7 top reasons to go on a round-the-world trip

Jan 27, 2011 1:41:19 AM

George Dunford
Lonely Planet Author

Note: Javascript is disabled in your browser.
To see the gallery in all its glory, you'll need to enable Javascript.

View gallery

Tired of tiny holidays? Itching to take an epic trip instead of a quick week here and there? If you need some extra incentive to make the leap and book that round-the-world trip, Lonely Planet author George Dunford has some compelling reasons for you.

1. Gap year

School’s out for ever, so now it’s time to see what the world can teach you. It might be the year that makes you work out what you really want to do at university or it might be the year that makes you forget high school. Volunteering or beach-bumming, no matter what you do a year off could be the best education you get.

Destinations: Australia and New Zealand are hot spots for European gappers (and vice versa), though some adventurous school leavers opt for Africa.

2. Break-up

Rather than checking themselves into Heartbreak Hotel, many of the broken-ups hit the road to shake the blues. And why the hell not when there’s a chance to meet someone else (and be able to send postcards back to an ex)? Eat, Pray, Love was proof that Javier Bardem is just waiting for you to ditch that bad relationship and find a new love in travel.

Destinations: Rio‘s party spirit and beachy joie de vivre will put you in an outgoing mood, while Paris will put your old romance into perspective.

3. Midlife crisis

There’s nothing like heading into another culture to work out what your life’s all about – plus it’s more rewarding than buying a sportscar. Whether you rekindle old interests, meet people who challenge your beliefs or just let yourself be lost for a year, travel will tell you what’s important in life. Just try to do it while avoiding a comb-over or plastic surgery.

Destinations: Stage your own road movie on Route 66 or take a Buddhist retreat in Goa.

4. Redundancy package

In case you haven’t heard, redundancy is the new employment. Take that package and look for somewhere to get more Bangkok for your buck. Who knows? You could switch that career as a consultant for one sailing yachts.

Destinations: Choose somewhere as far away from the office clatter as possible. Try going off the grid in a deserted spot in Madagascar or getting lost in a tribe in Papua New Guinea.

5. Retirement

Many travellers are choosing to give the grandchildren the slip by emigrating. After all, they’ve spent long enough looking after their own kids and deserve the break. It’s a great chance to tick off the bucket list and enjoy everything you’ve been working your whole life for.

Destinations: In Australia they call retirees travelling in Central Australia SADs (for See Australia and Die) so look further afield – haven’t you earned at least Bali or, to properly blow the inheritance, the Bahamas?

6. Compassion

Think for a moment about the way places you’ve been stay to really stay with you. Whether it’s recent floods in Brazil or Greece’s economic woes, these disasters are more real if you’ve been there. And you’ll learn more about the resilience and spirit of people regardless of where they’re from.

Destinations: We’re not saying go visit disaster sites but even places in Queensland that weren’t affected by floods have seen cancellations. Volunteering with an NGO is a good way of helping out as efforts in Haiti have shown.

7. Just because

Do you really need a justifiable reason? It could just be that you always wanted to see the Greek Islands or that you want to taste yum cha in Hong Kong, but whatever’s raised your travel appetite, you’ll never regret booking a round-the-world ticket and heading off. Inspirational, escape or just dirty old fun, whatever reason you take a RTW trip for you’re bound to be surprised by what you discover on your journey – about the world and yourself.

Destinations: The world really is your oyster – spin a globe and stick a pin in it, or start roaming Lonely Planet’s online guides and see what strikes a chord in you.

Great! You’ve made the decision to take a big trip. Get a whole bunch of information and resources for it right here.

Like this? Sign up to get our best articles by email

Comments

28 January 2011 2:03AM tomstar86 Report this comment
"Just because" is the best reason!
I'm aiming to visit every continent (minus Antarctica...$5000 for penguins and ice...no thanks) before I hit 30 years old.
3 down, 3 to go....in South Korea at the moment!
http://waegooktom.blogspot.com
28 January 2011 3:08AM ashmantoronto Report this comment
just like tomstar86, I plan to hit every continent by the time I'm 30 or at least be an expert in one (say Central or South America). I'm in the 'Just Because' category. I want to have an amazing life experience, education to me is not through books but life experiences.
28 January 2011 6:18AM pdxnative Report this comment
We are going for the midlife crisis reason. We don't need a new sportcar, we need RTW tickets!
28 January 2011 8:03AM hackpacker Report this comment
I think I'm somewhere between mid-life crisis and retirement... Thanks for the great comments so far. George Dunford
28 January 2011 11:16AM moobear Report this comment
Hey Tomstar86,
If I can do it, anyone can! Just checked off my final continent last year (Africa).
Good luck!
28 January 2011 2:21PM timmeh85 Report this comment
I've just done Thailand and Australia; now in Japan, then to S. Korea; back to Oz to work to make more money; but already thinking of where to go next - there's so many places! Why limit yourself to every continent - I'd say aim for every country by the time you're 30!!
29 January 2011 4:19PM manonthelam Report this comment
I've travelled for reasons 1, 3, and 7. I'm hoping for 4, but will probably have to settle for 5. :>(
30 January 2011 7:38PM hackpacker Report this comment
@manonthelam wow you're doing well. I think I'm between midlife crisis and retirement so I'll have to fake it with 7.
30 January 2011 7:39PM hackpacker Report this comment
@timmeh85 Every country by the time your thirty is ambitious! But it could be possible with diplomat parents giving you a headstart.
1 February 2011 7:35AM travelinlisa Report this comment
Take your kids along and give them an education they'll never forget. Experience a life far simpler than what you're living right now. If you need help moving your around the world trip along, check out www.aroundtheworldineasyways.com
1 February 2011 2:33PM oneyeartolive Report this comment
2, 3, 7 - I'm turning 30 this spring and have been planning a RTW trip for the past couple of years but decided 6-months ago that I'm definitely taking off this summer. My career has given me plenty of money to play with (should be good for 2+ years of traveling...without touching my retirement account), but only allows me 5-days off at a time, twice a year! Gotta love the USA. My initial plan was to retire at 40 and travel then, but I've realized that my life now is worth just as much as it will be in 10 years - if I make it ten years. Tomorrow is promised to nobody, time to go!
25 February 2011 1:42AM cmccool Report this comment
Fantastic. #7 is the best reason. Just go out and see the world.
10 May 2011 6:15AM thecyclediaries Report this comment
Hey, reckon that 3,6 and 7 are reasons that we're off on our bondi by bike cycle trip. 96 days to go!
19 May 2011 5:38PM escapenormal Report this comment
I think gap years are usually after high school- I wish they were more common in America because I never even thought of such a thing. But I'm taking my sweet time to travel after college! Right after graduating is a perfect time to travel too, before you settle down and start piling on new commitments.
Here's a nice list of the top 5 reasons to travel after college, hopefully it will inspire people to get out there! http://www.escapenormal.com/2011/05/10/5-reasons-to-travel-after-college-its-now-or-never/
28 June 2011 10:02PM superzoom Report this comment
After a 4 year relationship (which I though would end up on marriage), she decided to end up with it and left me so depressed, that I could barely think of anything else. A few months later I had a car accident and ended up at the hospital for one week, and not to mention the disease I got that left me in bed for almost two months!!! Besides all of this, I had enough of my job and didn’t knew I was happy with my life the way it was going so far, so I decided to do something for my life and started to DO things to change it. I put in place what I called the “LIFESAVERS PROJECT” (remember the candies with that name?) and went to a ONE-YEAR-LONG trip, which will end up next September. This has been one of the best experiences of my life, and has helped me not just to heal my heart, but also to put things in perspective and plan “a new life”. I’m 37, and I did it because it was “now or never”.
29 June 2011 10:29AM eringirl Report this comment
Just because is a great reason. And don't knock Antarctica. It has been my favorite of the six continents I've visited. The stark beauty haunts me, even months later.
29 June 2011 8:02PM mary7226 Report this comment
Good for you, superzoom. Life doesn't always hand you roses. Don't say now or never, because you will do it again. People who take big giant trips are not like other people. We do it because it's in our blood. We save every dime for it, think of little else. I am retiring in four years and eleven months. I plan on selling off my stuff, buying a really good backpack and a new laptop and living around the world where ever the wind blows me. I will be 58 yrs old and some people think I am nuts because I am a woman amd I am going alone. My really good friends and my sons are cool about it and they are not surprised.I just want to experienced the world. My goal is to visit every ancient and not so ancient historical site before I die. Why not?
1 July 2011 4:55AM bundle Report this comment
I couldn't imagine anything better mary7226. I'm just starting out on my travels in November. I'll be 23! If there's one thing I've always known I wanted to do, it's travel. This is just the start of my life long adventures (fingers crossed)!!
2 July 2011 10:48AM dennisvos Report this comment
Good to see so many open-minded enthusiastic travel minds out there, but I saw a lot of comments stressing to visit all continents before you're 30... Why? I am 28 now and finally on my life-dream travel throughout central and south-America. But needing 9-10 months for Texas to enter South-America already tells me I'll need at least over a year to get to know South-America a little bit. I would hate to rush through in 10 months because I would need to visit still 3 other continents before I'm 30 :-S
I remember on my first travel to Thailand in 2008 my 7 weeks were just about ok to get to know the country. I was so surprised to discover most other travelers only needed 5 weeks for Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam together - how is that possible???
24 July 2011 7:23PM sanjaya Report this comment
By 27, I had visited 27 countries in total, that was last year. Without any pressure, I plan to add at least one country each year. Its always exciting to go somewhere new and I've enjoyed it all. Cheers to all fellow travelers!!
24 July 2011 7:34PM chrisb123 Report this comment
My daughter is planning to take a gap year and travel to Australia's popular East Coast for some fun and sun. Can any of you travellers suggest good places where she can find decent, cheap lodging, casual bar work and other young people to travel with. Thanks.
11 August 2011 8:36PM ldean5 Report this comment
@chrisb123 - St Kilda!!! One of my all time favourite places!! Lots and Lots of backpackers in pubs and cafes, etc. You're daughter will love it! :)
13 August 2011 4:10PM liyana Report this comment
Just because! I'm on my quest to hit 30 countries before I hit 30. 27 down, 1.5 years to go :) Minus Antartica, been to 5 out of 6 continents. Am hoping my last 3 will include Australia. Here, here to all travelers out there :)
15 August 2011 11:29AM allonsoma Report this comment
A little bit of redundancy, throw in a gap year, and a lot of "young" life crisis, but heck it is really just because! I already hit Nicaragua at 16 now headed to Taiwan at 18. Back to Central America when 19. I hope to see bit of the US too. My journey is just beginning!
16 August 2011 9:40PM amandaslav Report this comment
I think the best reason to go on a RTW trip, or any extended trip, is just because you want to. And when people ask you (and they will) what your reason is, you should tell them you don't need one. I mean, if one of these is your reason, go for it but don't think you need to wait for a reason. Too many people do and then never make it.
http://www.farsicknessblog.com
17 August 2011 9:05AM riverchick Report this comment
The primary drivers of my current travels are Break-Up and Redundancy Package. But after a few months on the road it is now all Just Because. After turbulent and disappointing times, taking off on your own is a great panacea. Plus, when you get a bunch of "free money" from a redundancy, what else would you do with it??
10 December 2011 3:19PM partono67 Report this comment
Great inspirations for me and my wife. We have no children We are in the mid 40
And we love to travel. Please advise us about how much money do we have to prepare for such a big adventure. We want to visit europe and asia
10 December 2011 3:29PM partono67 Report this comment
For the fellow traveller out there ....
If you happened to visit indonesia, and especially Bandung. We would like to help you outnwith the insider information.
We happilly share the infor ation withnyou FOR FREE!!!
We like to help because we experienced the kindness of people in country we visited. And we understand the trouble, fellow traveller face when in other country.
So do not hesitate to email us on partono67@gmail.com
See you all in indonesia....
25 December 2011 9:26AM hristinab Report this comment
I'm finishing my internship in internal medicine in 6 months. But for a while now, there's this tiny voice in my head, whispering desires for new journeys. I really can't imagine of anything more satisfying than meeting new places.