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ADVENTURE MADE EASY

Swapping the conventional life for the ride of a lifetime

Many do daydream about making a road trip across continents. There may be real or perceived hurdles in the way, so what does it take to actually do it? For anyone whose life’s jigsaw pieces can coalesce around such a dream—and respectfully, not everyone’s can—a commitment to the decision is all it takes. Then comes doing whatever is necessary to make it happen. It sounds too easy, but in reality it is! The hardest part is right at the beginning when you have to release all the things that hold you from doing it in the first place.

 

 

Having reached a point in your 9-to-5 lives that no longer reaped enough intrinsic reward, the time is there for a change.

 

Adventure travel involves one step: going

Where to start? Is it better to throw caution to the wind and just go where the road takes you? Or indulge a bulletproof itinerary? Organizing your first big all-wheeled adventure can be daunting. There’s much to consider and even more to research. A wise person once said, “Each research session makes the trip look more difficult, so I’ve decided to stop researching.” That’s a gem to keep in the back of your mind—particularly if you find yourself waist-deep in too many pre-trip planning activities.

Drawing a line

Before you begin putting down places and dates on a calendar, research destinations. Take notes, talk to those who have done exactly what you’d like to do, get the travel juices flowing. You’ll get a feel for what looks and sounds like your bag of fun. Make a wish list of what you want to see and do, and get a good map. We found everything always takes longer than anticipated. Plan for that, too.

 

You know where you’re going, roughly. You’ve acquired the latest guidebooks, an enviable collection of maps, Google search terms, and buddies who’ve been there before. Every resource possesses different information and opinions. How are you going to sieve all that and filter what’s useful so that it’s easy to reference on the road? The criteria you use to select potential destinations will make your research more effective. Alternatively, you can ignore it… well, most of it. Be prepared to change your best-laid plans. Ultimately, it’s your trip, your adventure; you’ll make your own decisions and create your own experiences along the way.

 

Shiny stickers and stamps

Boning up on visa requirements is advisable before departure, as stipulations vary significantly. Considerations include: waivers and extensions, single or multiple entries, visa types, expiration dates, and maximum stays. Your local consulate or destination’s embassy will usually be your most reliable resource. Do you need a carnet de passage for your destination country? Ask Uncle Google. I’m appreciative when visas can be issued online, although some require sending the travel document to an embassy. And we all prefer those visas that are issued at the border, all of which were 60- to 90-day stays to boot.