How To Plan a Round the World Trip Step-by-Step with Kesi Irvin
How one woman saved $30,000, quit her job, and traveled the world for a year (then never stopped). Quitting your job to travel the world sounds unrealistic to many people. Maybe even irresponsible. But…for long-term traveler and creator Kesi Irvin from Kesi To and Fro, taking a career break to see the world felt necessary. If you’ve been dreaming about how to plan a round the world trip but don’t know where to start, Kesi’s story (and practical tips) is exactly what you need to hear.
After saving intentionally for two years while living in New York City, Kesi left her finance job and set off on what was supposed to be a one-year around-the-world trip. That trip turned into more than 10 years of long-term travel across 84 countries.
Kesi Irvin didn’t stumble into a life of long-term travel; she intentionally planned it.
If planning an around-the-world trip feels overwhelming, this how-to guide breaks the process down step by step so you can start turning your dream into an actionable plan.
Continue reading or listen to the full podcast episode.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Pandora | Any player
Around the World in 365 Days
What would it take for you to leave your job, your hometown, and your comfort zone for an entire year?
For Kesi Irvin, it took a conversation with a mentor, a two-year savings plan, and an honest reckoning with one word: regret.
Ten years later, Kesi runs her own travel company, Follow the Fro Tours, hosting epic group trips to places like Antarctica and Uganda.
Here’s a breakdown of every strategic move she made, so you can borrow from her playbook.
Step 1: Find Your “Why” and Make It Non-Negotiable
Before Kesi touched a spreadsheet or opened a savings account, she got clear on her motivation. For her, it wasn’t wanderlust or Instagram aesthetics; it was the fear of looking back and wishing she had gone.
“Everyone needs to have a why. For me, my why was regret. I knew I would absolutely regret it if I never took some type of career break to travel the world.” – Kesi Irvin
Her mentor’s advice sealed it: go sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, she was told, the more life gets in the way — promotions, relationships, kids. She set a decision date in 2013 and never looked back.
Takeaway: Before you open a travel savings account, write down your why. It will carry you through every moment, especially when you lose motivation or want to bail.
Step 2: Calculate a Real Travel Budget
How much does a round the world trip cost?
Kesi saved $30,000, but she didn’t pick that number out of thin air.
She did the math: figured out a comfortable daily spend and multiplied it by 365.
Her daily budget landed around $75–$80, covering food, accommodation, activities, and some transportation.
Kesi’s Round the World Trip Budget Formula
Daily spend ($75–80) × Days traveling (365) = Target savings ($30,000).
She credits Nomadic Matt — who literally wrote the book on traveling on $75/day as an early influence who helped her validate that number.
“Every time I thought about spending money, I’d think: I can go buy this coffee, or I can get this coffee in Thailand. Those trade-offs made saving so much easier.” – Kesi Irvin
The key insight?
Budget travel isn’t about deprivation. It’s about trade-offs that feel worth it in the long run.
Listen to this podcast episode where Nomadic Matt, a.k.a. Matthew Kepnes, explains why budget travel is still possible in 2026 and beyond, and what you need to know to get started.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora | Amazon Music | Any player
Step 3: Treat Your Travel Fund Like an Investment
Living in New York City (one of the most expensive cities on the planet), Kesi saved around $1,000 a month for two years.
The secret to staying motivated was keeping her eye on the prize every single time she opened her wallet.
Also, she didn’t park that money in a regular savings account.
Instead, she used a robo-advisor that let her set her exact investment timeframe and risk level.
The platform then allocated her investments accordingly, so her travel fund was actively growing in the background.
Listen to this podcast episode for tips on starting a travel fund and making travel a financial priority.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora | Amazon Music
Helpful Tip: Kesi kept her travel savings completely separate from her emergency fund and other long-term investments. Having distinct “pots” meant she never felt like her trip was eating into her financial safety net.
Step 4: Use Points and Miles to Stretch Your Budget
Kesi leveraged travel hacking.
Her rule was simple: if a flight cost more than $300, she didn’t pay cash. She used points and miles.
Kesi strategically applied for travel credit cards, collected signup bonuses, and directed those rewards toward flights, freeing up cash for other expenses.
Step 5: Plan the Pillars, Not the Complete Itinerary
When Kesi finally left for her trip, she followed the sun, heading to warm-weather destinations.
But here’s what she didn’t do: she didn’t over-plan.
Instead, she picked three to five non-negotiable experiences she wanted to have, and let the rest unfold.
“The best plan is no plan. Book a one-way flight somewhere, and the rest will come to you — because you never know who you’re going to meet or what experience will change your perspective.” – Kesi Irvin
Tired of reading? Listen to this podcast episode on Spotify.
How to Make Your Dollar Go Further on the Road
Once you’re traveling, the rules change.
Time is no longer your enemy; it’s your biggest asset!
Here’s how Kesi kept costs down without sacrificing the experience:
- Slow travel over fast travel. Take buses instead of flights when you can. A 17-hour bus ride isn’t a punishment; it’s an experience, and it saves serious money.
- Negotiate long-stay accommodation rates. When you’re not in a rush, landlords and hostels will work with you. Monthly rates are almost always dramatically cheaper than nightly ones.
- Explore free accommodation options. Couchsurfing, Workaway, volunteering at hostels, and Trusted House Sitters can eliminate your biggest expense entirely while giving you a richer cultural experience than any hotel.
- Prioritize destinations with favorable exchange rates. Your US dollars go much further in Southeast Asia, Central America, and parts of Eastern Europe. This money-saving tip alone can cut your daily spend in half.
The Lesson No One Talks About: Wealth Beyond Finances
After her round the world trip, Kesi continued traveling on $10,000 a year.
On paper, she was “broke,” but she was wealthy in relationships.
People from around the world invited her to visit and showed her their cities.
“I wasn’t wealthy financially, but I was wealthy in my relationships with people. You can be wealthy in a lot of different ways.”– Kesi Irvin
Kesi’s advice for aspiring long-term travelers: think about what you bring to the table beyond money.
Your energy, your skills, your friendship — these are all valuable currencies too.
Round the World Trip Planning Countdown Recap: Where to Start
- Nail down your daily budget. Are you a hostel traveler or a midrange hotel person? Be honest.
- Calculate your target savings number.
- Daily spend × days traveling = your goal. Write it down. Make it real.
- Open a dedicated travel fund. Don’t let your savings sit idle. A high-yield savings account or robo-advisor can put it to work so your money makes you more money.
- Start building points and miles now. Apply for a travel rewards card and use it for everyday spending. Let your miles build up while you save.
- Book the one-way flight. When the time comes, resist the urge to over-plan. Pick your three to five must-do experiences and leave the rest to serendipity.
Want Help Building Your Travel Fund?
If you’re ready to save for bigger trips more intentionally, join my Jumpstart Your Vacation Fund 5-Day Challenge.
Inside, I share:
- Practical travel savings strategies
- Mindset shifts
- Budgeting tips to make saving for travel more doable
Because travel becomes more possible when you build a repeatable system that supports it.
Danielle Desir Corbett is an award-winning and 6x grant-funded travel writer and podcast host who went from financial struggle to visiting 27+ countries all without waiting until retirement. Her story is proof that budget doesn’t limit adventure. Tune into The Thought Card Podcast for practical strategies to travel smarter and live on your terms. Say hello: thethoughtcard (at) gmail (dot) com.
