This happens to everyone who starts planning a big trip: you open Google Maps, stare at all those tempting destinations and pins you have saved, and suddenly, your head is spinning with possibilities. Creating a best round the world itinerary doesn’t have to give you a headache, though. What works and what ends up costing people unnecessary time and money often comes down to some surprisingly simple tricks that can turn a complicated mess into a smooth journey. Read on if you’re keen to learn some practical tips on how to draft the best round the world itinerary.
Making Your Route Work Harder
You know how it feels when you’re jet lagged and can barely remember which country you’re in. That’s usually what happens when people zigzag across continents. Here’s a better way: pick one direction and stick to it. Start in Sydney, cruise through Asia, explore Europe, and then head to the Americas. Your body clock will thank you, and so will your wallet. Plus, you’ll spend more time actually enjoying places instead of recovering in hotel rooms.
The Europe Trick
Most people don’t realise this, but positioning Europe in the middle of your best round the world itinerary can save you serious cash. Airlines often have these brilliant return fares to Europe that let you stop in other continents along the way. Say you want to check out some less touristy spots – book your main ticket into a major hub, then use local flights to explore. Just do yourself a favour and leave decent gaps between connections. Nothing ruins a trip faster than a missed flight because your first plane ran late.
Taking Your Time
Nobody remembers the time they saw ten cities in two weeks. What sticks with you are the random Wednesday afternoons when you stumbled across that tiny café in Tokyo or that evening you spent learning card games from locals in a Barcelona bar. Give yourself breathing room in each place. Three properly explored cities will give you better stories than a dozen places you barely saw. Plus, you’ll probably spend less on transportation and more on experiences that actually matter.
The Important Stuff
Some things you can wing, others need proper planning. Want to see the Monaco Grand Prix? Book it now. Dying to eat at that famous restaurant in Copenhagen? Get on their waiting list. But leave gaps in your schedule – some of the best parts of travelling happen when you don’t have plans. Maybe you’ll meet some cool people and change your route or discover a festival you never knew existed.
Playing the Fare Game
Here’s something interesting about those classic round-the-world tickets – they’re not always the best deal anymore. Sometimes, piecing together your own route with a mix of airlines works out cheaper. Take Emirates or Qatar Airways, for example – they often have deals where you can string together multiple continents for less than you’d think. It may take more planning, but the savings can be worth it.
Finding the Right Help
Building a solid best round the world itinerary gets complicated fast. There’s this whole hidden world of airline deals that never show up on regular booking sites. A good travel specialist who really knows their stuff about multi-continent routes can find combinations you wouldn’t even think to look for. With the right agent, those travel ideas you keep bookmarking become more doable than you think. Find yourself a proper round-the-world specialist and start sorting out the details – you might be surprised at what’s possible within your budget.