Chiara Townley
Contributor
Spending time on the road I realized important things related to the side effects of a round the world trip. I hope these tips can be useful to people who decide to travel long-term for the first time, and especially to those who will travel with their better half.
The first thing that I realized is the importance of preserving some kind of privacy for the couple. When you do a round the world trip, you have a budget that limits your freedom. Hostels in expensive countries, like Japan, are the cheapest option and they are great. You meet people from all over the world and you can have inspiring conversations and exchange tips.
What you have to consider though, is that after a couple of days sleeping in a bunk bed you might lose intimacy with your partner. It’s important to remember that a couple needs some privacy. After three or four days in a hostel, I highly recommend booking an Airbnb for your next destination. The choice between hostel and Airbnb takes us to the next consideration.
Photograph via Annelids Phillips
When I stay in a place just for a couple of days I tend to choose a hotel or a hostel because the check in process is faster and easier. When, instead, I stay in a place for more than four days I usually choose Airbnb. I like the idea of finding a home away from home, but the check in process depends on the host.
Once you receive your booking confirmation you still have to write the owner of the place and figure out a way to meet to get the keys. Sometimes the process can be fast and easy, some other times it can be time consuming. I think that the best way to enjoy long-term travel is to choose between the two mentioned options and enjoy both.
When you travel you can be easily taken by the fear of missing out so you probably want to see as much as you can.
My husband and I love walking, but most of the times our excitement makes us forget that our body needs some rest. During a round the world trip it’s important to remember that relaxing is a must. After a couple of full days running to explore, book one more night at your next destination and dedicate that day to laundry and personal space.
My husband and I planned this trip keeping the freedom to change our plans. We prepared a document with the must-see and do in all the countries and we decided to book each destination step by step. I think that is the best way to travel long-term because you never know what can happen on the road.
Photograph via Annie Spratt
It’s better to keep your options open until the last minute. My husband and I decided to chase the sun during this trip and choose the next destination based on the weekly forecast. We changed our itinerary in Japan based on this criteria and we waited to book the flight for the next destination. Unfortunately when we checked the prices to go to Taipei they had gone up and we had to change our plans once more to get the cheapest option. It’s never a good idea to leave between Friday and Sunday.
We learned that freedom of choice traveling is precious, but you also have to consider that flights need to be booked at least fifteen days before departure.
To stay caught up with all of Chiara’s world adventures make sure to visit her travel blog.
More About Chiara Townley: Chiara Townley was born in Milan, Italy in 1984. She has always had a passion for foreign languages and travel. She lived in 4 countries to date and she likes defining herself as a citizen of the world. Chiara became an author to inspire and empower. She believes that travel is a passion that can take us to different paths in life – a vehicle to open new horizons. Her motto is: “Fairy tales exist and it depends on us to make them happen.” You can learn more about Chiara at chiarabtownley.com.