Aug

Round The World in Two Ways

Mark Pawlak Category

Africa, budget adventures, Egypt, Europe, France, gap year, multi destination, north america, Peru, rtw trip, South America, tailor made holidays, united states

Having spoken to friends and having had a good look around the Internet, there appears to be two distinctly different ways of approaching a round the world (rtw) trip: the tick-box method, and the scattergun approach.

Now, while neither is exclusive, each has its own benefits and pitfalls, so let’s take a look.

The tick-box method

Write a list of all the countries you want to visit, and for each a schedule and the locations you plan to see.

This is the most efficient way of planning a rtw: it helps you set deadlines, create itineraries and prepare reading materials. It’s just very prescriptive. Yes, you will return having ticked off all those sights you wanted to see, and yes, on your Facebook page will be the obligatory pictures of the Pyramids, Eiffel Tower, River Nile, Gran Canyon, Machu Pichu and lonely looking icebergs: but what did you really experience?

Alternately, for some people rtw is about the travelling as much as it is the arriving; what use is the ticket if you never have time to wander from the track? So, beware: if you plan too effectively there’s a chance you create your own package holiday, and then wave goodbye to your freedom.

The Scattergun approach

Well, this approach is just as its title suggests: random. For some people, a rtw ticket is a licence to roam: a period of exploration punctuated only by international flights.

As experienced travellers, it’s also not an approach we would favour. As much as we baulk at the predictive, commercialised round the world experience, would-be travellers need to remember that the path less well travelled, is not always a safe one.

Added to this, you may only have this opportunity once in your lifetime, and a little planning and preparedness is vital if you are to make the most of it.

Perhaps the strongest reason against drifting aimlessly from continent to continent is a financial one; your spending money will flow faster than the Zambezi if you don’t have a budget and a rough itinerary.

So take care: If you’re not careful with the cash, by halfway you’ll be headed home: A half-way round the world trip, then back to work – rather sad.

So, how do you best approach a round the world trip?

Answers please on a postcard, or below in the comments section.

About the author

Mark Pawlak wrote 170 articles on this blog.

Editor at Adventure Sports Holidays, Mark's love affair with travel and the challenges of adventure sports continues... "You could save all year for a two-week, all-inclusive, doss by the pool, booze and buffet binge. Or, with a little planning and some good equipment, get off your arse and plan an adventure!"

Mark Pawlak August 25, 2010 at 4:54 pm
I want to know the cheapest way around the world. The regular tickets are really appealing, but can it be done cheaper if you pick your own flights?

I’d start and finish in Hong Kong, and go north through China and onwards. Oh, yeah, now I’m planning it!
Lianne August 25, 2010 at 5:02 pm
I’m planning the ‘stattergun approach’, just bought my RTW tickets Just going to turn up in the Country and see where it takes me. I’m hoping it’ll last a year but with so many temptations to do everything whilst you’re out there is bound to eat in the budget easily!

Flying out in two weeks from today, exciting times!
Luke August 26, 2010 at 10:16 am
For my RTW experience I planned meticulously (for about 3 years!!!) and then within a day of arriving at my first stop in Christchurch my plans went out of the window as an opportunity arose to do some trekking in Nelson lakes with a friend of a friend.

From there I never went back to my plan and stayed an extra month in New Zealand which had a knock on effect and my trip grew from a year to 18 months. However I still kept planning things ahead as planning in my opinion is part of the fun, you read up on places to see and things to do and work out how you are going to fit them in.

However most of the time the plans changed on chance encounters and the scattergun approach took over based on opportunities arose. For example crewing a yacht from Singapore to Bali meant I spend 2 months in Indonesia when I hadn’t planned to go there!!

So I think its important to plan as you get an idea what you want to but be prepared for your plans to change to get the most our of your travels.
Ian K August 26, 2010 at 1:53 pm
I agree with Luke. When I went travelling (it was only a short trip – 1 month!) to south Brazil, my friends had an itinerary sorted out, which they had made from recommendations from people they knew. However, we only booked plane tickets and a hotel for the first night, and then we took it from there, knowing roughly what we wanted to do, but we were happy to try to fit other things in which weren’t planned on, and skip certain parts out too. One of the highlights of the trip was when we went to a little known, tourist free town, which we heard about on our travels. We intended to spend one night there to figure out what we wanted to do next, and ended up spending about 5 days there!

Enjoy your travels Lianne!
Martin September 11, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Hi,
I am just looking at completing a trip for next year as when we got married, we always said we would go travelling for a couple of months. Interesting to see the comment on the planning. Is there any neat product that would be useful in completing the planning, one that allows me to reference while we are travelling – facilitates the tick box method before heading off and one that could facilitate the scattergun approach when travelling. Any advice would be useful

Round The World in Two Ways

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