do you think $30,000 is enough to travel with for a year(assuming I also make money along the way)? Thank you so much for your time, Claire.

Hi Claire, thanks for writing. I absolutely think that your gap year is doable and that you can certainly save the funds for that. An entire year in Europe would be hard because of the visa situation, and because it would be very pricey. You can backpack Europe for 90 days on a tourist visa, then you have to leave for 90 days. So with that in mind, you’ll be looking at other places you could work and travel. Have you thought about getting a work visa to a place like Australia? They are fairly easy to obtain straight out of school and many Europeans go there and work (picking fruit or waiting tables) and travel and save the funds that way to continue traveling. There should be good information about that online. I have a work and travel page here if you are keen to find a way to work online: https://alittleadrift.com/how-to-work-and-travel-rtw/

As for planning it all out, that’s the least of your worries. The planning part is more straightforward once you are on the road, but finding ways to work and save now is, perhaps, the most important part of your plan. That work and travel page should give you some ideas. I have a ton of planning resources on the site ( https://alittleadrift.com/rtw-travel/ ), and the working page lists out a lot of other job boards and ideas, from teaching English to finding an online skill. Best of luck! You’ve totally got this. If you dream of travel, then you can make it a reality with focus and determination to save the funds and work toward that goal.

Im guessing this was a while back and prices of things have gone up quite a lot since then. I keep coming back to this page like I did for past 2 or 3 years..keeps me motivated when i’m gonna start mine…Thank You

Hi Mohammad! Suprisingly, it’s still possible to do a RTW trip for that same cost. Somethings have certainly gone up, but others have gone down. So it’s gotten significantly cheaper to travel in Australia, and I would save several hundred dollars a month if I was backpacking there now compared to being there in 2008 with the Aussie dollar was a much stronger global currency. Gas is also cheaper, meaning flights have gone down. So the cost of food in Thailand is about 50 cents more a meal, but that has been counteracted by other changes too. Take a look at this woman, she spent the same figure for a RTW in 2015 .

Good article, Thanks!

I love your honesty! This is going to help so many travellers. I can’t say I kept my totals to the penny, though, but maybe to the nearest pound.

To the nearest pound is still pretty fantastic. So many people dream of a trip and are surprised when they see the real costs broken down for them.

My business partners required DS-82 several days ago and used a website with lots of sample forms . If people require DS-82 too , here’s https://goo.gl/LqB8da .

Hi Shannon, I’m just starting grade nine, but I have a passion for travel and I’d love to do a solo RTW yearlong trip after going to university. My dream would be to leave right after finishing all my schooling, but I’m not sure if I’ll have enough of a travel fund by then. I’m very roughly planning on 2 months in Central and South America, 2 months in Africa, 4-5 months in the southeastern half of Asia (all the way from India to Thailand and up to China), 1 month in Australia/New Zealand, and 2-3 months in Europe. I’d be departing from and returning to Canada. I’d probably stay in hostels and guest houses most of the time, maybe couch surf in more expensive regions. I’m definitely considering working online while on the road, but I’d like a minimum of $15k before I go. Do you think it’s possible to save $15-20k in 4 years of high school plus 4 years of university? Or would you recommend finding a full time job for a couple years before the trip? Thanks, Kathryn

Hi Kathryn, it is so nice to receive your comment! I have no doubt that you can make it happen with that much time and since you are clearly planning now. Since I doubt you can formally work, I suggest you save a portion of your babysitting money or any work you can do in the summers — enjoy some of it but get a savings account and set aside a portion. Then, once you can work, if you spend your summers really working hard, then you can easily reach the 20K in the next eight years. It’s even easier if you have help by living with your parents or family in the summer, then you are saving costs on accommodation while you work between college years. I know that the summer after I graduated high school, I had a job waiting tables and I managed to save nearly all of that money ($4K). I used it to buy a car, but if you put even a portion away each summer, you will surely reach your goals. I encourage you to talk to your parents now, ask for their help in getting a savings account set up, and ask for them to help you prioritize your savings. It can be easy to spend money on the little things, especially with so many activities in high school that require expenses, so with their help you can perhaps really focus on saving a healthy portion of anything you earn. I definitely think you can make it happen with savings ready for when you graduate! Keep me posted, and don’t hesitate to email me if I can ever help as you are saving and dreaming and planning. :)

Thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely consult my parents to set up a savings account for travel, and although you’re right that I can’t apply for a traditional job yet, I have a semi regular pay cleaning my grandparents house for them. Not too many babysitting jobs, since I live outside of a small town, but there are a few. I’m planning to apply for a part time job as soon as I can. Thanks so much for the positivity and support, and I’ll make sure to keep you posted! :D

Hey Shannon, so after looking at lots of RTW travel blogs and seeing how much Europe can raise the cost, and realizing just how much time I want to spend there, I think I might save that continent for a trip of its own farther down the road. The time I would’ve spent there will be spread throughout the other parts of the trip. How significantly would skipping Europe lower the total cost? Do you think $15k USD would be enough for the whole trip?

I think that is a great figure and plan. Europe will be there and surely you will make it back there in the future. 15K will go a long way toward backpacking all over. I am going to send you an email in a few days to something that I wrote — I think it will help you better play with the figures and potential budget!

Alright, thank you so much for your help! I’ll be patiently waiting. ????

Hi! Im just starting 10th grade, and i also dream of traveling the world!….just like you Im going to try solo backpacking. Maybe ill try for a year or two Im not sure right now…and since im homeschooled i have time have a job so i can save up money to go. Im trying to go as soon as I turn 18 and school finishes which is roughly in another 2 years… Im trying to save up at least $30-40k in the next two years and even though it sounds like a long shot I truly believe its possible. Im going to Greece and Italy next year as part of my school trip and so ill get to see what it would be like to travel alone. I have this huge map on my wall and Im trying to plan out where in the world i want to go. Making a travel route of sorts. Pinterest helps alot! I was thinking of renting an apartment (cheap) so I can just travel through out Europe and always have somewhere to come back too… Do you think its a good idea? i dunno… I have some money put away so I don’t necessarily have to save up but it would be great to challenge myself and get some experience in working. I want to work and travel in bars, restaurants, cafes, teaching etc… would i need a special visa for that or something? Do think i should go to college first? All in all my end game is to find a place in the world i truly love and live there forever! After that ill go to university and get a degree in nursing!

Thanks for writing! So sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I love that you are heading out on a solo trip. It’s wonderful that you are able to work now and save up the funds. As far as getting an apartment, that can definitely help save on costs in some parts of the world, but there are other considerations about getting a visa and such. In Europe, you can’t stay for longer than 90 days. Plus, it’s pretty pricey. Perhaps look into budget backpacking through Europe — you will meet a lot of others at the hostel. Then you could rent a place in Thailand, Mexico, or somewhere very budget that has a lot to explore.

And yes, working is a whole other thing. There are times that you can find under-the-table work waiting tables or you can often work in a hostel and earn your bed (this is very common). It’s best to save up the majority of the funds that you will need, and not count on finding work. That said, look at the work-visa for Australia — it’s very popular and you qualify for that one-year visa until you’re in your late 30s. This is hugely popular and lots of backpackers work the farms picking fruit and waiting tables in Oz, and then backpacking this region ( https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/americans-guide-working-holiday-visas ).

Lastly, it’s a tough call on going to college. I am very glad that I had my degree when I left long-term, it has allowed me to earn more money and stay on the road longer because I have a degree. It really depends on your situation. You could always backpack in huge chunks every summer throughout college and then go on a longer one- or two-year adventure. There is no wrong decision, and it comes down to your goals. There are travel nursing programs that could be an incredible fit for you, I recommend that you google these organizations that send nurses for several months to spots all over the world. I’ve met a few on the road and they seem like they have found a good dynamic to work-life-travel. (My friend Candy has a great blog about it: http://www.thegypsynurse.com ). Best of luck! Keep me posted if I can help with anything. :)

Hi I am chandan planning for a backpacker trip of 20 days in may/June 2017 please help which countries should I visit. I am planning to visit whole world on continent basis say one continent or two in a year. Would like to start with Europe. Since I am from India will need help on 1. Which country to start and end. Visa requirements.trip cost with minimum air travel. I like to feel the place I visit. And best places to stay.

Hi Chandan! So exciting that you have a good trip coming up. Europe is wonderful and will make for a fun way to start your years of exploring. As for starting and ending points, hub cities are the best. I recommend that you use Skyscanner to look for open-ended routes from the airport you will leave from and then you can just type in “europe.” This will allow you to find good rates into cities you might not have considered that have easy routes to and from India. Then look into Eurorail passes, the Global pass may be the best bet for the maximum way to move around and explore a lot of the countries on offer. Best of luck! It’s such a culturally rich area of the world to be exploring. :)

Hi just update me on the best and cheapest season. Which countries have good landscapes. I love them. Considering 20 days trip which countries do u think I should opt. BTW thanks for immediate reply and such an informative post.

I think you should look up the weather information for the countries you’d like to visit and you can chart a course through them in the right time of year for your ideal climate. There are warm parts of Europe even in the winter, or you could go north and ski. Up to you and will depend on what you are looking for! That type of information is not something I specialize in, but once you are planning the trip, I have a lot of gear resources and the such here: https://alittleadrift.com/rtw-travel/

Best of luck!

Thanks again..things are more clear now

Hey Shannon, your story was amazing and inspired me to travel for about 3 months… Would $12,000 suffice? ????

Hi Amanda! $12K is a good sum! It will surely get you three months of travel at almost any travel style too. Even if you have a mid-range budget, that will last more than three months in developing countries. If you are backpacking Europe, then it’s a good sum to really enjoy and have tasty food and nice lodging the entire time. :)

Thank you so much! I also started following you on FB, your page is amazing!! ????????. Also I was wondering how far $12K would take me in SEAsia (Time Wise)? ????

Well, if you are willing to travel as a budget traveler, then you could backpack around Southeast Asia for about $1,200. That is staying a low-cost guesthouses or hostels, and going with the backpacker vibe. If you decide to stop in one spot for a month or two, it can be much cheaper. You can temporarily “live” in Chiang Mai or Bangkok for as little as $600-$800 for a month. If you plan to stay in nicer places, it will just cost a bit more each month. The $1,200 is a guestimate though because it really depends on the countries you choose. Vietnam is very, very cheap to backpack, and you will spend less than that for a month backpacking there, but Myanmar can be pricier. I think $1,200 is a good backpacker average estimate if you are in SEA for 8 months or so. :)

Hi! Happy to see that your still responding on this blog post. I plan to pick up my things and just go very shortly. I currently travel on short trips every month in the US but I still crave more. There is just something about meeting new people, experiencing new things and just seeing the world that draws me in. I really think just finally deciding to go and experience such a once in a lifetime opportunity is what my soul needs.

The only problem is I literally have NO idea where to start. I read blog post after blog post but still can’t find a starting point, nor a travel path that will be the most cost efficient. I do have about $20k saved up so thats not the problem its just determining my path that continues to pull me back. Any help on what to do when in this situation?

Also, was wondering if you are still traveling? If so, where about may you be now? Do you expend your trips a bit longer then a month now a days. ?

Thank you for any help, Bianca

Hi Bianca! You have definitely reached the hardest step, which is saving up the funds. In terms of actually traveling and setting out, there are so many various options. There are a few key ideas that can help stretch a travel budget. If you stick to one region of the world, especially affordable areas of the world, then those funds can stretch to 18 months or even longer. You could slowly backpack around Asia for a very long time on a budget like that. Or even start in Central America and then head south until you reach the end of South America. This style of travel allows you to cut down on expensive plane flights, while also exploring neat cultures and countries, and also giving you the flexibility to stop for a few months in a spot if you end up loving it. All of these things would stretch the budget a good deal. I suggest that you start looking at what other travelers have spent in the countries that you are interested in. There are two levels — traveling daily rates accounts for things like touring and getting between cities. But cost of living breakdowns that some digital nomads post ( https://alittleadrift.com/cost-of-living/ ) will give you a good idea of what it will cost to go very slowly. I will send you an email with a few more ideas. As for me, I am currently in England, I was in Spain house sitting for two months, and now I am going to head to Australia for two months to visit a friend there. I go much slower now than I did on that first RTW trip.

Thanks so much for your quick reply ! I will respond more in email !

Does that 20k (ish) include air fare?

Yes indeed. $3,500 of that is flights. I didn’t book a RTW ticket, I booked as I traveled and it totaled out to just a portion of the total. If i had done fewer long-haul flights jumping continents it would have been lower on the flight expenses.

I used this post while planning my RTW trip! Thank you so much for your advice!

So can you just get a year off work like that or did you just leave your job

I wasn’t able to do either of those. I actually worked my online job while I traveled. I had the nearly fulltime work before I decided to travel, so I worked out a budget and figured out that I could travel on the money I made online. I explain that all a bit more here: https://alittleadrift.com/2012/06/how-to-travel-and-work-abroad/ and this page has some freelance ideas for how to build up an online income, which can help offset the costs of traveling: https://alittleadrift.com/how-to-work-and-travel-rtw/

I am so jealous of you.

Aloha! I read your article a few years ago and I’m re-reading it again. We seem to have inadvertently used your article as a blue print for our careers. Becoming care takers has afforded us with a nice way to travel and submerse ourselves in a local culture. Kudos to this articles longevity and relevance today. BTW – You were way ahead of the AirBnB curve!

Well it makes my day to hear you say that you found it relevant both a few years ago, and now too! And I am so happy to hear that you are traveling and immersing and cultures and on a life path you love. Happy travels! :)

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I spent 9 months traveling the world. I had a great time, but I'd never do it again.

• I spent nine months traveling the world , and I wouldn't do it again despite having a great time.
• Because I was on a tight budget, I often found myself turning down cool experiences to save money.
• I also struggled to make genuine friendships and missed having a space to call my own.

When I was working remotely in 2021, my boyfriend and I packed up and traveled to 22 countries across Europe and Latin America.

Although these were some of the best days of my life, I quickly learned that a lot of the videos I saw on social media that glorified full-time travel didn't always showcase the downfalls of the lifestyle.

More and more people are becoming digital nomads — countries like Italy have even implemented specific visas for remote workers. But during my nine months abroad, I learned that the lifestyle isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Here's why I wouldn't travel full time again.

I found myself constantly looking for places and experiences that felt like home

While traveling full time, I found myself constantly looking for places and experiences that felt like home.

In some ways, it was cool to feel like a local in a new city. However, when I returned home and took shorter vacations, I started to value the places I was visiting for their differences rather than trying to find some semblance of home.

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Nowadays, I like having a home base. Shorter trips help me to break up the monotony of life without sacrificing the comfort of home.

It felt like I was constantly thinking about money

When I was traveling full-time, I was on a strict budget . I either drained my wallet or ate cheap food to maintain some sort of financial security while on the road.

I talked myself out of going to every museum I wanted to and purchased cheap meals for dinner instead of indulging in local cuisine that might have been out of my budget.

The moments I would slip up on my spending were when I forgot this wasn't a never-ending vacation, but rather, my new everyday life.

During the first two weeks of our trip, I wanted to go to all of the must-try restaurants in Paris . However, I soon realized that came at the cost of establishing a strict daily budget for the remainder of our three weeks there.

Of course, it was worth it in the end to save money so that I could travel for nine months. However, now that I take a few shorter trips a year, I have more flexibility to make them everything I want them to be.

My friendships at home changed, and the new ones I made were fleeting

I think what travelers yearn for the most is community. When I was traveling, it was really hard to find the same quality of friends that I have at home.

When I did meet friends abroad, it was often short-lived. I found that many people traveling full time were only in a city for a few days. Even when I did find someone I connected with, it was hard to maintain a long-distance friendship.

Traveling full time also took a lot out of my friendships at home, as it seemed like they learned to live without me.

When I returned home, it felt like we didn't have as much in common as we used to. It took me months to get my friendships back to where they were before I left.

I missed having a space to call my own

While traveling, I stayed in 25 different places across nine months. Although seeing so many new places was cool, I missed having a space to call my own.

After spending so many nights in beds that weren't my own, it was an indescribable feeling to come back home. In fact, when I got back, I was able to create a space that took inspiration from the places I'd been.

I think traveling is something everyone should prioritize, but there are ways to see the world that don't involve doing it full time.

Nowadays, I plan to take at least four international trips a year, ranging from one to two weeks. This allows me to live a travel-filled life without giving up the comforts of home, career, and relationships.

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The 18 best places to see the northern lights.

Check the aurora borealis off your bucket list.

The Best Places for the Northern Lights

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The northern lights, known as the aurora borealis, are a spectacular natural light show visible at certain times of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. They occur when electrically charged particles from the sun collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere, creating vibrant streaks of blue, green, pink and violet dancing across the night sky. 2024 and 2025 are an excellent time to catch the northern lights: Solar activity will be at a peak, making for a more impressive experience, if you're in the right place.

The best places to see the aurora borealis have little light pollution, clear skies and no precipitation. The lights are only visible at northern latitudes when it's dark outside, so the months from September to April are best for seeing the aurora. There's also a Southern Hemisphere counterpart, the aurora australis; there are fewer easy spots from which to view this phenomenon, but if you're lucky, it can be equally brilliant.

For more information on the northern lights, scroll down to the FAQ section at the bottom of this page. Read on to discover the top destinations where you can see the kaleidoscopic northern and southern lights.

Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks is by far one of the best places in the world to view the northern lights, as it's located directly under the auroral oval. This ring-shaped zone sits around the Earth's geomagnetic North Pole and is generally associated with the most vibrant aurora sightings. Visitors can expect to see the lights on an average of four out of five clear nights during aurora season, which lasts from late August to late April.

You can book a northern lights tour to see the aurora from the springs and tubs at Chena Hot Springs Resort. This excursion includes round-trip transportation to the resort from town, a soak in the hot springs, a visit to the Fairbanks Aurora Ice Museum and an aurora viewing tour; dinner and drinks centered around Alaska produce are an option extra with hot drinks supplied.

There's more to Fairbanks than just the northern lights: If you visit in late summer, consider family-friendly activities like a ride on the Riverboat Discovery or gold panning. For a festive holiday experience in the winter, head around 15 miles out of Fairbanks to visit the Santa Claus House in the city of North Pole. Travelers can also see ice sculptures in February and March at the impressive World Ice Art Championships or take a dog-sledding or snowmobiling tour .

Where to stay: For excellent chances of aurora viewing, book a private igloo at Borealis Basecamp, a top glamping resort located on 100 remote acres of boreal forest about 25 miles from Fairbanks. With activities like dog-sledding on top of aurora viewing, past visitors regularly describe it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Tromsø, Norway

Located about 220 miles above the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is one of several top spots to view the northern lights in Norway. At the darkest point of the aurora season – which runs from September to early April – the sun doesn't rise in this northern part of the country, although there is twilight during the day. With this level of darkness, there are more opportunities to see the aurora.

Tromsø itself is a small but lively city, so there's plenty to see and do when you're not looking up at the sky, including a visit to the beautiful Arctic Cathedral. In late January to early February, the city hosts the Northern Lights Festival, a 10-day music and performing arts event featuring a variety of musical genres.

Aurora chasers can view the lights on their own while in town, but to get a better view, it's recommended to head away from the city lights. Arctic Circle Tours is one company offering guided trips, with small groups for a more personal vibe. Alternatively, adventure-seekers can embark on an exhilarating husky trekking expedition in the Arctic wilderness.

Where to stay: For accommodations with harbor views, look no further than the Scandic Ishavshotel – guests love it for its convenient central location in the city, as well as its plus-sized breakfast buffet with plenty of choices.

Luosto and Rovaniemi (Lapland), Finland

Lapland is located within the Arctic Circle in the northernmost part of Finland. The northern lights are most visible here between the end of August and April – and approximately 200 times a year – so there are many opportunities for aurora spotting. Finnish Lapland is also known as home to the Sámi people (the only recognized Indigenous group in the European Union region), some 200,000 reindeer and Santa Claus – who can be visited in the town of Rovaniemi, the region's largest city and a great base for your aurora expedition.

Consider venturing roughly 70 miles north of Rovaniemi to the resort town of Luosto, set among the picturesque and hilly landscape of Pyhä-Luosto National Park. Here, you can also spend a magical evening outdoors under star-filled skies during a reindeer-drawn sleigh ride through the snow-covered forests. Jaakkola Reindeer Farm offers a reindeer sleigh tour to spot the aurora once weekly; it includes a stop to warm up at a bonfire camp with snacks, hot beverages and local fireside stories.

Where to stay: For a bucket list experience, watch the impressive light show from a glass igloo at Santa's Hotel Aurora & Igloos in Luosto. Past visitors love the cozy atmosphere here, boosted by amenities like saunas and log fireplaces. If you're sticking to Rovaniemi, the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel is a stunning choice, with designer cabins perched among the snow-covered taiga forest.

Orkney, Scotland

This group of captivating (and mostly uninhabited) islands, located about 10 miles off Scotland's remote northern coast, is one of the best places to see the northern nights in the U.K. Fall and winter are the best seasons to witness the aurora, also known in local Shetland dialect as the "Mirrie Dancers," with fall bringing the highest proportion of clear nights. A few places to see the spectacular light show include along the coast at Birsay or the Broch of Gurness, an archaeological ruin on a sweeping and dramatic coastline.

In addition to the aurora, Orkney is home to breathtaking coastal landscapes and more sheep than you can count (try some local lamb, if you can). Travelers can also visit the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with several monuments dating back 5,000 years.

Where to stay: During your visit, plan to stay in the historic town of Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney Islands: The no-fuss Ayre Hotel offers harbor views, and past visitors compliment the hearty meals in the hotel restaurant. Spot the aurora close to town at Inganess Bay and Wideford Hill.

Yellowknife, Canada

Yellowknife, the capital of Canada 's Northwest Territories, dubs itself the "Aurora Capital of the World." Thanks to its position in the middle of the auroral oval, the city puts on one of the world's most awe-inspiring light shows. The period from mid-November to the beginning of April is the recommended time to spot the aurora, but it's also possible to see the aurora during more hospitable weather from late summer to early fall as the lights are visible up to 240 days a year.

Located on the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, Yellowknife boasts winter sports such as ice fishing and cross-country skiing. If you visit in March, plan to attend the monthlong Snowkings' Winter Festival, which features events and activities like a snow-carving competition, a snow castle, live music and more.

For a unique experience, book a tour through Aurora Village to view the lights. The property will pick you up from your hotel and take you to its site, where you can stay warm in a tent while sipping hot beverages. The Aboriginal-owned Aurora Village also offers activities such as dog-sledding or snowshoeing excursions.

Where to stay: Warm up in the fireside lounge at The Explorer Hotel in Yellowknife. Previous visitors note the warm and helpful staff as a strength here.

Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

The optimal time for seeing the illuminated skies in the northern part of Sweden, known as Swedish Lapland, is between early September and late March. The small Swedish village of Jukkasjärvi sits around 125 miles above the Arctic Circle on the Torne River and is an ideal locale for aurora viewing. You'll fly to the nearby Kiruna Airport to get here. With the village's origins dating back to the 17th century, you can still find some of the original homesteads, including an old timber cottage. Today the village boasts 800 residents – and more than 1,000 dogs.

Where to stay: If you're up for a chilly overnight adventure, reserve accommodations at the world's first permanent ice hotel, the aptly named Icehotel 365. Each of its artist-designed suites is sculpted from ice with a unique theme and maintains temperatures around minus 5 degrees Celsius (about 23 degrees Fahrenheit). The rooms also feature beds with reindeer hides and thermal sleeping bags so you can bundle up during the night. While you're at the property, take advantage of the guided "Northern Lights Safari on Snowmobile" or embark on the "Moose Safari on Horseback" atop an Icelandic horse.

Reykjavik, Iceland

October through March is the best time to chase the aurora borealis in Iceland . There are numerous natural parks and attractions throughout the country where you can view the show during the long and dark winter, but the capital city of Reykjavik also offers many options for accommodations, restaurants, tours and other activities for your visit. For optimum aurora viewing in the city away from the light pollution, head to Öskjuhlið. This wooded and hilly area in Reykjavik sits at 200 feet above sea level and has walkways and paths where you can see the nighttime show.

Atop this hill sits Perlan, which houses the only planetarium in the country and a museum featuring exhibits about Iceland. Perlan is also home to the world's first indoor ice cave and glacier exploratorium. During your visit, don't miss the panoramic views of the city from the building's fourth-floor observation deck. From this vantage point, you'll be able to see the Snæfellsjökull glacier; Keilir, a volcanic mountain; and Esja, the mountain of Reykjavik.

Where to stay: While in Reykjavik, splurge on an overnight tour with Buubble Tours. This experience includes breathtaking sightseeing spots and a night spent under the magical northern skies in a transparent bubble at the 5 Million Star Hotel. For longer stays, consider the eco-friendly Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel, with sweeping views of the city – guests love it for its cozy yet chic Scandinavian design.

Southern Iceland

While Reykjavik is a great aurora-viewing spot if you like having amenities close by, consider getting out into Iceland's stunning, otherworldly countryside for a unique backdrop for the northern lights. One unique place to see them is the black sand beach at Reynisfjara (but watch out for the dangerous waves here). Alternatively, head to Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon and seal habitat, where the aurora's reflections in the icy water are truly beautiful.

There's no shortage of tours that will stop by these locations and more for possible aurora sightings. Consider a 10- or 13-day tour around the country with Fun Travel, or a four-day option from Arctic Adventures. If you want to do things at your own place, it's also possible to self-drive – just know that road conditions can be icy, particularly in the depths of winter (although Icelandic roads are generally well-maintained).

Where to stay: Hotel Rangá is a formidable option for aurora-spotting. It offers a variety of special amenities, such as aurora wake-up calls, a lookout deck and snowsuits to keep you warm if you're outside viewing the lights. Past visitors praise Rangá for being a comfortable yet luxurious place to relax, be it in the outdoor hot tubs or the cozy and sociable bar.

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland

Greenland may not be the most accessible place to travel for viewing the northern lights, with limited flight options (mostly via Iceland), but those who make it here will be thrilled they did. The tundra of Kalaallit Nunaat – the Greenlandic name for the country – is one of the best places on the globe to see the aurora from September to early April.

For the more adventurous aurora seekers, head to the top of the Greenland Ice Cap for spectacular views of the lights. This impressive glacier covers 80% of the country and is accessible via the tiny town of Kangerlussuaq. Located on a fjord right along the Arctic Circle, the town, often described as a gateway to Greenland, was a former U.S. Air Force base and is now home to Greenland's main airport. The town is known for having clear skies on some 300 nights per year, so chances of a sighting are particularly good here.

Tour company Guide to Greenland offers various tours, from two-hour aurora-viewing trips to a tough but rewarding multi-night dog-sledding expedition across the ice. For a less strenuous experience, companies like Nordic Saga Tours offer cruises through the Arctic landscapes around Kangerlussuaq.

Viking cruise along Norway's coast

Courtesy of Viking

Embrace the winter and set sail for the Arctic Circle to experience the aurora in northern Norway. The 13-day "In Search of the Northern Lights" cruise itinerary with Viking departs from London for the North Sea with stops in ports of call that are top aurora-viewing locales, including Tromsø, Alta and Narvik, plus a stop in Amsterdam en route. The cruise ends in Bergen, Norway.

While on land, take in the natural beauty of the snow-blanketed landscapes and book bucket list excursions like a night spent in an igloo or a reindeer sledding adventure. You can also chase the lights into the wilderness by snowmobile, take a dog sled ride under the stars or view them from a Sámi tent atop the mountain Pæska in Alta. This Viking Ocean Cruises itinerary is offered with departure dates from mid-January to mid-March.

Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Michigan

Regarded as one of the top spots in the U.S. to see the aurora outside Alaska, Headlands International Dark Sky Park sits at the top of Michigan 's lower peninsula, less than 5 miles from Mackinaw City. While the northern lights are less common here due to the relatively southern location, the best time to catch a glimpse of this phenomenon is typically during the spring and fall – and appearances can usually be predicted a couple of days in advance. The park even maintains an online Clear Sky Chart so you can check the weather forecast before you go.

There are also other stargazing opportunities throughout the year at Headlands. During the summer months the Milky Way is visible across the sky, and late summer evenings entertain visitors with meteor showers.

Where to stay: If you're visiting between late April and the end of October, splurge on a stay at Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island, where the aurora should also be visible. Guests describe this iconic property situated along the shoreline of Lake Huron as positively charming, thanks to its historic nature and manicured grounds. The resort also offers a host of outdoor activities from bike rentals to swimming.

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Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

Martha Shuff | Courtesy of Voyageurs National Park

Located on the international border between Minnesota and Ontario, Voyageurs National Park is an approximately 218,000-acre labyrinth of boreal forests, lakes and streams. Voyageurs is Minnesota's only national park; it's also unique in that the park's interior is accessible only by boat, unless you visit by snowmobile in winter. As a certified International Dark Sky Park , Voyageurs provides opportunities to view the Milky Way on clear evenings, especially in the summer. Year-round aurora viewing is also possible on evenings with clear dark skies, but chances are better during the winter, when it's dark for longer.

For a guided stargazing tour – including the Milky Way, the constellations and (if you're lucky) the northern lights – book with Voyageurs Outfitters. If you're on your own, park officials note that almost any campsite is a good spot for northern lights viewing and stargazing. You can also check out the boat launch areas around Ash River, Kabetogama Lake and the Rainy Lake Visitor Center for top-notch views.

Where to stay: Those who prefer to sleep in a warm, cozy bed instead of camping under the stars can make reservations at the Cantilever Distillery + Hotel, a boutique Trademark Collection by Wyndham property in the nearby town of Ranier, Minnesota. Visitors report that there's a lot to like here, from the industrial-chic rooms to friendly staff to top-notch cocktails in the active distillery on the premises.

Abisko National Park, Sweden

Given its Arctic location, Sweden is one of the prime spots for aurora viewing in the Northern Hemisphere, with Swedish Lapland at the top of the list. The fall and winter months (from September to March) offer the best opportunities to witness the spectacle, as there is more darkness than light during the days.

If you're up for the Arctic adventure, December is an ideal month to visit Abisko National Park, which some regard as one of the best places on Earth to see the lights dance across the sky. The park's mountainous terrain and clear dark skies offer dramatic front-row seats for viewing the northern lights. The Aurora Sky Station is one of the best vantage points to see the aurora in the park. Join one of the expert presentations to learn about the science behind this fascinating phenomenon.

If you'd prefer to chase the lights with a curated tour, professional photographers and aurora-chasing guides at Visit Abisko lead three- to four-hour tours throughout the fall and winter. If you can, try to join the tours in fall, as this time of year offers a unique opportunity to view the lights both in the sky and reflected in the lakes and rivers, which you won't see in the winter months.

Where to stay: For cozy Nordic vibes, stay at Abisko Mountain Lodge, which also offers activities like ice climbing and snowmobile tours in winter. Guests love the excellent restaurant here, which offers Swedish specialties ranging from salmon to moose.

Nellim, Finland

Courtesy of Wilderness Hotels

Located a stone's throw from the Russian border in Finnish Lapland, this remote Arctic destination is a top-rated locale to view the northern lights due to the lack of light pollution. You'll be seriously out of the way of any built-up areas, as there's not even a paved road into Nellim. The best time to visit is between December and early April. This village is a great place to hunker down in a lodge and relax while enjoying a slice of life in the Finnish wilderness.

Where to stay: The Nellim Wilderness Hotel offers a perfect base with year-round activities, including aurora-chasing tours by car, snowmobile or on snowshoes. You can even take a sleigh ride through the snow to a campsite on Lake Inari to spot the aurora in pristine nature.

Beyond standard rooms, the Wilderness Hotel also offers glass-roofed cabins, as well as classic log cabins and bubble-shaped accommodations for two where guests can watch the dancing lights through the glass roof above your warm, cozy bed. When you're not chasing the lights, enjoy other Arctic activities like a husky safari, ice fishing, snowmobiling or a day in the snow meeting the local reindeer.

Saariselkä and Kakslauttanen, Finland

These two towns are around 150 miles above the Arctic Circle, with a prime location under the auroral oval, allowing as many as 200 opportunities per year to see the northern lights (weather permitting, of course). This area in Finnish Lapland is known for its stunning scenery, Sámi culture, cross-country and downhill skiing, and Urho Kekkonen National Park – one of Finland's largest.

Ski enthusiasts can roll two trips into one by hitting the slopes by day in Saariselkä and aurora spotting by night at Finland's northernmost ski resort. March into early April is the best time to view the aurora, as the Finnish Meteorological Institute notes that the weather is usually clearer at this time of year. But it's possible to see the northern lights at any time during the season from late August to early or mid-April.

Where to stay: Seven miles south of Saariselkä sits the village of Kakslauttanen, where you can book two- or four-person Glass Igloos at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. The new Kelo-Glass Igloos, which sleep up to six, mix the comforts of a log chalet with the visibility of the glass roof; enjoy a private sauna, a fireplace and more. There's also an impressive selection of year-round tours and activities at this resort, including northern lights excursions on snowmobiles or by horse-drawn carriage.

Stewart Island, New Zealand

Courtesy of RealNZ

Although they may be isolated, some far-south destinations offer the chance to see the aurora australis – or southern lights. While you might be able to see them year-round in some locations (just as with the northern lights), certain months are better for aurora viewing in the Southern Hemisphere. Stewart Island is regarded as one of the top spots to see the brilliant display in New Zealand , with 85% of the island encompassed by Rakiura National Park, so there are few people and virtually no light pollution. You can reach Stewart Island by flying in from Invercargill or taking a ferry from Bluff.

New Zealand's winter months – June to August – are the best time to see the southern lights; spring and fall are also not bad times to spot them. The brighter summer months, between December and February, make it more difficult to spot the aurora, but there's still a chance you'll catch a glimpse between midnight and 4 a.m.

Where to stay: Consider reserving a room with at Stewart Island Lodge, an intimate bed-and-breakfast. This beautiful property is just minutes by foot from the village of Oban, and the property will pick you up at the ferry terminal for your stay. Past visitors rave about the spectacular views of Halfmoon Bay and the Foveaux Strait from both the rooms and lodge terrace.

Tasmania sits approximately 150 miles south of mainland Australia. This mountainous island is one of relatively few places on the planet where it's theoretically possible to see the aurora 365 days a year due to its latitude, which allows for full darkness even on summer nights. The capital city of Hobart is the easiest point of entry: It's home to Tasmania's largest airport and serves as a convenient base. The city's burgeoning food and cultural scenes will also give you plenty to see and do.

From here you'll be able to reach several great viewing locations with unobstructed and open views of the sea along the southern and southeast coastlines, like Goat Bluff and Tinderbox Bay. When you're not staring at the night sky, splurge on a once-in-a-lifetime helicopter flight with Tasmanian Air Tours. Depending on your whims, your private pilot can whisk you away to soar over the sea cliffs; stop at a local winery to sample local vintages; or head south to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Port Arthur , Tasmania 's historic and most notorious prison.

Where to stay: Reserve accommodations at The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart. The historic luxury property is situated along the lively waterfront area with harbor views. Past guests admired the historic building housing the hotel and loved the heritage rooms featuring gas fireplaces for those cold Tasmanian nights.

Expedition cruise to Antarctica

If you're one of the lucky few people on the planet to travel to the southernmost continent on Earth, it may be pricey, but you'll have an adventure of a lifetime in Antarctica, especially if the aurora illuminates the sky. The southern lights are most visible in the winter months (between March and October), but due to weather conditions, only researchers brave the Antarctic winter – and they mostly stay indoors.

However, all hope is not lost if you seek to view the aurora australis in Antarctica. Late-season expedition cruises to this continent offered in March also bring the opportunity to view the southern lights and enjoy the end of Antarctica's fleeting summer. As the days shorten in length, you may encounter light snow across the extreme landscape and ice starting to form on the water's surface.

When it comes to wildlife viewing, humpback whale sightings are abundant, and you'll still see penguin colonies – including king and gentoo penguins. You can also keep your eyes peeled for elephant seals, leopard seals, wandering albatross and other species of birds. When night falls on clear evenings, look for the light show in the southern sky. Companies that offer March voyages include Swoop Antarctica, Atlas Ocean Voyages, Silversea Cruises , Aurora Expeditions and Hurtigruten Expeditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

There's no one location that's widely accepted as the best place to see the northern lights. However, the strongest light displays are within what's called the "auroral oval": a rough circle around the Earth's magnetic northern pole that tends to occur around 60 to 70 degrees of latitude. The oval's exact size expands and contracts (some more southerly destinations can fall under it when the aurora is particularly strong), but there are certain locations that generally fall within the oval most of the time.

These places include:

• Central and northern Alaska
• Large areas of Yukon, the Northwest Territories and northern Quebec in Canada
• Southern Greenland
• Far northern Norway, Sweden and Finland

Within these areas, it could be argued that Iceland is the best place to see the aurora as it experiences much milder temperatures than some other areas within the oval. But this is subjective, and some travelers may prefer a location like Yellowknife in Canada for a full-on, very cold Arctic experience.

The northern lights are only visible when it's dark out. Since many of the best places to see them are so far north that they experience near-constant daylight in the summer, you'll generally want to schedule a trip between late August and early April. However, within this time period, there's some debate about the best time to catch the lights. For example, the aurora tends to be more active around the September and March equinoxes due to stronger solar winds – but on the other hand, your chances of seeing them may be higher in the depths of winter, since there's longer nights and therefore a longer window in which they might appear.

In more southern locations like Minnesota, it may be possible to see the light show in the summer months, but it's still advisable to go at a time when the nights are longer. It can also be worth trying to schedule your northern lights trip when there's a new moon: While the aurora can shine through moonlight, it may be harder to see if there's a full moon.

Of course, cloudy weather can block the aurora even if you go at the right time of year. So, it may be wise to research the local weather patterns at your chosen destination to find out if there's a month where you can expect clearer skies. In many cases, though, there's a little luck involved.

These two countries can offer excellent views of the northern lights, since both are directly under the typical auroral oval. Yet there are some differences to be aware of.

In Norway, you'll need to head to the north of the country to catch the aurora: While they have been sighted in Oslo , the capital and largest city, it's too far south to be a reliable vantage point. Cities like Tromsø are popular spots, but direct flights there are only possible from some European cities, so North Americans will have to take connecting flights. On the other hand, Iceland is generally easier to reach, with direct flights to its capital, Reykjavik, from a large number of U.S. destinations (particularly from the East Coast) with no further connection required.

Since clear skies are key for seeing the northern lights, weather is another factor to consider. In November, December and March, Reykjavik has statistically slightly more frequent clear skies, while in January and February, Tromsø is a little better, but the difference isn't big: Both places have clear skies only around 25 to 30% of the time in these months. Reykjavik has slightly warmer weather, though, so between that and the ease of access, it has a slight edge over Norway for seeing the northern lights.

Alaska and Iceland are known for stellar aurora light shows, so deciding between them may depend on which destination you find more convenient and more to your tastes. In Alaska , the city of Fairbanks is considered a great spot to catch the northern lights. (They can still be seen elsewhere in the state – for example, in Anchorage, although they're not so common in more southern locations like Juneau). The advantage of Fairbanks is that you won't need a passport , yet there aren't many direct flights from the lower 48 states. Despite being an international destination, Iceland may be more accessible (particularly from the eastern U.S.), thanks to fairly regular flights to Reykjavik from numerous American cities.

Fairbanks does offer statistically better weather for aurora viewing: It has clear skies more often than Reykjavik, particularly in March when the Alaska city experiences them around 45% of the time (compared to about 25% for Reykjavik). But you'll have to be able to tolerate the cold. While temperatures in Reykjavik hover around freezing in midwinter, Fairbanks is a veritable deep freeze, with average highs around 5 degrees Fahrenheit down to lows colder than minus 5 in December.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Timothy Forster , as a Canadian who has traveled from coast to coast in that sprawling country, knows all about travel in the cold northern reaches of the world. Forster used his extensive traveling background along with research expertise to curate this article.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Waterfalls in Iceland
• The World's Top Treehouse Hotels
• The Most Beautiful Beaches in the World
• The Best Travel Insurance Companies

Most Beautiful Landscapes in the World

Tags: Travel , Vacation Ideas

World's Best Places To Visit

• # 1 South Island, New Zealand
• # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

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8 Hotel Afternoon Teas Around the World Worth a Visit

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Table of Contents

1. The Palm Court at The Plaza, New York City

2. afternoon tea at claridge’s hotel, london, 3. h tasting lounge at the westin bayshore, vancouver, canada, 4. afternoon hi tea at the oberoi udaivilas, udaipur, india, 5. afternoon tea at baccarat hotel, new york city, 6. afternoon tea at the ballantyne, charlotte, north carolina, 7. petrossian bar at bellagio hotel & casino, las vegas, 8. mad hatters afternoon tea at sanderson, london, how to save on a hotel tea party.

Attending a hotel’s afternoon tea party can be a classy way to experience a luxury hotel — even if you're not staying there.

Some hotel tea parties are so extraordinary that they're practically worth planning a trip around. We’re spilling the tea on eight of the most exquisite afternoon tea experiences in New York City, London and beyond — plus how to save on your bookings.

(Photo courtesy of The Plaza – a Fairmont Managed Hotel)

Like a scene straight out of the movie “Eloise at the Plaza,” sip on afternoon tea under the soaring stained-glass dome of The Palm Court in New York City’s iconic Plaza Hotel. The historic hotel has been serving afternoon tea for more than 115 years in an elegant affair that requires formal attire.

Kids are welcome, and there’s even a specific version of the menu with an Eloise theme available to children under 13.

(Photo courtesy of Claridge’s)

Tea is a classy affair at Claridge’s, a British landmark that began operations in 1856. Tea is served in The Foyer & Reading Room alongside a classic combination of finger sandwiches, scones and pastries. It’s all served on fine bone china and silverware, made specifically for Claridge’s.

(Photo courtesy of The Westin Bayshore Vancouver)

On weekends, the H Tasting Lounge at The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver transforms into the Hundred Acre Wood. And though Westin is Marriott’s wellness-focused brand , this particular hotel equates wellness with whimsy thanks to its Winnie the Pooh-inspired afternoon tea.

You might channel your inner bear and drizzle honey in your cup, and much of the food is honey-infused, too. That includes a snack tray dubbed “Pooh’s Pot of Gold” featuring cotton candy with honey crystals. Savory dishes include honey-smoked salmon and salad with honey-poached chicken. One of the desserts is a meringue whipped to resemble a beehive, served with — what else? — honey mousse.

The Oberoi Udaivilas sits on the banks of Lake Pichola, in Udaipur, India, a destination that ranks as one of American Express Travel's 2024 Trending Destinations . Afternoon tea at the opulent hotel is reminiscent of an English tea experience while embracing local cuisine, including shufta (a sweet dish of dry fruit, sugar and saffron) and Anjeer badam ladoo (fig and almond sweet dumplings).

(Photo courtesy of Baccarat Hotel)

The tea party at Baccarat Hotel offers another option for afternoon tea in NYC. And some of the packages — which are named for historical, royal personalities — are ultra-luxurious.

The “Princess of Monaco - Grace Kelly” package goes for $125. Meanwhile, bigger spenders might splurge on the “King Louis XV Caviar Tea,” which costs as much as $450, depending on the type of caviar you choose.

The cheapest package is designed for kids and inspired by “The Little Prince.” For $85, the tea service includes chicken and waffles, apple cider doughnuts and a mini-lobster roll.

(Photo courtesy of The Ballantyne)

The Marriott-owned Ballantyne touts its classic Southern hospitality, but its tea service embraces Western Europe. You sip tea from London-based Rare Tea Co. and nosh on French macarons.

Plus, the Ballantyne occasionally hosts themed tea service, like the “Bridgerton” afternoon tea party inspired by the Netflix hit series. There, English Regency attire is encouraged.

(Photo courtesy of Bellagio Hotel & Casino)

In a city known for alcoholic beverages, Las Vegas offers a fair amount of tea. That’s particularly relevant as more young people cut back on alcohol. Just 62% of Americans ages 18 to 34 say they drink, according to a Gallup Consumptions Habits survey of 1,015 adults conducted in July 2023. That’s down from 72% two decades ago.

For tea on the Las Vegas Strip, visit Petrossian Bar at Bellagio Hotel & Casino, which features a live pianist tickling the ivories on a grand piano.

(Photo courtesy of Ennismore)

For a whimsical experience, head to the Sanderson hotel in London. Inspired by “Alice in Wonderland,” the menu includes a sandwich filled with smoked carrots and seaweed creme mousse called “The Cheshire Cat.” There’s also a White Rabbit-inspired carrot cake on the menu.

Unlike many of the other hoity-toity tea parties on this list, afternoon tea here is a more casual affair, with no fancy dress required.

While delightful, splurging on a fancy hotel tea party is typically not cheap. Here are some ways to save:

Pay with a hotel credit card: Many hotel-branded credit cards grant bonus points on hotel spending (which often includes spending at their restaurants, too).

These co-branded credit cards (usually associated with big hotels or airlines) are popular. In fact, almost 74 million U.S. consumers accrue rewards by using co-branded credit cards, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s 2023 Consumer Credit Card Market Report.

Some co-branded credit cards also offer statement credits on qualifying travel purchases. Sometimes — though not always — purchases at hotel restaurants can trigger those credits.

on Chase's website

on American Express' website

Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after spending $1,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.

Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

• 3 points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

• 2 points per $1 on other travel purchases (such as airfare, taxis and trains).

• 1 point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

• 6 points per $1 at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

• 3 points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.

• 2 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

Terms apply.

• 7 points per $1 on eligible purchases with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.

• 5 points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations.

• 3 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

• 4 points per $1 at Hyatt hotels and resorts.

• 2 points per $1 on dining, airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, gym memberships, and local transit and commuting.

Flex your hotel elite status: Some hotel loyalty programs offer freebies to elite status members, which can help cover the cost of tea. For example, Hilton Honors members with Hilton Honors™ Gold Status or higher receive a daily food and beverage credit at certain hotels. The credit’s value varies by property but can run as high as $25 per guest (up to two guests) per day. Marriott Bonvoy members with Platinum Elite status or higher are eligible for a similar credit, but it’s only at certain hotels, and it’s just $10 per stay. Neither credit will cover a tea service completely, but it can make it cheaper.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

Where Lonely Planet staffers are traveling this summer

Apr 19, 2024 • 10 min read

Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies is one of the places Lonely Planet staffers plan to visit this summer © Paul Zizka Photography / Banff Tourism Board

Summer is around the corner in the northern hemisphere, and the team at Lonely Planet is already making (or has made) their travel plans.

If you're wondering where to go and what to do this summer, why not follow one of our leads and discover a new destination or rediscover an old favorite? I, unlike my colleagues, have yet to make plans, so finding out where everyone else is going has lit a fire under me. Likewise, I hope these trip plans inspire you to make some of your own – and that you'll turn to Lonely Planet for help when plotting your next getaway.

Here are just some of the places the staff at Lonely Planet traveling this summer.

"I'm going to a backcountry lodge in Banff . It's only accessible by hiking in. I’ve wanted to do one of these for ages, so this is how I’m celebrating my 40th!" – Jessica Lockhart, Senior Editor, Oceania

Banff and Jasper National Parks have several rustic backcountry lodges surrounded by unparalleled scenery. Each lodge has its own unique setting, hosts and history, but all have simple amenities, minimal (or no) electricity and running water, and welcoming common spaces where travelers can gather to read, play cards or recount the day’s adventures. Advance bookings are key – prices may seem steep, but factor in the included home-cooked meals and freedom from setting up camp or worrying about weather and wildlife, and the cost suddenly becomes worth it. 

Keen to go hiking in Canada? Here's our guide to the best trekking routes

"I will be visiting Makarska Riviera , including Brela , Makarska, Tucepi and the island of Korčula . The trip is all about promoting Croatia ’s great outdoors , so the itinerary includes kayaking, rafting, buggying and lots of hiking !" – Aoife Breslin, Publicity and Marketing Coordinator

Croatia’s tourism peaks between June and August, when the Adriatic’s warm waters charm countless visitors. It’s great fun, though afternoons are roasting hot, the lines at attractions are at their longest, and accommodation costs rise. Inland, temperatures are higher, but crowds are less noticeable. June is the quietest month of high season, but with clear skies, music festivals and the promise of early summer, it's a strong contender for Croatia’s best month. 

Ready to plan your trip to Croatia? Choose the right time for your visit with our seasonal guide

"I'm going island hopping  in Greece for four weeks in June. I'll be spending most of my time on Serifos (to start) as it's where the local Greeks holiday  – doing a pottery class, vineyard tour, taking boats to secluded coves, going to cooking school and generally trying to be as fabulous as possible – with additional stays on Santorini and Paros . – Chris Zeiher, Senior Director of Trade Sales and Marketing

Greece is ancient sun-bleached ruins piercing blue skies, the balmy Aegean lapping an endless coastline and a culture alive with passionate music, wonderful cuisine and thrill-seeking activities. Summer is when most travelers choose to explore its countless islands, and June affords the longest days of sunshine, peaking in the second fortnight. It’s also an opportune time for your first, refreshing dip of the summer. 

Going to Greece for the first time? Here our our top tips on things to know before you go

"I'm heading to Tuscany and the island of Elba ." – Annie Greenberg, Creative Director  "We are doing a girls' trip to Tuscany." – Aly Yee, Senior Director

Tuscany escapes easy definition. The Apennines – Italy ’s mountainous spine – slope into vineyard-covered rolling hills, which in turn fade into the Mediterranean coast. Late spring to early autumn is when most people visit Tuscany. It’s easy to understand why – days get longer and warmer, the countryside comes to life, outdoor dining opportunities abound, and festivals happen all around.  The island of Elba comes to life during summer, and it’s worth booking accommodation well in advance if you plan to visit in the high season. Elba offers both great beaches and hiking opportunities along its Grande Traversata Elbana (GTE, Elba’s Great Crossing) trail.

Ready to plan a trip to Tuscany?  Check out our regional guide  

"I'm off to car-free Isla Holbox , Mexico for a relaxing beach getaway. I'm planning on horseback riding and wataflow therapy, which I've never done, but should be interesting."  – Serina Patel, Marketing Manager

Isla Holbox (hol-bosh), meaning "black hole" in Mayan, lives up to its name – it's like a portal to one of Mexico’s last unspoiled tropical islands. Golf carts and bicycles serve as the main forms of transportation, and visitors will discover sandy streets, colorful Caribbean buildings, lazing, sun-drunk dogs, and sand so fine its texture is nearly clay. The greenish waters are a unique color from the mixing of ocean currents, and on land there's a mixing too: of locals and tourists, the latter hoping to escape the hubbub of Cancún .

Using Cancún as a base? Here are the best day trips into the wider area

"I'm heading to Granada , Spain for a week or so, maybe getting in Málaga too. This will be my second visit, so I'm hoping to take a more relaxed approach this time and also catch up with friends." – Alison Killilea, Production Support Editor

With serene Islamic architecture, monumental churches, old-school tapas bars and counterculture graffiti art, Granada is Spain’s cultured, creative southern city; a place with a storied past centering on the Alhambra , one of the world’s great human-made wonders. While Granada can be scorching in summer, the city of Málaga is deemed to have the best climate in the country, with about 3000 hours of sun a year – the most in all of Spain. 

Seen the Alhambra? Here are Granada's other top experiences

Switzerland

"I'm also going to Zürich , Lucerne , Grindelwald  and Zermatt . I will mostly be hiking and doing lots of outdoorsy activities. My number one priority while I am in Switzerland is to do the highest hiking trail in Europe , the Barrhorn."  – Aoife Breslin, Publicity and Marketing Coordinator

Nowhere is perfect, but let’s face it, Switzerland gets pretty darned close. With its supermodel looks, fine weather, easy-peasy public transport , multilingual mindset and penchant for cheese and wine, this is a country where it’s easy to get comfortable – even if it is a bit on the pricey side.  Peak summer in Switzerland is  tip-top , to borrow the Swiss German phrase. Barring the odd storm, it’s nearly always hot and sunny – oppressively so, sometimes, meaning the best place to be is in the cooler air of the high mountains.

Ready to experience the best of Switzerland? Here's our guide to the top things to do

The Bahamas

"I'm heading to Eleuthera  in the  Bahamas for our annual family trip – there are 16 of us so it's always an exciting week! With age ranges of 7–70, I can report that we are all excited to do a beach bonfire and barbecue, and go sailing to swim with some piggies." – Amy Nichols, Senior Marketing Manager

The sapphire waters and  sun-soaked sands  of the Bahamas beckon travelers with warm weather that never fades. Just a short flight from the east coast of the US, this island nation is a magnet for repeat visitors and last-minute bookers alike. Eleuthera, however, is a bit tougher to get to, but is well worth the expense and effort if you're looking for vacation bliss. With its pink-sand beaches, Atlantic-battered reefs, weather-warped rock and dense subtropical scrub, this incredibly narrow 109-mile (175km-long) crescent also offers boutique hotels, revered surf breaks and some fabulous restaurants. 

Can't decide where to go in the Bahamas? We can help with this guide to the best places to visit 

"I'm heading to Naples , Florida  on a family vacation for 2 weeks. I'm planning to relax mostly, with lots of trips to the beach and eating good food! But I'm hoping to take a trip to the Everglades , too." – Aoife Breslin, Publicity and Marketing Coordinator

For upscale romance and the prettiest, most serene city beach in southwest Florida, come to Naples, the Gulf Coast's answer to Palm Beach. The soft white sand is backed only by narrow dunes and half-hidden mansions. More than that, though, Naples is a cultured, sophisticated town, unabashedly stylish and privileged but also welcoming and fun-loving. With spectacular year-round sunshine, there's certainly no bad time to visit Florida . Summers can be pretty hot, but you'll probably spend less on lodging than the winter or summer months.

Traveling to Florida on a budget? We've got some money-saving tips for you

Massachusetts

"My friends and I are going to Martha’s Vineyard , Massachusetts in July. We’re planning a Midsommar -esque garden dinner one night and will spend the rest of our time beach hopping and strolling through Edgartown." – Ann Douglas Lott, Associate Editor

Martha's Vineyard remains untouched by the kind of rampant commercialism found on the mainland – there's not a single chain restaurant or cookie-cutter motel in sight. Sunny skies and consistently hot weather make July and August the best time for a traditional beach holiday with sunning, swimming and sand-digging. The tradeoff, of course, is that July and August are the months everyone goes to the Vineyard and it's likely to be jam-packed, so plan ahead.

Want to see more of Massachusetts? Here are the best road-trip routes

"My family is headed to Northern Michigan this summer. We're excited to paddleboard to a shipwreck, relax on the beach and sail on Lake Michigan. We'll hike and run down all the sand dunes, explore cute artsy towns full of galleries and good eats." – Sarah Stocking, Digital Editor

Summertime buzzes with travelers when draws like the  Great Lakes , charming islands and unspoiled wilderness are at their most accessible. Michigan’s high season kicks off on Memorial Day (the last Monday in May). Ferries start to depart more regularly to popular spots and while summer-only establishments lift their shutters. The weather is mostly sunny and warm, with temperatures ranging from 76°F (24°C) to 85°F (29°C). This means lots of summer-only outdoor activities begin.

There are loads of great beaches in Michigan. Here's our guide to the very best

North Carolina

"My wife and I are going to Kure Beach, North Carolina for the 4th of July for five days — my favorite things to do there are take a yoga class on the beach with Kure Beach Yoga (no need to bring a mat, bring a towel!), watch the sunrise from our hotel (The Lighthouse Inn, a very laid-back and recently revamped spot right by the water so you don’t have to stress about parking, which is awful every summer), and see if we can find the boardwalk cat, Bibi." – Rachel Lewis, Senior Social Media Manager

The height of summer in North Carolina is beach time, and with 322 miles (518km) of ocean shoreline reaching from the  Outer Banks  in the north to the  South Carolina  border in the south (and 12,000 miles/19,000km of estuarine coastline along the way),  North Carolina has plenty of beaches to choose from . Kure Beach has 6 miles (10km) of protected shoreline as well as lagoons teeming with wildlife that you can explore by renting a kayak or a stand-up paddleboard.

Explore some of North Carolina's epic landscapes by foot with our guide to the best hiking routes

Rhode Island

"I'm off to Newport , Rhode Island for Memorial Day Weekend and planning on going to restaurants, wineries, mansion tours, walking and hiking." – Serina Patel, Marketing Manager

It may be the yachting capital of the world, but you don’t need nautical stripes – or a summer cottage – to enjoy the seaside retreat of Newport, Rhode Island. With its fresh briny air, expansive sea views and stunning bays, it's obvious why cityfolk continue to follow in the footsteps of the American industrialists here. Enjoy a taste of the good life by touring Newport's Gilded Age mansions built in the late 1800s, taking sailing lessons, or going wine tasting.

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The Free Financial Advisor

18 Incredible Cities Around the World Where You Can Live for Under $1000 a Month

Posted: March 6, 2024 | Last updated: March 6, 2024

The dream of exploring the world doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, there are numerous cities around the globe where living costs are so affordable that you can enjoy a comfortable lifestyle for under $1000 a month.

From bustling metropolises to serene beach towns, check out these 18 such incredible cities, each offering its unique charm and low cost of living.

1. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Nestled in the mountains of Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is a haven for expats seeking a low-cost yet culturally rich lifestyle. Known for its stunning temples, vibrant markets, and delicious street food, living costs here are surprisingly low.

Rent can be as little as $400 a month, leaving plenty of room in your budget for enjoying local Thai cuisine and the natural beauty of the region.

2. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, with its historic charm, beautiful beaches, and thriving cultural scene, offers an affordable European lifestyle. While slightly more expensive than some other cities on this list, it’s possible to live modestly in Lisbon for under $1000 a month. The city’s excellent public transport system and affordable healthcare add to its appeal.

3. Quito, Ecuador

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is known for its stunning colonial architecture and vibrant indigenous culture. The cost of living here is low, with housing available for a fraction of what you’d pay in North America or Europe. The city’s rich history, coupled with the affordability of necessities, makes it an attractive destination for budget-conscious expats.

4. Sofia, Bulgaria

As the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia offers a unique blend of European culture and affordable living. With its low cost of housing, inexpensive public transportation, and cheap yet delicious food, it’s easy to live well here on a budget. Sofia’s picturesque parks and historical landmarks add to the city’s allure.

5. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

This bustling Vietnamese metropolis, also known as Saigon, offers an incredibly low cost of living with a vibrant street life and rich history. In Ho Chi Minh City, you can find comfortable accommodations for under $500 a month, and the food expenses are remarkably low, especially if you indulge in the local cuisine.

6. Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest, Romania’s capital, combines the allure of classical architecture with the buzz of a modern city. Living costs in Bucharest are among the lowest in Europe, and the city offers a high standard of living with affordable healthcare, transportation, and entertainment options.

7. Merida, Mexico

Known for its colonial history and vibrant culture, Merida in Mexico is a great choice for those seeking an affordable lifestyle in a warm climate. Rent can be astonishingly cheap, and the city is known for its safety and friendly local community, making it a popular choice among retirees and digital nomads.

8. Kolkata, India

Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, is one of India’s most culturally significant cities and is surprisingly affordable. With a rich artistic and literary history, this city offers a unique living experience. The cost of living here is incredibly low, from housing to food and transportation.

9. Antalya, Turkey

Antalya is a stunning coastal city in Turkey known for its beautiful beaches and historic sites. The cost of living is low, and the city offers a relaxed lifestyle with a warm climate. It’s a perfect destination for those who love the Mediterranean lifestyle without the high costs.

10. Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade offers a vibrant lifestyle at an affordable price. Known for its nightlife, historical architecture, and friendly locals, it’s possible to live comfortably in Belgrade on a tight budget. The city’s mix of Eastern and Western cultures creates a unique and intriguing atmosphere.

11. Cuenca, Ecuador

Cuenca is another Ecuadorian gem, famous for its colonial architecture and vibrant arts scene. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and offers a high quality of life at a very affordable cost. It’s a favorite among expats looking for a blend of culture, history, and affordability.

12. Tbilisi, Georgia

Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, is known for its diverse architecture and warm hospitality. The cost of living here is surprisingly low, and the city is gaining popularity among digital nomads and expats for its relaxed atmosphere and affordable lifestyle.

13. Krakow, Poland

Krakow, with its rich history and stunning architecture, is one of the most affordable cities in Europe. The city offers a high quality of life with low living costs, especially in terms of rent and food. Krakow is a cultural hub with numerous festivals and events throughout the year.

14. Manila, Philippines

The capital of the Philippines, Manila, is a bustling metropolis offering an affordable lifestyle. The cost of living is low, especially when it comes to rent and local food. The city’s vibrant culture and friendly locals make it an attractive destination for those on a budget.

15. Cairo, Egypt

Cairo, the sprawling capital of Egypt, is rich in history and culture. Living expenses in Cairo are remarkably low, making it possible to enjoy the city’s vibrant markets, historic sites, and unique culture without breaking the bank.

16. Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, offers an affordable lifestyle with a rich cultural heritage. The city’s fascinating blend of French and Asian influences, along with its low living costs, makes it an attractive destination for budget-conscious individuals.

17. Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv is a hidden gem in Western Ukraine, known for its beautiful architecture and vibrant cultural scene. The cost of living is incredibly low, and the city offers a peaceful yet stimulating environment with its cafes, museums, and galleries.

18. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, often referred to as the Paris of South America, offers a European lifestyle at a fraction of the cost. The city is known for its vibrant culture, delicious cuisine, and lively arts scene, all available at surprisingly affordable prices.

Exploring The World

Exploring the world and experiencing different cultures doesn’t have to be a distant dream reserved for the wealthy. These 18 cities demonstrate that it’s possible to live an enriching, fulfilling life on a budget.

Whether you’re a retiree, a digital nomad, or just someone looking for a change of scenery, these destinations offer the perfect blend of affordability and adventure.

Ready to pack your bags and explore these budget-friendly cities? Share this article and start planning your next adventure today!

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Automatic Refunds and No More Hidden Fees: D.O.T. Sets New Rules for Airlines

The Transportation Department issued new requirements on refunds when flights are canceled or delayed and on revealing “junk” fees before booking. Here’s what passengers can expect.

By Christine Chung

The Transportation Department on Wednesday announced new rules taking aim at two of the most difficult and annoying issues in air travel: obtaining refunds and encountering surprise fees late in the booking process.

“Passengers deserve to know upfront what costs they are facing and should get their money back when an airline owes them — without having to ask,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement, adding that the changes would not only save passengers “time and money,” but also prevent headaches.

The department’s new rules, Mr. Buttigieg said, will hold airlines to clear and consistent standards when they cancel, delay or substantially change flights, and require automatic refunds to be issued within weeks. They will also require them to reveal all fees before a ticket is purchased.

Airlines for America , a trade group representing the country’s largest air carriers, said in a statement that its airlines “abide by and frequently exceed” D.O.T. consumer protection regulations.

Passenger advocates welcomed the new steps.

Tomasz Pawliszyn, the chief executive of AirHelp, a Berlin-based company that assists passengers with airline claims, called it a “massive step forward and huge improvement in consumer rights and protection” that brings the United States closer to global standards in passenger rights.

Here’s what we know about the D.O.T.’s new rules, which will begin to go into effect in October.

There’s now one definition for a “significant” delay.

Until now, airlines have been allowed to set their own definition for a “significant” delay and compensation has varied by carrier . Now, according to the D.O.T., there will be one standard: when departure or arrival is delayed by three hours for domestic flights and six hours for international flights.

Passengers will get prompt refunds for cancellations or significant changes for flights and delayed bags, for any reason.

When things go wrong, getting compensation from an airline has often required establishing a cumbersome paper trail or spending untold hours on the phone. Under the new rules, refunds will be automatic, without passengers having to request them. Refunds will be made in full, excepting the value of any transportation already used. Airlines and ticket agents must provide refunds in the original form of payment, whether by cash, credit card or airline miles. Refunds are due within seven days for credit card purchases and within 20 days for other payments.

Passengers with other flight disruptions, such as being downgraded to a lower service class, are also entitled to refunds.

The list of significant changes for which passengers can get their money back also includes: departure or arrival from an airport different from the one booked; connections at different airports or flights on planes that are less accessible to a person with a disability; an increase in the number of scheduled connections. Also, passengers who pay for services like Wi-Fi or seat selection that are then unavailable will be refunded any fees.

Airlines must give travel vouchers or credits to ticketed passengers unable to fly because of government restrictions or a doctor’s orders.

The vouchers or credits will be transferable and can be used for at least five years after the date they were issued.

Fees for checked baggage and modifying a reservation must be disclosed upfront.

Airlines and ticket agents are now required to display any extra fees for things like checking bags or seat selection clearly and individually before a ticket purchase. They will also need to outline the airline’s policies on baggage, cancellations and changing flights before a customer purchases a ticket.

The rules, which apply to all flights on domestic airlines and flights to and from the United States operated by foreign airlines, have varying start dates.

For example, automatic refunds must be instituted by the airlines within six months. But carriers have a year before they’re required to issue travel vouchers and credits for passengers advised by a medical professional not to fly.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Christine Chung is a Times reporter covering airlines and consumer travel. More about Christine Chung

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

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Here are the top 10 smartest cities in the world — and none are in the U.S.

Smart cities in Europe and Asia are gaining ground globally while North American cities have fallen down the ranks, according to the 2024 Smart City Index released April.

Of the top 10 smart cities on the list, seven were in Europe.

This year's index was produced by the IMD World Competitiveness Center's Smart City Observatory in collaboration with the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) that's based in Seoul, South Korea.

The report ranks 142 smart cities worldwide based on data analyzed by researchers, as well as survey responses of 120 residents in each city. The study captures an overview of how the infrastructure and technology available in a city impacts the city's performance and the quality of life of its inhabitants.

So, what is a smart city?

According to the IMD , a smart city is defined as "an urban setting that applies technology to enhance the benefits and diminish the shortcomings of urbanization for its citizens."

With very few exceptions, cities in the top 20 are geographically located in areas where social and economic environments are relatively predictable, even against the overall climate of global uncertainties. IMD Smart City Index 2024

The cities that perform well on the list have also developed initiatives that cater to their citizens' overall quality of life.

"Such initiatives have focused on developing green spaces and broadening opportunities for cultural events and social bonding, for example," according to the report.

"In the majority of these leading cities, such efforts have been combined with innovative strategies to attract and retain talent, foster investment in a selective fashion [e.g. pro-sustainability], and tackle long standing issues regarding geographical inequalities and inclusion," the report said.

Here are the top 10 smart cities, according to the 2024 Smart City Index.

• Zurich, Switzerland
• Oslo, Norway
• Canberra, Australia
• Geneva, Switzerland
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Lausanne, Switzerland
• London, England
• Helsinki, Finland
• Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Notably, for the first time since the index's inception in 2019, there is an absence of North American cities in the top 20.

"Using three year moving averages (i.e. comparing a city's average ranking for the period 2021-24 to that of the period 2020-23), a significant number of US cities have been losing ground," according to the report.

"This is the case in particular for Washington DC, Denver, and Los Angeles (-12, -12, and -11 respectively), but also for San Francisco (-9), New York City (-7), and Chicago (-4)."

The highest ranking U.S. city this year is New York City which ranked 34th, followed by Boston at 36th and Washington DC, coming in at 50th place.

While European cities dominated the list, Asian cities are gaining ground too.

Here are the top 5 smart cities in Asia:

• Singapore (5th)
• Beijing (13th)
• Taipei City (16th)
• Seoul (17th)
• Shanghai (19th)

Singapore has consistently ranked among the top 10 positions since the index's inception in 2019. It ranked 7th from 2020 to 2023 — except in 2022 when no rankings were released, and jumped up two positions this year.

Taipei City has also jumped 13 positions over the last year, from 29th in 2023 to 16th this year.

"Cities must design and adopt strategies that can resist the test of a future plagued with growing uncertainties, " said Bruno Lanvin, president of the Smart City Observatory.

"Health-related concerns remain high, while climate-related ones grow even larger; a mix complicated by renewed international tensions. Trust and good governance are growing in importance, and the significance of Al in city design and management is set to increase," he said in the report.

"Counterintuitive as it may sound, Al can help cities to become more human-centric," Lanvin added.

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NFL draft has been on tour for a decade and the next stop is Detroit, giving it a shot in spotlight

The NFL Draft has taken its show on the road for a decade, giving cities a chance to be in the spotlight. Detroit is on the clock. (AP video: Mike Householder)

An NFL football draft cleat is displayed near the Spirit of Detroit statue, Friday, April 19, 2024, in Detroit. The draft has taken the show on the road for a decade, giving cities a chance around the country a chance to be in the spotlight. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

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FILE - The new 685-foot tall tower under construction on the former Hudson’s site is viewed Friday, July 7, 2023, in Detroit. The NFL football draft has taken the show on the road for a decade, giving cities a chance around the country a chance to be in the spotlight. The Motor City, which was once one of the nation’s largest and most powerful cities, has bounced back from filing for bankruptcy in 2013. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

An NFL football draft jersey is displayed on the Spirit of Detroit statue Friday, April 19, 2024, in Detroit. The draft has taken the show on the road for a decade, giving cities a chance around the country a chance to be in the spotlight. The Motor City, which was once one of the nation’s largest and most powerful cities, has bounced back from filing for bankruptcy in 2013. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

FILE - The refurbished Michigan Central Station is viewed Monday, March 18, 2024, in Detroit. The NFL football draft has taken the show on the road for a decade, giving cities a chance around the country a chance to be in the spotlight. A few miles from the draft which starts Thursday, the long-abandoned train station has undergone a remarkable renovation funded by Ford Motor Co. to transform the 18-story, 113-year-old old train depot from an eyesore to a gem. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

DETROIT (AP) — The NFL draft has taken the show on the road for a decade, giving cities around the country a chance to be in the spotlight.

Detroit is on the clock.

The Motor City, which was once one of the nation’s largest and most powerful cities, has bounced back from filing for bankruptcy in 2013.

Fans driving and flying into town from the league’s other 31 teams will see signs of progress from the symbolic to the significant.

AP AUDIO: NFL draft has been on tour for a decade and the next stop is Detroit, giving it a shot in spotlight.

AP correspondent Mike Hempen reports.

DETROIT is spelled out, each letter standing 10 feet off an embankment alongside a freeway between the airport and downtown, in an art installation that made its debut earlier this month.

A few miles away, the long-abandoned Michigan Central Station has undergone a renovation funded by Ford Motor Co. to transform the 18-story, 113-year-old train depot from an eyesore into a gem.

In the heart of downtown, where the NFL draft will begin Thursday night, a 685-foot-high tower represents the largest construction project in the city in more than a half-century as it rises from the site of the former Hudson’s department store.

With more than 50 million viewers and an expected 400,000 visitors over the three-day event, there will be a chance to change the conversation about the city.

Lions President Rod Wood pitched the city as a draft destination in 2016 and teamed up with the Detroit Sports Commission a year later to submit the formal bid to land the NFL’s annual event that gives fans from each team a jolt of hope.

The Lions and the local sports commission also partnered with Visit Detroit, Dan Gilbert’s real-estate company, Bedrock, and the Detroit Police Department to make the most of the opportunity.

“The draft here in Detroit is going to make a big step for us in making that old image go away and people having the new image of the city,” Gilbert told The Associated Press. “We’re going to be able to showcase Detroit like never before.”

That’s part of the NFL’s plan, and it has led to 20-plus cities vying for a future draft. Green Bay will host next year’s draft.

After the league had its last draft in New York a decade ago, it envisioned giving cities — particularly those in colder climates that may not host a future Super Bowl — a chance to have a signature event that would have a lot of benefits, including an economic impact.

Chicago was the first tour stop in 2015 and it generated $81 million for the community. Kansas City had it last year, sparking $164 million in economic impact.

“Another opportunity for our franchise and our city and just for the world to kind of migrate to downtown Detroit,” said Lions general manager Brad Holmes, who has turned around a franchise that is coming off its best season since winning the 1957 NFL title. “I expect it to be pretty packed. I’m excited for all the businesses.”

Detroit’s draft is expected to bring in at least $160 million, giving small businesses a boost from fans flocking in and around Campus Martius Park.

One longtime business is looking forward to more than just an increase in foot traffic.

Lauren Stovall, the business lead at Hot Sam’s, and two others representing the 103-year-old men’s clothing store and tailor shop will be onstage during the draft’s final day Saturday.

“There’s a perception of Detroit that comes from people who actually have not been here,” Stovall said. “What’s so great is when people actually come to Detroit, they are blown away, because Detroit is not what they might have thought.”

There are new hotels, high-end and trendy restaurants and bars along with a skyscraper nearing completion. Challenges continue to exist in some neighborhoods as the city continues to demolish abandoned houses, including more than 25,000 over the past 10 years. Crime has been trending down and homicides are the lowest since 1966.

“We’re not going to lose our balance patting ourselves on the back,” Detroit Police Chief James White said.

Hundreds of uniformed and plainclothes officers from Detroit, county, state and federal agencies will patrol the greater downtown area. White said all the city’s police officers will work shifts during the draft, some downtown, others in neighborhoods.

Bomb-sniffing dogs and other K-9 teams will be flown into Detroit by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which also has pledged to have its tactical team on standby. Intelligence agents are monitoring social media for any threats.

Mayor Mike Duggan devoted some time during his annual State of the City address Wednesday to talk about the importance of the draft turning a lot of eyes on Detroit. Visitors for the draft are “going to see a very different city,” the mayor promised.

“We have a chance to reintroduce Detroit to America,” Duggan said.

Associated Press writers Corey Williams and Mike Householder contributed to this report.

Follow Larry Lage on X .

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL