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All You Need For...Your Round-The-World Dream Trip
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items Booking your dream RTW trip really has two parts - firstly, all the logistical stuff (where to go, where to stay, sorting visas etc…) and then the practical stuff you need to make life on the road easier!
Sections
2
The Practical Stuff
The Gear I Swear By
The Practical Stuff
Ready to start planning your trip of a lifetime but not sure where to start? These are the resources I used to make my life SO much easier!
An article I wrote for Darkus magazine on five steps to planning the trip of a lifetime
5 Tips To Plan Your Dream RTW Trip
I LOVE Flightcentre - I entered my desired route and dates and they came back with several options to pick from, saving me money and bumping up some flights to business. Made life so much easier
Use Flightcentre to research and book your RTW flights
For connecting/short haul flights, I found Trip.com to be the most reliable and trustworthy brand
Short-Haul Flights Via Trip
If you're American, this is a dull but necessary step to go through - checking visa/pre-entry requirements for each step.
Visa requirements for U.S. citizens traveling abroad
Use this (for UK citizens) as a guide but DO NOT book through them, it's so much cheaper to go direct
Visa Requirements for British Citizens Traveling Abroad
I've used Airalo for years - they offer both global and regional (e.g. all-Europe) eSIMs which are simple to install and saves a whole lot of hassle. I used the global SIM across three continents
Buy Airalo eSIMs for international travel (Global SIM gets my thumbs up!)
Trust me, you'll be glad of free cancellation at least once when plans go south. As a rule booking.com is the most reliable on this front.
Book hotels with booking.com - ALWAYS get free cancellation
From Argentina to Australia, I found Viator's tours to be super reliable and good value
I find Viator's tour range to be the most comprehensive and reliable (used in 10 different countries last year without issue!)
The Gear I Swear By
What you'll find in my bag for every trip but particularly anything long-haul!
For long haul flights, train/bus journeys and hotel rooms that let in too much light, you'll be glad of a great eyemask. This one came round the world with me and I swear by it
The Best Eyemask You Can Lay Your Hands On
Thin walls? Couple beside you on the plane arguing? You'll be bloody glad of these little beauties!
Measuki Ear Plugs for Sleep
Don't scrimp on walking boots - my Merills got me up peaks in Patagonia, Malaysia and New Zealand. It's worth paying more for a pair you know will be reliable and comfortable whatever the terrain
The Walking Boots I Swear By
I was sceptical about this but will admit that it made a huge difference to how I felt after a 14hr flight that crossed the international date line!
Jetlag Prevention Kit - no really!!
Charged my iPhone 3 times per charge and USB C - USB C charging makes it all the faster. Helpful up a mountain
Lightest & Quickest Multi-Charge Powerbank
This book tipped me over the edge into going on sabbatical and seeing the world. Caution, it may do the same for you!
Vagabonding: Guide to Long-Term Travel
Hard-wearing, durable and spacious are the watchwords to follow here.
Decent Travel Holdall - Go With This One
One adaptor to rule them all - this one has been to every continent (bar Antarctica to be fair) and about twenty countries and not let me down yet
A Truly Global Power Adaptor...thank me later!
There will be times when you want to shut out the noise (airports, trains, busy public areas, even by the pool) and just chill with your music or an audiobook - these are lifesavers ;-)
Noise Cancelling Headphones - 100, 1000% needed when travelling long haul