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Cultural Differences in How RTW Trips Are Viewed

When you arrive home, you will encounter a variety of reactions from others about your trip.

Some people will wonder “what you were looking for”; others will assume that you must be a high roller who was out to kill some time; and others yet will recognize your accomplishment for what it was - you’ve done something almost everyone would like to do, and you took the opportunity when you had it.

In my travel experience, and in the experience of many other travelers, it seems that there are a disproportionate number of RTW travelers from Canada, The U.K., Germany and Australia. I’m not sure if those cultures are more open to the concept, or if more people in those countries are aware of how affordable and practical an RTW trip can be simply because more people will know someone who actually has gone on one.

The opinions of others may seem unimportant, but they can come into play when looking for a new residence or job. That is where cultural differences come into play. If you are from a place where RTW travel is less common, you may get a more scrutinous eye when applying for a job or apartment. When I returned to New York from my first RTW trip, I was told by one recruiter that “it wouldn’t be an easy sell” and by that he was referring to the fact that I had forgone a year of professional work for travel.

If you find yourself in similar circumstances, my advice is to hang in there. You will be recognized by some people along the way for your unique experience, and you will find new opportunities because of it.