Whether you're going for the digital nomad route and working as you go, or you're hitting the road with savings, allowing you to be a little more footloose, traveling for six months, a year, or longer can be a once-in-a-lifetime, memorable experience. To make sure that it's memorable for all the right reasons, it's important to do some preparation ahead of time, even if you're hoping to wing it once on the road. For inveterate planners and impulsive free spirits alike, laying down some foundation before you head out can make your journey much safer and more rewarding.
Understand Your Traveling Style
What kind of traveler are you? Are you more about hotels than hostels? Are you committed to Airbnb, and if so, do you prefer whole homes or a room in the home of a local family? Are you a budget traveler, or do you like to splash out in style? Do you travel with three suitcases or a single carry-on backpack? Do you prefer to try to visit as many of the big tourist sites as possible, or are you more into sitting in a cafe and people watching? Answering these questions and others like them can help ensure that you start out on the right foot.
If you're going to be with someone else, it's particularly important that you answer these questions up front and ensure that you're compatible or at least that you can compromise. But even if you're on your own, it can be easy to let others' expectations take over. Friends and family members may be insistent that you do things a certain way, or maybe your favorite influencer is an adrenaline junkie, and you think you need to be too. By all means, opt for the ziplining expedition if that's where your heart is, but ultimately, remember that this is your trip, and you should take it in the way that feels most comfortable for you.
Understand Your Planning Style
Even if you're going with someone who has the same traveling style as you, what about their planning style? Maybe you both agree that nothing less than rooms at the Hilton will suit you for accommodations, but are you a committed planner, or do you tend to be more spontaneous? Do you want to create heavily researched and tightly timed itineraries for each place that you go? Do you want to know exactly where you're going to be two months from now, or will you leave all of that up to chance? Keep in mind as well that spontaneity can have a price. While last-minute accommodations will occasionally be reduced in order to fill those last few rooms, it's more likely that you'll end up paying more to book transportation and rooms with little time to spare.
Another thing to consider is whether you tend to like doing everything yourself or if you want to have someone else do it for you. Many often don't realize that in these days of booking everything online, travel agents still exist. If you'd be happier turning over the nuts and bolts of your trip to these professionals or to tour operators, it remains an option. These can also be good alternatives if you have a complicated itinerary or a very specific set of wants or needs for your trip. Whatever your planning styles, make sure that you know what approach you need to enjoy yourself.
Figure Out Health Care
Nobody wants to think about getting sick while out on the road, but as would be the case at home, you're still susceptible to illnesses and accidents. It's good to have several layers of protection in case this happens and a game plan for needing to return home. Getting travel insurance is a good start for one layer of protection, but that insurance may not cover you domestically or if you go home because you're sick or injured. It can be hard to get regular health insurance in that situation. Paying out of pocket can leave you quickly overwhelmed by medical expenses, and things aren't much better from the practice side.
For this reason, medical providers are increasingly using financing solutions in areas that include eye care, dental care, and even veterinary services. These include buy now, pay later solutions. These options offer quick applications and advantages even for people with lower credit scores, including high approval rates and soft credit checks. Utilizing Sunbit can offer flexible payment options. However, other alternatives like Care Credit and Cherry can deliver better value to patients and providers. Medical providers can review the top financing options available.
Look at the Details
Whether or not advance planning makes your heart sing, there are some details you can't afford to overlook. The first of these is making sure that you have everything you need and that you understand the rules about entering each country that you plan to visit. How long are you allowed to stay in each place? When your time is up, can you simply cross a border and then return, or do you need to stay away longer? Do you need a visa? If you do, this can involve anything from weeks or months of planning ahead to being able to purchase one at the airport.
Some countries may not require a visa, but will ask you to complete an electronic visa waiver application online before you head out. Many countries will expect you to have proof of onward travel. Missing out on these small details can seriously disrupt your trip. Consider as well how you want to stay in touch with people both at home and abroad. Your phone may have an international add-on plan, but it can get expensive fast. A better choice for many is either buying a new SIM card in every new country or getting an eSIM that you can use in many different countries, and Airolo is a popular brand that offers a wide variety of data packages, but there are others as well.
Finally, if you're going the digital nomad route, you'll need to do some extra research. The good news is that more countries are creating digital nomad visas that allow you to extend your stay. However, obtaining those visas can take a lot of time and patience. Make sure that you understand whether you're allowed to work, even remotely, in the countries that you're visiting. In addition, make sure that you understand your tax obligations and file accordingly.
You'll also need to make sure that you have the tools you need in order to get your work done, including a reliable internet connection. You might want to look into getting a mobile hotspot to ensure that connection is always available, but as with your phone, your hotspot will need to have a SIM that works in the various countries that you're visiting. Consider as well whether you'll have a work area. It might be difficult to conduct online meetings in a crowded hostel. You might be better off renting an apartment in this situation, although bigger cities may have coworking spaces. Another option is staying in accommodations that are specifically set up for digital nomads.
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