There are no shortage of logistics when you’re planning any sort of trip, but when you’re thinking about how to plan a round-the-world trip, there are even more. So when it came to planning my four-month round-the-world trip, I knew I was in for some major planning. Here’s a recap of how I planned my round-the-world trip, with some lessons I learned from hindsight as well. Put The Big Rocks In First You know the story about putting the big rocks in first in life? It’s equally applicable when you’re planning a big trip. For me, the big rocks were the key things I wanted to do. Everything else could…
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Visiting Europe In the Summer: What You Need to Know
School’s out, the sun’s out – it’s summer! You finally have a few weeks to take the dream vacation to Europe. Before you go, make sure you’re prepared for what to expect from summer in Europe. 1. Air Conditioning Is Not Used As Much As in the US Europeans, in general, are much more tolerant of the heat than in the US. If you must have air conditioning, make sure to double check that your hotel offers it – and definitely check if you’re using AirBnB. For places that have AC, know that it won’t be turned down quite as much as it would in the US. I heard many…
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12 Tips for Taking a Budget Trip to Italy
Staying on a budget in Italy can be daunting, and it can feel impossible to take a budget trip to Italy. It’s an incredible country with so much to see and do, and all of it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But, it’s possible to adhere to your budget and see some of the most amazing things in the world. (Not to mention eating some of the best food in the world!) 1. Do Extensive Research Yes, it’s an old tip but it’s a good one. Make sure that your research includes as much as it can about where you’re going. Be prepared for the costs you’re likely to encounter. For instance,…
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India First Aid Kit: What You Should Pack
A good India first aid kit can be a trip-saver if something happens – even as small as a cut, scrape, or runny nose. Yes, you can buy just about anything in India that you can at home – but you might not want to right when you need it! My mom, who is a hospital administrator and an RN, helped me pack my round the world first aid kit. If you’re just heading to India, you won’t need quite as much!
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What I Wish I Knew Before I Went to Egypt
Egypt is an incredible country to visit, but a somewhat difficult one – especially if you’re from Europe or North America. When I went, I learned a lot! But here are the things I wish I knew ahead of time – and things you should know before you go to Egypt. 1. Just because English numbers are called “Arabic Numerals” does not mean modern-day Arabic uses them. This is one of those moments where you realize exactly how lost you can get, and easily! The Arabic number set does not use the numbers that you and I are familiar with. Crazy, right? I’m so used to being in other countries…
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The Vatican Scavi Tour: What It Is & How to Get Tickets
The Vatican Scavi tour is one of the hottest tickets in Rome – the Vatican only allows 250 people in each day as part of a guided group! The tickets are also incredibly reasonable – they’re 13 Euro a person, which (in my opinion) makes this the most incredible steal of a tour in any country! My mom and I both LOVED this tour – it was the absolute highlight of our Italy trip (and also something of a “life overall” highlight). So first things first: What is the Vatican Scavi? The Vatican Scavi is the necropolis that’s under St. Peter’s. It’s where they’ve excavated to find details from the…
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A Round-the-World Trip First Aid Kit
As I was preparing to leave, one thing my mom offered to do for me was put together a first aid kit for me to take with. I gave her 16 oz to work with, and let’s be honest – that did not work out so well! But for what I took, I’m glad I spent the weight on it. My mom is an RN, and a hospital administrator, so when it comes to first aid, her advice is pretty trustworthy! One governing idea for her as she built the first aid kit was trying to think of things that would be difficult to get abroad. There wasn’t as much…
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17 Things You Should Know About the Philippines Before You Go
If you have the chance, you should definitely visit the Philippines. It’s an incredibly diverse nation, with thousands of islands and indescribable beauty. Here are seventeen things you should know before you land: 1. Everyone speaks English, but not everyone… Filipino children learn English in school, but Tagalog and other local languages are widely spoken throughout the islands. Especially for people in the islands like Habal Habal drivers, you might not get someone who speaks English. On the whole, you will generally be able to find someone around who does. 2. Each island is unique – with both beauty and safety I know this sounds like a “duh.” But each…
