# Our checklist to prepare a round-the-world trip If you've made it this far and have read all the previous chapters of the [e-book,](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/plan-a-round-the-world-trip/) you now know all the important things to prepare for your world tour and embark on the adventure of a lifetime. In this final chapter, we’ve created a **travel checklist** or **summary** for you, outlining all the key steps in preparing for a world tour, starting from a year before your departure date up to the big day itself. After this, you’ll have no more excuses not to go on trip around the world! ;) ![checklist before traveling around the world](https://www.novo-monde.com/app/uploads/2024/10/checklist-voyage-1024x680.jpg) Table of contents 1. [Have you set your departure date?](#departure-date) 2. [1 year from the start of your RTW trip](#1-year) 3. [9 months before departure](#9-months) 4. [6 months before departure](#6-months) 5. [3 months before departure](#3-months) 6. [1 month before departure](#1-month) 7. [2 weeks before departure](#2-weeks) 8. [1 week before departure](#1-week) 9. [The day before you leave to travel](#the-day-before) 10. [The travel checklist before going around the world](#download-the-travel-checklist) 11. [The last word](#last-word) The ebook to plan your round-the-world trip![our guide to plan your round-the-world trip](https://www.novo-monde.com/app/uploads/2019/05/travel-around-the-world-225x300.jpg) You are currently reading **the eight and final chapter of our free ebook *How to travel the world***, in which you will find all the necessary advice and preparations for your trip around the world! In addition to [the version on the blog](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/plan-a-round-the-world-trip/), there is a PDF version to read it peacefully on your computer, smartphone, or tablet, or to print it 🙂. [Download the ebook](#form-ebook-tdm) When you begin the preparations, you may sometimes feel overwhelmed by the huge pile of paperwork. You might wonder if you’ll ever manage it or if you’d rather just leave without bothering with all the admin. But trust me, with a **recap**, everything becomes much easier! To get a printed version, you can find our full travel checklist in PDF format at the end of the article! ## Have you set your departure date? As we explained in [Chapter 1](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/leave-everything-behind-and-travel/), setting a departure date will already help you make your travel project concrete. It’s the best way to kickstart this amazing adventure and get the ball rolling for your travel preparations. The dream has now become a project, congratulations! ## 1 year from the start of your RTW trip - Start [planning your itinerary](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/trip-around-the-world-itinerary/) and set a budget per country, as well as an [overall budget](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/trip-around-the-world-cost/). Let yourself dream and keep your options open. Planning is great, but don’t overdo it! 🙂 You’ll see that in the next 6 months, you’ll be in sponge mode… You’ll start browsing blogs and taking notes, and this is also when your trip will begin to feel more real! To inspire you even more, here’s the world map of all our blog articles below 😉. ![enjoy happy hour before traveling](https://www.novo-monde.com/app/uploads/2024/10/avant-de-partir-680x1024.jpg)Always ready for happy hour! - Start saving for your world tour. Here are our [tips on how to save](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/trip-around-the-world-cost/#save-money-to-travel-around-the-world)! - Attend traveler meetups. You’ll see it’s a great way to get inspired and meet other travelers and future world explorers. - You’ll probably be leaving your job. If you decide to take a sabbatical leave, opt for a mutual agreement termination or something else, now is the time to find out about the conditions and timelines in your company. We explain [all the possibilities regarding your job](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/leave-everything-behind-and-travel/#sabbatical-or-quit)! - Announce your travel project to your family and friends. Don’t let some of your loved ones’ reactions scare you off ;) There are [risks when traveling](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/prevent-risks-of-traveling/), just as there are when stepping out of your house… ## 9 months before departure ### Paperwork Request quotes for your plane tickets. Whether through an agency or an airline alliance, start your research. Refer to the [chapter on different types of tickets for more details](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/around-the-world-ticket/). ### Miscellaneous If you’re traveling to a country where you don’t speak the language, now is a good time to start language lessons. Whether at a school or online from home, learning some basic vocabulary will greatly help you during the first stages of your trip! We personally use the [Mosalingua app](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/review-mosalingua-app/), which allows us to easily learn whenever we have a little downtime on our smartphones. As a bonus, you can get a [20% discount with this link](https://www.novo-monde.com/go/mosalingua/home-en/)! ![](https://www.novo-monde.com/app/uploads/2023/10/la-ronda-quito-1024x680.jpg) ## 6 months before departure ### Paperwork Buy your **round-the-world plane tickets** if you’ve received a satisfactory quote. Ouch! This will be your first major expense for your long journey! Check the **validity of your passport** as well as the number of blank pages available. If necessary, renew your travel document! Some countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months after your entry date. ### Health By now, you should have clearly defined your destination countries! Make an appointment with your doctor for vaccination advice. Outline your itinerary and start drawing up a vaccination plan. It’s important to begin this step early because some vaccines cannot be administered together. Additionally, vaccines can weaken your immune system, so the more time you take and the more spaced out the injections, the lower your risk of side effects. For more details, read our article on [health while traveling](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/health-travel-around-the-world/) ;). ![](https://www.novo-monde.com/app/uploads/2023/06/vaccination-travel-around-the-world-1024x680.jpg) ### Miscellaneous Start making arrangements to **sell/rent/sublet** your home, depending on whether you’re a [homeowner or renter](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/leave-everything-behind-and-travel/#leave-apartment-house-trip). **Announce your departure to your employer** if you have one. Whether you’re requesting a sabbatical or quitting your job, 6 months before departure is generally a good time to do so. Unless, of course, you’re on bad terms with your company—then you can wait until the last minute ;) Now is also the time to **sell/rent your personal belongings** you no longer need: car, furniture, books, old items you don’t use anymore, etc. It’s a great way to declutter before the upcoming move and also a fantastic way to boost your travel budget! Even though you haven’t left yet, think about the [budget you’ll need for when you return](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/trip-around-the-world-cost/#costs-return-round-the-world-trip). ## 3 months before departure ### Paperwork #### Travel insurance Take out **travel insurance**! Request quotes, compare offers, and contact your current insurer to find out the next steps. Check out our guide on choosing the [best round-the-world insurance](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/best-cheap-backpacker-travel-insurance-comparison/) or head directly to our [travel insurance comparison table](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/best-cheap-backpacker-travel-insurance-comparison/#backpacker-insurance-comparison). #### Banks Choose an **optimal banking solution** for your trip to avoid unnecessary withdrawal fees worldwide and limit bank management fees. For travelers, the current favorite option is to open an account with N26, the mobile bank, with [N26 You](https://www.novo-monde.com/go/banques/n26-you-en/), the most interesting option with free withdrawals worldwide. To make the best choice, check out our comparison of the best fee-free cards for travelers. For the Swiss, we invite you to read our post on [Swiss banks for travelers](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/swiss-bank-travel/). You’ll see there aren’t many options—opening an account with PostFinance is the best solution in our opinion. Another banking point: check the expiration date of your cards if you’re keeping the ones you currently have! Open a **PayPal account** if you need to: this payment system is really handy for online payments. It works a bit like an online account to which you can transfer a certain sum in the currency of your choice. Then, to make the payment, all you have to do is enter your e-mail address and password, and you're all set! The main advantage of this system is that it offers an alternative to credit cards for online payments. Indeed, some sites are not always very secure, or if you're connected to a public wifi network, it's never a good idea to start entering your credit card details online. Fraud is not an uncommon occurrence, and it can be very costly! With PayPal, the worst that can happen is losing the amount in your account. Our advice: always keep a small amount in your account for small payments and add money to your account by bank transfer. #### Other **Cancel your subscriptions** in time: phone, internet, TV, unnecessary insurance, public transport, gym, etc. Most contracts have a 3-month cancellation period, and every little bit helps! If you’re keeping your tax residence in Switzerland or France while traveling, ensure you can **pay your taxes** online during your trip around the world. If necessary, contact the tax authorities to learn the procedures: early declaration or complete removal of your tax residence. ![](https://www.novo-monde.com/app/uploads/2023/05/tour-du-monde-1-1024x680.jpg) Check the visa requirements for the other countries you wish to visit. **Apply for a visa** if necessary for the first country you'll visit on your trip. As for us, we chose [China](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/backpacking-china/) as our first destination because it was easier to get a 3-month visa from Switzerland than on the road. Apply for an **international driving permit**. This permit may be required depending on the country you're traveling to if you want to rent a vehicle. For the Swiss, you’ll need to go to your local motor vehicle office (and the permit costs between 30 and 40 CHF). ### Health Schedule your various **medical appointments** for a final check-up before departure: dentist, dental hygienist, gynecologist, general practitioner, ophthalmologist, dermatologist, etc. It’s always better to leave after having a full medical check-up. At least this way, you won’t have to worry about it during traveling, and it’s part of preventing any potential health problems! ![](https://www.novo-monde.com/app/uploads/2017/08/20170804_154016-779x1024.jpg) ### Gear Start thinking about your **backpack**, **clothing**, and the **gear** you want to take. We’ve put together a [packing list for a trip around the world](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/backpacking-trip-around-the-world-checklist/#packing-checklist) that should really help you at this stage. Depending on the time of year, it may be worth buying certain things on sale a few months before you leave. Find a place to **store your belongings** during the trip, after you’ve sold everything you no longer need ;) A storage unit, family, or friends—it’s up to you! A rtw trip is also a great opportunity to get into photography and bring back amazing images from your journey. But choosing a camera from the vast range of models currently available can be tough. Luckily for you, since photography is Ben’s passion, he’s prepared a [comprehensive guide to help you find the right camera](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/which-camera-buying-guide/) to travel. ## 1 month before departure ### Paperwork Remember to **forward your mail** to a trusted person. You can also use an online mailbox service (they receive and scan your mail to send it to you by email). Start preparing your travel blog and share the link with your loved ones! And if you're not keen on maintaining a blog, you can simply create a WhatsApp group, a Facebook page, an Instagram account, or collect the email addresses of your friends and family to send them updates during your trip. ![fabienne benoit novomonde](https://www.novo-monde.com/app/uploads/2018/08/fabienne-benoit-novomonde-2018-1024x777.jpg) ### Gear and health Usually, this is the time for **moving**. Good luck! It’s just a tough moment to get through ;) Buy any gear you still need for your trip and start preparing **your [first aid kit](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/health-travel-around-the-world/#backpacking-first-aid-kit-list)**. Visit your doctor or pharmacist for some advice. ## 2 weeks before departure ### Paperwork **Gather all the addresses and phone numbers** you'll need in a small notebook or send the list to yourself via email. This includes the addresses of your loved ones, emergency numbers, the number to block your credit card, your travel insurance number, your bank logins, etc. A good solution is to create a Word document with all this information and store it in Dropbox so you can access it anytime during your trip if needed. Alternatively, just save them in your contacts on your smartphone. Give someone close to you **power of attorney** over your bank account for the duration of your trip. You never know what might happen, and you may need someone to perform a transaction on your behalf while you’re away. ### Miscellaneous If you tend to have a sensitive stomach while traveling, start a course of probiotics 2 weeks before you leave. This will strengthen your gut flora and help you adjust more easily to a new diet. Start organizing your farewell party! ;) Now is also the time to download **apps** onto your smartphone that will come in handy throughout your trip. Check out the list in our article [on the best apps for travelers](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/best-mobile-apps-for-travel/). ![Fabienne et Benoit devant du street art](https://www.novo-monde.com/app/uploads/2024/09/street-art-chili-1024x680.jpg) ## 1 week before departure ### Gear Start packing your things and make those last-minute purchases. I guarantee there will be some! Just don’t do what we did… Try packing and carrying your backpack before the night before you leave. And don’t worry too much if you find it heavy—you’ll get used to it quickly :). ### Paperwork ![ID photos](https://www.novo-monde.com/app/uploads/2024/10/image.jpeg)Serious photos, we said! Make photocopies of all your important documents: passport, vaccination records, driver’s license… Keep a copy with you, and send yourself an electronic version via email. [Subscribe to a VPN](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/easy-vpn-travelling/) to browse securely around the world. Get a set of ID photos, as they will come in handy for various visas along the way. Print your insurance certificates—they will also be required for certain visas. Sign up for a [government alert service](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/prevent-risks-of-traveling/#political-risks) to receive safety instructions in case of a natural disaster or other issues in a country on your itinerary. ### Miscellaneous and health Eat as much chocolate, cheese, and cold meats as you can! :) ## The day before you leave to travel Finish packing everything. Taking your backpack for a quick test walk around the block to see how you handle the weight might not be a bad idea... And if your neighbors think you’re crazy, give them your blog address—it might inspire them to dream a little! Celebrate with your loved ones! Oh, and RELAX! The adventure ahead is amazing. Don’t waste time stressing—it’s not worth it! ## The travel checklist before going around the world We’ve summarized all the preparation steps in a PDF document. It’s up to you to print it out so you don’t miss anything and can leave with peace of mind! [Download the checklist](https://www.novo-monde.com/app/uploads/2024/10/round-the-world-planner.pdf) ## The last word Did you enjoy this [RTW trip planning guide](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/plan-a-round-the-world-trip/)? We hope this little gift will be really helpful! This guide is and will remain free. However, if you want to help us keep it up to date, you can [buy us a coffee](https://ko-fi.com/novomonde)! Do you have any feedback that could be useful to other travelers? Feel free to comment directly on the relevant pages on the blog! In any case, if you’ve decided to go, we can only congratulate you. It’s definitely the most beautiful experience in the world! We wish you all the happiness in your journey! Want to get in touch with us? Don’t hesitate to send us an email with your thoughts on this guide or just to say hi. We love receiving your emails! Our email: contact@novo-monde.com All the best, Fabienne & Ben ![destination tour du monde](https://www.novo-monde.com/app/uploads/2018/04/destination-tour-du-monde-1024x397.png) Table of contents 1. [Leave everything and travel](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/leave-everything-behind-and-travel/) 2. [The budget](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/trip-around-the-world-cost/) 3. [The itinerary](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/trip-around-the-world-itinerary/) 4. [Round-the-world tickets](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/around-the-world-ticket/) 5. [Health and travel insurance](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/health-travel-around-the-world/) 6. [Travel gear](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/backpacking-trip-around-the-world-checklist/) 7. [Security](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/prevent-risks-of-traveling/) 8. [Travel checklist](https://www.novo-monde.com/en/travel-planning-checklist/) ### Download our free pdf E-book! Subscribe to our Newsletter and get a free E-book with more than 100 pages to help you prepare your trip around the world ![round the world trip planner](https://www.novo-monde.com/app/uploads/2019/05/travel-around-the-world-768x1024.jpg) ![loader](https://www.novo-monde.com/wp/wp-includes/images/spinner.gif) Name\* E-mail\* When do you plan to leave on a round the world trip? I don't know yet In the next 3 months In the next 6 months In the next 12 months In more than a year Select all the topics you are interested in: \* Backpacking Travel destinations Digital nomadism Thoughts (ecology, society) Hiking Protected by Cloudflare Turnstile **Pin it** ![round-the-world trip planner](https://www.novo-monde.com/app/uploads/2024/10/round-the-world-trip-planner-683x1024.jpg)![checklist for a round-the-world trip](https://www.novo-monde.com/app/uploads/2024/10/checklist-round-the-world-trip-683x1024.jpg)