Have you ever imagined how incredible it would be just to drop everything and travel the world? It’s something that enters my mind at least once a day. Then you get all the thoughts of leaving work, family, friends and life behind, and you’re instantly put off. What if we told you there is a way of dropping everything and traveling the world? Honestly.
Before we get into how to drop everything and go traveling, here are some reasons why you should:
- For inspiration – Imagine how inspired you’ll be when you get back from exploring this incredible planet of ours. New food, new cultures, new experiences. It’s an inspirational minefield.
- It’s a humbling experience – You’ll never feel the same about the world again, once you’ve traveled around it. There’s something very humbling about seeing everything this planet has to offer.
- The stories and pictures – Swimming with dolphins, a photo outside the Taj Mahal. This is a good enough reason in itself to drop everything right now.
- To find yourself – It may sound like a cliche but talk to anyone who has traveled around the world, and they’ll tell you the same. You certainly find yourself after traveling.
- For happiness – If you’re stuck in a rut then nothing will make you quite as happy as traveling will. There’s just something so vibrant and refreshing about it all.
Sold? Good. Now, let’s look at the things you need to do before you can drop everything and get on a plane.
Money
This is going to be one of the biggest factors stopping most people from just leaving the country. However, you don’t need as much money as you think you might. Look for jobs abroad that can tide you over when you get to each place. Work on a farm in Bulgaria or a holiday camp in Florida. You’ll be surprised as to how much money you can make while traveling. As long as you’ve got enough to tide you over for the first month or so, you should be fine to just up and leave.
Work
Look, work isn’t going anywhere. I know it might be difficult just to hand in your notice and quit, but that’s what you need to do. As long as you’ve got some money sorted (see above) then tell your boss your plans. Who knows, they may even sort you out a leaving gift. If you’ve got an awesome boss, then chances are they’ll let you back when you return. And if not? You’ll have something pretty spectacular to add to your resume.
Documents
What about passports and insurance and visas, and argh?! Calm down, this part is easy. Make sure you’ve got enough time on your existing passport to last you. If not, there are services that can renew your passport pretty speedily, like this website for example. Travel insurance is really easy to get hold of nowadays, as most of it can be filled in online. Visas are a tricky one, but just make sure you’ve applied for everything you need before you set off. Do some research into how long each one takes and plan your itinerary around that.
Travel Arrangements
So, you’ve quit your job; you have enough money, and your passport is renewed. Next thing is to book some travel arrangements. Make sure you’ve put together an itinerary of all the places you want to visit and in what order. Use a map to plan things out a little easier. Ideally you want to book up your first few weeks or few months (depending on how long you’re going for). Take a look through all of the different travel options available, to see which is the most flexible and cost effective. Trains, buses, and coaches are likely to be the best for short distances. Long distances may require boats and planes, but keep an eye on those costings.
Sleeping Arrangements
Again, you want to book at least the first couple of weeks when it comes to sleeping arrangements. It’s all good just upping and leaving but where are you going to stay? Hostels are the best way to go for a traveler, as they’re cheap and perfect for meeting new people. If you’re unsure where the wind might take you then just book your first hostel and go from there. The people you meet may influence where you want to go next! Couchsurfing is another great way to cut down costs and meet new people. Just make sure you use a reputable service and don’t just stay on strangers’ couches. Oh, and always take a padlock for your bag!
Family and Friends
Goodbyes are always the hardest, but remember it’s not forever. Most people are fine saying goodbye to their friends and family for a few months, but relationships can be a little trickier. If you’re in a relationship, then ask if they want to come with you. If you’d prefer to go it alone then just let them know. Real love will wait for you and appreciate that you have to do what you need to do. If they don’t wait for you, well then they weren’t worth it in the first place. All of your friends and family will be over the moon that you’re embarking on this exciting adventure.
Taking the Plunge
Everything is sorted; you’ve packed your bags, and now you just need to get on that plane. There will be doubts and worries, but just think about what the next few months will hold. You’ll make new friends, try new foods, see new things, have new experiences, and all because you just took the plunge. Nothing will ever come close to that feeling of achievement when you’ve traveled the world.
So, what are you waiting for? We’ve given you all of the hints and advice you could possibly need just to drop everything and travel the world. The only thing that is holding you back now is you. Get out there and see what this wonderful planet has to offer.