Top 5 Things To Do Before You Go Travelling

by | May 1, 2018 | Travel Featured

More and more people are planning their big travel getaway, ditching the normal nine to five routines, in favour of a much-awaited travel trip around the world. This doesn’t come as a surprise, with airfare tickets being low and it’s much harder to resist this temptation with many friends and family posting some of their pictures from around the world on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat.  If you, like many others, decided to take the plunge and go travelling to South America, South East Asia, Europe, North America or even New Zealand. Where do you begin? What do you need to research? What do you need to buy? Read on to find out about 5 things you might want to consider before you board the airplane.

  • Work out a get back plan

You’ve saved $20,000 of your hard earned money, or you played casino online and won big, or you did whatever it takes to fund your trip around the world. Before you quit your job and say hasta la vista, baby, to your manager, perhaps you might want to consider a get back plan to your current job. Some employers might wave you goodbye knowing all too well that everyone has a replacement, but if you are an asset to your company you might find that asking to come back to your job after 3, 6 or even 12 months travelling will be most welcomed by your boss. Think of it this way, if they say no, nothing loss nothing gained, and if they say yes, you have no worries lingering in your head about what you will do to earn a living when you get back home. This can happen to you, even while you’re on a deserted beach in Vietnam or watching the people in the Shibuya Crossing whilst drinking coffee at Starbucks.

Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, Japan.

  • Research your destinations

Next you might want to consider the best route for your destinations, there are plenty of travel agencies out there that can offer you a round trip around the world. However, a simple search on Skyscanner for one-way tickets from one destination to the next will be the cheapest option. You don’t necessarily need to book all your airfare tickets in advance but certainly the ones that require going from one country to the next.  Of course, make sure you are also covered for travel insurance and you should consult with your local doctor regrading vaccinations.

  • Depending on your passport you may need to apply for a visa

Make sure you research if you need to get a visa in advance of entering a country as some embassies require your do so months before you go away. These visas can cost anything from $30-$80 so make sure you factor these in to your travel budget.

  • Plan your budget per day

As you will be dealing with a considerable sum of your own money, make sure you stretch it out for the entire trip. The best way to do that after you’ve paid for the main airfares and visas is see how much you have left and budget a daily spend that should cover your accommodation, food and free spend.

  • Accommodation – Most travellers are not too picky, and that’s for a reason. They want to be able to enjoy the places they visit and will tend to only put their head down in the youth hostel or 3-star hotel they are staying at. Use TripAdvisor and Booking.com to make sure that the accommodation you want to book has helpful reviews and importantly is in a suitable location which allows you to walk or have a short taxi ride between places.
  • Food – Your breakfast might be included with your hostel, if so that’s a bonus as that’s one less thing to pay for per day. As for the other meals, you can get by with a daily spend of max $30 in most non-European/North American countries
  • Free Spend – So you came across some amazing looking Thai dye shirts or trousers that you must buy to blend in with the other travellers, if you are good at haggling you can get most items in a market for a very decent price, you can give yourself a daily budget of $20 per day which of course you won’t need to spend every day.

Street Food, Hanoi, Vietnam.

  • The 5 essential things to bring on your travels

There are thousands of travel blogs that will give you whole itineraries of things to pack when you go travelling. However, the following five are now considered by many as the must have essentials no matter where you are travelling in the world:

  • Backpack – Usually a 45 to 60 litre backpack will do. Make sure they are water/rainproof and that it comes with a rain cover, usually found at the bottom of the backpack.
  • Microfiber Travel Towel – This will be your best friend, it dries quickly and is widely used amongst the travelling community.
  • Travel Light – Don’t pack too much, you will wash your clothes once a week, so a set of seven will do. Remember, everything you pack will be carried on your back.
  • Versatile Footwear – You want to have closed shoes that are waterproof and light.
  • Spotify – Music is essential on those long bus ride trips and for relaxing by the beach. A $20 a month subscription is well worth it.

Backpacking in the Himalayas.

 

No matter if you are a newbie to travelling or an experienced traveller, the most important thing to do is to plan your trip from point A to Z. Think of it as your greatest project manager job of all time. Take lots of pictures and make lots of friends along the way, that’s the best part… Happy Travelling Everyone!

Share This