r/longtermtravel

I leave Brazil on the 24th and this specific part is the one making me nervous.

I'm 19, I run my own small business remotely, around 2k usd/month. The trip is Dubai, then Cairo and Luxor, then Athens, Santorini, and finally Istanbul where I stop and stay 15+ days.

Istanbul is where I plan to actually slow down and go deep on work. The problem is everything before it. That first month is night buses, 4am flights, a festival, changing beds like 6 times. And my business can't go a week without me in it. So the "just slow travel" advice I keep reading here doesn't really help me yet.

For people who worked through something like that:

did you keep fixed hours or just work in whatever gap showed up?

mornings before going out, or nights after? what actually lasted more than a week?

and travel days, did you give up on them completely or force a few hours anyway?

I already sorted the technical side (internet, vpn, backup data, coworking places mapped). It's the discipline part I have no clue about. I keep picturing myself in Cairo with the pyramids right there and my laptop open, and I genuinely don't know how that goes.

thanks for me help love youu

any real experience helps, even the bad ones

Trigger post dont read if sensitive to depression or self harm. Edit; i am not suicidal atm but know my depression will come back.

I dont know how to ask this but it has been on my mind alot..... i have had depression since i was probably 12 on and off. I am in my late 30s now. Anyway, for probably the past 2 years i feel like i dont wanna live till old age. Im scared to live with depression all my life.

I dont have much family, my parents were alcoholics and abusers. Not so many friends and i dont wanna go back to my career anymore.... also, if i die i wanna die with zero and not leave any inheritance to family since i dont have a partner or other family myself.

i have savings to maybe last me 10-15 years of travel depending where i go, maybe more depending on inflation. I dont know what to do with myself but i have always enjoyed traveling... and i thought why not just travel till i run out of money and than die...? I know this sounds crazy to a lot of people but have you ever met someone like that? Maybe terminally ill? Not sure this is the right group! Also yes, i am in therapy but talking doesnt help me really

I’m planning to spend a couple of months traveling around Europe while working remotely, and I’d be interested to hear from people who have done something similar.

I’ll be working 40–48 hours per week, usually from 3 PM to 11 PM, so I’ll have my mornings and early afternoons free to explore. I’m not looking to move around every few days — I’d rather stay in each place long enough to actually experience it while keeping my work schedule manageable.

My budget is around €1,800 per month for everything, including accommodation, food, transportation and activities. I’m mainly interested in Central Europe and was thinking of starting with Hungary and Czechia. For example, I could spend about a month in Budapest and another month in Czechia, splitting my time between Prague, Brno, Olomouc, Plzeň and Český Krumlov.

For accommodation, I’m considering monthly Airbnb rentals, Booking, local rental platforms or similar options. I don’t need anything fancy or completely private. The only things that are important to me are stable internet and a proper desk where I can work. I’m completely fine with shared accommodation and having other people around — I don’t need complete peace and quiet.

For those who have traveled this way while working full-time, how did you find the experience? Is a budget of around €1,800/month realistic for Central Europe if you stay longer in each place rather than constantly moving? I’d also be interested in hearing how people usually find reasonably priced monthly accommodation.

I’d especially appreciate experiences from people who have spent longer periods in Budapest or Czech cities while working remotely.

Luckily this hasn’t happened to me, but I remember landing in Hong Kong and I didn’t realize my cell phone wouldn’t work, which I need to make purchases. Luckily I quickly found my friend and I got it sorted out

I have a steady income now so I’m thinking about doing the digital nomad thing, but I’m also scared I’ll be in Vietnam or Morocco or something and suddenly my income dries up

I'm planning on traveling for a few months in Europe (I am based in the US). It seems like most annual travel insurance plans will cover multiple trips "up to 45 days"...I'm not taking multiple 45 day trips so much as one long trip in multiple countries, does anyone have an affordable travel insurance recommendation for this?

My wife and I are both 26 years old living in the US. We are planning to quit our jobs at the end of April 2027 and backpack across Europe and South East Asia. We are roughly thinking of doing 5 months across Europe and 7 months across South East Asia or until the money runs out. We have budgeted $50,000 for our travel fund as well as $7500 for our fixed expenses in the US (Student loan payments, storage unit, phone plans, health insurance while abroad). We also plan to keep $10,000 separate for when we return. My wife has a job in a very stable industry and should be able to find a job relatively quickly upon return. We will also be leaving our retirement untouched which should be roughly $65,000 (90% ROTH) when we depart. Our only debt when we return will be approximately $20,000 of low interest student loan debt. Are we making a mistake taking this trip? We have both always dreamed of seeing the world. We feel we won’t get another chance to travel this way if we decide we want to have kids in the future. We also wonder if we are being financially irresponsible or not thinking of the effect on our careers. I am interested in different perspectives especially from older folks who either did a similar trip or decided to stay put and continue on a more traditional path.

Hey everyone! So I’ve been travelling for the past few years, while hopping countries, and every time I move to a new place, my kitchen situation and grocery routine get thrown out the window.

A few things I keep running into:

1. Airbnb kitchens that only have a single pan and two burn-out hot plates.
2. Walking into a foreign supermarket and wasting 20 minutes translating ingredient names or paying double because I bought imported items instead of local staples.
3. Buying groceries in sizes that mean I end up throwing away half my food when I pack up for the next city.

How do you manage cooking on the road? Do you give up and just eat out, or do you have a system for finding cheap ingredients that work with basic equipment?

Thanks for the reply!

Hi everyone,

Last month, on an island in Malaysia, the only way to reach the nearest ATM was by boat. Once there, most shops only accepted local payment methods, not my card.

I'm digging into this for a personal project — a quick 5-min anonymous survey if you've experienced something similar (Asia, Africa, Latin America).

Curious if it's just me or an actual pattern.

Thanks to anyone who takes 5 minutes 🙏

TLDR. I'm about to head on a one-way(ish) trip from CO USA to South East Asia with my partner. Going a little crazy reading all the very positive AND very negative reviews for almost ALL the recommended companies (Anytime, iPostal1, Travelingmailbox etc). Trying to decide what is best for my specific situation, advice appreciated!:

CO was home, won't have a CO address upon departure, planning on forwarding some mail to my parents in TX. I don't think they are going to want to ship things like potential replacement credit cards to me, so I'm looking for a slightly better solution. I've been advised to not give up my US address, so their place will serve this purpose. (Is that for residential or mailing? Haven't lived/nor planning on living in TX.)

I don't get much snail mail, I don't plan on shipping packages across the sea. (Virtual)Mailbox is more for tax/bank/important doc purposes, potential replacement credit cards etc.

I am not planning on working, so income/business stuff doesn't necessarily apply (other than interest from bank accts).

Looks like I need to sign/set up a specific notary form before I leave?

Just looking to have a plan B set up and in place before departure in 1m, so I don't end up in an Oh Crap situation thousands of miles away. I've already dug through quite a few posts and my confusion is compounding. Any tips/experience is appreciated!!

I have many girls, who travel full time and stay at very expensive places around the world! And they do it constantly. How do you afford it and what do you do for work ?

Hey everyone. I'm from Japan and I've been thinking about whether long-term travelers would ever be interested in staying in the countryside for a month or two, instead of rushing through Tokyo and Kyoto.

I'm looking into the area around Nakatsugawa and Ena in Gifu. It's about an hour from Nagoya, with places like Tsukechi Gorge that have really clear rivers and forest trails, plus traditional streets and local food like Japanese chestnuts.

If a fully furnished private house was available for a 1-3 month stay where you could work remotely and live at a slow pace, do you think that's something you'd ever consider?

Also, for those who travel long-term or work remotely, what would be the main challenges for you? Things like no rental car, grocery shopping, or internet speed?

I'd love to hear your honest thoughts, even if you think it's a terrible idea. Thanks!

I'm 23 y.o., work remotely as a developer. My family had already been displaced once by war years ago, and after finishing my degree in Russia this year, I had a narrow window before I'd have to either continue studying or face mandatory military service.

So months ago, I decided to leave. I saved up, planned it carefully, and about a week ago my wife and I relocated to Southeast Asia. I sold most of my belongings, my computer, my desk setup, anything that didn't fit in a suitcase.

Now that we're here, and I just feel like I made a huge mistake. I miss my comfort, my routine. I haven't slept properly in a week. I keep having thoughts like "I should've just stayed," even though I know what staying could have meant. I also feel guilty watching my wife struggle with the same adjustment, like I dragged her into this.

Logically I know the decision was planned, not impulsive. But right now it just feels like I gave up everything for... nothing? I can't see clearly what the next 6 months, a year, two years look like, and that uncertainty is eating at me.

Has anyone else gone through something like this, leaving for a serious reason and then hitting this disorientation? How did you get through the first weeks? Did it get better, and how long did it took?

Hello everyone

I am interested in doing a 6- 12-month backtrip through Asia, and I was wondering if you all had any tips on how to save up for those trips. Currently, I am in school while planning this but any help will do even if its time consuming

Hello everyone. I'm a writer and I'm also into marketing. I want to travel and for that i need your help. I'm offering my services in return for food and stay. I can also work in the kitchen. I know how to cook. I want to either write a novel or script and i need a change of place for that. I'm trying to find remote/freelance jobs but until then i offer my services for stay and food.

If you're located in a hill station, teach me climbing and take me out on treks.

if you're located near an ocean, teach me how to surf.

All this in return for my services.

I want to meet new people and grow my network. My dream is to have friends in every state of the country.

Tell me how please 🥲

Hi everyone,

I would like to hear about your experiences and get some recommendations for a route that would allow me to visit some of the best and most affordable countries in Asia.

This will be my first low-budget, long-term trip, so I’m reaching out to you because I honestly have no idea where to start.

I’m currently 28 years old and, to be honest, I’m tired of my job. I’m planning to quit and take about six months to travel around Asia before looking for a new job back home.

I’ve previously traveled to countries like South Korea and Japan, but only for two-week vacations, so this will be my first experience traveling long-term.

My budget will be approximately 9,000USD. Do you think that would be enough for six months in Asia?

I would really appreciate any recommendations regarding routes, countries, transportation, accommodation, budgeting, or anything else you wish you had known before your first long-term trip.

Thanks in advance! 😄

I am not sure this is the right group. I am late 30s, from Europe, I used to travel alot in my 20s and early 30s, mostly backpacking. I lost that version of myself a bit, I guess partner and career etc influenced that. Without wanting to go into all the details; I have a decent amount saved (approx 500k) and I want to opt out of western rat race society but my home country is quite expensive and I dont wanna be here anymore. I often feel like all I want to do is just go on walks, sleep, cook some food, read books and maybe learn a new skill.

Where would you go? I am female btw

I just want to go live somewhere simple, in nature, that doesnt cost a leg. I appreciate warm cultures. I know wherever I go, there I am but I have been really depressed the past few years and no therapy can help. I feel like I need to be somewhere that reminds me while life is worth living (dont worry I am not suicidal).

Can anyone think of a country or place?

My dream would be New Zealand but it is too expensive so I have been contemplating South Africa, Bolivia, Chile or even somewhere in the balkans.

Hey guys! I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me!
So I’m visiting these places starting in November and I’ll be out there for 6 months!

Firstly, when packing- how many shirts, sweaters, pairs of shoes, underwear, bathroom stuff and makeup would you recommend?
I think I’m only using a 45L backpack!
Any suggestions on where to keep my passport and such, especially in hostels?? Never did this before!
ANY AND ALL advice is greatly appreciated!

Credit cards - cheap fees and good rewards?
I plan to cancel my AMEX credit card as it’s likely not accepted anywhere out there and its fees are kind of high…
Does anyone have suggestions on which new card would be best to get? I want something that will either help me get free flights, hotels or money back!

Volunteering, housesitting or working
Does anyone have advice on which one might be the easiest to get into?
I’m trying to do 1 month per country i visit on a low budget- so far I’ve looked a LITTLE at globalworkandtravel, TrustedHousesitters and Hostelworld.

Best ESIM?
Am I able to get one that works for all of these places and is cheap?
I genuinely know nothing about these- is it cheaper to get one in each individual country you go to or do I try to change my phone plan from Koodo to a courier that allows me to go to these places with service for no extra fee?
Alsoooo should I cancel or put my phone number on hold since I’ll be away for 6 months?

Travel insurance
Should I go for nomad travel insurance, snowbird ones or just regular?
I already know I’m probs gonna get sick from being in Asia- really scared of Bali belly and such so want to make sure I’m covered!
Also does anyone have recommendations on prescriptions to get BEFORE I travel? I was thinking sea sickness patches, sun rash cream cuz I’m very sensitive to the heat, travellers diarrhea pills

Also do we HAVE to get vaccines before going or can we say no and get in there anyway?

Lastly, visas- is it easier to apply 30+ days for it before arrival or do it once you’re at the border?
Thanks so much in advance!

I’ll be done with school soon and my whole mantra is live your life. Once I’m done, I plan on traveling every chance I get with my husband, his and my family together and building a family (if life permits). I enjoying chasing experiences like shark cage diving, seeing northern lights, etc. what is your most HOLY COW moment? I want my breath to be taken away. I love life and the beauty of it, even its flaws.

I know many places are glamorized which is why I want first person advice. I see Switzerland and Finland in my near future. But I also places like third world countries in my future where things aren’t sugar and spice. I like to see the highest highs of life and the lowest lows. I like seeing and learning to understand different perspectives.

Where should I go/do??? I’m ready to start planning my never ending journey. If life allows of course…