(Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

I first announced my around-the-world trip in a November 2025 blog post. I had a flurry of activity after that, with this early January 2026 post explaining that I had decided to buy a round-the-world ticket. And then in a February 2026 post, I talked about some strategies for buying round-the-world tickets.

It seems that time has accelerated over the past few months, as that big trip is nearly here. Today’s post is about some more ways to prepare for such a long trip, once the flights, accommodation, and ground transportation have been sorted. These are enhancements or additions to some more general travel tips that you can find elsewhere on this blog.

Before doing anything else, research the typical weather at your destinations for the exact dates that you’ll be there. While freak weather can take anyone by surprise, it really pays to be prepared for what you are likely to encounter. Not only will you avoid having to buy new, weather-appropriate clothes at your destination, but you will also be able to travel more lightly. And there’s a related point that is just as important…

There is no way you can travel with 6 weeks’ worth of clothes. You will need to do laundry more than once on your trip. So you will need to pack weather-appropriate clothes that can withstand repeated washing under unfamiliar conditions. And you will need to plan where and when you will be doing that laundry! Don’t assume that every community will have a laundromat. Most hotels will gladly do your laundry…but they may also charge $10 to wash a pair of socks. If there is no local laundry available when you need it, take a day off and visit a nearby town for that purpose. You’ll see a side of your destination that most outsiders never see.

For a long trip, you will likely tire of seeing variations on the same theme over and over again. Make a point of mixing up what you’re seeing. Sure, see the Sistine Chapel when you’re in Rome. But take in a local sporting event or a concert too. On this trip, we were happy to discover that one of our favourite British bands is on a tour of Australia and New Zealand at the same time that we’re there! So we’ve got tickets to see them in an ornate old theatre. We never imagined that we’d see them live, let alone on the other side of the world. But there you go…serendipity is one of the best parts of travel.

While you’re figuring out which concerts are on, expand your local research to find local culinary specialities. Nearly six weeks of eating out will wear thin much sooner than you think. But if you can find some special local cuisine, or an unexpected concentration of immigrants in a city, you can break up the monotony. You may not expect to find multiple options for Somalian cuisine in the Northwest Territories or Bosnian food in Arizona…but you will almost certainly be glad you did.

Travelling for such a long time can be an insular experience. Give yourself a break and opt into some group activities rather than doing everything yourself. Most cities have reasonably-priced (or even pay-what-you-want) walking tours conducted by knowledgeable locals. Research that before you go. They’re a great tool for connecting with an unfamiliar place in a different way. And take the opportunity to get your guide’s insights on things like local restaurants, concerts…and even laundromats! They will almost certainly be happy to share their knowledge, especially if they are volunteers.

Today’s photos are from various local adventures over the last two months. Stay tuned for the first destination on our world tour!