Around the World Travel Guide
RTW Guides(642)
The First-time Traveller (1 of 3)
Most first-time long-term travelers burn months of worry on the wrong things. The mugging and the malaria almost never come. Boredom, loneliness, and blowing your budget by week three are what get you. Here's what to plan for, and what to stop losing sleep over.
The First-time Traveller (2 of 3)
Strip round-the-world travel down to what you truly can't leave without and you get three things: a passport, a way to reach your money, and a ticket out. Sort those and you can go. The rest is gear you can buy on the road or live without.
The First-time Traveller (3 of 3)
More stuff makes travel worse, not better. This is the whole packing and gear guide: pack for a week, plan to do laundry, carry a bag under 9 kg, and skip the pile of kit you'll never touch. It ends with a complete list you can pack straight from.
The First-time Traveller (4 of 4)
By Nick O'Neill
The Great Escapade RTW Ticket
Not all round the world tickets are offered by big airline alliances - sometimes it's just a few airlines getting together and coming up with a RTW ticket option for travelers. Such is the case with The Great Escapade - it's a partnership between three airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Singapore Airlines
The Next Question
The State of RTW Travel in 2000
RTW travel in 2000 was dramatically different from 2026 - fewer travelers, slower planning, limited internet, costlier flights, harder accommodation booking, no Instagram documentation, slower information access. Understanding how much has changed helps contextualize both improvements (cheap flights, instant communication, vast resources) and challenges (overcrowding, Instagram tourism). The fundamentals remain unchanged - you still need time, money, and flexibility - but the execution has transformed completely.
The State of RTW Travel in 2012
Declining: iconic RTW experiences have become overtouristed, visa processes in some countries have tightened, and costs have risen substantially. Rising: diverse traveler backgrounds and demographics, remote work options, accessible routes and resources, and alternative destinations gaining popularity. RTW travel in 2026 is simultaneously more accessible (cheap flights, easy bookings) and more challenging (crowding, prices, visa restrictions). Understanding these shifts helps you plan strategically - choosing destinations before they become Instagram saturation points, building in flexibility as geopolitical situations change, and being strategic about timing.
The Ultimate Guide to Coming Home
At some point, the vast majority of RTW travelers end up coming home. Sure, there are some who give up stability for a life of vagabonding. Some RTW travelers love the road so much that they never want to stop traveling, finding ways to stay on the road for an indefinite period of time.
The Worst Part About Reverse Culture Shock
After returning from a RTW trip, everything just seems a bit off. It's odd to be thrown off by everything you grew up with and used to seem familiar to you, but when you return from a RTW trip, everything is just different.