A two-week vacation needs a packing list. A year of travel needs a complete life reorganization. The logistics of long-term travel go far beyond what most travel advice covers.
The Timeline
6-12 Months Before
Finances: Build savings, reduce debt, establish income streams.
Documents: Check passport expiration, research visa requirements.
Health: Medical checkups, dental work, vaccinations started.
Housing: Plan for lease end or property management.
3-6 Months Before
Insurance: Research and select travel/health insurance.
Banking: Set up travel-friendly accounts and cards.
Subscriptions: Audit and cancel unnecessary recurring charges.
Storage/belongings: Decide what to keep, sell, store, donate.
1-3 Months Before
Specific planning: First destination details, accommodation.
Mail and bills: Forward mail, automate bills.
Technology: Ensure devices are ready for international use.
Goodbyes: Spend time with people before leaving.
Final Month
Pack and test: Practice trips with your setup.
Final logistics: Cancel services, update addresses.
Digital backup: Photos, documents, everything important.
Mental preparation: Process what you're about to do.
Financial Preparation
How Much Money?
Rule of thumb:
- Budget travel: $1,000-1,500/month
- Comfortable: $2,000-3,000/month
- Comfortable in expensive areas: $3,000-5,000/month
Calculate: Daily budget × days + emergency fund (3+ months expenses) + return flight.
Income While Traveling
Remote work: Freelancing, consulting, remote employment.
Savings drawdown: Living off accumulated savings.
Combination: Part-time remote work + savings.
Be realistic: Income may be less stable traveling. Buffer accordingly.
Banking Setup
Essential:
- No foreign transaction fee card
- Account that reimburses ATM fees (Charles Schwab in US)
- Wise multi-currency account
- Two different banks (backup access)
Before leaving:
- Notify banks of travel
- Increase daily limits if needed
- Enable international access
- Test cards work abroad
Taxes
Get advice: International tax situations are complex.
Key considerations:
- Tax residency rules in home country
- Obligations while abroad
- Foreign income reporting
- Digital nomad visa tax implications
Health and Insurance
Pre-Trip Health
Doctor visits:
- General physical
- Dental cleaning and any needed work
- Vision check and extra glasses/contacts
- Specialist follow-ups if relevant
Vaccinations: Start early—some require multiple doses over months.
Prescriptions: Get maximum supply allowed, plus documentation for refills abroad.
Travel Insurance
Not optional for long-term travel. Options:
SafetyWing: Affordable nomad insurance, subscription model.
World Nomads: Established, good adventure coverage.
IMG Global: Higher coverage limits.
Factor in: Pre-existing conditions, adventure activities, geographic coverage.
Health Records
Carry copies of:
- Vaccination records
- Prescription information
- Relevant medical history
- Emergency contacts
- Insurance details
Digital backup: Encrypted cloud storage for all documents.
Housing and Belongings
Your Current Home
Renting: Time lease end with departure, or negotiate early termination.
Owning: Rent it out (property manager recommended), sell, or leave empty.
With family: Easier logistics, storage space likely available.
What to Do With Stuff
Sell:
- Anything you wouldn't re-buy
- Items losing value sitting unused
- Things that could fund travel
Store:
- Irreplaceable items
- Expensive to replace if needed
- Strong emotional value
Donate/Give away:
- Everything else
Storage options: Family (free), friends (free/cheap), storage units (expensive).
The Decluttering Truth
You have too much stuff: Everyone does.
You won't miss most of it: Almost universal experience.
It's liberating: Less stuff = less mental burden.
Legal and Administrative
Important Documents
Get organized:
- Passport (6+ months validity, empty pages)
- Birth certificate
- Driver's license (international permit if needed)
- Important contracts/documents
Digital copies: Encrypted cloud storage, accessible from anywhere.
Power of Attorney
For extended absence, consider granting someone trusted:
- Financial power of attorney
- Healthcare directive
- Access to important accounts
Mail Handling
Options:
- Forward to family
- Services like Traveling Mailbox (digital scanning)
- Important bills to email/autopay
Subscriptions and Services
Cancel:
- Gym memberships
- Streaming services you won't use
- Magazines/subscriptions
- Any recurring charges unnecessary abroad
Keep:
- Services you'll use (streaming that works abroad)
- Cloud storage
- Necessary professional memberships
Practical Logistics
Phone and Connectivity
Options:
- Unlock phone, buy local SIMs
- International plan (expensive long-term)
- eSIM services (Airalo, etc.)
- Maintain home number via Google Voice or similar
Voting
Register for absentee voting if traveling during elections.
Vehicle
Selling: Often the best option for extended travel.
Storing: Proper preparation, insurance considerations, battery management.
Pets
This requires serious thought:
- Long-term care arrangements
- Bringing them (complex and expensive)
- Honest assessment of what's fair to the animal
Packing for Long-Term
Less Than You Think
Long-term travelers often carry less than vacationers. You'll buy what you need abroad.
The Capsule Approach
Carry-on bag: 35-45 liters, everything fits.
Clothes: 1-2 weeks worth, quick-dry fabrics.
Tech: Laptop, phone, minimal accessories.
Toiletries: Basics only, buy rest locally.
Special Considerations
Layers: You'll encounter varied climates.
One nice outfit: Sometimes needed.
Copies of documents: Physical and digital.
Sentimental items: Minimal—photos can be digital.
Relationships and Goodbyes
People You're Leaving
Have real conversations: Not just "I'm traveling"—discuss what it means.
Create maintainance plans: Schedule regular calls.
Accept distance: Some relationships will strain. That's okay.
Supporting Your Network
Stay engaged: Don't disappear completely.
Be considerate of time zones: Don't only call at your convenience.
Share thoughtfully: Not everyone needs daily updates.
Mental Preparation
What You're Doing
Long-term travel is a major life transition. It's:
- Exciting and terrifying
- Liberating and destabilizing
- Growing and challenging
Realistic Expectations
Not everything will be amazing: Some days are hard.
Loneliness happens: Build coping strategies.
Growth isn't always comfortable: That's the point.
Home changes: The place you left evolves too.
Defining Success
Before leaving, consider: What would make this worthwhile?
Not Instagram metrics—personal meaning.
The First Destination
Where to Start
Consider:
- Visa-free entry (easy start)
- English or language you speak
- Good tourism infrastructure
- Affordable (stretch your runway)
- Time zone compatible with home
Popular starting points: Thailand, Portugal, Mexico.
How Long to Stay
Minimum: 2-4 weeks per place.
Better: 1-3 months per place.
Why longer: Cheaper, deeper, less exhausting.
What to Book
Before departure: First week or two only.
Leave flexible: Plans will change.
Common Mistakes
Over-Planning
You don't need a year itinerary. First month is enough.
Under-Saving
Emergencies happen. Buffer matters more than you think.
Bringing Too Much
Seriously, less. Then less than that.
Ignoring Health
Get the checkups. Get the vaccinations. Get the insurance.
Expecting Transformation
Travel doesn't automatically fix problems or change you. You do that work—travel just provides context.
Forgetting Home Logistics
Surprise bills, administrative issues, and home obligations don't pause because you're gone.
The Decision
If you're reading this, you're considering it. Some questions:
What's actually stopping you? Often fears that shrink upon examination.
What's the cost of not going? The life you want versus the life you're living.
What's the worst case? Usually: you come home. Life continues.
What's the best case? You become someone you couldn't have become staying still.
Long-term travel isn't escape—it's choice. Choose consciously, prepare thoroughly, and go.
Start planning your extended adventure with TripPlan—our AI helps you map out the journey of a lifetime.
