travellers over the world

The 50 most influential travellers of our time

By Condé Nast Traveller

Angelina Jolie

Hollywood humanitarian and the un's special envoy superwoman read more.

The Dalai Lama

Nobel peace prize-winning monk-on-the-move spreading happiness from the himalayas to the white house read more.

Pharrell Williams

Stratospheric singer-producer-fashion designer happy writing songs onboard his private jet read more.

Prince Charles

King-in-waiting on a permanent gap year read more.

Levison Wood

Extraordinary ex-paratrooper and tv adventurer who has walked the himalayas and the nile read more.

Melinda Gates

The tech whizz giving her heart and her fortune to the world's greatest causes read more.

Richard Branson

Adventurer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and pioneer of commercial space travel read more.

The Beckhams

Ultimate celebrity family whose world has no borders read more.

Bruce Dickinson

Iron maiden frontman and hero of the skies read more.

Janine di Giovanni

Fearless frontline foreign correspondent and war reporter read more.

The world's most famous anonymous graffiti artist stencilling from London to the Louvre read more

Sheryl Sandberg

The lean in author and facebook coo inspiring women across the world read more.

Rene Redzepi

Culinary revolutionist and superstar chef of best-restaurant-in-the-world noma read more.

Dervla Murphy

Tireless traveller and octogenarian author of 24 travel books who will sometimes stop for a pint read more.

Billionaire inventor (PayPal, Tesla, SpaceX) setting his sights on Mars read more

Christine Lagarde

Dynamic head of the imf brokering global trade deals read more.

Sir David Tang

Hong kong-born billionaire bon viveur known worldwide for his legendary parties read more.

Hanli Prinsloo

The south african record freediver exploring the world's oceans one breath at a time read more.

College-dropout turned trailblazing tech entrepreneur read more

Edurne Pasaban

Indomitable mountain-climber and the first woman to summit the planet's 14 highest peaks read more.

Karim Rashid

The willy wonka of design, reshaping the world around us read more.

Susan Wojcicki

Youtube ceo and champion of working mothers read more.

Bethan Gray

Exquisite furniture designer inspired by traditional crafts around the world read more.

Federica Mogherini

High-flying (though always in economy class) politician on a mission to promote world peace read more.

Antonio Pappano

Energetic royal opera house music director conducting concerts across europe read more.

Gavin Thurston

Bafta-award-winning cameraman behind the lens of the world's greatest wildlife documentaries read more.

George Butler

British illustrator capturing struggles in the world's danger zones read more.

Colonel John Blashford-Snell

The maverick intrepid explorer who has inspired adventurers from sir ranulph fiennes to bear grylls read more.

Frank Gardner

The bbc's security correspondent who has reported on conflicts and crises from afghanistan to the arctic read more.

Maggie Draycott

The woman behind the world's most exclusive (and highly secretive) frequent-flyer's club read more.

Pope Francis

He can draw crowds of millions around the world, flying between destinations on his plane shepherd one read more.

Bushcraft survival specialist who runs expeditions from Borneo to the Kalahari, via the Lake District read more

Isabelle Legeron

Natural-wine champion unearthing the greatest vineyards across the globe read more.

The 'Indiana Jones of surgery' dodging bullets to save lives in war zones read more

Lucia Griggi

Surf photographer who has ridden waves in almost every surf destination in the world read more.

Justine Evans

Planet earth documentary camerawoman shooting out in the wild read more.

Karen Darke

Paralympic gold medallist who has travelled the globe by bike, ski and kayak read more.

Mulatu Astatke

'travelling troubadour' and 73-year-old father of ethiopian jazz playing sell-out concerts around the world read more.

Andrea Marshall

Marine biologist diving the world's oceans who can recognize individual manta rays by the spots on their backs read more.

David Wright

Committed charity worker trying to improve the lives of the next generation read more.

Helen Clark

Snapchatting former new zealand pm and the un's top development advocate read more.

Gail Rebuck

The most powerful and well-travelled woman in the publishing world read more.

Anita Zabludowicz

Voracious international art collector with galleries around the world read more.

David Macdonald

Oxford's first professor of wildlife conservation saving endangered species around the world read more.

Cherae Robinson

Hip and happening entrepreneur revolutionising travel across africa read more.

Anna McNuff

Adventuring athlete who runs, rides and rollerblades wherever her social media followers send her read more.

Sue & Bleddyn Wynn-Jones

Intrepid rare-plant hunters scouring wildernesses from jungle to desert read more.

Jason Atherton

Impeccably groomed superstar chef and global restaurateur from balham read more.

Galahad Clark

The cobbler encouraging us to go barefoot as we tramp around the world read more.

Hong Ra-Hee

South korean art collector and champion of emerging artists read more.

By Michelle Jana Chan and Harriet Compston

How to Plan an Around the World Itinerary in 8 Steps

Last updated on January 5, 2024 by Shannon

You’re planning an around the world trip . Congrats! My one-year trip turned into a decade of wandering and it transformed my life . My own one-year trip itinerary took me through 15 countries and countless experiences—but narrowing down my dream countries to just 15 was hard.

After so many years on the road—and after several round the world trips since that first one—I have some hard learned advice for anyone planning their own route and building their own trip around the world. If you’re planning a world trip, it’s usually a long-term route of at least a few months and up to a year around the world, or more.

These are eight ideas—eight steps really—to help narrow your travel itinerary down to those stops along your route that will fit your budget, highlight the most memorable places to you, and make sense for the trip you’ve always dreamed of taking.

Table of Contents

1. Make an itinerary bucket list for the entire world.

The inspiration phase of planning your round the world trip itinerary is one of the most fun. Maybe you already have a laundry list of places you hope to cram into your world trip itinerary. Or perhaps you’ve nailed down a few key experiences but you’re open to more inspiration. You should absolutely start with a long bucket list of locations all over the world, because weather and route might automatically strike a few off the list for you.

If you’re curious for more travel ideas, browse the  best travel books sorted by destination , or search for long-reads and podcast recommendations on my Destination Travel Guides . Use these books and resources for inspiration on not only places to add to your round the world route, but activities, too.

Perhaps you read The Devil’s Picnic and subsequently add Paris to your list for that stinky but toothsome Époisses de Bourgogne cheese, or you add Bhutan because of its intriguing portrayal in The Geography of Bliss (that’s what has it on the itinerary for my next around the world trip!).

Books and podcasts are a phenomenal way to expand your idea of what is possible on your trip.

Once you have a list of dream destinations for your travel itinerary, highlight up to five that are your absolute priorities—these will become the bedrock of your around the world trip. The rest of the places on your list will slot in around those stops based on timing, weather, and more.

How granularly you plan is personal—some travelers leave with a precise list of destinations and timelines, while others plan the first couple of months of their round the world trop.

My three key travel destinations:

For my first year, I had three key activities on my list. The first was diving the Great Barrier Reef —that’s why my trip started in Australia . The second was meeting my cousin in India and backpacking north from Mumbai together for two months before ending our time together at a volunteer placement in Nepal . The third was time-sensitive as I had always dreamed of attending the Edinburgh Fringe Festival , which takes place every August in Scotland.

Later, when I traveled with my 11-year-old niece for six months in Southeast Asia , I led her through some basic Google searches so that she could see what was on offer. We planned our joint world trip itinerary together centered around her three biggies: an ethical elephant encounter , ziplining somewhere, and visiting Angkor Wat .

2. Pick a direction around the world.

From your home country, your travel itinerary will take you either east to west, or west to east around the world. Backtracking is not ideal—it’s expensive, causes more jet lag, and is bad for the environment. Use this strategy whether you use a round the world ticket (which requires this stipulation) or if you book flights as you travel.

Pros and cons of traveling east:

• Science says this direction is harder on your body and produces more jet lag . The short of it is because you are losing time when you fly through time several zones, but your body actually prefers cycles slightly longer than 24 hours, not shorter.
• You’ll need to become a pro at minimizing jet lag so you don’t lose several days to it in each new location.
• If you’re planning a very long RTW trip, perhaps 18 months or more, and your itinerary creeps around the world, then you will likely not notice the difference much.

Pros and cons of traveling west:

• As noted, your body actually prefers days that run longer than 24 hours, so your internal clock has a much easier time adding hours into your day. This means fewer nights adjusting and staring at the hotel ceiling at 3am.
• Your body can do at least two hours of time zone jumping in this direction without having a noticeable effect on you, so it’s ideal to slowly hop west around the world. And if you’re crossing the Pacific from the U.S., your largest time zone change will likely occur at the beginning of your trip, so you can then enjoy more relaxing travel for the many months afterwards.

How I decided my world trip direction:

I was lucky that two of my key experiences could bookend my trip. Scotland and Australia are not close, so it was easy to plan many of my other dream destinations to fill the space between these countries.

Since I planned to leave the U.S. in November, it was easy to surmise that starting my trip in Australia, which was entering summer, made the most sense. Then I would make my way west toward Scotland for Edinburgh Fringe, handily skirting both winter in Europe and summer in Asia.

3. Find creative overland routes.

Whew, you now have a list of dream destinations for your world trip and a direction of travel. Now it’s time to fill in the space in your itinerary. And you’ll do that by using local transportation, which is a lot more fun than flying—you’ll see more of the country and culture, and you’ll have richer travel experiences .

Go back now to those handful of key destinations from your bucket list that. These are the foundational bedrocks of your world trip itinerary. These dots on the map should lend a rough overview of a route. If they don’t, if one is just an outlier that makes it hard to see logical jumps, narrow your list down to four, and see if that helps—if you truly love the idea of an experience, but it doesn’t fit this trip it might make a great trip on its own in a couple years time.

Now, your world trip itinerary needs the details, and those usually come from visiting clusters of bordering countries—you’ll be crossing overland among many of these destinations. (For that to work, however, check visa restrictions for your nationality as some countries require visas in advance, or don’t allow crossings at certain borders).

Popular routes ( backpacking Southeast Asia , for example), have only a few restrictions and those are easily handled online, or in the days before your border crossing.

Start dotting the map with the countries that are very close to your bedrock destinations. That looks like this: If trekking in Nepal is a bedrock item, and India’s Golden Triangle and Sri Lanka were both on your dream list, then it makes sense to add them into your route, since you’ll definitely be in the region.

My creative overland routes:

As I planned my itinerary, a dear friend announced she wanted to meet me in Florence, Italy in June. That became another bedrock item with a firm date, so I now had a time I had to leave South Asia and head to Eastern Europe.

Nearby Croatia was on my tentative list, and I had a friend in Bosnia , so both of those became stops on my itinerary that helped give it shape. Prague hadn’t been on my list, but I decided to move north through Eastern Europe after leaving Bosnia.

I filled in adventurous stops that would take me from my friend in Italy in June to Scotland in August—plenty of time for rafting in Slovenia , finding charming towns in Czech Republic , biking Amsterdam like a local, and walking through the Lake District of England first!

Research activities in countries you’re considering.

If there are countries nearby your “must-visit” locations, use a site like GetYourGuide to research the types of activities you could see and do if you visited these adjacent destinations as well. I like checking out the day tour sites more than a guidebook at this stage because it’s a very quick overview of the must-dos in each location.

4. Research festivals in your favored locations.

Local festivals around the world are amazingly full of life, culture, and fun. It’s a huge letdown when you learn too late that you missed a major religious and celebratory festival by just a few days. And it’s also a shock if you arrive thinking it’s shoulder season but you really arrived during Brazil’s carnival.

Plan your route to coincide with the dates of festivals that seem most fun for you (this is especially important for trips with kids, because they love the excitement, colors, and foods at these types of events. You’ll need to book accommodation early depending on the event, so that may take some flexibility from your world travel route, but it’s worth it.

Here are a few favorite annual festivals that many travelers plan around: La Tomatina in Spain in late August; Holi the Festival of Colors  in India around early March; Thailand’s Songkran Water Festival often falls within April and its Loy Krathong Lantern Festival falls in late October or early November.

Festivals around the world I sought out:

When my cousin told me should could only meet in India in February, and I knew we’d be there for two months, I went into planning mode to decide where we should celebrate Holi the Festival of Colors . It was a real highlight of my trip and I am so glad our world travel itinerary allowed us to experience this incredible Indian festival.

Then, of course, was the Fringe Festival —that was one of my bedrock destinations so it was definitely on the planned route.

5. Play Tetris with locations to fit your travel budget.

I stuck to an amazing year-long world travel budget that came in under $20,000. The only way I could do that was by carefully planning my time to favor budget-friendly countries, and then add in high-cost countries in smaller supply.

Research each of your dream destinations ahead of time because some places you might assume are budget actually cost more than you imagine (a safari in Africa is not cheap, nor is accommodation in much of Africa, but visiting a dream destination on the continent is worth it). Japan may be in Asia, but it’s pricey, too. Central America and Mexico are easy on your budget, as are parts of South America.

How I made my RTW travel budget work:

Australia , England, Scotland, and Ireland were mega expensive and represented three of my eleven months on the road. India and Nepal were, by far, the cheapest places (even cheaper than backpacking Southeast Asia ), and it was actually difficult to go over budget during the three-and-a-half months that I backpacked South Asia.

I spent the other months in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe, two regions that are in the discount to mid-range. All told, I was able to easily average $50 a day, even though some days in Europe topped $100.

6. Plan around weather trends.

On your trip, research destinations ahead of time and plan according to your own weather preferences. While it’s not likely you will hit every destination in your preferred season, you should know when monsoon season makes a paradise island unenjoyable, or when blizzards will thwart a planned ski trip.

Research using this great rundown of shoulder season locations around the world, and this European shoulder season list , and this very cool map of a a sample round the itinerary featuring perfect weather in every location.

Why I chased summer around the world:

I planned my trip itinerary to chase summer around the world. As a native Floridian, my tolerance for heat is higher than most others, and I deeply enjoy warmth. A year of summer was lovely.

Whether your around the world trip chases summer or snow—and note it’s way easier to pack for long-term travel when you can leave behind thick jackets and boots—you’ll want to pack effectively using packing cubes .

I have probably 20 packing cubes after 15+ years of travel—cubes of all shapes, sizes, and uses to fit every trip. This eight-pack starter set is well-priced, durable, and will give you a worthy introduction into the sheer magic of packing cubes.

7. Consider how you will fly.

When planning your itinerary, you have to consider more than just major long-haul flights. On my travels, I research local budget airlines too, and I always have a good idea of which regions of the world offer affordable puddle-jumper flights. If you’re considering buying round the world tickets , read my insider tips and advice first!

Southeast Asia has AirAsia and Vietjet, among others. Europe has many budget carriers: Vueling, Ryan Air, and EasyJet. And JetStar has good flight deals in South Asia. By checking for budget airline routes, I know that I can easily visit more countries in a region if there are sub $100 flights around the area. (Tip: this is an amazing interactive map of low-cost airline routes ).

My transportation choices:

I priced out my year on the road and found it was cheaper to combine overland travel with local carriers than it would have been to buy a RTW ticket up front. I also have a guide to how I find good flight deals , since I never buy round the world airfare.

Generally, flights are likely necessary unless you plan an entirely overland route around the world , but flights are harmful if you solely rely on this form of transportation, so truly consider how you can incorporate other options, such as buying a Eurail ticket in Europe, or a Greyhound bus ticket to travel down the east coast of Australia.

Don’t forget to  book travel insurance for your trip —a great policy provides coverage in case of medical emergencies, lost or stolen gear, adventure sports riders, and more. I’ve used  IMG Global  for more than a decade  highly recommend it !

8. Remove some destinations from your world trip itinerary.

There is no wrong way to plan your route around the world, and there is no perfect number of places that you can visit in a year—it all depends on what you’re looking for on your trip. And no matter how carefully you plan, you will love some places, feel mediocre toward others, and perhaps even leave early from a few. You won’t know until you set out which type of places and experiences best fit your long-term travel style.

But please keep in mind that the pace of short-term travels is very different from a multi-month trip. Create a route that travels slowly, avoids the dreaded travel-fatigue , and includes destinations you have long dreamed of visiting. To do that, you now need to take a critical eye to your trip and trim the fat.

Is there something you added it because it seemed fun and was moderately close, but it wasn’t a bedrock item? Or perhaps it’s a location you love the idea of so much that you know you will plan a trip there in the future if you skip it now. Snip those from your world travel itinerary right now and you will be shooting me an email of thanks once you’re on the road.

The countries I cut from my around the world trip:

The best advice other travelers gave me when I asked for itinerary advice in a travel forum was to remove an entire leg of the trip. I had hoped to backpack Scandinavia between my time in the Czech Republic and Amsterdam, but long-term travelers assured me that I would be grateful for wiggle room in my itinerary by that stage of my trip (nine months into it).

Plus, they accurately pointed out that I just couldn’t swing these very expensive countries on my limited travel budget.

Turns out that I burned out a month before reaching Czech Republic and camped out in Slovenia for an extra two weeks—if I had been dead-set on Scandinavia, I would have never had time to do that while still making it to Edinburgh Fringe in time! (And let’s not even think about what Scandinavia would have done to my travel budget!).

If you’re overwhelmed about planning the nitty-gritty details on a months-long trip around the world, know that a rough route suffices. All you truly need before you leave home is logistics for the first couple of weeks—you can easily sort out the rest on the road. I promise.

Really, I promise. It seems scary but I swear to you that you will be grateful for flexibility once you land, and that it’s completely possible to plan the smaller details as you go. Moving between countries and regions was infinitely easier than I had anticipated before my first round the world.

Your Next Steps for Planning an Around the World Itinerary

Research places around the world and assemble a dream list of locations. That’s really the first step and should be a lot of fun.

While my travel books selections are a starting point, you can also peruse guidebooks for inspiration. I always buy a Lonely Planet or Rough Guide for my first planned destination (and then I swap it along the way for each new country), and before my first round the world trip I checked out a stack of 25 guidebooks from my library. Do your research and dream big before you even begin selecting an itinerary and paring down your list of destinations.

This is my core page compiling resources on How to Travel the World and here are a few other pages sharing advice specifically for long-term travel planning.

• How Much Does it Cost to Travel the World
• How to Save for Travel
• Free Destination Travel Guides
• Best Credit and Debit Cards for Travel
• How to Pack for Long-Term Travel
• How to Pick the Right Travel Insurance

How to Travel the World

Free resources and first-hand advice on how to plan long-term and round the world travels.

Essential Travel Planning Resources

❗ Yes, you need travel insurance . IMG Global is the travel insurance I’ve used for well over a decade of traveling solo, and with kids. Here’s why .

🧳 Smart packing can save your trip. Shop my favorite travel gear , including all of the packing essentials for world travel , gear to keep you safe on the road, my favorite travel books , and more.

🛏️ Find great accommodation . Booking.com is essentially the only hotel booking site that I use. It has a wide and affordable selection of traditional hotels, but also hostels and vacation rentals, too. Use these pro tips to find the best travel accommodation .

📍 Navigate more effectively. Rome2Rio is super handy to assess the full range of transport options between two cities—shows everything from flights to trains, buses, minibuses, and more. If you’re booking a rental car, I’ve always found the best deals on RentalCars.com .

✈️ Book affordable flights. Expedia is one of the first places I look for low-cost flights .

☕ Peruse all of my tips for round the world travel , or learn how to move and live abroad .

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How to plan a trip around the world

 Making the fantasy of a global odyssey an achievable reality is not as impossible as it might seem.

Combining a series of once-in-a-lifetime experiences into a single around-the-world trip can feel like the ultimate expression of luxury travel. It can be a daunting prospect though, with many contending factors to consider. Here's how to start planning the ultimate round-the-world trip.

1. Take to the sky

Air travel is, predictably, the simplest way to traverse the globe. Start by purchasing an around-the-world plane ticket through an airline alliance — coalitions of different airlines which let you pay for all of your flights in a single transaction. The alliance offers regional passes which might work better should you want to devote the bulk of your time to one or two continents.

There are three main players: Star Alliance, OneWorld and Skyteam; the latter, however, has suspended sales of RTW tickets. Star Alliance is a confederation of 26 airlines covering 1,200 airports in 98% of the world’s nations, while OneWorld’s 13 airlines serve 1,000 destinations across almost as many countries.

The small print varies, but fliers must always keep to one global direction, east or west (the latter better suits your circadian rhythm), with no backtracking; must only cross the Atlantic and Pacific oceans once each; must start and finish in the same country; and must travel for a period between 10 days and one year.

Convenience is a benefit here, allowing you to minimise paperwork. It’s worth noting that some countries, such as China, also require proof of an outbound air ticket before issuing visas.  

How to do it:   Star Alliance offers a 133-day itinerary from London via Istanbul, Dubai, Bangkok, Sydney, Los Angeles and New York from £2,580 per person.  

2. Ride the rails

A century ago, taking extended rail journeys was one of the only means of long-distance travel. Today, trains are a great option for travellers looking to minimise their carbon footprint and take a slower, more measured route.

Recapturing the romance of the past, around-the-world specialists Travel Nation can tailor-make odysseys involving   separate train journeys. Vietnam’s Reunification Express, an Outback crossing aboard the Australian Ghan and a ride on the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada can all feature.

How to do it:   Travel Nation ’s 74-night, rail-focused global tour costs from £17,760 per person, including flights, trains, accommodation, most meals and some excursions.  

3. Go Private

For those who truly want to travel in style, it’s possible to circumnavigate the globe by private jet through National Geographic Expeditions. These trips are based around epic itineraries whose remarkable destinations are brought to life by a experts and groundbreaking researchers in various fields, who most travellers never get to meet.

On the 24-day Around the World by Private Jet expedition, you can visit 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites. Among the trip’s standouts are Easter Island’s Moai statues, Angkor’s jungle-flanked temple complexes, rock-carved Petra and a Serengeti safari. Departing from Washington, DC, up to 75 passengers will travel VIP-style in a customised Boeing 757, bedding down throughout the adventure in five-star hotels or lodges.

How to do it: National Geographic Expeditions ’ 23-night Around the World by Private Jet trip starts from £77,100 per person, all-inclusive, including medical evacuation insurance. Departures on 10 March, 29 October and 28 December 2024.  

4. Head overland

Travellers who don’t mind hitting the open road can try Oasis Overland, a tour company specialising in overland travel. Its longest offering is a 293-day trip from the UK to Cairo via an anticlockwise loop along much of the African coast, plus Victoria Falls and Zanzibar. The slew of highlights include the Sahara desert, the Giza Pyramids and East Africa’s wildlife-rich plains.  

The 16 (or fewer) group members will ride in one of Oasis Overland’s bright yellow trucks, built for traversing bumpy roads while offering as much comfort as possible. Nights are almost exclusively spent camping, and everyone is expected to contribute by pitching tents or cooking dinners.

You could also combine trips by flying from Cairo to Istanbul and then joining another overland tour all the way to Singapore, for example.

How to do it: Oasis Overland ’s 292-night UK to Cairo expedition starts from £9,495 per person, including all transport (except flights from the UK to Gibraltar or Malaga) and a selection of excursions.

5. Do it yourself

Arranging everything yourself is an option — most easily accomplished by purchasing multi-destination flights through a comparison website such as kiwi.com or Skyscanner.

A big upside to this is that you can work out something closely aligned to your specific needs; it’ll require a fair bit of time, though, and you’ll lose out in terms of flexibility — changing dates can be tricky — and cancellation cover.

It’s usually more convenient to aim for large airport hubs — the likes of Bangkok, Dallas, Dubai, Heathrow, Paris and Singapore — as the many competing services provide more options. A typical around-the-world ticket will involve something along the lines of London — Istanbul — Bangkok — Singapore — Sydney — Los Angeles — New York — London. From these hubs, you’ll be well placed to add in more obscure destinations in between.  

It’s also worth bearing in mind that you don’t have to fly between each stage. For instance, it’s possible to travel from London to Istanbul by train, lowering your carbon footprint in the process. Or, rather than flying from Bangkok to Singapore, you could get a boat from the Thai capital to Koh Samui and continue from there instead. A reliable tool for establishing train, bus, boat or taxi costs is the website Rome2Rio, and it’s worth investigating the likes of Amtrak rail passes in the US, Eurail Passes for European trains or Greyhound coach tickets covering Australia’s east coast.

Accommodation is something to decide on in advance. Be sure to have all hotel bookings locked in place well ahead of time. Hostels are a good bet, especially if you’re travelling solo or planning an ad-hoc approach during each stage of the trip, but can be lacking in privacy and comforts. House or apartment rentals can be much more comfortable and convenient, particularly for longer stays.  

How to do it: A sample 147-day itinerary from London via Istanbul, Dubai, Bangkok, Sydney, Los Angeles and New York from kiwi.com starts at £2,189 per person, including checked luggage.

6. Enlist a pro

One of the best ways to arrange an air-based around-the-world itinerary is by booking with a specialist agent or operator such as Trailfinders, Travel Nation or AirTreks. This can cut out a lot of organisational stress, while also enabling you to take advantage of these companies’ many years of experience. These firms often have access to special deals and aren’t constrained to particular airlines or alliances, allowing them to further improve the offerings to their clients.

The AirTreks website even has a trip planner tool listing a series of suggested activities, interests and attractions such as hiking, beaches, meditation or family travel, providing an extra level of choice at the planning stage.

If you’re interested in earning air miles, specify this to the agent so that they can concentrate on finding flights that qualify. Agents will also be able to suggest tempting additional stops — Taiwan, maybe, or a pause in Oman — which can be a great way of adding an extra bit of excitement to burgeoning itineraries.  

Finally, a specialist company can also take care of — or advise on — vaccinations (such as malaria), and certification and visas you’ll need, saving you plenty of legwork.

How to do it: AirTrek s’ nine-stop ticket from London via Paris, Florence, Venice, Athens, Singapore, Sydney, Auckland and Los Angeles costs from £1,325 to £1,770.

7. Learn to sail

Land ahoy! You might just get to utter those words by signing up for a unique sailing adventure with London-based operator Another World Adventures, which can arrange for you to join a classic, square-rigged tall ship for 90 days as it makes its way around the world on a 455-day voyage. Once on board, you’ll learn how to trim the sails, haul mizzen spinnakers and lean on trade winds to cross the tropics. No experience is required, and participants will become part of a tight-knit crew and make friends for life.

It doesn’t matter at which point on its itinerary the ship happens to be, as it’s entirely possible to join subsequent legs. Setting sail from Bali on 6 November 2023, leg three sees the ship call at the Indian Ocean islands of Rodrigues and Reunion before arriving in Cape Town on 6 February. Beginning one day later, the fourth and final stage is via Namibia, the British overseas territory of St Helena, several Caribbean islands and, on 13 July, Nova Scotia in Canada.

If you’d prefer to wait and tackle the whole trip — the other two legs are Nova Scotia to Tahiti, and Tahiti to Bali — then Another World Adventures (which also offers other, similar experiences) expects it to start in 2025.

How to do it:   Another World Adventures offers 90 nights, full board, from £13,600 per person, including transport, port fees and instruction.  

8. Cruise along

Ever more around-the-world voyages are being offered by cruise lines. To join one, you’ll need one important thing: lots of spare time. The circular itineraries are mostly more than 100 days in length, with Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise maxing out at 274 nights via seven continents and around 150 stops. These kinds of journeys really fit the ‘trip of a lifetime’ tag, running up to £100,000 per person.

Notably, 2023 marks a century since the world’s first continuous passenger cruise ship completed its pioneering journey. Chartered by the American Express Company, Cunard’s SS Laconia arrived back in New York City after completing a monumental six-month sailing via Japan, Singapore, India and Egypt.  

They also sell out quicker than almost any other cruise, partly due to having a limited number of departures. Holland America Line, for example, opened bookings this summer on its new 2025 Grand World Voyage. Departing from Fort Lauderdale in Florida, this is a six-continent, 124-day round-trip which transits the Panama Canal before visiting Callao (for excursions to Machu Picchu), Easter Island, Tahiti, the Great Barrier Reef, the Seychelles, Cape Town, Kenya, Jordan and Barcelona among 46 stops.  

How to do it:   Holland America Line’s 123-night Grand World Voyage starts from £19,900 per person, full board, including complimentary airport transfers, a $500 (£400) air credit and up to £6,700 per person in onboard spending credits if booked by 3 June 2024.  

9. Hop aboard a cargo ship

A rather more adventurous way of sailing the seas is aboard a cargo ship or freighter cruise. Carrying large containers of clothes, electrical equipment, foods and most other things between the world’s major ports, some of these allot space for four to 12 passengers.

Single, twin or double cabins are the norm, usually with sea-facing windows as well as a sitting area, a desk, a shower and a toilet. A few boats come with a pool, but most are very simple — they’re built for work, not pleasure, after all — and you certainly won’t find a spa or casino (though playing cards with the crew members isn't unheard of). All meals are provided in the on-board canteen.

The major appeal is the sense of serenity — watching the ocean drift by and having time to gather your thoughts or write that novel you’ve always planned.  

This can also be an amazing way to tick off some hard-to-reach places. Take freighters travelling to Singapore from New Zealand; be it for fuel and supplies or to make a drop-off, these stop at numerous Pacific islands en route, occasionally for a couple of days. That said, some port calls are too quick for guests to go ashore.

Note that good health and unaided mobility — due to steep gangways and lots of stairs — are mandatory, and it’s not suited for children or elderly travellers.

How to do it:   Cargo Ship Voyages offers a cargo ship crossing from Rotterdam to Cuba (estimated at 16 nights) from £1,880 per person, which includes all meals.  

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20 Most Famous Travellers In History

• by Jonny Duncan
• February 17, 2024 February 18, 2024

These famous travellers, driven by curiosity, ambition, or a quest for knowledge, embarked on epic expeditions that expanded the boundaries of geographical understanding.

Famous Travellers

Throughout history, the world has been shaped by the journeys of these famous travellers, intrepid explorers and adventurers who dared to traverse distant lands, cross treacherous seas, and delve into uncharted territories.

From the ancient Silk Road wanderers to the modern-day spacefarers, their stories inspire awe and wonder, reminding us of the boundless spirit of exploration that resides within the human soul.

These are some detailed accounts of the lives of these famous travellers and explorers.

Marco Polo is one of the most famous travellers in history whom you have most likely heard of already. He was a Venetian merchant, explorer, and writer who travelled extensively throughout Asia along the Silk Road.

Born in Venice in 1254, Marco Polo embarked on a journey to the East with his father Niccolò and uncle Maffeo in 1271, when he was only 17 years old. They travelled through Central Asia, reaching the court of Kublai Khan, the Mongol ruler of the Yuan Dynasty in China.

Marco Polo served as an emissary and official in the court of Kublai Khan for approximately 17 years, during which he travelled extensively throughout China, Mongolia, and other parts of Asia. He documented his travels and experiences in a book titled “Il Milione” or “The Travels of Marco Polo,” which became one of the most famous travelogues in history.

In his book, Marco Polo described the geography, culture, and customs of the regions he visited, introducing Europeans to many aspects of Asian life for the first time. His accounts of the riches of the East, including spices, silks, and other exotic goods, fueled European interest in trade and exploration with Asia.

He died in 1324 in Venice, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of history’s most famous travellers.

Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta , fully known as Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Battuta, was a Moroccan scholar and explorer born in Tangier in 1304. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest travellers in history, known for his extensive journeys across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe during the 14th century.

In 1325, at the age of 21, Ibn Battuta embarked on his first major journey, which would span nearly 30 years and cover over 75,000 miles. He initially set out on a pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj), a religious obligation for Muslims, but his travels went far beyond this initial goal.

Throughout his travels, Ibn Battuta visited places such as Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, Persia (modern-day Iran), Central Asia, India, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. He served as a judge, diplomat, and advisor in various courts along the way, gaining insights into the cultures, societies, and politics of the regions he visited.

Ibn Battuta documented his experiences in a travelogue called “Rihla” (The Journey), which provides valuable insights into the medieval world and remains an important historical source. His writings offer vivid descriptions of the places he visited, including cities, landmarks, people, customs, and traditions.

Ibn Battuta’s travels were remarkable not only for their extent but also for the diversity of the regions he explored and the challenges he overcame. His adventures have left an enduring legacy, contributing to our understanding of medieval geography, cultures, and interactions.

Charles Darwin 

Charles Darwin was a renowned traveller. His most famous voyage was aboard the HMS Beagle, a British naval vessel that embarked on a five-year expedition around the world from 1831 to 1836. Darwin was originally intended to be the ship’s naturalist, but his observations and discoveries during this voyage ultimately led to his groundbreaking work in evolutionary biology.

During the voyage, Darwin visited various locations, including the Galápagos Islands, where he made significant observations of the unique flora and fauna that would later inform his theory of natural selection. His travels also took him to South America, the Pacific Islands, Australia, and other parts of the world.

Darwin meticulously documented his observations in journals and collected specimens that contributed to his later scientific investigations and publications, most notably his seminal work “ On the Origin of Species ,” published in 1859.

Wilfred Thesiger

Wilfred Thesiger, born on June 3, 1910, was a British explorer, travel writer, and photographer known for his extensive travels in the deserts of Africa and the Middle East. He is renowned for his profound respect for traditional cultures and his vivid descriptions of the landscapes and people he encountered.

Thesiger’s most famous journeys took place in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula. He first travelled to the region in the 1940s, where he lived among the Bedouin tribes of southern Arabia, including the Marsh Arabs of Iraq and the nomadic tribes of the Empty Quarter (Rub’ al Khali). Thesiger’s experiences during these journeys were documented in his classic books “Arabian Sands” (1959) and “The Marsh Arabs” (1964).

Backpackingman note: Arabian Sands is one of my favourite travel memoirs that I have read.

Thesiger’s writings reflect his deep admiration for the harsh beauty of the desert and his respect for the traditional way of life practised by the nomadic peoples who inhabit these regions. He was critical of the modernization and development that threatened to erode the ancient cultures and landscapes he cherished.

In addition to his writings, Thesiger was also an accomplished photographer, capturing stunning images of the landscapes, peoples, and cultures of the regions he explored. His photographs provide a visual record of a way of life that has since undergone significant changes.

Thesiger’s legacy continues to inspire adventurers, travellers, and writers today, as his works remain celebrated for their insight, empathy, and evocative prose. He passed away on August 24, 2003, at the age of 93.

Fridtjof Nansen

Fridtjof Nansen was a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, and humanitarian who lived from 1861 to 1930. He is best known for his groundbreaking explorations of the Arctic region and his innovative work in oceanography. Nansen’s achievements earned him international acclaim and left a lasting legacy in multiple fields.

Nansen gained fame for his daring expedition aboard the ship Fram (meaning “Forward”) in 1893-1896. His goal was to reach the North Pole by allowing the ship to become frozen in the Arctic ice and drift with the currents.

Although the expedition did not reach the pole, it set a record for the farthest north latitude attained at that time and provided valuable scientific data about the Arctic Ocean.

Freya Stark

Freya Stark was a British explorer, travel writer, and cartographer known for her extensive travels in the Middle East and her vivid writings about the region. She was born on January 31, 1893, in Paris, France, and grew up in England.

Stark began her travels in the Middle East in the 1920s and 1930s, at a time when few Westerners, especially women, ventured into the region. She explored remote and challenging areas of the Middle East, including parts of Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

Stark was known for her adventurous spirit, intelligence, and ability to connect with people from different cultures. She learned several languages, including Arabic and Persian, which allowed her to communicate with local inhabitants and gain insights into their lives and customs.

Throughout her travels, Stark produced numerous books, articles, and photographs documenting her experiences and observations. Her writings are celebrated for their lyrical prose, keen observations, and deep appreciation for the landscapes, cultures, and history of the Middle East.

Some of Stark’s most famous works include “The Valleys of the Assassins” (1934), “A Winter in Arabia” (1940), and “The Southern Gates of Arabia” (1936). Her books became bestsellers and earned her widespread acclaim as one of the most accomplished travel writers of her time.

Freya Stark continued to travel and write well into her later years, and her legacy as a pioneering explorer and cultural ambassador for the Middle East endures today. Her works remain influential and continue to inspire travellers, writers, and scholars interested in the region. She passed away on May 9, 1993, at the age of 100.

David Livingstone

David Livingstone was a Scottish physician and explorer who played a significant role in the exploration of Africa during the 19th century.

Over the course of his life, Livingstone undertook multiple expeditions across the African continent, with the primary goals of spreading Christianity, combating the slave trade, and exploring unknown regions.

Livingstone’s most famous expedition began in 1852 when he set out to explore the Zambezi River and its surrounding regions. During this journey, he became the first European to witness the majestic Victoria Falls. Livingstone’s explorations also led to significant geographic discoveries, including the identification of Lake Malawi and the exploration of the Zambezi River system.

Livingstone’s explorations and writings captured the imagination of people around the world and earned him widespread acclaim as one of the greatest explorers and famous travellers of his time. His accounts of his travels, including books such as “Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa,” inspired subsequent generations of explorers and missionaries.

Livingstone died on May 1, 1873, in what is now Zambia, while on his final expedition to explore the sources of the Nile River.

Zheng He was a Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat, and admiral during the Ming dynasty. He is best known for his extensive maritime voyages in the early 15th century, which took place decades before the famous European Age of Discovery.

Zheng He’s voyages were remarkable for their scale and reach. He led a series of expeditions from China to various parts of Asia and Africa, commanding a vast fleet of ships that included massive treasure ships, some of which were reported to be several times larger than the European ships of the time.

Zheng He’s expeditions visited countries and regions such as Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and the east coast of Africa. These voyages facilitated cultural exchange, trade, and diplomacy, with Zheng He presenting gifts from the Ming emperor to local rulers and receiving tribute in return.

Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart was an American aviator and pioneering woman in the field of aviation. Born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas, Earhart developed an early interest in flying and became one of the most famous female pilots and travellers of her time.

Earhart set numerous aviation records during her career. In 1928, she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, accomplishing the feat in her single-engine Lockheed Vega. This flight propelled her to international fame and established her as a symbol of women’s advancement in aviation.

In 1932, Earhart made history again by becoming the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic, replicating Charles Lindbergh’s famous feat from five years earlier. She flew from Newfoundland to Ireland in approximately 15 hours.

One of Earhart’s most ambitious goals was to circumnavigate the globe. In 1937, she embarked on an attempt to fly around the world along the equator. However, tragically, Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan disappeared somewhere over the Pacific Ocean during the final leg of their journey.

Despite extensive search efforts, their fate remains one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history.

Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus, born in the Republic of Genoa (in present-day Italy) in 1451, was an Italian explorer whose voyages across the Atlantic Ocean paved the way for European exploration and colonization of the Americas. Columbus made his first voyage in 1492 under the sponsorship of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile.

Columbus’s initial goal was to find a westward route to Asia, particularly to India and the lucrative spice trade. However, he instead encountered the islands of the Caribbean, landing on an island he named San Salvador (though the indigenous Taíno people called it Guanahani). Believing he had reached the East Indies, Columbus referred to the indigenous people he encountered as “Indians.”

Over the next several years, Columbus made three more voyages to the Caribbean and explored various islands, including Hispaniola (present-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Cuba, and Jamaica. His voyages initiated widespread European contact with the Americas and marked the beginning of the European colonization of the New World.

Columbus’s voyages had significant and far-reaching consequences, including the exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and cultures between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. While his expeditions were celebrated in Europe, they also led to the colonization, exploitation, and displacement of indigenous peoples, as well as the transatlantic slave trade.

Today, Christopher Columbus is a controversial figure, with his legacy debated in terms of his role in history and his impact on indigenous populations. While some view him as a courageous explorer who initiated global connections, others criticize him for his treatment of indigenous peoples and the lasting negative effects of European colonization in the Americas.

Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who is best known for leading the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe. He was born around 1480 in Sabrosa, Portugal, and he served as a navigator and explorer for the Portuguese crown before offering his services to the Spanish crown.

In 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain with a fleet of five ships and around 270 men, aiming to find a western sea route to the Spice Islands (the Moluccas) in the East Indies. On September 20, 1519, they departed from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain, and after a long and perilous journey across the Atlantic, they reached the coast of South America.

Magellan navigated through the treacherous waters of what is now known as the Strait of Magellan, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at the southern tip of South America.

After passing through the strait, Magellan and his crew sailed across the vast Pacific Ocean, enduring severe hardships such as starvation, scurvy, and storms. They reached the Mariana Islands and the Philippines, where Magellan was killed in a skirmish with local inhabitants on April 27, 1521.

Magellan’s expedition was a landmark achievement in the history of exploration, proving that the Earth was indeed round and demonstrating the vast extent of the Pacific Ocean.

Ernest Shackleton

Sir Ernest Shackleton was a renowned British explorer who led several expeditions to Antarctica during the early 20th century. He is best known for his heroic leadership and remarkable survival during the ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-1917.

Born on February 15, 1874, in County Kildare, Ireland, Shackleton began his career as a seaman and later became involved in Antarctic exploration.

Shackleton’s most famous expedition, the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, aimed to make the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent. The expedition, launched in 1914 aboard the ship Endurance, encountered numerous hardships, including being trapped in pack ice in the Weddell Sea.

Despite the loss of their ship, Shackleton and his crew managed to survive for over a year on the ice before finally making a daring escape in small lifeboats to Elephant Island.

Realizing that rescue was unlikely on Elephant Island, Shackleton embarked on an epic voyage with a small crew in an open boat, the James Caird, across 800 miles of treacherous seas to reach South Georgia Island. After successfully reaching South Georgia, Shackleton and his companions completed a hazardous overland journey to a whaling station, eventually rescuing the remaining men on Elephant Island.

Miraculously, Shackleton’s leadership and determination ensured the survival of all the members of the expedition, despite enduring extreme cold, hunger, and danger. Their remarkable tale of endurance and perseverance has become one of the most celebrated stories in the annals of exploration.

Following his Antarctic expeditions, Shackleton continued to pursue various ventures, including further attempts at Antarctic exploration. However, he died of a heart attack on January 5, 1922, while on an expedition to Antarctica.

Xuanzang (Hsüan-tsang)

Xuanzang, also known as Hsüan-Tsang, was a Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, and traveller who lived during the Tang Dynasty. He is renowned for his legendary journey to India in the 7th century AD, during which he travelled overland across Central Asia to study Buddhism and collect Buddhist scriptures.

Born in 602 AD in what is now Henan Province, China, Xuanzang became a Buddhist monk at a young age and dedicated himself to the study of Buddhist scriptures and philosophy. Despite government restrictions on travel abroad, Xuanzang was determined to visit India, the birthplace of Buddhism, to deepen his understanding of the religion and to obtain authentic Buddhist scriptures that were not available in China.

In 629 AD, Xuanzang set out on his epic journey to India. He travelled overland through treacherous terrain, across deserts and mountains, encountering numerous hardships and dangers along the way. Despite these challenges, Xuanzang persevered, driven by his unwavering faith and determination.

During his 17-year pilgrimage, Xuanzang visited many Buddhist monasteries, universities, and sacred sites in India, studying with renowned Buddhist masters and scholars. He also collected thousands of Buddhist scriptures, which he later brought back to China.

Upon his return to China in 645 AD, Xuanzang was hailed as a hero and a scholar. He spent the rest of his life translating the scriptures he had collected into Chinese and sharing his knowledge and insights with others. His translations played a crucial role in the spread of Buddhism in China and had a profound influence on Chinese culture and philosophy.

Xuanzang’s extraordinary journey and his contributions to Buddhist scholarship have made him a legendary figure in Chinese history and in the history of Buddhism. His life and adventures have been immortalized in literature, art, and folklore, and he remains a revered figure in Buddhist tradition.

Isabella Bird

Isabella Bird was a 19th-century British explorer, writer, photographer, and naturalist. Born on October 15, 1831, in England, she defied the societal norms of her time by embarking on extensive travels, often alone, to various remote and challenging regions of the world.

Bird’s first major journey took her to North America in 1854, where she travelled extensively throughout the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains. Her experiences during this trip were chronicled in her book “The Englishwoman in America,” published in 1856.

Throughout her life, Bird continued to embark on remarkable journeys. She explored the Hawaiian Islands, Canada, Japan, India, Persia (now Iran), Kurdistan, Tibet, China, and many other regions. Her travels were not only adventurous but also pioneering, as she often ventured into areas that were little known to Westerners at the time.

Bird was an avid writer, and she published numerous books and articles based on her travels. Her writings were highly acclaimed for their vivid descriptions of landscapes, cultures, and people.

Isabella Bird’s adventurous spirit, keen observations, and literary talents have earned her a lasting legacy as one of the most remarkable female explorers of the 19th century. Her works continue to inspire travellers and readers around the world, offering unique insights into the diverse cultures and landscapes of the places she visited.

Amerigo Vespucci

Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer, navigator, and cartographer who played a significant role in the early exploration of the Americas. He was born in Florence, Italy, in 1454 or 1455, and he began his career working for the prominent Medici family in Florence.

Vespucci made several voyages to the New World between 1497 and 1504, primarily under the auspices of Spain and Portugal. While the details of his early voyages are somewhat unclear, Vespucci is best known for his accounts of his voyages, particularly his claim to have reached the mainland of the Americas before Columbus’s third voyage.

The German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller is credited with naming the continent after Vespucci, as he included the name “America” on his 1507 world map, the first to depict the Americas as separate from Asia.

While Vespucci did not make any significant discoveries or advancements in navigation himself, his writings and the use of his name for the continents had a lasting impact on European perceptions of the New World and its place in the world map.

James Cook was a British explorer, navigator, and cartographer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest explorers of all time. He was born on October 27, 1728, in England. Cook made significant contributions to the exploration and mapping of the Pacific Ocean and its islands during the 18th century.

Cook began his career in the British Royal Navy, rising through the ranks as a skilled seaman and navigator. He gained recognition for his precise cartography and his ability to navigate difficult waters.

In 1768, Cook was appointed as commander of the HMS Endeavour and embarked on his first voyage, which was commissioned by the Royal Society and the British Admiralty, to observe the transit of Venus from Tahiti and to explore the South Pacific.

During this voyage, Cook and his crew made extensive explorations of the South Pacific, including the mapping of the eastern coast of Australia, which he named New South Wales. Cook’s meticulous charting and observations laid the groundwork for later British colonization of Australia. Cook’s expedition also included the first recorded European contact with the eastern coastline of New Zealand.

Cook went on to make two more major voyages of exploration in the Pacific. His second voyage, from 1772 to 1775, aimed to locate the hypothetical southern continent of Terra Australis and further explore the Pacific. During this expedition, Cook became the first person to cross the Antarctic Circle.

On his third voyage, from 1776 to 1779, Cook attempted to find a northwest passage between the Pacific and the Atlantic. Although he did not succeed in finding the passage, he made significant discoveries in the Pacific Northwest region of North America, including the Hawaiian Islands.

Nellie Bly, born on May 5, 1864, was an American journalist, writer, and pioneering investigative reporter. She is best known for her record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days.

In 1889, Bly embarked on her most famous adventure: a solo journey around the world inspired by Jules Verne’s novel “Around the World in Eighty Days.” She travelled by steamship, train, and other means of transportation, completing the journey in just 72 days, a record at the time. Her trip captivated the public’s imagination and solidified her reputation as one of the most famous travellers in history.

Throughout her career, Bly wrote about social issues, women’s rights, and travel. She worked for various newspapers and magazines and authored several books, including “Ten Days in a Madhouse” and “Around the World in Seventy-Two Days.”

Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway, the acclaimed American novelist and short story writer, was also an avid traveller who drew inspiration from his journeys around the world. Throughout his life, Hemingway travelled extensively, often immersing himself in the cultures and landscapes of the places he visited.

Some of his notable travel experiences include:

• Paris, France: Hemingway spent much of the 1920s living in Paris, where he was part of the expatriate community of writers and artists known as the “Lost Generation.” His experiences in Paris, particularly in the bohemian neighbourhoods of Montparnasse and the Left Bank, would later influence his writing, including his novel “The Sun Also Rises.”
• Spain: Hemingway was deeply influenced by his experiences during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), where he worked as a war correspondent. He spent time in Madrid and other cities, witnessing the conflict firsthand and drawing inspiration for his novel “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” which is set during the war.
• Key West, Florida: Hemingway lived in Key West during the 1930s and 1940s, where he wrote some of his most famous works, including “A Farewell to Arms” and “To Have and Have Not.” His house in Key West, now a museum, is a popular tourist attraction.
• Africa: Hemingway embarked on several safaris in Africa during the 1930s and 1950s, where he hunted big game and drew inspiration for his short stories “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” and “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.”
• Cuba: Hemingway had a deep connection to Cuba, where he lived for many years and wrote several of his major works, including “The Old Man and the Sea.” His home in Cuba, Finca Vigia, is preserved as a museum and is a popular tourist destination.

Hemingway’s travels greatly influenced his writing, and his experiences in different parts of the world are reflected in the settings, characters, and themes of his novels and short stories. His adventurous spirit and love of travel are an integral part of his legacy as one of the greatest writers and famous travellers of the 20th century.

Ok, these last two aren’t in “history” as they’re still going even in their late age…

Ranulph Fiennes

Sir Ranulph Fiennes , born on March 7, 1944, is a British explorer, adventurer, and author known for his daring expeditions and record-breaking achievements in extreme environments around the world. He is often described as one of the greatest living explorers.

Fiennes has undertaken numerous expeditions throughout his career, often pushing the limits of human endurance and overcoming immense challenges.

In the Transglobe Expedition (1979–1982) Fiennes led the first circumnavigation of the Earth along its polar axis, traversing both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The expedition covered over 52,000 miles and took over three years to complete, making it one of the most ambitious polar expeditions in history.

First to reach both Poles by surface travel: Fiennes became the first person to reach both the North and South Poles by surface travel when he reached the South Pole in 1982 and the North Pole in 1986.

In addition to his exploration endeavours, Fiennes is also a prolific author, having written numerous books about his adventures and experiences.

Fiennes continues to be actively involved in exploration and adventure, inspiring others to push their limits and explore the unknown. His legacy as one of the world’s greatest explorers is firmly established, and his adventures continue to captivate and inspire people around the globe.

Michael Palin

I’m going to end this list with one of my favourite modern-day travellers, Michael Palin . I have loved his TV travel shows for decades now. Michael Palin is a British comedian, actor, writer, and television presenter known for his travels around the world documented in various television series and books.

Palin’s travel adventures began with the groundbreaking television series “Around the World in 80 Days,” which aired in 1989. In this series, Palin attempted to circumnavigate the globe without flying, following in the footsteps of Phileas Fogg from Jules Verne’s novel. The journey took him through Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North America, and back to Europe, and it was documented in a book of the same name.

Following the success of “Around the World in 80 Days,” Palin continued to travel and document his journeys in subsequent television series and books, including:

• “Pole to Pole” (1992): In this series, Palin travelled from the North Pole to the South Pole, passing through Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.
• “Full Circle with Michael Palin” (1997): Palin embarked on a journey around the Pacific Rim, travelling through countries such as Russia, Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam, Australia, and Chile.
• “Michael Palin’s Hemingway Adventure” (1999): Palin retraced the footsteps of the American writer Ernest Hemingway, visiting places significant to Hemingway’s life and work in Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
• “Michael Palin’s Sahara” (2002): Palin explored the diverse cultures and landscapes of the Sahara Desert, travelling through countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Niger, and Mali.
• “Himalaya with Michael Palin” (2004): Palin journeyed through the Himalayas, from Pakistan and India to Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and China, exploring the mountains, cultures, and people of the region.

Palin’s travel adventures have inspired and entertained audiences around the world, making him one of the world’s most beloved travel presenters and one of the most famous travellers of them all.

The legacies of these famous travellers endure as testaments to the indomitable human spirit and the insatiable thirst for discovery. Their courage, resilience, and insatiable curiosity have left an indelible mark on history, shaping our understanding of the world and inspiring future generations to venture beyond the known horizon.

These are just a few examples, and countless other explorers and travellers have made significant contributions to our understanding of the world through their journeys and discoveries.

For a look at another well-known modern traveller have a look at my article about a good friend of mine who is regarded as one of the most travelled man in the world today.

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Here's what you need to know to plan a trip around the world

Dec 29, 2021 • 7 min read

Don't start planning your round-the-world trip without reading this guide © Getty Images

In 1924, a team of aviators from the USA successfully completed the first-ever circumnavigation of the globe by airplane, a feat that took 175 days, 76 stops, a cache of 15 Liberty engines, 14 spare pontoons, four aircraft and two sets of new wings. This achievement ushered in an era of international air travel, and nearly a century later, travelers are still creating their own round-the-world itineraries. 

You might not have the same worries as those early aviators, but planning a round-the-world trip has never been a more complex process. As COVID-19 continues to alter world travel , heading out on a multi-country trip might be more complicated than it has been in decades. While it might not be the right time to hit the road, luckily it's never too early to start figuring out the logistics of a trip around the globe. After all, who doesn't have a lot of pent-up wanderlust at the moment? 

When it comes to booking your trip, there are several options for booking your airfare, as well as flexibility on timing, destinations and budget. But don't let that overwhelm you – start here with our handy guide on how to plan that round-the-world trip you’ve always dreamed of.

Where and how to get a round-the-world plane ticket

The most economical way to circumnavigate the globe is to buy a round-the-world (RTW) plane ticket through a single airline alliance. These are confederations of several different airlines that make it simple to maximize the number of places you can travel and pay for it all in one place or with points. There are three primary airline alliances to choose from: Star Alliance, OneWorld and Skyteam.  Star Alliance is a coalition of 26 airlines that fly to 1300 airports in 98% of the world’s countries.  OneWorld includes 14 airlines traveling to 1100 destinations in 180 territories.  Skyteam is made up of 19 airlines that serve 1000 destinations in 170 countries.  

Read more:   How to save money when you're traveling

Once you pick an airline alliance, whether because of a loyalty program you’re already a member of or because you like its terms, conditions and destination list, you can purchase a single RTW airline ticket made up of several legs fulfilled by that alliance’s partners. The RTW ticket rules vary between each of the airline alliances, with particulars like Star Alliance’s rule that a RTW ticket can include two to 15 stops. But there are some general principles that apply to most RTW tickets, no matter which airline group you go with. 

You typically must follow one global direction (east or west – no backtracking); you must start and finish in the same country; and you must book all your flights before departure, though you can change them later (though this could incur extra charges). Typically you have one year to get from your starting point to the finish line.

How long do I need for a round-the-world trip?

You could whip around the world in a weekend if you flew non-stop, especially with the advent of new ultra-long-haul flights that can clock in at 20 hours of flight time. However, the minimum duration of most RTW tickets is 10 days – still a breathless romp. To get the most out of your round-the-world ticket, consider stock-piling vacation days, tagging on public holidays or even arranging a sabbatical from work to take off at least two months (but ideally six months to one year). Because most airline alliances give you up to a year to use your ticket, you can maximize your purchase if you plan well.

When should I travel on a round-the-world trip?

The weather will never be ideal in all your stops, so focus on what you want to do most and research the conditions there. In general, city sightseeing can be done year-round (escape extreme heat, cold or rain in museums and cafes), but outdoor adventures are more reliant on – and enjoyable in – the right weather.

Research ahead of time if any must-see destinations or must-do activities will mean facing crowds. For example, if you’re hoping to be in Austria for the famous Salzburg Festival, you’ll want to plan ahead and book your tickets months in advance. If you’re hoping to fit a shorter thru-hike into your round-the-world trip, you’ll want to make sure you’re going in the correct season and starting in the right spot. You won’t get far or have as enjoyable an experience if you’re, say, attempting the Tour du Mont Blanc during the dates of the annual winter marathon or headed northbound on the Pacific Crest Trail in July, missing most of the warmer months. 

Accept youʼll be in some regions at the "wrong" time – though this might offer unexpected benefits. For example, Victoria Falls has a dry season each year , which means a slightly less thunderous cascade, but it does open up rafting opportunities and a chance to swim right up to the lip of the falls in The Devil’s Pool. Going to Venice in the winter might mean grayer skies but fewer crowds. Heading to Kenya and Tanzania in April is likely to mean fewer humans, but not fewer chances to spot wildlife, all while saving money on safari.  Also keep in mind that mom-and-pop locations have their downtime and holiday seasons as well; don't be too surprised if your local bakery in Paris is closed for a holiday week or two in August.

Where should I go on my round-the-world trip?

The classic (and cheapest) RTW tickets flit between a few big cities, for example, London – Bangkok – Singapore – Sydney – LA . If you want to link more offbeat hubs ( Baku – Kinshasa – Paramaribo , anyone?), prices will climb considerably. The cost of the ticket is also based on the total distance covered or the number of countries visited.

Remember, you donʼt have to fly between each point: in Australia you could land in Perth , travel overland and fly out of Cairns . Or fly into Moscow , board the Trans-Siberian railway  and fly onwards from Beijing.  Pick some personal highlights and string the rest of your itinerary around those. For instance, if youʼre a keen hiker, flesh out a Peru ( Inca Trail ) – New Zealand ( Milford Track ) – Nepal ( Everest Base Camp ) itinerary with stops in Yosemite , Menz-Gauassa and the Okavango Delta .

If budgetʼs an issue, spend more time in less expensive countries and plan budget city breaks along the way. You’ll spend more in metros like Paris, Dubai and San Francisco than in Nusa Tenggara , Budapest  and Buffalo . 

Tips, tricks and pitfalls of round-the-world tickets

Talk to an expert before you book a round-the-world ticket: you may have an itinerary in mind, but an experienced RTW flight booker will know which routes work best and cost least. A few tweaks could mean big savings in time and money. Hash out a budget well ahead of time, not only for your RTW ticket, but also for the whole trip. Reach out to friends or travel bloggers who have done a round-the-world trip or are full-time travelers because they can offer tips on how to budget for a trip around the world .

Be flexible: moving your departure date by a few days can save money. Mid-week flights are generally cheaper, as are flights on major holidays such as Christmas Day. Avoid days and times popular with business travelers to escape higher prices and more crowded cabins.

Think about internal travel: it can be cheaper to book internal flights at the same time as booking your RTW ticket, but with the global increase of low-cost airlines, you may find it better (and more flexible) to buy them separately as you go.

Be warned: if you donʼt board one of your booked flights (say, on a whim, you decide to travel overland from Bangkok to Singapore rather than fly it) your airline is likely to cancel all subsequent flights.

You might also like: 10 destinations perfect for solo travel Can visiting lesser-known places offer a better travel experience? 6 things I learned from flying 6 days in a row

This article was first published March 2012 and updated December 2021

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Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Global tourism industry - statistics & facts

What are the leading global tourism destinations, digitalization of the global tourism industry, how important is sustainable tourism, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP worldwide 2019-2033

Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide 1950-2023

Global leisure travel spend 2019-2022

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Current statistics on this topic.

Leading global travel markets by travel and tourism contribution to GDP 2019-2022

Travel and tourism employment worldwide 2019-2033

Related topics

Recommended.

• Hotel industry worldwide
• Travel agency industry
• Sustainable tourism worldwide
• Travel and tourism in the U.S.
• Travel and tourism in Europe

Recommended statistics

• Basic Statistic Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP worldwide 2019-2033
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism: share of global GDP 2019-2033
• Basic Statistic Leading global travel markets by travel and tourism contribution to GDP 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Global leisure travel spend 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Global business travel spending 2001-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide 1950-2023
• Basic Statistic Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide 2005-2023, by region
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism employment worldwide 2019-2033

Total contribution of travel and tourism to gross domestic product (GDP) worldwide in 2019 and 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2033 (in trillion U.S. dollars)

Travel and tourism: share of global GDP 2019-2033

Share of travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP worldwide in 2019 and 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2033

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in leading travel markets worldwide in 2019 and 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Leisure tourism spending worldwide from 2019 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Global business travel spending 2001-2022

Expenditure of business tourists worldwide from 2001 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide from 1950 to 2023 (in millions)

Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide 2005-2023, by region

Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide from 2005 to 2023, by region (in millions)

Number of travel and tourism jobs worldwide from 2019 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2033 (in millions)

• Premium Statistic Global hotel and resort industry market size worldwide 2013-2023
• Premium Statistic Most valuable hotel brands worldwide 2023, by brand value
• Basic Statistic Leading hotel companies worldwide 2023, by number of properties
• Premium Statistic Hotel openings worldwide 2021-2024
• Premium Statistic Hotel room openings worldwide 2021-2024
• Premium Statistic Countries with the most hotel construction projects in the pipeline worldwide 2022

Global hotel and resort industry market size worldwide 2013-2023

Market size of the hotel and resort industry worldwide from 2013 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 (in trillion U.S. dollars)

Most valuable hotel brands worldwide 2023, by brand value

Leading hotel brands based on brand value worldwide in 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Leading hotel companies worldwide 2023, by number of properties

Leading hotel companies worldwide as of June 2023, by number of properties

Hotel openings worldwide 2021-2024

Number of hotels opened worldwide from 2021 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2024

Hotel room openings worldwide 2021-2024

Number of hotel rooms opened worldwide from 2021 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2024

Countries with the most hotel construction projects in the pipeline worldwide 2022

Countries with the highest number of hotel construction projects in the pipeline worldwide as of Q4 2022

• Premium Statistic Airports with the most international air passenger traffic worldwide 2022
• Premium Statistic Market value of selected airlines worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Global passenger rail users forecast 2017-2027
• Premium Statistic Daily ridership of bus rapid transit systems worldwide by region 2023
• Premium Statistic Number of users of car rentals worldwide 2019-2028
• Premium Statistic Number of users in selected countries in the Car Rentals market in 2023
• Premium Statistic Carbon footprint of international tourism transport worldwide 2005-2030, by type

Airports with the most international air passenger traffic worldwide 2022

Leading airports for international air passenger traffic in 2022 (in million international passengers)

Market value of selected airlines worldwide 2023

Market value of selected airlines worldwide as of May 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Global passenger rail users forecast 2017-2027

Worldwide number of passenger rail users from 2017 to 2022, with a forecast through 2027 (in billion users)

Daily ridership of bus rapid transit systems worldwide by region 2023

Number of daily passengers using bus rapid transit (BRT) systems as of April 2023, by region

Number of users of car rentals worldwide 2019-2028

Number of users of car rentals worldwide from 2019 to 2028 (in millions)

Number of users in selected countries in the Car Rentals market in 2023

Number of users in selected countries in the Car Rentals market in 2023 (in million)

Carbon footprint of international tourism transport worldwide 2005-2030, by type

Transport-related emissions from international tourist arrivals worldwide in 2005 and 2016, with a forecast for 2030, by mode of transport (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)

Attractions

• Premium Statistic Market size of museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks worldwide 2022-2027
• Premium Statistic Leading museums by highest attendance worldwide 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Most visited amusement and theme parks worldwide 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Monuments on the UNESCO world heritage list 2023, by type
• Basic Statistic Selected countries with the most Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide 2023

Market size of museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks worldwide 2022-2027

Size of the museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks market worldwide in 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2027 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Leading museums by highest attendance worldwide 2019-2022

Most visited museums worldwide from 2019 to 2022 (in millions)

Most visited amusement and theme parks worldwide 2019-2022

Leading amusement and theme parks worldwide from 2019 to 2022, by attendance (in millions)

Monuments on the UNESCO world heritage list 2023, by type

Number of monuments on the UNESCO world heritage list as of September 2023, by type

Selected countries with the most Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide 2023

Number of Michelin-starred restaurants in selected countries and territories worldwide as of July 2023

Online travel market

• Premium Statistic Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028
• Premium Statistic Estimated desktop vs. mobile revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Most downloaded online travel agency apps worldwide 2022, by aggregated downloads
• Basic Statistic Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Leading online travel companies worldwide 2020-2022, by revenue CAGR
• Premium Statistic Leading online travel companies worldwide 2022-2023, by EV/EBITDA

Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028

Online travel market size worldwide from 2017 to 2023, with a forecast until 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Estimated desktop vs. mobile revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2023

Estimated desktop vs. mobile revenue of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide in 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Most downloaded online travel agency apps worldwide 2022, by aggregated downloads

Most downloaded online travel agency apps worldwide in 2022, by aggregated number of downloads (in millions)

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide as of September 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Leading online travel companies worldwide 2020-2022, by revenue CAGR

Revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of leading online travel companies worldwide from 2020 to 2022

Leading online travel companies worldwide 2022-2023, by EV/EBITDA

Enterprise-value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) of selected leading online travel companies worldwide in 2022, with a forecast for 2023

Selected trends

• Premium Statistic Global travelers who believe in the importance of green travel 2022
• Premium Statistic Sustainable initiatives travelers would adopt worldwide 2022, by region
• Premium Statistic Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023
• Premium Statistic Airbnb nights and experiences booked worldwide 2017-2023
• Premium Statistic Technologies global hotels plan to implement in the next three years 2022
• Premium Statistic Hotel technologies global consumers think would improve their future stay 2022

Global travelers who believe in the importance of green travel 2022

Share of travelers that believe sustainable travel is important worldwide in 2022

Sustainable initiatives travelers would adopt worldwide 2022, by region

Main sustainable initiatives travelers are willing to adopt worldwide in 2022, by region

Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023

Revenue of Airbnb worldwide from 2017 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Airbnb nights and experiences booked worldwide 2017-2023

Nights and experiences booked with Airbnb from 2017 to 2023 (in millions)

Technologies global hotels plan to implement in the next three years 2022

Technologies hotels are most likely to implement in the next three years worldwide as of 2022

Hotel technologies global consumers think would improve their future stay 2022

Must-have hotel technologies to create a more amazing stay in the future among travelers worldwide as of 2022

• Premium Statistic Travel and tourism revenue worldwide 2019-2028, by segment
• Premium Statistic Distribution of sales channels in the travel and tourism market worldwide 2018-2028
• Premium Statistic Inbound tourism visitor growth worldwide 2020-2025, by region
• Premium Statistic Outbound tourism visitor growth worldwide 2020-2025, by region

Travel and tourism revenue worldwide 2019-2028, by segment

Revenue of the global travel and tourism market from 2019 to 2028, by segment (in billion U.S. dollars)

Distribution of sales channels in the travel and tourism market worldwide 2018-2028

Revenue share of sales channels of the travel and tourism market worldwide from 2018 to 2028

Inbound tourism visitor growth worldwide 2020-2025, by region

Inbound tourism visitor growth worldwide from 2020 to 2022, with a forecast until 2025, by region

Outbound tourism visitor growth worldwide 2020-2025, by region

Outbound tourism visitor growth worldwide from 2020 to 2022, with a forecast until 2025, by region

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Around the world by 21: The woman who has visited all 195 countries by a record-breaking age

It was back in October 2017 when Lexie Alford knew she needed to do everything in her power to break a Guinness World Records title.

It wasn’t just any record – a traveler her whole life with her parents, Lexie wanted to learn as much about the world as she could during a young and capable age.

Two years, 195 countries and hundreds of passports stamps later, the vibrant explorer is now the world’s youngest person to travel to all sovereign countries (overall) and (female) - at the stark age of 21 years 177 days.

All sovereign countries:  The guidelines say you must visit 195 countries - the 193 UN Member States as of December 2018, the Vatican and Chinese Taipei

Many who know Lexie might say that her record was inevitable – coming from a traveling family, her mother began her very own travel business at a young age, and always took Lexie with her on all of her travels.

By the time she was only 18 years old, she had already visited 70 countries, inspiring her to conquer the rest of the world.

"Once I knew which countries I had left, I broke down the world into regions. I started in Central America then went down through South America. I then traveled to the countries in Europe that I had never been to before," she explained.

"Continuing forward, I traveled from Timor Leste to Mongolia and basically all the countries in between during a huge, beautiful trip through Asia. Things started getting more difficult because I went to an area of the world that I had never been to before: The South Pacific island nations."

Incredibly passionate about traveling, Lexie underwent the tedious processes of getting visas and planning her routes.

Knowing the tiresome but amazing journey that lay ahead of her, she most looked forward to the different cultures she would be exposed to and the unique sites she would get exposure to.

"There were so many different countries I loved for different reasons but one country that stood out to me was Pakistan. Since the country is still developing infrastructure for tourism, the locals haven’t become jaded towards foreigners and were incredibly friendly and excited to share their culture with me."

But no record-breaking journey as intense as this would come without its own set of challenges; aside from racing against the clock she also endured hours on planes, experienced extreme food poisoning and other adversities.

“There was never a specific moment where I felt like I wanted to give up completely but there were some periods that were more difficult than others. When traveling solo through the South Pacific island nations I experienced intense loneliness and traveling through West Africa was extremely stressful because of visa requirements, lack of infrastructure and also having an unfortunate encounter with malaria."

Despite these conditions, Lexie never failed to lose hope. Stopping home periodically to rest and be with family, she reached her final destination of Mozambique on 4 October 2019.

"I learned so much about the world during my travels but one of the biggest takeaways for me was realizing that despite coming from very different environments and growing up with different values and economic situations. 

"I experienced nothing but love and kindness from the people I encountered in each and every country. If anything, the world would be so boring if everything was the same everywhere. I believe it’s our differences that make discovering new cultures such a beautiful experience."

Lexie thanks her mother most of all for all of her support and motivation throughout this trek around the world.

She now has plans to create an online travel hack course for those to learn from her experiences, and plans to release a book later in 2020 about the life lessons that she gained along the way.

"We live on such a big, beautiful planet and I’m looking forward to finding more fun and creative ways to involve my audience and inspire them to get out of their comfort zone and see the world."

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6 Apps to Meet Travelers and Make Friends Around the World

Is there anything more freeing or empowering than traveling alone to a new place?

While solo trips are wonderful ways to spend some quality time alone, they’re also ideal for making new friends .

Thanks to modern technology, we can use apps to meet other travelers while traveling solo.

To give you a leg up, I’ve compiled six of the best apps for meeting other travelers when you’re on the road, including where to get them, best features and the pros and cons of each app.

Couchsurfing

Facebook groups, other ways to meet travelers abroad, learn the local language, keep an open mind, find tours about what you love, stay in hostels (and join the parties).

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Website | iOS

Summary:  Easy to use app to find food experiences and people to share them with.

Eatwith provides an incredible opportunity to meet people who share the most delicious passion out there: food!  In other words, if you’re a traveling foodie, this is the app for you.

Not only can you browse food and eating experiences in the app, you can search for others (both locals and fellow travelers) to eat with.

You simply add the city and food experience that you want to have, and if you’re lucky, you’ll have a great partner for poking around a Guatemala market, trying tapas in Barcelona or eating a guinea pig in Peru (yes, this is common!).

I tried this app once and was invited to dinner at a Greek grandmother’s little beach house. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.

The downside of this app is that sometimes there aren’t that many experiences listed, so it works best in peak travel seasons.

With a pleasing design and an easy-to-use interface, Backpackr is the premiere website to meet travel buddies and connect with other like-minded travelers around the world.

You can use the site before your trip (say, to find someone to travel with), but it also works well on the road, with thousands of users, active message boards and a common room, where you can ask for advice and recommendations.

The site excels at using the format of social media, but for people who are traveling, or will travel soon. I’ve used the app and I ended up with some fun travel buddies that accompanied me from Crete all the way to Turkey.

The site even sends push notifications when someone is en route to your destination so you can check them out or message them.

The downside of Backpackr is that there is no Android app, so you need a laptop to access it.

Website | Android

Summary:  Long-lived and well-liked app to help you find a place to sleep with a local.

Use Couchsurfing to find locals whose couch you can sleep on. For free! 

The Couchsurfing community connects you with people who have free space in their house and are willing to offer it to like-minded people.

But even if you’d rather stay in a hotel or hostel, Couchsurfing can still be a great tool for meeting new people.

First, you can create a profile and select that you’d like to grab a beer or coffee with people, not necessarily stay in their homes.

Second, there’s a feature that lets you post what you’re planning to do that day. People can join your group to participate in your plans. Locals and travelers alike can get together to have some fun!

Couchsurfing is by far one of the most popular communities of like-minded people who are passionate about traveling, meeting new people and making friends.

The only downside of Couchsurfing is that you don’t know anything about the “couch” (which can also be a bed) until you arrive at the house, so picky travelers may want to avoid it.

Website | iOS | Android

Summary:  Well used app that helps you meet people for almost any reason you can think of.

If meeting people with similar interests is your idea of a good time, then Meetup is the app for you.

This app connects people who share passions and hobbies. 

From training for a marathon, to practicing a l anguage , to having deep conversations about philosophy, Meetup is one of the most incredible tools for people looking for friends in a new area. Especially in big cities like Berlin, London and Tokyo! You could join a different Meetup every single day of the week.

Women who code? Yep.

Solo travelers in Amsterdam? For sure.

Fellow travel photographers ? Absolutely. It’s all there!

Make sure you read the description of each Meetup group before you join. Some of them require you to bring an item, pay a fee or just read something beforehand.

The only downside here is that it’s not geared specifically for travelers, so you’re most likely to meet locals here.

Summary:  Easy to use app for women travelers to connect with other women on the road.

This app is reserved for female travelers, so it can provide a safe way to meet other female travelers with on the road. It’s worth knowing that the app verifies the users to increase safety. 

Once you download the app, you create a profile, list a destination and then start making connections with other women. 

You can use the app before you leave or while you’re in the middle of an epic backpacking trip.

I’ve heard from friends that sometimes, the number of people using the app can be low in the off season, so it’s probably better to use it in the high season.

Summary:  Trusted groups for locating fellow travelers and travel advice.

Initially, the Facebook app may seem more suited to staying in touch with loved ones back home than to making friends in new cities.

But Facebook Groups are incredible tools for meeting people around the world.

Before hopping on a plane, find a Facebook group targeted toward travelers with your needs and interests.

For example, if you’re a solo female traveler, join Girls LOVE Travel® and meet other women who will be traveling to the same location.

Want to get even more specific? Try Facebook groups such as South America Travel with Kids or Chat food travel in TW (Taiwan) .

Facebook groups are incredible assets for meeting people in different cities. These groups are filled with posts and invitations to local events, where you can meet tons of fellow explorers.

Here are some other popular Facebook groups to check out before (or while) you travel:

• Ultimate Travel Group : a large community for travelers and travel bloggers
• Explorer by Nomads : an expansive travel group that emphasizes digital work
• Travel Community : almost 200,000 members coming together for travel advice and connections
• Photographers & Travel Nomads : travel group focusing on making connections between travel photographs and digital nomads
• Backpacking Europe : if you’re backpacking around Europe, join this group to meet others who are, too
• Southeast Asia Backpacker Community : if you’re backpacking around Southeast Asia, this is a very effective group for meeting other travelers
• Backpacking South America : this group is the same as the previous two, but for South America
• Solo Female Travelers : just like the name implies, solo women travelers can connect with others easily in this group

If you don’t feel like downloading a bunch of apps, don’t worry! There are lots of other ways you can meet fellow travelers.

It may seem like common sense, but if you want to meet locals, it helps to know their language. Sure, wherever you go you may find people who know some English. But if you really want to interact with locals as you travel, learn the local language.

You might find yourself picking up the language through sheer immersion—that is, just by being surrounded by the language.

Give yourself a boost with a language learning program like FluentU . This immersion program will prepare you for real spoken languages since it teaches through authentic videos like movie clips, music videos, vlogs and more.

Watch videos to pick up on vocabulary that you might encounter on your travels like food and local customs. You can save vocabulary directly from videos and study them through personalized quizzes that also let you practice pronunciation with speaking questions.

FluentU is available in 10 languages, and has an iOS and Android app, so it can come on your travels with you.

Keep an open mind when you meet people abroad. Don’t judge them based on your preconceptions of their culture, race or gender. The entire point of traveling is to open your mind, right?

The best thing about meeting people abroad is that you probably wouldn’t have met anyone like them back home. Differences in age, style, music preferences and many other tiny details are easily forgotten when you both share a passion for traveling and experience adventures together.

There are interesting people in hostels, cafes, stores and shopping malls. Make sure you keep an open mind so you can spot them.

Going on guided tours is a great way to both learn about the culture and meet fellow travelers. And since those travelers on the same tour you are, they probably have similar interests! That makes tours a convenient way to meet people.

Take a food market tour in Taiwan . Or a walking tour of historic Sydney. Or a bike tour around New York City.

Mutual interests are the glue of new friendships.

There’s something magical about the common area of a nice hostel.

Everyone there is open to making new friends. You all always have something in common, even if it’s just that you’re travelers to this new city. Because of this connection, small parties and hang-outs often form in the common area.

And more often than not, hanging out in the common room leads to an adventure. It’s not unusual for groups to end up going out together, experiencing the city as new friends.

Even if staying in a shared room isn’t your taste, you can still look for private rooms in a hostel. In the end, you can have the best of both worlds: the privacy of a solo room and the social aspect of the common area.

Meeting people around the world with similar interests has never been easier, thanks for these apps and recommendations.

You won’t just finish your trip with new friends. You’ll also have new experiences and a ton of stories to share.

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World travelers gave up everything to see 92 countries and counting: 'Why not?'

A married couple who were once based in Florida set their sights on traveling the world during their retirement — and they’re off and doing just that. 

Bev and John Martin retired in 2020. They decided to start "small" on their travel adventures by road tripping around the United States first.

The pair purchased an Airstream trailer and made it their mission to mark every state off their bucket list — something they proudly accomplished.

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The Martins, who now run a blog called Retirement Travelers, decided to take things to the next level after that. 

They sold their home, donated items to charity and gave things to their children and more, all to travel the world. 

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"We thought, ‘Why not go see the world?’" John Martin told SWNS.

The couple, who are grandparents, said they got rid of everything, including the Airstream that took them around the U.S. — but kept their golf clubs, as noted on Retirement Travelers.

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With five children and eight grandchildren to consider leaving behind, the Martins told SWNS that their children were extremely supportive of their big decision. 

"I think our children are excited for us to live out our best lives," Bev said. 

She continued, "I hope we are setting a good example for them that things don’t matter, items don’t matter."

At the age of just 60 and 61, John and Bev Martin left behind Stuart, Florida, for a life of backpacking across the globe. 

So far, the pair have gone to Morocco, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Sweden, Ireland, Chile, Uruguay — and dozens more locations.

A 2024 BUCKET LIST FOR SOLO TRAVELERS WHO STILL SEEK ADVENTURE AND GLOBAL TOURISM

Thanks to years of saving money and living within their means, the Martins have been traveling around the world since Nov. 2021. 

The retired travelers said on their blog that they normally stay in an Airbnb or hotel for between four and seven days before moving on to another spot. 

"As we age, we anticipate slowing down a bit, but at this time, we are healthy enough to move about, and because we carry so little in our backpacks, it is not difficult to move on down the road when we choose," the couple wrote on their blog. 

The pair, now 92 countries into their excursion, said they come home to see their family twice a year but have met new friends through their travels. 

"We are happy to report [that] we make new friends all the time, and we are blessed beyond measure to have dear friends who support our dream and encourage us to go while we can," they said.

They said Ukraine was one of the most memorable spots they’ve visited, as John Martin’s grandfather came to the United States from Ukraine in the early 1900s — but was never able to return, as SWNS reported. 

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"It was important to me to fulfill his unfinished dream of returning, [and] it felt so incredible to cross the border not knowing when we might get to return," he recalled. 

John Martin told Fox News Digital on Friday, March 29, that he and his wife are currently in Cape Town, South Africa , and are headed on a safari beginning the week of April 1 — something they've always dreamed of doing. 

He noted that one stop was the most surprising: Guatemala. 

"The landscape is incredible at Lake Atitlán, and so many people cautioned us not to go because of safety, [but] we had a wonderful visit and the people were so gracious," he said. 

When asked what the couple might miss most about the United States, John Martin said a simple, home-cooked meal — plus Cracker Barrel. 

"Usually when we land back in the States, you can find us at the nearest Cracker Barrel ordering a veggie platter and a large glass of tea, " he said. 

He joked that "being called ‘Sweetie’ by the waitress is the welcome we need."

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle .

Original article source: World travelers gave up everything to see 92 countries and counting: 'Why not?'

A taste of Hong Kong

If you have 36 hours to explore, here’s how to experience the incense-filled neighborhoods, thought-provoking art and hilltop views of this glittering, international metropolis

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In director Wong Kar-wai’s nostalgic films about neon-tinged 1960s Hong Kong, characters yearn for loves lost. Today, many Hong Kongers are looking at their city with a similar longing as the Chinese territory (handed over by the British colonizers in 1997) undergoes a tumultuous political transformation.

After giant pro-democracy protests in 2019, an ongoing crackdown on speech and dissent has dismantled civil society groups and set off a wave of emigration. Famous restaurants shuttered under pandemic restrictions, and locals are flocking to small businesses operating as they did generations ago, not knowing when these living relics could also disappear. It is a meaningful time to visit this glittering, international metropolis in a moment of collective soul-searching, as residents take stock of diminished freedoms, vanishing landmarks and what still makes the city special.

3:30 p.m. | Visit historic shops

Travel back in time in Sheung Wan , a charming neighborhood where traditional stores sell tea and spices, just as they did more than a century ago, when the city was a colonial trading outpost. One shop, Cheung Hing Tea Hong , sells a variety of Chinese, European and Ceylon black teas, as well as coffee beans. Its tea master, who has worked there for more than six decades, nimbly folds and tucks the shop’s signature tea variety, tieguanyin (about 160 Hong Kong dollars, or $20.50, for 150 grams), into an artful, palm-size paper package , using no tape or string. Midway down a wide outdoor stairway, Yuan Heng Spice Co. offers all manner of spices, including Sichuan peppercorns, cinnamon bark and aged citrus peels. The shop’s majestic cats are neighborhood fixtures. (Check out @hongkonghistoricalshops on Instagram for more gems.)

5 p.m. | Search for a speakeasy

The handling of colonial-era buildings, which can be painful reminders of oppression, is fraught in Hong Kong. One reimagined site is Tai Kwun , a 19th-century prison and police station in the city center, which was converted into a public arts compound in 2018. Make a game of seeking out 001 , a speakeasy behind an unmarked black door, hidden in a maze of walkways (Tai Kwun employees will help you find it, if you ask). Once you’re inside, reward yourself for the search with an Earl Grey martini (158 dollars). At Tai Kwun Contemporary , the art gallery in the complex, the exhibition “Green Snake: Women-Centred Ecologies” (free, runs through April 1) explores mythology amid the climate crisis through the lens of 30 female artists. Use Tai Kwun’s app for self-guided tours of the compound. Some focus on architecture; others highlight the best spots for photos.

7:30 p.m. | Eat in an ex-warehouse

For a refined Chinese dinner near Tai Kwun, head to the Fringe Club , a performing arts space in an oval brick building that served as a dairy warehouse in the 19th century. Ascend neon-lit stairs to reach its restaurant, Nove at the Fringe , where you can order watermelon in a numbing mala chile sauce (65 dollars) and honey-glazed char siu pork (165 dollars, half portion). Afterward, go to Penicillin , a sustainable cocktail bar that ferments food scraps in its “stinky room” and invents new drinks in its laboratory using unlikely ingredients such as cacao husks, soy sauce and charred chive sprigs (cocktails from 125 dollars). The name of Lockdown , a new bar from the same owners, refers to Hong Kong’s pandemic restrictions, and the offerings include experimental versions of American Prohibition-era cocktails (from 120 dollars) served in an elegant space (in spite of the toilet displayed in its front window).

10 a.m. | Enjoy a teahouse

Begin your morning with a stroll past ponds full of koi, turtles and water lilies at Hong Kong Park , a family-friendly, 20-acre green space converted from British army barracks. On the ground floor of Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware , a Greek Revival mansion in the park where the commander of British forces in Hong Kong once lived, is LockCha , a tranquil teahouse with dark wood accents and elegant grooved panels. Choose from more than 100 kinds of white, yellow and green tea (starting at 58 dollars; customers order their own pot). Vegetarian dim sum options are limited in Hong Kong, so LockCha’s fully vegetarian menu is a rare treat. Try the black truffle vegan siu mai (48 dollars, two pieces), steamed custard buns (35 dollars, two pieces) and the black fungus salad with sesame sauce (48 dollars).

12:30 p.m. | Explore bold art

See one of the world’s largest collections of contemporary Chinese art at M+ , a museum that opened in 2021 amid pandemic restrictions (entry, 120 dollars). Shaped like a giant inverted T, the 700,000-square-foot museum has more than 8,000 works in its permanent collection. Even with the ongoing crackdown on free expression, the museum offers bold and nuanced critiques: The satirical installation “Old People’s Home,” by Sun Yuan and Peng Yu, shows life-size wax figures resembling world leaders riding in motorized wheelchairs and colliding into one another. Some artists capture political disillusionment in China, such as in Fang Lijun’s large painting of a man sinking into azure water. The museum also has a library lounge devoted to video works . Visit the rooftop garden for an expansive view of the harbor front.

3 p.m. | Follow the incense

Stroll or take a taxi to Yau Ma Tei , a former fishing port where shops still sell incense and wood sculptures originally used by fishermen in rituals to protect them. Start at Tai On Coffee and Tea Shop , a classic Cantonese diner with cheery yellow walls and decor that pays homage to famous diner scenes in Hong Kong films, like with a cardboard cutout of actor Maggie Cheung’s character from Wong Kar-wai’s film “In the Mood for Love.” Try the egg tart set (58 dollars); they come in several unorthodox flavors. The owner has commissioned illustrated maps of the historic shops nearby, available at no charge. Nearby, Cheung Shing Fans Factory sells incense sticks and essential oils (300 dollars per vial) and pricey sandalwood fans. See the artisans at Kwok Kee Wood Ware Sculpture who often sit outside the shop, carving and painting figures traditionally used by fishing families for ancestor worship.

4:30 p.m. | Hit a creative district

Sham Shui Po is a wholesale garment district that has been transformed into a creative hub where you might stumble on vintage toy shops, a vinyl trove or an umbrella repair stall . Visit Parallel Space , a small independent gallery that shows emerging Hong Kong artists who don’t shy away from social commentary. On the third floor of an old building, Book Punch is an independent store whose selection includes literary fiction, poetry and children’s books on emotional intelligence; staff members thank their customers by giving them vegetables or snacks . Bound Kowloon is a lively, neon-lit coffee shop and bar known for its rebellious spirit and bonhomie. It also hosts concerts ranging from punk rock to jazz. Take some time out there with a warm shochu-and-ginger cocktail called a Sunday Morning (108 dollars).

6 p.m. | Take a short night hike

Go on an easy urban hike and be rewarded by a view of the sunset from Garden Hill . Starting near the YHA Mei Ho Youth Hostel in Shek Kip Mei, a neighborhood near Sham Shui Po, ascend the stairs (it takes about 10 minutes) until you reach a flat concrete area with a grove of trees at the edge of the hill. From there, you’ll spot candy-colored residences, including Shek Kip Mei Estate, Hong Kong’s first public housing complex, among taller towers. In contrast to the skyline of glitzy skyscrapers seen from Victoria Peak, a hill popular with tourists, this view conjures an image of Hong Kong’s working-class resilience. Garden Hill is well known but not overly crowded; it’s popular among photographers and young couples on dates.

8:30 p.m. | Order clay pot rice

Hong Kong is hot and humid for the greater part of the year, but in the winter long lines form outside Hing Kee at Temple Street (there are several restaurants with this name in Hong Kong), a no-frills restaurant that specializes in clay pot rice, a comforting dish cooked over a charcoal fire with aromatic toppings like Chinese sausage and seafood (starting at around 60 dollars, cash only). Pour a generous amount of sweet soy sauce and enjoy the satisfying crunch of the rice at the edge of the pot. Although the semi-outdoor restaurant sprawls across five storefronts, you can still expect a wait during peak meal times; the turnover is relatively fast.

9 a.m. | Ride a ferry to an island

Spend half a day exploring Sharp Island , a tranquil sanctuary northeast of Hong Kong’s center that offers verdant hiking trails, volcanic rocks and pristine beaches. Other destinations like Lamma Island and Cheung Chau Island are more accessible, but Sharp Island’s beauty and relative privacy make the 60- to 90-minute journey worth it. At the public pier in Sai Kung (15 miles from the city center, accessible by public transport), find a private boat operator going to Sharp Island (tickets around 40 dollars) then pick up pineapple buns at Sai Kung Cafe and Bakery (13 dollars, cash only) as you wait to board. Get off at the Hap Mun Bay stop and follow the signs for the hiking trail to Kiu Tsui Beach. Along the trail, look for small ceramic sculptures inspired by the island from the Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival. When the tide is low, cross the Sharp Island Sand Levee, a path filled with monzonite boulders nicknamed “pineapple bun” rocks for their resemblance to the crust of the local pastry. It’s the perfect spot to break out those treats you brought along.

Sheung Wan , a neighborhood dating to the mid-19th century, abounds with old shops selling tea and spices alongside some of the city’s trendiest cafes. bit.ly/SheungWan-map

Tai Kwun is a former colonial prison compound that has been restored and converted to a public art complex with galleries, restaurants, bars and outdoor performance spaces. taikwun.hk/en

M+ , a major art museum that opened during the pandemic, holds one of the world’s most extensive collections of contemporary Chinese art and offers expansive views of the harbor from its rooftop. mplus.org.hk/en

Sharp Island is a verdant coastal area with easy hiking trails, pristine beaches surrounded by aquamarine waters and volcanic rocks. bit.ly/Sharp-Island

WHERE TO EAT

001 , a speakeasy-style bar hidden in the Tai Kwun complex, serves cocktails like Earl Grey martinis. instagram.com/001.hk

Penicillin creates innovative cocktails from unlikely ingredients like cacao husks and soy sauce. penicillinbar.com

Lockdown serves drinks inspired by the American Prohibition era. instagram.com/lockdown_hk

Nove at the Fringe is an upscale restaurant in a landmark building serving classic Cantonese food with high-quality ingredients. novehk.com/fringeclub

LockCha is a serene teahouse where you can linger over vegetarian dim sum and many cups of tea. lockcha.com/locations/hong-kong-park

Tai On Coffee and Tea Shop is a cafe that serves Cantonese diner classics with a twist, with paintings and cutout figures that pay homage to scenes in beloved Hong Kong films. bit.ly/TaiOnCoffeeTea

Hing Kee Restaurant serves aromatic rice dishes cooked in clay pots over a charcoal fire. bit.ly/HingKee

Bound Kowloon is a neon-lit coffee shop and bar with a countercultural spirit. instagram.com/boundkowloon

WHERE TO STAY

Regent Hong Kong , formerly the Intercontinental Hong Kong, reopened in November. Its restaurants include Nobu and Lai Ching Heen , which has two Michelin stars. Rooms start at 4,500 Hong Kong dollars, or about $576. hongkong.regenthotels.com

The Hari is a stylish hotel with a lounge filled with art books. Rooms, which have ample natural light, start at around $1,900. thehari.com

Eaton HK has a cinema, an art gallery, a Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant, a large food court and a rooftop bar. Rooms start at around $900. https://bit.ly/Eatonhotel

May is a New York Times reporter covering Hong Kong, where she was born and raised.

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9 things to know when taking a taxi overseas.

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Illuminated Taxi Signs on Maximilian street, Close up, Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Culture shock can affect your life in unexpected ways when you move overseas. Something as innocuous as taking a taxi can suddenly become a stressful experience.

Country to country, the protocols for hailing a taxi, arranging payment (whether you negotiate a price with the driver beforehand or use the meter), how you travel (whether you’ll be the sole passenger or the driver will pick up more passengers en route), and more can vary.

Navigating these differences while staying safe and getting a fair price as you journey from A to B can be complex. While well-traveled folks might advise you to avoid taking a taxi overseas altogether, sometimes they’re the only option.

Here are some guidelines to help make the most of taking a taxi overseas.

#1 - Make Sure The Meter Works

Every country has a different approach to pricing taxi rides.

Most North Americans are used to taxi meters, which determine prices by measuring time and distance covered. Rates vary from area to area.

In much of the rest of the world, taxi meters are not a given. Even if you’re in a country that has them, they may not be working properly.

It’s good practice to check with the driver when you get in his taxi and then verify yourself that it’s working.

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The alternative—assuming the meter works properly—can land you in a situation where the driver just charges whatever he wants on arrival, and it usually won’t be a fair price.

#2 - Research The Average Fares

Getting a ballpark idea of how much you should spend on the average taxi ride in the place that you’re visiting can help you avoid being ripped off.

Instead of using the meter, some cities assign flat rates for specific routes. In Medellín, Colombia, for example, a ride from the José María Córdoba International Airport to the city center always costs 110,000 Colombian pesos (about $28).

Most taxi drivers here won’t try to get more out of you, but it’s good to know the flat rate in case one does.

In other cities, like Panama City, Panama, the price of the journey is determined through a negotiation between you and the driver. Ask around to find out roughly how much you should pay to go from neighborhood to neighborhood.

#3 - Decide On The Price Before You Get In

If you have to negotiate your fare with the driver, make sure you come to an agreement before getting in their taxi.

If you look different from the average person from that country or don’t speak the local language well, there’s a good chance that the driver will inflate the price drastically (what we refer to as “gringo pricing” in Latin America).

Don’t accept a ride or get into a taxi without knowing the driver’s fee, in case he plans on charging a ridiculous amount. I’ve heard stories of drivers becoming aggressive if the passenger tries to negotiate at the point of arrival at their destination.

When negotiating the price, if you’re not sure how much you should pay, start by cutting the driver’s suggested amount in half. Have a maximum amount in mind that you’re not willing to go beyond.

If the driver doesn’t like your price, he’ll simply move on, and you’ll catch the next taxi.

#4 - Will You Be The Sole Passenger?

In North America, we take it for granted that we’ll be the sole passenger on any taxi journey and travel straight from the place where we were picked up to the place we want to go.

This isn’t always the case overseas. Don’t be surprised if you’re taking a taxi in South Africa, Panama, or Greece, for instance, and the driver pulls over several times en route to pick up more passengers.

Shared taxis are common around the world. In Latin America, they’re often called colectivos .

Fares are usually lower than they are for private journeys, but be aware that they are slower-going (as the driver detours to drop everyone off), and you’ll share the taxi’s space with strangers.

#5 - Decide What Safety Level You’re Comfortable With

Different countries have different standards when it comes to car safety. In some countries, car safety is non-existent or not enforced.

Safety features like seatbelts, air bags, anti-lock breaking systems, and so on are not a given in any taxi overseas.

Old cars that have been patched together with duct tape, ropes, and bungee cords are not uncommon. I’ve been in taxis that are so rundown, you can see the asphalt through holes in the floor.

Poor safety standards in cars is an unfortunate reality in much of the developing world. As a passenger, you have to decide what level of risk you’re willing to accept before you get into a taxi.

#6 - Beware Of Over-Solicitous Taxi Drivers

Taxi drivers tend to be well-connected. If you want to do something, they can arrange it for you. If you want to buy something in particular, they can source it for you.

Many drivers double as tour guides. I’ve had taxi drivers try to sell me tours, for instance, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. This is common in Latin America.

Being upsold a tour, experience, or knickknack isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You can get great deals and have amazing experiences this way.

But it’s good to be aware of the possibility of a sales pitch so that you’re not caught off-guard.

#7 - Have Cash In Small Bills Handy

Don’t assume that you can pay by credit or debit card in any taxi overseas. Cash is still king across most of the world.

If you’re paying in cash, it’s a good idea to have a handful of small bills available. If you hand the driver a large bill, they may assume you can pay more than you need to or conveniently not have the correct change.

Also, you should keep the bills you’ll use to pay for the ride separate from the rest of your money to avoid flashing everyone else in the car how much cash you’re carrying. Opportunists are everywhere.

In Panama, for instance, getting robbed as the result of having taken a taxi is sadly common. Even locals prefer using an alternative to a yellow cab in Panama because of this.

#8 - Keep Your Window Rolled Up

Safety levels vary from destination to destination, but it’s a good idea to stay vigilant no matter where you’re visiting and to keep your window rolled up.

In Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, it’s common for thieves on motorcycles to snatch valuables—purses left on seats, phones from hands—from open car windows.

This can happen anywhere, but it’s especially common in tourist-heavy cities with lots of traffic. Even if it’s hot and the car doesn’t have air conditioning (which is common), you should still leave your window up.

#9 - Make Sure You’re Getting The Ride You Want

Ride-hailing apps have proliferated across the world. Do a little research to see what’s used locally—whether it’s one of the brand-name apps or a local equivalent.

Many people, locals and tourists alike, prefer to use ride-hailing apps over regular taxis because they’re generally safer. Any journey you take will be logged in the app’s system, and the driver will have a track record that you can check out beforehand.

Apps can also help you avoid being ripped off because they base prices on factors like the distance you want to travel and the time of day you request a ride, rather than what you look like or whether you have an accent.

Many regular taxi drivers also work for the apps, so make sure the details of the driver who picks you match the information displayed on the app.

It’s not uncommon for taxi drivers to call out things like “Uber” or “Lyft” to lure unsuspecting passengers who think they correspond to one of the apps.

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Writing by Lisa Shumaker; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Bill Berkrot

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Lisa's journalism career spans two decades, and she currently serves as the Americas Day Editor for the Global News Desk. She played a pivotal role in tracking the COVID pandemic and leading initiatives in speed, headline writing and multimedia. She has worked closely with the finance and company news teams on major stories, such as the departures of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and significant developments at Apple, Alphabet, Facebook and Tesla. Her dedication and hard work have been recognized with the 2010 Desk Editor of the Year award and a Journalist of the Year nomination in 2020. Lisa is passionate about visual and long-form storytelling. She holds a degree in both psychology and journalism from Penn State University.

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