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Is an RTW Trip for Me?

Whether an RTW trip is appropriate for a given traveler

depends on a variety of factors, some of which are

characteristics and abilities of the traveler himself, and

others which result from the circumstances currently

applicable in that traveler’s professional or personal life.

Characteristics and Abilities of the Traveler

The following characteristics may be signs that someone would benefit ideally from RTW travel:

Someone with a history or signs of wanderlust. Wanderlust is “a desire or impulse to travel and to explore the world.” Some people enjoy travel and taking on new adventures; others prefer to stay in familiar environments as much as they can.

Someone who thrives on learning new things or trying new experiences.

Someone who enjoys people. It can be quite lonely when traveling alone - not! No matter where you travel in the world, you will meet other RTW travelers. It is a phenomenon I have yet fully to understand. One fellow traveler put it to me this way - if you buy a Honda, suddenly you will notice all the other Hondas using the highways and motorways you are familiar with. You may not have noticed them before, but they were there. While some travelers may enjoy being alone most or all of the time, there are others who often like to be around friends. To them I say, do not be concerned about being away for so long. You will make new and even close friends along the way.

Someone in acceptable physical condition. Enduring long-haul flights, participating in physical activities in countries where safety standards may not be as extensive as one’s own, and eating food which contains bacteria unfamiliar to one’s body require a person who is in decent physical shape. That is not to say that someone must be a gym bunny or run half-marathons in order to consider RTW travel. But it is to say that someone should be able to get a “clean bill of health” from a doctor before embarking on such a trip. It also is not to say that those with physical limitations (such as a missing limb, or blindness) should not consider RTW travel. There are outfits which not only encourage those with such limitations to travel, but go so far as to sponsor trips and help with bookings. As a starting point for gathering information about how to travel with a disability or disablement, check out http://www.globalaccessnews.com.

Someone who is adaptable to new ways of doing things. In many parts of the world, silverware is not used when eating. And, to be quite blunt, in many parts of the world bathrooms can be quite daunting. Those sorts of cultural differences and inconveniences are not for everyone. A successful RTW traveler has an ability and willingness to adapt to new ways of doing things, knowing that there is far greater reward in the personal experience to be gained than the effort which needs to be expended to adapt.

Someone who communicates well with loved ones and friends. A successful RTW journey winds down with a successful completion of one’s planned travels and one’s reestablishment of routines needed to function in their home culture. It is natural to miss loved ones and friends while on an extended trip overseas, but it is also extremely important to maintain close connections with them while gone. The RTW traveler who is truly on top of his game will have planned specific ways of and criteria for communicating with their loved ones. During the course of one’s travels, one may not be able to be present for the birth of a niece or nephew, or one may even miss the wedding of a close friend. It is important to be at such occasions in mind and spirit, if not in body. What’s more, it is always nice to receive words of support and encouragement from those same loved ones during one’s journey.

Circumstances in The Traveler’s Professional or Personal Life

The following are some of the circumstances which may need to be taken into account when deciding on whether an RTW trip is appropriate for a prospective traveler:

Marital, family, or other relationship status of the prospective traveler and what it means to them. Every potential RTW traveler must determine their own limits at which point the responsibilities of day-to-day life can no longer be subordinated to their travel plan. A traveler may feel comfortable leaving children with in-laws for a month or two, but no longer. That may require him or her to cut corners from their ideal travel plan, or, in some casers, may eliminate the viability of any travel plan whatsoever. Another traveler may have a significant amount of annual vacation holidays as opposed to his or her spouse, who may have only a few. The ability of such a person to travel RTW will depend directly on the dynamics of the relationship concerned.

Work and educational obligations. Someone enrolled full-time at university or someone who is under contract professionally would not be advised to leave on an RTW trip until such obligations have been satisfied. While there is much to be gained in one’s future from the experiences of RTW travel, there are also ramifications to not fulfilling one’s obligations beforehand. It is important to have no regrets upon one’s return home after traveling.

Someone who has recently lost a job or otherwise become unemployed. To a traveler who either expectedly or unexpectedly finds themselves in these circumstances I say, feel confident in your future. If a job is terminated unexpectedly, it is natural for many people to react with fear by trying to find another job as soon as possible. If that describes you, try taking some time to evaluate your personal and financial situation vis-à-vis where you stand among other milestones in your life. This may sound like patronizing advice at first, but it is not - consider viewing the loss of a job as an opportunity, not an obstacle. It is a rare and golden opportunity to embark on an RTW trip!

The nest has recently been vacated. The RTW travel bug is known to bite when the last child to move out of the family home actually does so.

Recent graduation. The time between graduation from a planned course of study and starting professional employment is perfect for RTW travel. Now that I think about it, why not take the bull by its horns and plan to make that intervening amount of time sufficient for your first Earthly circumnavigation. You deserve it.

To sum up, if you are someone who enjoys travel, and if your personal and professional circumstances allow you to take some time to explore, then go for it! You will thank yourself the rest of your life.