There was an Indian tribe that would move its village every 25 to thirty years as a new challenge. When life became predictable and their was no challenge in their life, they moved to bring new meaning to their lives. Traveling or living abroad accomplishes something similar.
It’s too expensive but sometimes It can be cheaper to live or travel abroad if you choose the right destinations (less than $500 a month). If you travel slowly, it can be very cheap. If you are from a first world country, traveling overseas allows you to get a lot more experiences for your money than your home country can offer.
Set a deadline three months before your trip. After this deadline, you can’t buy anything that isn’t for your trip
Brush up on the local language
The chances are you’re visiting places where english isn’t the spoken language. Don’t let that intimidate you because we’re all human and have the ability to communicate beyond just words. It is, however, a good idea to brush up on the local language. You can find a website online that lists key phrases you need for travel, to help you find directions, get help or express specific dietary needs, or you can buy a phrase book.
Set a deadline three months before your trip. After this deadline, you can’t buy anything that isn’t for your trip
Do The Research
Check out Where to Go. You will want to start with a list of places you have always wanted to go.
Information About Destination
Read up on the history of your destination. Follow any recent or potential political/military conflicts closely. Avoid traveling during elections as most businesses close and riots are possible.
Local customs and dress
Look into the places you’re visiting and find out if there are any specific local customs you need to be aware of. It isn’t just about being a good traveller, it’s about being a decent human and respecting the culture of others just as you’d expect others to respect the culture of your country. Find out if it’s acceptable to touch people or if you should dress more conservatively in certain countries then pack and act accordingly.
Look into the places you’re visiting and find out if there are any specific local customs you need to be aware of. It isn’t just about being a good traveller, it’s about being a decent human and respecting the culture of others just as you’d expect others to respect the culture of your country. Find out if it’s acceptable to touch people or if you should dress more conservatively in certain countries then pack and act accordingly.
Cost of Travel
The biggest myth about traveling is that it’s expensive. Asia, aside from Japan and Singapore, is traditionally very cheap. Australia isn’t cheap, but Europe is more affordable since the euro has dropped. Flip through guidebooks on your destination to get an idea about the cost of the three biggest travel expenses: transport, accommodation, and food. Check out Travel Budgets For Around The World to determine where you can afford to go on your budget.
Visas
Visa costs and requirements are listed on the U.S. Department of State’s website. Many visas are available on arrival while others are required in advance. Several places in South America, including Argentina and Bolivia, charge Americans a reciprocity fee to enter.
High/Low Seasons
Be aware that prices can triple during high seasons and holidays. Rates drop in low season, but monsoon rain, sporadic transport, and business closures can cause trouble. Shoulder seasons are often best to avoid crowds and high prices.
Plan Ahead
Find the Time
I quit several jobs over the past eight years to both travel and work abroad. During my adventures, I met people with a variety of careers—doctors, lawyers, teachers, and bartenders—who did the same. Always be honest about why you are leaving. There’s a good chance your boss will be jealous of your trip!
What to Do
This really depends on where you will be traveling to and how long you are staying in each area. Some people prefer to travel slowly, as it is more affordable and you get a deeper experience in each country. Others opt for moving around often, sometimes doing an around-the-world trip to see as many countries as they can in a shorter period of time. The fast travel option will be a more-touristy, less-deep experience, but if you are time-constrained or get bored easily, that is the way to go.
This really depends on where you will be traveling to and how long you are staying in each area. Some people prefer to travel slowly, as it is more affordable and you get a deeper experience in each country. Others opt for moving around often, sometimes doing an around-the-world trip to see as many countries as they can in a shorter period of time. The fast travel option will be a more-touristy, less-deep experience, but if you are time-constrained or get bored easily, that is the way to go.
Prepare
You never know what might happen on the road. Stepping out your door into the unknown is what makes travel so exciting.Bucket list activities will likely be a large portion of your travel budget. Plan accordingly with both your money and time!
Travel Banking
The easiest way to save money while traveling is to avoid ATM fees and international transaction fees. I have a Charles Schwab Investor Checking Account, which does not charge ATM fees or international transaction fees. ATM fees charged by other banks are refunded monthly. Capital One does not charge international transaction fees on any of their credit cards. Many rewards cards are starting to do the same.
Insurance
Most U.S. health insurance policies offer limited coverage abroad. Invest in a good travel medical insurance plan that covers emergency evacuations, adventure sports, short visits to your home country, and end-of-trip home coverage. If you have a serious preexisting condition, research your options thoroughly. Some policies will cover an “unexpected occurrence” of these conditions.
Consider a policy or additional insurance that also includes trip delays, lost luggage, and electronics. I insure my camera gear through State Farm’s Personal Articles policy. Be aware that most policies will not cover smart phones.
Health & Safety
Visit a travel doctor about vaccination requirements and stock up on medication for traveler’s diarrhea. Be sure to pack probiotics that don’t require refrigeration.
Hit the gym and cut the caffeine. Traveling can be physically exhausting. Carrying a 30-plus pound backpack around airports, city streets, and hiking trails for months will take a toll on your body. Six months before my recent trip, I focused mostly on strengthening my upper body since my lower body was fairly strong from being an avid runner.
Eliminate Bills
You should have NO bills while you travel. That’s right—none! Cut off your Pandora, Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. Sell, rent, or have a friend list your house/apartment on Airbnb for a small commission. Sell your car or rent it to Relayrides.com or Flightcar.com. Several cell phone carriers will allow you to suspend your service without billing or for a small fee. For student loans, save enough money to cover payments for the entire duration of your trip plus an additional two months after you return.
Pack Light
Pack one week’s worth of clothes and do laundry often. It’s that simple. Trust me, your back will thank you.
Invest in a quality raincoat with zippered underarm vents for hot conditions. It also serves as a top layer for insulation in cold weather and helps with wind.
Save the environment and your health by investing in a stainless steel water bottle and chemical-free water filter. I use a Klean Kateen water bottle and a Sawyer Mini Water Filter. Both are great for your bank account and pack easily.
A small quick-drying hand towel will dry your entire body. Sarongs are great multipurpose items; they are a towel, dress, skirt, blanket, and mop all in one!
To avoid over packing, don’t wait until the last minute. Start a few days before you leave. Then, go back and eliminate items. Make sure the majority of clothing matches to maximize options.
Backup Important Documents
Pack one week’s worth of clothes and do laundry often. It’s that simple. Trust me, your back will thank you.
Invest in a quality raincoat with zippered underarm vents for hot conditions. It also serves as a top layer for insulation in cold weather and helps with wind.
Save the environment and your health by investing in a stainless steel water bottle and chemical-free water filter. I use a Klean Kateen water bottle and a Sawyer Mini Water Filter. Both are great for your bank account and pack easily.
A small quick-drying hand towel will dry your entire body. Sarongs are great multipurpose items; they are a towel, dress, skirt, blanket, and mop all in one!
To avoid over packing, don’t wait until the last minute. Start a few days before you leave. Then, go back and eliminate items. Make sure the majority of clothing matches to maximize options.
Backup Important Documents
E-mail yourself or use a service like Legacy Locker to store important documents and copies of your passport, credit cards (make sure to get the back copied too with the international lost & stolen number), and immunization records. Legacy Locker is more secure than e-mail and you can store all your online login/passwords as well. If you pass away while traveling, Legacy Locker will hand over your online assets to a beneficiary. This sounds a little morbid but it’s actually a great idea given how much of our lives we manage online.
The chances are you’re visiting places where english isn’t the spoken language. Don’t let that intimidate you because we’re all human and have the ability to communicate beyond just words. It is, however, a good idea to brush up on the local language. You can find a website online that lists key phrases you need for travel, to help you find directions, get help or express specific dietary needs, or you can buy a phrase book.
Create a budget
Based on the total estimated cost of your trip, create a monthly budget based on how much you need to save. Start to cut out unnecessary spending and keep track of all of your expenses.
Before You Leave
Get your immunizations
Don’t wait too long, as some of these require a series of shots over a period of 1-6 months. If you are in a hurry, some can be accelerated to 21 days, such as Hep. A / Hep. B, if needed. These are all recommended for most parts of the world on the Center for Disease
Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) vaccine, Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus (DPT) vaccine, Poliovirus vaccine, Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Yellow Fever
It’s great if you feel ready and prepared as you are, right now.What do you think? Leave your tips for successful long term travel in the comments section below
Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) vaccine, Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus (DPT) vaccine, Poliovirus vaccine, Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Yellow Fever
Check your passport
If you don’t have a passport, it’s time to apply for one. If you already have one, now is a good time to ensure that there is enough validity on it to last the entirety of your trip and that you have enough room left for all those new stamps you’ll be collecting.
Book your flights
Look at your itinerary and research all the different flight possibilities for your trip. If you’re flexible, you might be able to save quite a lot of money. Play around with the airports you’ll fly into and out of, your travel dates as well as the airline.
If you don’t have a passport, it’s time to apply for one. If you already have one, now is a good time to ensure that there is enough validity on it to last the entirety of your trip and that you have enough room left for all those new stamps you’ll be collecting.
Book your flights
Look at your itinerary and research all the different flight possibilities for your trip. If you’re flexible, you might be able to save quite a lot of money. Play around with the airports you’ll fly into and out of, your travel dates as well as the airline.
Apply for a visa if needed
Take the time to research whether any visas are required for any of the countries you’ll be travelling to. You want to avoid situations like this one!
Take the time to research whether any visas are required for any of the countries you’ll be travelling to. You want to avoid situations like this one!
Set cancellation dates for your contracts
It’s time to start thinking about scheduling the cancellation of contracts such as your mobile phone or your gym membership. Remember that you always need to give a certain period of notice, so to minimise hefty cancellation costs, the more notice you give the better.
It’s time to start thinking about scheduling the cancellation of contracts such as your mobile phone or your gym membership. Remember that you always need to give a certain period of notice, so to minimise hefty cancellation costs, the more notice you give the better.
Give notice to your employer
You need to make a decision about how you’re going to approach your employer about your travel plans. This can be tricky. If you want to keep your job, you might ask for an unpaid leave of absence. If you don’t want to keep your job, you’ll need to resign. Make sure you give the required number of weeks notice, be professional and don’t burn any bridges!
Notify your bank that you’re travelling
If your bank detects foreign transactions, they may freeze your account as a security measure. This is far from ideal when you need to access your money overseas! To avoid the hassle, inform them of your travel plans before you leave so that they won’t see your foreign transactions as unauthorised.
You need to make a decision about how you’re going to approach your employer about your travel plans. This can be tricky. If you want to keep your job, you might ask for an unpaid leave of absence. If you don’t want to keep your job, you’ll need to resign. Make sure you give the required number of weeks notice, be professional and don’t burn any bridges!
Notify your bank that you’re travelling
If your bank detects foreign transactions, they may freeze your account as a security measure. This is far from ideal when you need to access your money overseas! To avoid the hassle, inform them of your travel plans before you leave so that they won’t see your foreign transactions as unauthorised.
Store your belongings
It’s time to get organised. If you are moving out of your flat, you need to arrange the storage of your belongings. While your parents might be happy to look after your clothes
It’s time to get organised. If you are moving out of your flat, you need to arrange the storage of your belongings. While your parents might be happy to look after your clothes
and other small items, your furniture will probably need to be stored in a storage facility.
Lay out what you’ll be taking
Allocate one room as your ‘packing room’ and begin laying out everything you need to pack on the floor. Seeing it visually in front of you helps prompt you to remember any items that are missing. It also helps you decide whether or not you’re actually going to fit everything into your suitcase!
Allocate one room as your ‘packing room’ and begin laying out everything you need to pack on the floor. Seeing it visually in front of you helps prompt you to remember any items that are missing. It also helps you decide whether or not you’re actually going to fit everything into your suitcase!
It’s great if you feel ready and prepared as you are, right now.What do you think? Leave your tips for successful long term travel in the comments section below
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