Lots of people like to take a trip overseas.
Such visits are usually meticulously planned, and the fewer obstacles, the better.
The Socceroos take plenty of overseas trips, but there's one big one at the moment they're having some trouble booking.
It's to Russia for the World Cup, mid-next year.
Six final round qualifiers see the Australians undefeated so far.
Problem is, there's only two wins amongst those - and four consecutive draws.
Only the top two teams in each group are guaranteed places on the aforementioned trip to Russia- and Australia is presently third.
Which means the pressure will be on them on Tuesday night when they face the United Arab Emirates in Sydney.
But if the Australians are concerned, they're not yet showing it.
Striker Tomi Juric says the Socceroos were hobbled by a poor pitch in their draw against Iraq in neutral Tehran last week, and the side might not be far away from a truly dominating victory.
"It was really, really hard for us to get the ball down and stroke the ball around the back and in midfield and create really good chances. But, you know, every time we play, I think we do create enough chances. And it's just a matter of time for us to get an opponent where we're going to score three, four, five goals against them."
As far as Australian club football goes, Sydney F-C have secured the A-League premiership for this season.
They did so before they'd even kicked a ball this past weekend, as Melbourne Victory's defeat to Brisbane Roar meant they could no longer surpass Sydney atop the table in the regular season.
Addressing his team, coach Graham Arnold was at pains to remind them the premiership is not enough, and that they must go on and win the championship in the forthcoming finals series.
"We've got the first trophy. But we want the major one. And on the way, we want history. As I keep saying to you, it's time to go from good to great."
And it seems they are taking his message to heart, beating Perth Glory 3-0 in Perth.
From a team at the top, to a team in the midst of a long climb to get back there.
Essendon in recent years have gone from being of the A-F-L's most respected clubs - no one has won the competition more than they have - to being the pariah of Australian sport due to their supplements scandal.
With twelve players banned for the whole season last year, Essendon, as expected, finished last.
But those players are back this year - and with them, comes the long road back towards the top of the AFL standings.
Round One saw them play Hawthorn- as close as there to a benchmark in the AFL in recent years.
And, not only did they survive, they thrived, winning by 25 points.
Speaking to Channel Seven, captain Dyson Heppell, one of those banned last season, says he knows just how special such a triumph is.
"That's one of the most memorable games of footy I'll ever play, mate. That's one that I'll mark down and I'll remember that forever. You know, we have been through some very tough times. But look, to start the season like this, mate, you want to keep a bit of a lid on it, but I'll tell you what: you couldn't write the script any better."
Heppell lead from the front, with 34 disposals and three goals.
And, much like the AFL, the Formula One season got underway in Melbourne.
Driving for Ferrari, German Sebastian Vettel has taken the first victory of the season, winning by almost ten seconds from second-placed Lewis Hamilton.
With the retirement of defending champion Nico Rosberg, there's a huge gap to be filled at the top of the sport.
Vettel won the drivers' championship four years in a row from 2010 to 2013, and would love nothing better than to take back that crown.
But he admits being able to do that is still some distance off.
"(It is) a long, long way ahead. I think for now we are just over the moon, just happy. It has been, as I said, a hard winter. Incredible race today! At the start I wasn't entirely happy. I was a bit too nervous."
And if Vettel was nervous, Daniel Ricciardo was likely fuming.
On home soil, the Australian started in fifteenth spot on the grid after a penalty in qualifying, then didn't even finish the race.
He had to retire after 25 laps, with smoke billowing out of his car due to a fuel pressure problem.
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