Where do I start if I want to travel the world?

Where to start when traveling the world?

Ugh, world travel. Where do you even start?

Okay, so it was 2022, smack in the middle of…well, you know. I was sitting in my tiny apartment in Brooklyn, staring at a globe. Actually, a cheap plastic one from Amazon. My job at the law firm? Gone. Cue the existential crisis. The goal HAD to be escape, right? Sanity preservation.

Itinerary? That felt overwhelming. I started small. I knew I needed sun, beaches, and cheap beer. Thailand. Perfect. Bangkok was the first ticket I booked. Screw the rest.

Flights and accoms next. Skytrax for the cheapest routes. Hostels! Khao San Road, baby. Think cheap, chaotic, and surprisingly fun. I booked a month. One. Month. Pure terror and excitement.

Organized? Me? Ha! I had a backpack, a prayer, and a phrasebook. That’s about it. My sister, Sarah, kept sending me packing lists. I ignored most of it.

Visas? Thailand didn’t need one for me back then, thank god. One less thing to worry about. I was more concerned about figuring out how to use a squat toilet. Ew. I hated that.

What I learned?

• Just book something. The fear vanishes (mostly).
• Talk to people. Seriously. The best tips come from fellow travelers, not guidebooks. I met this super cool Aussie dude named Dave who told me about this awesome island, Koh Lanta…changed my life.
• Don’t overplan. Leave room for spontaneity.
• Pack light. My back still hates me for that first trip. I mean, seriously.
• Learn a few basic phrases in the local language. It goes a long way. Sawasdee!

And finally, that damn plastic globe? It sits on my desk now. A reminder that the biggest adventures start with the smallest decisions. Travel, it is amazing! It definitely beats being a lawyer.

Where should first time travelers go?

Thailand huh? First timers? Okay.

Thailand, yeah. Bangkok first?

• Bangkok: temples, street food (Pad Thai!), chaotic but…fun?
• Chiang Mai: elephants (ethical sanctuaries only!), peaceful.
• Phuket: beaches, maybe skip it? Crowded.

Is Thailand really that easy though? Language barrier? Naaah. English works mostly.

Cost is low, that’s HUGE for first timers.

Safety? Relatively safe, petty theft, scams maybe. Common sense stuff. Like, don’t leave your bag unattended? Duh.

Why Thailand? It’s…exotic but also…tourist-friendly.

Wait, I went to Rome in 2023! First time in Europe? Loved it. Should I say that instead? Maybe Europe is good too. Italy. Pasta. Gelato. No elephants, though.

Thailand. Yeah, stick with Thailand.

Reasons to pick Thailand

• Budget-friendly
• Good food
• Amazing culture
• Easy to get around

Okay, I’m done.

How to start exploring the world?

Okay, world exploration, huh? That sounds…intense. I’d start small. Real small. Like, a weekend trip to Grandma’s in Poughkeepsie. That counts, right?

Budgeting first. Ugh. Calculate the trip cost. Figure out flights, food, the usual stuff. My sister uses Mint.

Itinerary! Think what I want to see. Eiffel Tower? Pyramids? Nah, maybe a cool bookstore in Portland. More my speed.

Packing! Oh geez, pack essentials only. I always overpack. One pair of jeans? Maybe two. Okay, three. Shoot.

Culture shock. Learn basic phrases. “Hello,” “thank you,” “where’s the bathroom?” in like…Italian, I guess. I can manage that.

• Money: Need funds, duh.
• Destination: Choose carefully.
• Gear: Camera, phone, charger, passport!
• Language: Study key phrases.
• Documents: Copies of everything!

Wait, cultural considerations. I’d google “cultural etiquette in [wherever I go]”. Don’t wanna offend anyone. Also, tipping! Is that a thing everywhere?

It’s overwhelming. Maybe I’ll just stay home and read a book about traveling. That’s basically the same thing, right? Oh, wait, I am actually going to a concert in October, close to my birthday; that counts!

How do beginners start traveling?

Okay, here’s the thing. Starting travel…it’s a mess, but amazing! I remember my first REAL trip, right? Barcelona, 2018. Oops, 2024! I was SO overpacked.

Huge suitcase. Seriously unnecessary. Thought I needed, like, everything. Huge mistake. Now, I’m a carry-on only person.

Packing cubes are LIFE, ya know? Like, seriously. Changed everything.

Then there was the whole “plan every minute” thing. Disaster. Flexibility is key.

• Research beforehand, YES! But…
• Don’t overschedule. Leave room for wandering.

That’s where the real magic happens, like stumbling upon that tiny tapas bar, the best paella ever.

And the people! I was terrified of talking to strangers.

But forcing myself to, even just a “hola,” opened up a whole new world. Learned some crazy stories.

Eat local. Obvi. Tourist traps are just…sad. Real sad.

Like I had this amazing gelato near La Rambla. Okay, maybe a bit touristy. But delicious! But definitely try hidden gems.

Learn some basic phrases. “Por favor” and “gracias” go a long way. Trust me! I tried saying random things but failed.

• Travel light
• Be flexible
• Talk to strangers (safely, of course!)
• Embrace the unexpected.

Oh, and always… ALWAYS… have a backup of important documents. Phone AND paper. Learn from my mistakes, people!

Where is the best place to start travelling?

Thailand! Definitely Thailand. So cheap, right? I spent, like, $50 a day last year, eating street food all the time – Pad Thai overload! But, the islands…wow. Koh Lanta was my fave. So chill. Completely different from Bangkok, which was insane. Too many people!

Okay, next trip…Vietnam? Heard it’s amazing. Or maybe Japan? Always wanted to see cherry blossoms. Though, Japan is pricey, isn’t it? Damn. Decisions, decisions. Need to start saving. Seriously. My bank account is looking…sad.

Back to Thailand though. The temples! Incredible architecture. I visited Wat Arun, it was breathtaking. And the people are super friendly. Always smiling. Even when I butchered their language trying to order mango sticky rice. Should’ve practiced more. Note to self: learn basic Thai phrases before next trip.

• Safety: Thailand is relatively safe for tourists.
• Cost: Very affordable, especially for backpackers.
• Food: Amazing street food. Pad Thai is a must-try!
• Beaches: Stunning beaches on islands like Koh Lanta and Phuket.
• Culture: Rich culture and history, with beautiful temples.

I need a new passport photo. Ugh. Passport renewal process is a hassle. And I really need to figure out travel insurance. That’s a whole other thing. Maybe I should just book another trip to Thailand, before I even think about another country. It’s easier, I guess.

How do I decide where I want to travel?

It’s 3 AM, and the question keeps buzzing. Where should I go? My head’s a mess.

Budget’s the first killer. I’ve got, what, maybe $2000 this year? That cuts a lot out.

Then there’s my soul. History bores me. Nature? I love hikes, but long flights suck. Food, yes, but I can’t afford Michelin stars. Art… museums feel stuffy.

So what’s left?

• A road trip, maybe?
• Somewhere in the US to keep costs down.
• National Parks. Okay, maybe a compromise.

2000 bucks… I need to look at affordable parks. Maybe Zion or Grand Canyon. I’ve always wanted to see the Grand Canyon.

This is exhausting. I feel restless. Maybe I should just stay home. Ugh, no. I need this. I need the escape. Grand Canyon it is. Damn. Flights and gas will eat into that budget quickly.

Next step: dates. September maybe? Fall foliage would be nice.

This sucks, but fine. Grand Canyon. It’s decided. Planning starts now.

How much money do you need to explore the world?

Dude, exploring the world? That costs, like, whatever you want it to. Seriously.

It’s all about how you wanna do it. You could be super cheap…

• $50-75 a day, maybe. Roughing it, hostels and street food, ya know?
• That’s like, $4500-$6750 for 3 months.
• Visas can be killers tho!

Or you could go all out, luxury style. My aunt Carol does that…

• Think $500+ a day. Hotels, fancy restaurants.
• Easily over $50,000 for a year. Like, duh!
• Flights alone could bankrupt you. I remember going to France in 2022; it was $$$!

Don’t forget activities. Museums, tours, bungee jumping, whatever. So yeah, depends on what you want out of traveling.