If you’re considering starting a long term travel journey and you’re not sure whether or not it is for you then don’t worry. Whether you’re looking to travel for a number of months or you want to travel indefinitely, you need to be sure you’re as prepared as you can be. From setting yourself a budget to choosing the places you’re going to be visiting, the more you’re doing in advance the better. With that in mind, here are 12 things to consider before starting a long term travel journey.
12 Things To Consider Before Starting A Long Term Travel Journey
What Is Your Overall Budget?
One of the first things you need to consider before you start a long term travel journey is your overall budget for the trip. Although you may not know exact figures, having a clear idea of what you’re going to spend is the best way to ensure you don’t run out of money before you’re able to get home. Whilst it may take some time, researching the average cost for long-term travel in the countries your visiting is probably the best place to start. Once you have a rough idea, you can start to piece together specifics. Whether you do it a month at a time or you do the whole trip at once, budgeting will definitely make the whole process that little bit easier. For a guide to budgeting for long term travel, you can visit this site here.
How Long Will You Be Travelling For?
Another important thing to consider is how long you’re going to be travelling for. Long term travel tends to be anything from 3 months to an indefinite plan to be on the road, so you need to be sure you’re setting your limit before you leave. If you’re unsure when you want to come back, it might be worth setting a proposed date. This doesn’t mean you need to book a return flight but it does give you an idea of how much money you need to budget.
Where Will You Be Visiting?
Once you know what your budget is and how long you’re going to be travelling for, you can start to think about the places you’re going to be visiting. Again, this isn’t something that has to be set in stone but having an idea of where you want to go will give you an indication to your route as you travel. If it helps, just having the first two-three stops in mind will make the whole process that little bit easier.
If you’re thinking of planning a trip that is much more spontaneous, planning 3-4 days in advance is probably the best way to ensure you don’t end up without accommodation.
How Much Time Will You Spend In Each Place?
Another important thing to consider is how much time you’re going to be spending in each destination you visit. The beauty of long term travel is that you don’t have strict time constraints so if you want to spend some time immersing yourself into a countries culture, you have more than enough time to do so. If you are looking to spend long periods of time in each destination, it’s important you’re looking into entry requirements and visas. Each country will be different and you don’t want to get caught out as it can not only result in hefty fines but it can also put an end to your trip. For a guide to the visas you might need whilst you travel, you can visit this sit here.
What Type Of Accommodation Will You Be Staying In?
Once you know where you’re going and how long you’re going to be staying there, it’s time to start thinking about the type of accommodation you’re going to be staying in. Whether you book a hotel, an Airbnb, a hostel or you find someone to put you up for the duration of your stay – planning this in advance is important. If you’re unsure where you’re going to be staying, it might be worth looking into the average cost of each option. Not only will it give you an idea of how much you need to budget for each location but it will give you an idea of the standard of accommodation you can expect. In some places, specifically, Asia, affordable accommodation can still be considered luxury.
How Will You Travel From One Place To Another?
Another important thing to consider is how you’re going to be travelling from one place to another. Although it may make sense to fly everywhere, there are lot of different options you can consider to help cover your costs. From coaches to car shares, doing a little bit of research could definitely help when it comes to saving money. As you not constrained when it comes to time, you don’t necessarily have to pick the fastest route each time.
Will You Be Working On The Go?
Depending on how long you’re travelling for, you might want to consider working on the go. With hundreds of online jobs at your fingertips, there are lots of opportunities for you to earn whilst you travel. Although it does mean you will have to spend parts of your day working, there’s something much more appealing about working on the beach than there is about working in an office. Some benefits to being a digital nomad include:
- You can work from anywhere that has a WiFi connection
- You can pick and choose your hours
- You can work for whoever you want
- You can take as much time off as you need
- You can work as you’re physically travelling
- You can join digital noman communities
If you’re looking for a guide to becoming a digital nomad, you can visit this site here.
Will You Be Cooking For Yourself?
Another important thing to consider is whether or not you’re going to be cooking for yourself, as this might affect the accommodation that you’re booking. Although it may be tempting to eat out every single day it’s not only bad for your waistline but your budget too.
Do You Need To Use A Bank That Allows International Transactions?
If you don’t already have one, it might be worth signing up to a bank account that allows unlimited international transactions without a charge.
What Are You Going To Do About Your Phone?
When it comes to long term travel, you also need to ensure you’re thinking about your phone, as chances are you’ll be paying for a contract you won’t be using whilst you’re not in your home country. If that’s the case, you might want to consider switching to a SIM only deal. For example, for more information in the UK, you can visit SMARTY SIM only deals here.
Are You Going To Be Travelling Alone?
Although most people embarking on long term travel tend to travel alone, you need to think about whether or not you’re going to be spending any time travelling with others. If so, you need to ensure you’re making plans as far in advance as you possibly can. Not everyone will be making plans as last minute as you, so you need to take that into consideration.
What Do You Need To Pack?
Finally, you need to think about what you’re going to need to pack. With limited luggage allowance, you’re going to have to plan carefully, as you don’t want to forget anything important. When planning your outfits, you need to consider how many different seasons you’re going to be passing through.
Are you thinking of starting a long term travel journey? What do you need to consider to ensure your trip is a success? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.
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