Travelling around the world is the kind of thing that so many of us dream about. Sounds wonderful: new places, new faces, and cultures. But for most people, this seems unreachable. Is it too expensive? Too hard?
For the rich and famous only, perhaps? Well, let me tell you that travelling around the world is not only possible but even easier than you think.
Let’s dive into how you can make that dream a reality.
Why Travel the World?
Before we get into the how, let’s talk about the why. Why do so many people want to travel the world? And why should you?
Being Exposed to New Cultures: Firsthand exposure is the way others live. You will learn all about traditions, different kinds of food, languages spoken, and beliefs held. This aspect alone broadens your mind in ways you could never imagine until you’re there, living the dream.
Get out of your comfort zone: There’s something special about landing in a new place, figuring out how to get around, and learning a few words of a language you don’t speak. Challenging yes, but the challenges can be personal goals and how you grow and develop life skills.
Unforgettable memories: You will go back home with the stories that you will tell all your life. From getting lost in that small village to that perfect sunset in Bali, there are moments of travelling that stay all your life.
It didn’t strike me, when I first travelled, how much this would change me. After going to places such as Indonesia and Italy, I was hooked: I realized the world was much bigger than my little town in the UK and that I wanted to see as much as I could while I had the opportunity.
First Step: Decide to Go
The toughest part of travelling around the world is making the decision to go. You can literally spend months or years considering it, dreaming about it, and never take the plunge. Once you make that decision, all of a sudden, everything starts to fall into place.
Make a commitment: It doesn’t matter if you plan to travel for a week, a month, a year, or even longer. What matters is making that decision.
Don’t wait for perfection: Everything doesn’t need to be perfect. You don’t need a perfect plan, a perfect budget, or a perfect moment. The truth is, those never come. Just decide to go.
I remember the time I decided to go on my first solo trip abroad. I wasn’t totally prepared. Then, I booked the flight, packed a few clothes, and hoped for the best. And how was it? Well, it all worked out. Not perfectly by any means but considering I had no expectations it went perfect enough.
Travelling on a Budget
Many people imagine travelling the world as a costly affair. It doesn’t need to be. There are so many places you can go on a shoestring budget with no fancy restaurants or high-priced hotels to speak of. You can see the world on a budget if you know where to look.
Following are a few ways of saving money while travelling:
Book economy flights: Living in the UK, budget airlines are the way to go. If you fly with Ryanair you can grab yourself a return flight to some countries from as little as £30, minus all the extra fees of course. Easyjet is also one of my favourites.
Stay in hostels or budget hotels: Forget five-star resorts. Hostels are not only inexpensive, but they’re also a great for solo travel and a way to meet backpackers. You can also find budget hotels or Airbnbs if you don’t like hostels.
Cook your own meals: Eating out can get real expensive, real fast. Save some cash by going to a local market or supermarket and cooking your own grub. Some of my best meals have been from ingredients I picked up from markets in Spain and Poland.
Use public transport: Instead of hiring a car or taking taxis, use buses or trains to get around. It’s not only cheaper for the nomadic traveller but you can typically appreciate the journey at a slower pace, and get a better feel for how locals travel.
Travel in the off-season: This is key. Flights and accommodation are cheaper when you’re not travelling during peak tourist times, plus you’ll avoid crowds.
One of my favourite budget travel experiences was in Spain. Staying in a hostel close to the beach, snacking on ripe fresh fruit from the market, and cruising the islands with boat trips. All on a shoestring budget.
Flexible Work While Travelling
For many people, travelling around the world and working at the same time is something that just cannot be done. But it’s now more possible than ever because of remote work.
Here are some of the ways you can earn an income while travelling:
Remote jobs: Nowadays, many companies let their people work remotely. If your job does not require you to be set up in an office, you can do it from a beach in Bali or on a café in Spain.
Freelancing: If one has any skill, like writing, design, or coding, they can freelance and take their job with them wherever they go.
Teaching English: Teaching English online is very popular these days among travellers.
I met a couple who worked remotely while backpack travelling full-time in Indonesia. They used the website workaway.info to find places to stay and work while teaching English.
They typically worked for a few hours a day 4-5 days a week and in return received accommodation, food, and most importantly, experienced the different culture and way of living.
Where to Go?
The world is a vast place, and this makes deciding where to go quite overwhelming. Don’t you worry-incredible places abound to visit, whether you want to travel for a few weeks or even months.
My personal list is endless but here as some great destinations to visit.
Southeast Asia: Countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia remain very appealing to the average budget traveller. They are reasonably cheap, beautiful, and full of friendly locals.
Europe: History and culture abound in Europe: the beautiful landscapes, mouth-watering food of Italy, Greece, and Portugal.
South America: For the adventurous, there’s enough and more in South America. You could hike to Machu Picchu or explore the Amazon in Brazil.
Australia and New Zealand provide the nature and outdoors that are just but a dream for any tourist to begin with their travels.
Staying Safe While Travelling
The aspect of safety is one that causes much concern for many an explorer, especially when venturing to unfamiliar countries. However, one may safely make rounds around the world with mere simple precautions.
A few guidelines are given below for safe travel.
Keep your valuables secure: Keep your passport, cash, and credit cards safe in a money belt or secure bag. Do not carry large sums of money.
Be more aware of your surroundings: be informed about your surroundings, especially in crowded places like market areas and train stations. Pickpocketing does take place heavily in tourist areas. Take extra precaution if you solo travel.
Get travel insurance: This is a definite necessity. Travel insurance covers you against medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and lost luggage. It is a small expenditure that can save big headaches.
Once in Dominican Republic I had food poisoning accompanied with other symptons that wasn’t fun to say the least. Thankfully, I had travel insurance, so I got to see a doctor in the resort and receive treatment I needed without bothering about the cost.
Is Slow Travel Better?
Still, many go by the mantra of pushing one’s self with time, trying to see all they possibly can in the shortest time possible. The thing is, there’s beauty in slow travelling.
Slow travel is simply means, spending more time in one place. You’d spend two weeks staying in a city or two instead of flying to ten different cities.
Here’s why slow travelling is so rewarding.
You meet locals: Because you are now staying longer than usual in a particular place, it becomes yours for the time being. You get to know all the local shop owners, café owners, and your neighbours too.
Save money: Slow travelling usually means spending less on transportation because you will not be on the move throughout. Sometimes, you can get a discount on your accommodation with a longer stay.
A deeper experience: Where as rushing from one place to another will only get you tired. With slow travel, you get into that position wherein the relaxation and enjoyment can be savoured in their own good time.
A month in Ubud, Bali staying in various places, getting to know the local people around, meeting tourists and sharing experiences. Probably one of the most rewarding travel experiences simply by staying long enough.
Start Your Journey Today
Travelling the world is more achievable than ever. It doesn’t really matter whether one is backpacking on a really tight budget or has never travelled at all. With the right mindset, some goal planning, and sense of adventure, you will be able to explore the world and take in everything that travel may have in store for you.
So don’t wait-start dreaming, start planning, and most importantly, start travelling the world. It’s out there, waiting for you.
