The decision to travel the world has been made and planning begins. But how far in advance should you start planning and when should you tackle which planning step?
On our overview page of world travel planning you will already find the most important planning points for your own world trip. Here we want to give you a rough overview of when and how far in advance you should tackle which planning point of the preparation so that nothing stands in the way of your world trip.
Of course, planning a trip around the world is also possible in less time, but we think that a year in advance is a very good basis for planning and preparing everything in a relaxed manner in addition to your job or study. At each planning point you will also find our corresponding article for more details.
12 MONTHS UNTIL THE WORLD TOUR
You noticed that you are drawn to the world and the decision to travel the world has been made. Now it is time to start the first planning steps:
CALCULATION OF THE WORLD TRIP COSTS AND SAVINGS:
Of course, at the beginning you want to know what you are getting yourself into, what such a trip around the world costs and what amount you have to reckon with for your break. And on the point of “saving” we are certainly in agreement: You can’t start early enough!
- Calculate costs for the world trip and save!
- Save again and feed the world travel fund!
DECISION: QUIT, SABBATICAL OR TIME OFF AFTER GRADUATION
If you are planning a trip around the world after your studies or school, the point is quickly ticked off. If you are in an employment relationship, you should think at the beginning of the planning whether you want to quit your job for the world trip or maybe negotiate a sabbatical. In the event of termination, you should of course observe your notice period and, in the event of a sabbatical, follow up early enough.
TERMINATION OF CURRENT CONTRACTS
Go through: Which contracts can you cancel? What are the notice periods? Do you still have the gym subscription? Magazine subscriptions? What do you do with the internet connection? Take your time through and make a list of all of these things and by when you should quit.
6 MONTHS UNTIL THE WORLD TRIP
Half a year until your world tour begins. It’s not the “hot phase” yet, but at the latest now you should start to take care of the first major organizational issues of the world trip or at least initiate them.
SUBLETTING, TERMINATING OR SELLING AN APARTMENT
There are various options for your apartment during the world tour. You can sublet, terminate or even sell them. Here, of course, you have to keep an eye on the notice period, clarify with the landlord whether subletting is permitted during the world tour and whether any renovation work is pending or furniture has to be sold / stored before it starts.
DE-REGISTER OR SELL A CAR
If you don’t have a car, jump straight to the next point. Otherwise, you should clarify whether you want to sell your car before the trip around the world and let your travel budget grow, leave it to a friend or family or simply cancel it and store it somewhere.
TERMINATE CONTRACTS
We already mentioned the point above. But by now you should really take a look at your contracts and shut down everything as early as possible that you will not use or need during the world trip.
TRAVEL VACCINATIONS
Of course, this is always a personal decision as to whether to resort to vaccination or not. If you want to be vaccinated for your trip around the world, you should make an appointment with the tropical doctor almost 6 months in advance, as some vaccinations have a certain lead time or multiple injections are necessary.
BOOK FLIGHT, BUS OR TRAIN TICKETS
To make the whole world trip really official, you can slowly start to wonder where to go first! The world is yours! And then it’s best to start looking for the first flight! Or of course the first train or bus ticket. Depending on how you want to start. Maybe you’re starting from home too.
APPLY FOR A PASSPORT
So that there is no stress afterwards or you forget it completely, take care of a valid passport for your planned travel duration with enough free pages in good time. Without a valid passport, all the planning here is in vain in the end.
Apply for passport
APPLY FOR A VISA
For many countries you do not need a visa for entry with a German passport or you can apply for one while traveling around the world. In a few countries, such as China, you should take care of it in advance and allow enough processing time.
2-3 MONTHS BEFORE WORLD TOUR
It is slowly becoming worthwhile to count the days until the trip around the world! Whohoo! Three months until your adventure of life and the perfect time to check or plan the following things again:
TERMINATION OF THE JOB
If you want to quit your job for the world tour, now may be time to print out the resignation and make it official:
- Hand in the notice of termination at work
Note:
In the event that you do not have a credit card for your trip, it can be advantageous to apply for one while you are at a job. Your application will be accepted sooner and you may receive a higher credit limit on the card.
- The best free credit cards for a trip around the world
REPORT TO THE EMPLOYMENT OFFICE
Once the notice of termination is out, you have to report to the employment office as soon as possible so as not to lose your entitlement to unemployment benefit. A simple and clear summary of the somewhat complicated topic here:
- All information about the correct deregistration at the employment office before the trip around the world
APPLICATION FOR AN INTERNATIONAL DRIVER’S LICENSE
Even if you don’t plan to travel by car, camper or moped, you should take care of an international version of your driving license. This way you keep all options open and it only costs a few euros and doesn’t take long!
- Apply for an international driver’s license
APPLYING FOR A (TRAVEL) CREDIT CARD
You can’t get past a credit card on a trip around the world. It’s the best way to get cash anywhere in the world, you can pay larger amounts by card, book flights, rent a car and more. You should take care of it now, as the processing can often take up to four weeks and you may have to contact another provider if you are rejected. You can find the best credit cards for a trip around the world here:
- The best free credit cards for a trip around the world
BOOKING THE FIRST ACCOMMODATION
If you already know where to start, just look around for accommodation. For example, we love spontaneity and never book anything in advance – except for the first accommodation. Because after a long journey you just want to arrive and enjoy being there without thinking about where you will be staying.
START PACKING LIST
Probably one of the funnest points in the whole preparation for the world trip! You can of course only pack your rucksack the evening before departure. We did too. However, you can calmly think about what you need, do a little research and maybe even get presents for birthday / Christmas, etc .. Or maybe you still have enough time to get one or the other bargain. Here you can find our world tour packing list:
- Our complete world tour packing list!
1 MONTH BEFORE WORLD TOUR
WHAT ?! Another 30 days, then it starts! Believe us, you will wonder how fast time was racing! The biggest planning steps for the world trip should already be clarified and now the last little things are still to be dealt with:
FOREIGN HEALTH INSURANCE
Ok, now it’s no small matter, but done quickly! The international health insurance is only a few clicks away, because you can conclude it very conveniently online and you will receive your documents a little later. It is only important that you are still in Germany when you graduate. You should also clarify everything with your local health insurance company. You can find all information and our recommendations for international health insurance and insurance in Germany here:
- The best health insurance for a trip around the world
LIABILITY INSURANCE
Sounds square, but it’s good to have: your liability insurance should ideally be valid worldwide. You never know if you run into a moped in Asia and then damage thirty others in a chain reaction (#MopedDominoDay). Ok, that’s just an example. But it’s best to take a quick look at your current contract documents. You can find all information and our recommendations on the topic here:
- The right liability insurance for a trip around the world
FILING AND REDIRECTING DOCUMENTS / MAIL
Before you leave, you should make sure that you have digital copies of all important documents and that you have someone back home to open your mail for you during the world tour. No matter if friend, family or service provider. More information on the topic here:
- Manage documents and mail during the world tour
CHECK OFF DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS
Having a check-up at the dentist, gynecologist, family doctor and co. Can do no harm. We would also advise you to take a diving suitability test if you want to get a diving license on your trip around the world. We hadn’t done it before the trip, but we want to do it later, as the dangers to health under water should not be underestimated and you usually only notice it when it’s too late. Safe is safe and can’t hurt.
DEREGISTRATION FROM GERMANY
A topic that you should definitely read up on, because no matter how you decide, it has advantages and disadvantages. But you should definitely apply for your international health insurance, credit card, liability insurance, etc. beforehand, as a registration address in Germany is required to complete the services. More information on deregistering from Germany here:
- Information about unsubscribing from Germany
1 WEEK UNTIL THE WORLD TOUR
Meanwhile, the feelings fluctuate between gigantic anticipation, a little fear of all the new adventures and the queasy feeling of saying goodbye to your loved ones. In the ideal case you have nothing more to plan and can enjoy the last week at home, in reality a thousand things will shoot through your head. Nevertheless, there must still be time for the following things:
- Farewell to family and friends
- Farewell party
- packing backpack
1 EVENING UNTIL THE WORLD TOUR
The rucksack is half-packed in the room, the last things will come in quickly tomorrow morning. Lean back and let yourself go on your adventure! We wish you a great time! Enjoy it!
- Our thoughts on the plane on the day of departure
LAST MINUTE CHECKLIST BEFORE YOUR TRIP AROUND THE WORLD
And at the end a short checklist for the last few weeks before the trip around the world. Just go through whether you have thought of everything important:
- Passport, vaccination card, etc. is valid and available?
- Have you copied and scanned important documents?
- You have applied for a free credit card for a trip around the world?
- Account is sufficient?
- Is foreign health insurance taken out?
- Doctor visits checked off?
- Mail has been forwarded?
- First accommodation booked?
Do you have less than 1 year to plan?
No problem. A year is the relaxed luxury situation for planning a trip around the world. But it is also much faster! As long as you can tick off the “last minute checklist” above, nothing stands in the way of your adventure – everything is just a little more compressed.
