Behind the Scenes | Planning a Trip Around the World

One year ago this week I pressed “purchase” on two non-refundable, one-way tickets to Nadi, Fiji. It felt absolutely crazy, I’ll admit, but exhilarating! I had absolutely no plan for where we’d go after Fiji to make it around the world and back to Texas, but I was committed to planning the trip and there was no turning back.

One-way tickets to Fiji

Over the next 6 months, I pieced together our voyage to 18 cities in 12 countries across 3 continents. Since I didn’t use a travel agent, I took a lot of chances relying on word of mouth and online research for certain bookings. Was every hour I spent researching worth it? Yes. Did I make mistakes? Definitely a few. Would I do it again? Absolutely, as soon as my bank account refills, ha. Here are my steps to plan a similar trip incorporating my lessons learned:

6 to 9 months before takeoff

1. Book your first and last leg of travel. Follow with a celebratory glass of champagne.
2. Solidify a route between the first city and last city by selecting 5-7 spots per month of travel. Travel in one direction and try to split your time between urban and rural areas.
3. Start a master trip Excel spreadsheet to log incurred expenses, flight, accommodation, rental car, visa requirement, emergency phone number, weather and currency details.
4. Ensure your passport is up-to-date and will be valid for 3-6 months beyond your date of arrival into each country (Use this website to confirm entry requirements per country).
5. Book all transportation between cities in chronological order. If flying, purchase nonstop flights only to remove the risk of a missed or canceled connection.
   

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3 to 6 months prior

6. Arrange all accommodations. Save money and use Airbnb or your hotel points where it makes sense. This task can be the most daunting, so when in doubt, pick the place in the best location.
7. Obtain all required tourist visas online and visit local embassies only when you must. Some countries require letters of approval, which you can arrange through your hotel.
8. Create a packing spreadsheet with must-have clothing, toiletries and gadgets. Start shopping for items you don’t have and don’t pack anything you can’t lose.
   

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1 to 3 months prior

9. Bring your vaccination record and trip itinerary to your local travel doctor to ensure you are up-to-date on all your required shots. Obtain an International Vaccination Record (yellow card) to take with you if you don’t already have one.
10. Add 1 tab for each country to your master spreadsheet and fill in “must do” and “must eat” ideas. Don’t forget to reference my HUTTON|B destination guides!
11. Make a plan for how you’ll stay in touch with your loved ones. I recommend using Social Media, FaceTime and WhatsApp in Wi-Fi hotspots, but if you must stay more connected, buy a cheap international plan or pay-as-you-go phone.
    

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The month of

12. Copy your master spreadsheet, passport, driver’s license and credit cards and store in a secure location. As a safety precaution, leave a copy of your master spreadsheet with a family member or a friend.
13. Order ~$100 to $300s worth of currency for each country from your local bank. ATM fees abroad are the worst.
14. Schedule “can’t miss” dining reservations and tours. For me this was an Angkor Wat private tour, Burj Al Arab dinner reservation, a Nevis bungy jumping excursion, a Taj Mahal visit, etc.
15. Load your tablet or Kindle with books to keep you occupied while in transit. I recommend finding books that relate to the places you’re visiting to enrich your experience!
16. Set personal travel goals to ensure you get out of your comfort zone, explore and learn.
17. Throw yourself a bon voyage party to celebrate your departure with friends and family!
    

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I hope you found my tips helpful! Up next in the Behind the Scenes series – packing an international carry on.
XO, HUTTON B.