There’s nothing more exciting than making plans to travel the world. You’ve saved up months, maybe even years’ worth of money for this one trip, and it’s finally time to put a pen to paper and draw up a schedule for your world tour. You feel incredible.
But – and this is completely normal – you also feel a bit nervous. You’ve put so much into saving for this this trip, you’ve sacrificed so many nights out and social opportunities at home, all so that your journey around the world is as perfect as you could possibly make it. That’s a lot of pressure.
The best thing to do, if you’re in a bit of a panic about how to plan the perfect worldwide getaway, is to take things slowly. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Start at the very beginning, and work your way along from there.
The first thing you need to decide on is your starting point, country number one. The first country on your checklist tends to have more significance than the rest, because it’s the destination where you will most likely make your initial adjustments to long-term traveling and settle into your new lifestyle.
You don’t want anything too intense, and you definitely don’t want to be hit with a massive culture shock straightaway – which is why Hawaii is the preferred starting point for so many world travellers.
If you want to know why it’s worth launching your worldwide trip in Hawaii, take a look at the key reasons below:
It’s got that laid-back lifestyle
When you first set off on a trip around the world, it’s best not to throw yourself into something too full-on from the very beginning. Hawaii is a great destination to kick off your travels because it doesn’t require much advanced planning to make sure everything’s perfect once you arrive. In fact, if you wanted to, it would be totally acceptable to come to Hawaii with only the vaguest food and beach-related ideas in mind, no real plans in place, and see where the island takes you.
There’s plenty for everyone, and because Hawaii doesn’t have the busy, act-fast atmosphere of a city, you’ll usually find that you’re fine to show up for meals and activities without pre-booking beforehand. It’s a great way to gear yourself up for the more intense destinations you have lined up for later in your trip in a stress-free environment.
It offers good connections to the States
Not many people would choose to exclude America from their tour around the world. Conveniently, Hawaii isn’t too far away from the west, so if you’re planning on visiting the likes of California or Las Vegas, you’ll find Hawaii has some handy connections to your destinations of choice. When you’re trying to figure out how you’ll get from country to country, it can often make sense to start at Hawaii and work your way east until you’ve come to your final destination.
Hawaii also has good airport ties to Australia and New Zealand, so if your travels are taking you in that direction, don’t rule Hawaii out as a starting point. From Australia, you can easily move on to popular Asian travel destinations like Thailand, Hong Kong and The Philippines.
It’s a home away from home
If your whole point of traveling is to escape your hometown, then you might not want to hear that Hawaii is like a home away from home. But don’t take it too literally – it just means that, instead of feeling like you’re in a completely unfamiliar environment, you’ll feel comfortable, confident and relaxed in Hawaii. English is spoken widely on the island, crime rates are low, and Hawaii’s culture and culinary options won’t make you too nervous.
Adjusting to new environments can be particularly different if there’s a language barrier, or if you’re not used to the behaviour of the locals. Hawaii is the perfect location to start your adventure around the world because you’ll need very little adjusting to settle into island life, so it won’t all feel a bit “too much, too soon”.
It’s a hive of opportunity
Just as much as you could easily show up to Hawaii with absolutely nothing in your plans, there’s no reason why you couldn’t book a full itinerary of activities and still be left with the opportunity to do more. The beginning of a long trip away is the perfect time to immerse yourself in some of the more physically challenging activities, as your energy levels will naturally be higher. Luckily, Hawaii has plenty of those on offer.
Whether you’re more into hiking, swimming, biking or water sports, Hawaii is an island that takes its outdoor activity seriously. There’s plenty of fun to be found no matter where you’re hitting up, and the island locals are only too happy to accommodate your specific needs. Thrill-seekers will love Hawaii’s wind surfing scene and helicopter tours, or if you’re not looking to splash the cash too much, there are plenty of walking trails and secluded beaches to take advantage of.