How To Plan A Trip Around The WorldItinerary Planning

Choosing an itinerary can be extremely fun and frustrating at the same time. With the whole world ahead of you, how do you choose where to go? Many people have dreamed about certain destinations for their entire lives: an African safari, the Pyramids of Egypt, romantic Paris, the Incan ruins of Machu Pichu, the stunning beaches of Thailand, the Australian Outback, New York City... the list goes on and on. Where do you start? Consider the following when planning your destinations and route. While the task may seem daunting, itinerary planning can actually be surprisingly fun!

1. When narrowing down your list of options, consider what you enjoy doing at home. Think about your past trips and which parts you liked the most. If you don't like museums, then this likely won't change during your next trip. Enjoy hiking? Look for countries with great trails or national parks. While a trip around the world will definitely change you and your perspective on things, don't assume that you'll enjoy activities that never interested you in the past. While this may sound like obvious advice, it's easy to lose yourself when you're picking from a world of locations.
2. Do some research. There are great resources available for travelers on the internet, in the bookstores, and even on television. A guide book will help you enormously with itinerary planning (more on choosing a good guide book later). By doing some research, you can find out not only the interesting things to see in a city, but also the transportation connections, hotel costs, border crossings, and other need-to-know information. LonelyPlanet.com is the first go to resource many travelers think of when they start planning their trip, but don't overlook others. Consider searching for fellow traveler's blogs. Their writing can often provide insight into specific locations.
3. But don't over research. We don't want to sound inconsistent, but over planning can lock you into a route or schedule that you may want to change. This leads us directly into the most important piece of advice in longterm travel...
4. Stay flexible. The following statements may scare you a little, but it is imperative that you understand the key points and reasons behind this very important rule. You should not book any hotels, flights, or tours too far ahead. How on earth could anyone make reservations for hotels, flights, trains, and everything else for an entire year? It's just not possible (nor cost effective). In fact, most "backpackers" never make reservations. Outside of the U.S., Europe, Australia, and other developed nations, it will actually cost more to make a reservation than if you just show up. On top of that, your schedule will change. You will end up staying in some places longer than you planned, and leaving other places early. Don't worry, this is the beauty of traveling. You're not working. You're on your own. Why do you need to stick to an appointment book? Most reservations you make will just end up getting cancelled anyway. Stay flexible, plan a general route through the countries and cities you want to see. Take advantage of good things when they come along, and you'll enjoy yourself even more. Don't be scared!