Now that I’m back from my whirlwind adventure, I am starting to process what just happened, and trying to transfer it into a form that is useful for other people. I’ve gotten quite a few questions on how I was able to pull all this off, so today, I’ve written a short article of the “how to” steps involved in my first long-term travel. Anyone who is mildly interested in something like this should at least start down this path as soon as they can, and who knows, maybe you’ll be off on your own adventure in no time.
1. Start saving.
Unless you have a lot of disposable income lying around it will take time to be able to afford a large trip. That doesn’t mean it has to cost a lot of money, but you are going to need some. Adjust your lifestyle so that with every paycheck you are contributing to your dreams. Yes, every paycheck. It might be a good idea to start small. When you first receive your paycheck, put aside some money towards your trip. Then, if you reach the end of a pay period and you still have some disposable cash, that means you can bump up the amount you are saving. While doing this, observe your spending habits and see where you can cut back on expenses. In my experience, I was able to adjust my spending habits by eating-in more, limiting the number of times in a week I went out to meet friends, riding my bike instead of driving, quitting smoking, and reducing frivolous spending (clothes, decorative items). Even if you were to save $100 dollars a month ($50 per biweekly paycheck), after one year you would have $1200 saved. This is not enough to go away for an extended time, but it is a good start. Depending on where you want to go and what kind of lifestyle you want to have while there, you might only need as little as $3000 to go on a sizable trip.
2. Take a test trip.
Long term travel definitely isn’t for everyone. Some people thrive in the openness and chaos of a life of travel, and some benefit more from the rigidity and familiarity of life in a familiar place. You will never know how you react unless you try it out. So, what are you waiting for, try taking a little trip somewhere and see how you react to it. It doesn’t have to be far. Maybe there are nice places near where you live that you have never visited that attract worldwide attention regularly. You will be exposed to some feelings that you might not have ever felt before. Ask yourself, is this something that is ok for you? Do you miss your friends and family back home? Are you uncomfortable sleeping in unfamiliar places? Are you comfortable being alone? Make sure that you would feel comfortable with these feelings even if they became more intense before embarking on an even greater journey. And even if some of these feelings are uncomfortable, knowing what they feel like may help you anticipate them for a bigger trip and help you develop ways to cope with them when they do arise. The feelings that you are left with after this trip should help light the fire for your desire to go away for longer, or help you rationalize why a shorter trip might be the better idea for you. Whatever happens, listen to yourself to see what will be right for you.
3. Pick a starting destination.
Depending on the region in the world you want to visit, this will set you up for some initial planning. How much does it cost to fly there? How much does it cost to stay? Can you work there? How easy is it for tourists to get around there? What language do they speak? When is the high season? What times of year has weather that you would rather avoid? Are there any cultural events there that you would like to attend? These are all questions that will help you get acquainted with a destination, and understanding your starting point will help you plan out the very first part of your trip, and from there you will be off.
4. Start talking to people about where you want to go.
In doing this, your are solidifying the idea that you will be doing this in your mind. This will make it easier for you to keep the concept of saving money for your trip at the top of your mind. Then, every step of the way will be easier because you are that much more focused and committed to the end goal. Also, you might not know it, but maybe the people you are meeting have done similar things and will be able to give you advice or words of encouragement. You might learn things you never would have known otherwise, meet people with contacts in certain places and in general become more comfortable with the idea that this is a real thing that is going to happen.
5. Pick a date.
Look at a calendar and think when seems like a good time to leave. Consider what kinds of commitments you currently have and when you would be able to free yourself from them. See the rate at which you are spending money and envision when you would have enough to finally take off. Also consider things like when in the year is it cheap to fly there, and what the weather is like. This will affect the kinds of things you will be able to do, and the type of gear you will need to bring. Considering many factors can be a bit daunting but when a couple of variables seem to point to a specific time as being “the right time”, set it in stone. You don’t have to buy your ticket yet, but highlight a region in time that works and then commit yourself to it.
6. Work towards your goal.
Once you are committed, there are small steps that you will be able to take along the way. Research what kind of things you will need to bring with you and slowly start to acquire things that you do not have. This will make it easier on your budget than buying them all at once. Get your travel documentation ready (visas/passports). Plan what you will do with your stuff (get rid of your belongings, your apartment, maybe put things in storage) and start executing it. Try to learn some of the language of where you will be going. Research things you might want to do when you are there. Observe prices in plane tickets regularly so you can snatch up a good deal when you see one. Check the rate that you are saving money regularly and see where you can increase savings. Justify being frugal with the idea of how much fun you will be able to have with that money later. Research what kind of options you have for utilizing your money in a foreign country (atm withdrawals, credit cards, currency exchange) and decide which you would feel comfortable with and see if any banks available to you have good deals/rates for travelers. You also might need to appoint a power of attorney to handle any legal/financial problems for you while you are gone, so start looking into that now.
7. Buy your plane ticket.
For international travel this is probably best done at least 3 months before your travel date. Be flexible if there is a good deal in a period of time before or after the date you have chosen. Check multiple reputable sources for buying airline tickets. This can be intimidating as it seems airline prices fluctuate every hour. If you have been watching the trends you will know what is a “regular” price and what is a “deal”. At some point you will have to stop watching prices and just buy one though, so when it feels right, do it.
8. Sort your stuff out.
Congratulations, it is happening. Now, do all the things you need to do before leaving. Make lists and make sure you get everything important done. Get rid of your stuff, pay your bills, plan your going away party, pack your bag. Alright.. Its time. Now go have fun.