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A round-the-world trip… I bet you have already thought about it, haven’t you? I’m sure your first question was “how much does it cost?” And I guess it was where you’ve stopped! Too expensive. In fact, not that much: 10.000 euros per person for an one year trip – all inclusive! Ok. That’s an average. We talk more about the costs of our Round-the-World Trip on Budget. Ok, then…

HOW TO ORGANIZE A ROUND-THE-WORLD TRIP

A round-the-world trip is the kind of thought which makes us happy. It’s a dream – and we should keep it like that for as long as possible. For starting, grab a mojito and sit down in front of a world map. Start pinning up the places where you wish to go. At this point we have no restraints, no limits. We imagine ourselves on the Tibetan plateau, at a Buddhist monastery; in Tokyo, at the top of a 40-story-building with a real sushi; doing Yoga in India, trekking on the Inca Trail; sipping a caipirinha at Copacabana beach in Rio.

The problem is, by the end, we realize we have pinned up all the countries in the world! It’s not funny… unless you have ten years to spare on the road. We gotta choose. As an example, we think Africa is such a huge and interesting continent that deserves an exclusive trip later on. If you can make the choice, let the restraints tell you where to go. But don’t forget to take on board your wishes and your personality: Do you like the nature? Big cities? Do you speak several languages? Have you had some travel experiences before? These little questions will help to cut off a bunch of places.

Having a look at travel guides, reading traveler’s forums on the Internet (on the right – WEB TOOLS), you’ll have an idea about how much time you will need for each city or country. Compare the information with your availabilities and your list of destinations will be shortened.

At last, maybe the most important item: Money! The budget. It’s when we wake up from dreaming and, for most of us, the adventure is finished. Don’t let yourself down! A well-planned budget can be less expensive than we first thought. The air alliances, – StarAlliance, OneWorld and SkyTeam – which hold nearly all the air companies, offer Round-the-World fares. It’s an alternative much cheaper than the individuals flights. So, have a look on which fare suits you best and pronto! You’ve got your itinerary done.

The choice of an itinerary and the purchase of an air-ticket don’t represent the whole of your expenses: with the WEB TOOLS (on the right) you’ll discover how much money you’ll need for the living costs abroad. Add on the paperwork fees such as visas, insurance and equipments.

We talk more about each of these topics on the links at the top of the text and also in posts – choose the subject with the Tags (on the right). Following our preparation you may find the hints to get through some of the obstacles, but also you can help us with your advice and comments.

Enjoy the reading!

Photos : Felipe Koch/2backpacks©