Two months before the start of my trip I asked: “Google, what do I need for a trip around the world?” Ha. Every guide told me to start planning at least half a year in advance. Aha. Definitely in time Fiona. The only thing I’ve been concerned before were the countries I wanted to travel to – that’s it.

One good thing that happened when I moved to my parents: I had a look at my passport (expiration date: April 2019). So first: Let’s go to the registration office. New passport and international driving license (maybe useful). Bargain for 76 euros. That hurts the travel cash box.

Visa – expensive fun even before the trip begins
When I had a look at the prices of visas for the different countries my travel fund continued to melt away. Great. Of course, I didn’t plan so much money for the visas in my wonderfully cost calculation. But then a desperately Google search opened up an option that would allow you to avoid expensive visas. As soon as you would submit the return or out of country ticket when entering a country, you could receive a free tourist visa (usually 30 days). It crossed my plan to stay as long as I like at each location. But if you want to save money you just have to compromise. New budget plan: Only the visa for Australia costs money. The other countries I can cover with a free visa. Whoop whoop! Sense of achievement!

Vaccinations
I hate vaccinations. After my last hepatitis B vaccination two years ago, I was four days in bed with a thick blue arm. So I didn’t look forward to the next ones. But when you hear the words rabies, dengue fever and Japanese Encephalitis you go directly to the doctor. After I had picked up for 800 Euros (800 !!!) vaccines at the pharmacy, I felt invincible.

Good to know: It’s worth to submit the bills of the vaccines and the medical fee to your health insurance. Many health insurances cover up to 80% of the costs!

International health insurance – the next expenses
How can I find the right insurance for a longer trip abroad? No idea. For three days I read through a lot of articles and compared the offers of the incredibly many insurance providers. The differences are usually the cost of dentures or whether the insured person is flown into the home country immediately after a shark attack or only after 7 days. Who cares?

In the end, I decided to go for STA Travel’s international health insurance, as the offer there is wonderful for young, travel-loving globetrotters.

• Discount for U39 – Check
• 100% reimbursement of extreme sports – Check
• For my travel period under 600 Euro (High five to my cost calculation) – Check

Once all the precautions have been taken and the to-do list is almost done, you realize: Okay. Wow. I’m really going on a world trip. Of course, you want to see all your friends again, go crazy with them and the family should not be neglected.

TIP: Make a farewell party. This doesn’t have to be the house party of the year (think of your travel fund). Most of the time just before leaving is too short to meet all your best friends, work colleagues and village buddies. But at a farewell party, you see all your loved ones at the same time and you can say goodbye to everyone. The people who suddenly have a life-threatening cold on the day of your long-planned party and can not come because of that, you’ll just see a year later. Cheers to that.

Most important: read articles, blogs, travel tips about your travel destinations every day. Your anticipation will be each day at level 100 and then you’re already sitting in the plane and bye!

Lots of Love ♥