Where to Begin: Long Term Travel
“You have all the fears of mortals but all the desires of immortals.” — Seneca the Younger
Traveling long term is a dreamy, romanticized lifestyle of natural beauty and self-growth. The traveling lifestyle is regularly glorified by social media, but leaves many people wondering “am I capable of doing that?”
The answer is yes, and this article will explain some initial steps to make sure you go about planning the beginning of your trip wisely.
What type of trip do I want?
A trip longer than a few weeks, obviously, but more than the duration deserves attention. There are two essential types of long-term travel, slow travel, and fast travel. Both are good, and considering which one appeals both to your goals and personality will yield the most enriching experience.
Slow travel is great for people wanting leisure. Slow travel reveals deeper characteristics of a place, allows greater leisure and thorough exploration of an area. Longer exposure reveals the atmosphere and the ambient energy shift from weeks to weekends, the local/tourist destinations like restaurants and bars and landmarks, and the day-to-day life of a place. Slow travel is relaxed and never in a hurry.
Pros of slow travel: more leisure, more in-depth understanding of the area, greater chance to network and meet other people.
Cons of slow travel: more time-consuming, less diversity in sightseeing, can get stuck without a plan
Fast travel is great for travelers wanting to see everything. The thrill of open roads, a continuous stream of new and diverse destinations to see, and never fully unpacking anywhere is the essence of the word “nomad.” Fast travel is a great way to cover big swathes of distance in little time, compiling a true highlight reel of cities and greater regions to show off to your friends and following. This is a logistics-heavy, popular method for people taking extended vacations.
Pros of fast travel: maximize diversity in sightseeing, builds a travel portfolio faster, exciting lifestyle
Cons of fast travel: less leisure and more tiring, higher cost/day because of transit, potential to miss hidden gems
Which Amenities matter to me?
Inside the bubbles of first-world living, certain amenities like readily available high-speed internet or hot water are taken for granted. So are transportation networks, convenience stores, and certain dietary requirements. When planning your long-haul trip, taking into account what amenities you require is invaluable.
For example, the internet can vary in strength, and sometimes a Wi-Fi connection is too weak to video call or work with big files. Understanding your internet needs and choosing your travel destinations accordingly can make or break your experience. Some hostel and hotel chains have stronger internet as part of their co-working model and are invaluable for remote workers.
Amenities also include social spaces, toiletries, and towels, or gyms and pools. Pick and choose what amenities you need to have a satisfying experience. Fast travelers might want to stay somewhere with a gym, whereas slow travelers can join a local gym. Extroverts will thrive in hostel bunks, whereas introverts will want more privacy and quiet.
Use booking apps to investigate amenities, and confirm using photos. Be honest with the things you need, and be prepared to find them — especially if something unforeseeable happens. Everyone requires some combination of amenities, and lacking them will spell trouble for wellbeing. So the best option is to write down what is indispensable for your wellbeing while traveling and find a borough or residence able to provide it.
Where Should I Stay?
Booking strategies are fickle, but having a safe place to sleep is vital. Always book a place to stay before arriving in a new city or town, especially for arrivals in the dark. If you want to change places, book fewer nights. But scrambling to find a place to sleep in the dark can be dangerous.
Hostels are the social hub of backpacking towns and cities, complete with communal kitchens and sometimes restaurants. They usually have social areas and a younger crowd who enjoy going out, sightseeing tours, and doing activities together. Hostels are great for solo travelers, party-goers, and some offer volunteer programs where you stay for free and devote x hours a week to work.
Pros of a hostel: highly social environment, sometimes provide a daily meal, cost-efficient
Cons of a hostel: can be loud, can lack privacy, varying quality
Hotels are more private and less socially oriented, come with housekeeping, and sometimes pools, gyms, and restaurants. Economy hotels usually provide soap and shampoo but little else except privacy. The nicer hotels can be elaborate, beautifully decorated buildings but be costly to stay at. However, lower-income countries sometimes have affordable, luxurious hotels and when visiting Guadalajara, I found a 4-star hotel for less than $20 a night!
Pros of a hotel: good amenities, privacy, great potential for deals in cities
Cons of a hotel: harder to socialize, more expensive
Airbnb is homey, and your connection to unique experiences. They usually have kitchens, and sometimes other amenities like pools or terraces. The environment can be social depending on your booking option, or completely private. I always recommend booking Airbnb well ahead of time, options usually begin to diminish ~2 weeks out and some Airbnb properties require reservations 24–48 hours in advance.
Pros of Airbnb: unique stays, residential layout, a huge diversity of properties including obscure locations
Cons of Airbnb: less convenient to book, displayed prices can be misleading, new properties are a gamble
Am I supposed to be nervous?
Yes, you are supposed to be nervous before changing your life. But the nerves are natural and come from the prospect that your routine will not be the same. The trick to traveling well is a solid understanding of your needs and premeditated plans to satisfy them.
Thanks for reading my guide to getting started, feel free to reach out to me, and never stop breaking a Mental Sweat!
