“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”
– Saint Augustine
If you are looking to embark on long-term travel, and you’ve done all the planning, financial preparation, flight and accommodation bookings, be sure to do a rundown as well on these 9 tips for a safe, fun and meaningful experience abroad:
1. Put your stuff in a climate-controlled storage unit.
As you are going to be traveling for a long-time, you should place your possessions in a climate-controlled storage unit. Otherwise, you run the risk of getting your belongings ruined by extreme temperature changes as the seasons go by while you’re still on the move.
Putting an entire household’s worth of items through drastic temperature changes and weather could potentially lead to different types of damages such as mold growth, and stress on your part.
But prior to putting your belongings in storage, make sure you have packed and padded them suitably. You should also label the boxes accordingly, and ensure you have easy access to the ones you may want to get to first when you come back.
With your belongings safely and securely stored, you won’t have to worry about coming home from your travels to find all your possessions ruined because they weren’t secure and in a climate-controlled storage unit!
2. Secure your travel insurance.
As travel insurance can be expensive, many travelers just don’t want to think about allocating a budget for it — especially when there are so many other fun things they want to spend their money on (such as plane tickets, sightseeing tours and food).
However, while it may seem hard to imagine now, there is always a chance that something unexpected could happen to you on the other side of the world. So even if you “only” break a tooth, would you want to be inconvenienced by unanticipated bills without insurance?
Travel insurance should be your main priority because the knowledge that you have it will save you from agonizing should any problems arise.
There are many providers on the market that specialize in travel insurance for long-term travelers. Pick a provider and a plan based on how long you will be traveling for and where in the world you will be wandering off to.
3. Let your family know about your travel plans.
Though a part of you may want to just keep your trip a secret, at least, until you get to your destination, let at least one family member know about your travel itinerary. Also, as soon as you arrive in a new destination, it is essential to contact your respective embassy or consulate and provide them with the following details:
- Your itinerary (including dates, places, hotels, contact persons, etc.)
- A copy of your passport
- Your emergency contact persons and their details
By providing them with these pieces of information, they will easily be able to trace you in case of an emergency.
Additionally, make sure to continually update a member of your family or a close friend about where you are, who you are with, and where you are staying. Consider even sharing a Google Calendar with your plans and itinerary listed; that way, there is at least someone around the world who has a pretty good idea of where you last where.
4. Maintain an exercise schedule.
Most long-term travelers will agree that maintaining an exercise schedule is necessary for your mental and physical wellbeing. By committing to an exercise schedule, you are well on your way to having some sort of a “normal” routine.
Not only will it help to keep you fit (and, therefore, able to indulge in all of the delicious cuisines you encounter); it will also help you in having more self-control when it comes to late nights. After all, if you know you have to run five miles in the morning, you are going to want to keep a regular sleep pattern.
In general, exercise will help you maintain a positive outlook and keep you mentally fit and active, making it the perfect daily activity to combat the “down moments” that still inevitably happen — even when you are on the road.
5. Learn to cook cheap, simple meals.
Once you have embarked on a long-term trip, you will promptly learn that life like this isn’t the same as life on a two-week vacation — especially when it comes to meals. Realistically, it isn’t possible (for most people) to sustain eating out three times a day. You presumably don’t do that when you are at home, so there is no reason to think you will do it in your new lifestyle.
In addition to helping stretch your budget further, cooking your own cheap, simple meals is significantly healthier and helps to prevent travel burnout. In fact, cooking your favorite breakfast or dinner back home is a great way to stay connected with your life back home and to feel grounded in those moments when travel gets slightly too much (which it will!).
6. Study up on local scams.
Every country has its own quirks and cultural norms — one of which is often their local scams. Over time, you will become more adept at picking up when an interaction is actually a burgeoning scam; but, especially at the beginning, the best way to dodge scams is by finding out about them before you even arrive in a new destination.
Many guidebooks warn about local scams, and you can also find lots of travel bloggers writing thoroughly about their own experiences. And yes, people do build fake tourist offices and restaurants.
However, don’t let the occasional scam artist make you unnecessarily paranoid or inherently cynical. Don’t be naive, but don’t shy away from interactions with strangers. Most people in the world have no interest in harming or hurting you, and it is wrong to travel through the world believing this to be untrue.
And, at the end of the day, if you do get scammed and lose a little bit of money, you will just have more awareness for next time!
7. Engage with online communities.
No matter whether you are traveling solo or with a friend or a significant other, there are going to be times when long-term travel gets lonely, or you are in need of communication with other people or groups.
Luckily, many online communities can connect you with other people living a similar lifestyle as you. There are some Facebook groups such as “NOMADS – a life of alternative travel”, or Female Digital Nomads that are filled with advice, tips, and inspiration from people all over the world.
Alternatively, you can search for specific groups based in locations you are planning on traveling to such as “Digital Nomads Medellin” or “Girl Gone International – various locations.”
8. Never forget your earplugs and noise cancelling headphones.
There is no denying that earplugs and noise cancelling headphones are essentials for all travelers.
Whether you are trying to sleep in a noisy hostel, Airbnb, bus, or train, earplugs are what you need to ensure good quality sleep. In fact, you never realize how loud somewhere can be until you are trying to sleep!
Noise cancelling headphones can be a splurge, but are worth it when you need to block out the world to get work done, to sleep, or just be with yourself.
9. Embrace the time being solo.
Many people are too afraid to go and see the world on their own, especially for an extended period. Most of their fears stem from worrying about being lonely; but, the ironic thing about solo travel is that you are almost never alone. You’ll meet travelers and locals alike everywhere you go!
That being said, traveling long-term means there is going to be some more solo time than you may have ever had before; but embrace it! This is when the magic happens; when you realize that you are in control of all your time, itinerary, and life. When you don’t need to seek approval from anyone about where to go, or what to eat, or how long to stay in a restaurant, coffee shop, or art gallery.
To really have a meaningful experience, you must become comfortable with yourself and realize that you have everything you need to stay entertained and inspired inside of you.
Have you ever embarked on long-term travel? What are your tips for budding travelers? Or, if you are about to head off, what are you the most nervous and excited about? Let us know in the comments below!
AUTHOR BIO
Chris Humphrey is the General Manager of Easytruck Moving & Storage. In 2013, the company combined their expertise in professional moving services & storage to create an entirely new approach to the business – and mobile storage was born! Easytruck now operates over 30,000 sq.ft. of air-conditioned facilities in three convenient locations in Dubai and is the only Mobile Storage operator in the UAE.
