Planning – BIGtinyWorld

10 Things You Should Know When Packing for a World Trip Q&A

Posted on April 12, 2018April 12, 2018 by Aaron Shade in Planning

Packing for a year-long world trip has felt overwhelming at times. Even being about a year away, we are starting to prepare for this. With so many different places and climates it can be tough to figure out what to bring with us. Luckily we have a local community of travelers whom we can get some advice from. Here are some questions we asked or researched on our own.

Photo by Ubi Desperare Nescio Creative Commons

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Considering… China

Posted on April 5, 2018April 4, 2018 by Brianna Shade in Asia, Country Considerations, Planning

So this post will be a tad different from the country profiles we’ve done in the past. We’re still collecting that information, but we didn’t think a table of text was very fun to read. So this will be a bit more personal. We’ll give you more insight as to why we’re considering this for our world trip.

Now first, it’s worth mentioning that China was not originally on Aaron’s list. With dreams of exploring the famous Great Wall and seeing legendary cities like Shanghai, I obviously didn’t realize this disparity between our priorities.

china_felix2 — *Photo by Felix, Creative Commons*

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Considering… Chile

Posted on March 22, 2018March 21, 2018 by Aaron Shade in Country Considerations, Planning, South America

South America is likely going to be the first leg of our around-the-world trip. Chile may make a good portion of this journey as we make our way down the coast from Peru. It has a wide variety of scenery from the glaciers in Patagonia, to the waterfalls near Cruicó, and a wide expanse of coastline to enjoy. Also there are many cities to explore like the capital city of Santiago with its culture, culinary delights, and beautiful mountains. The journey south will ultimately lead us to the city of Punta Arenas. From there we can take a short trip to Isla de Magdalena to see some penguins. So why do we want to go to Chile? Penguins!!! No really, there is so much more than that.

Photo by Juliane Schultz Creative Commons License – Penguins on Isla de Magdalena

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Know the Common Scams in Each Country

Posted on February 15, 2018February 14, 2018 by Aaron Shade in Planning

One thing that can take your trip from epic awesomeness to complete misery is getting scammed. It can happen to anyone, but it is good to know what the common scams are in the country you plan to visit. This can help you take precautions to avoid these potential traps and better enjoy your stay. Here are some examples from the simple search of “Scams in [country of your choice].”
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Why You Need Insurance While Traveling the World

Posted on February 1, 2018March 5, 2018 by Aaron Shade in Planning

There is a lot of uncertainty in world travel, and you never know when something bad might happen. You could get sick and need medical care. If you are into adventure sports, you may find yourself needing an emergency evacuation from a remote area. All of your possessions might get stolen from your hotel room or hostel. These things do happen and for a long-term trip, especially, you have a higher chance for a mishap. Even small trips should be considered for travel insurance as it is better to be safe than stuck with a bill that is out of your means to pay.

© LotsaSmiles Photography 2017 — Do not touch poisonous dart frogs! They can kill you with all the poison stored in their tiny bodies. If you accidentally encounter one and touch them, insurance can help with your treatment and save your life if you are lucky. (Cute = Death)

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Considering… Norway

Posted on January 25, 2018January 24, 2018 by Aaron Shade in Country Considerations, Europe, Planning

Norway is a stunning country and is home to many natural wonders that are too numerous to count. It has many incredible cities rich with viking history and some of the happiest people. It is a bit expensive – just a tad – but you can find ways to do it cheaply and still have an incredible experience.

Photo by Deconvertini, Creative Commons

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5 Tips to Save Money on Lodging Around the World

Posted on January 4, 2018January 3, 2018 by Aaron Shade in Planning

When embarking on such a long trip around the world for a year, we have to consider ways to save money on one of the top expenses of the trip: lodging. There are many options when it comes to free or cheap lodging. Here are some of our top picks that may be helpful for keeping your lodging expenses low.

Couchsurfing – Gives you a chance to stay at a place for little or no cost while meeting locals and living like they do. You may have your own room, or literally a couch to sleep on. Hosts can provide many insider tips on the area you are staying in and show you more of the off-the-beaten path activities instead of just the mainstream tourist traps that a hotel is paid to tell you about.

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A Year Out: An Update

Posted on December 28, 2017December 24, 2017 by Brianna Shade in Planning

As another year draws to a close, we realize we’re that much closer to our departure. In conversation, we’re now saying “in about a year.” That’s crazy! We usually plan for smaller trips about a year out, so things are getting serious now!

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Considering… Laos

Posted on December 21, 2017December 29, 2017 by Aaron Shade in Asia, Country Considerations, Planning

Laos is one of those places that is stunningly beautiful and not as populated as most other Asian countries. This allows more breathing room when traveling to some of the top destinations and a nice break from the overrun tourist areas of nearby Thailand. Its culture is more accessible and isn’t as blurred by the tourism machine.

Laos has many excellent ways to volunteer for those who like helping out in communities while abroad. We plan to do just that. As we travel we do want to find ways to give back and this is the perfect opportunity. With programs like Big Brother Mouse Project, volunteers help children learn how to read and improve their English skills. There is also Cope, which provides assistance and rehabilitation to those who were injured during the Vietnam war (details on both below).

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Considering… Croatia

Posted on December 7, 2017December 29, 2017 by Aaron Shade in Country Considerations, Europe, Planning

Croatia is a Mediterranean landscape paradise. From ancient walled cities and Roman ruins, to the many islands lining the coast, Croatia has it all. There are many well preserved Medieval towns and old forts that are worthy of Game of Thrones, just like in Ireland. Let’s check it out!

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