How to Prepare for a Long Term Solo Trip
I have to admit there is some irony in me writing a post on preparing as I am the biggest procrastinator! So consider this a very basic list of things you really should check off before your departure as I’m not really a planner (I’m more of a go with the flow gal). If you’re planning a long term trip and unsure of where to start, I hope this helps!
Freak Out
The real journey really begins the day you decide you’re actually going to do this. You will experience every emotion a human can experience, trust me. This is life-changing! I’ve never really been an anxious person and I had the absolute worst anxiety months leading up to my departure date. You are going to have to learn to deal with these emotions in a healthy way. This is an opportunity for you to lay a strong emotional & spiritual foundation for your journey. I started going to therapy for the first time in my life to prepare for this trip. I now have a whole set of tools that I can pull out when I’m experiencing emotional difficulties while abroad, very far away from my family, friends & therapist. I also started meditating on a daily basis. Meditation changed my life & was a constant reminder of WHY I decided to this in the first place. Do what you gotta do, but make sure to equip yourself with healthy methods of dealing with your emotions so you can stay calm & positive while on the road. This is just the beginning.
Research
Once the initial freak out sesh was over (if it ever was) I began to research. There are so many travel blogs & vlogs out there, specifically travel blogs for solo female travelers. Some of my favorites include The Blonde Abroad, Legal Nomads & Hey Nadine. Have an idea of what countries you want to visit and the kind of activities you want to participate in. From there you can figure out the rest like your budget, how to pack, what vaccines to get, etc. This is the fun part!
Save Money & Budget
The most common question I receive when I tell someone I’m traveling long term is “how can you afford this?” No, I did not inherent a trust fund and I have no sugar daddy funding this trip. I moved back in with Mami & Papi after 10 years of independence to save money. As my trip approached I cut back on eating out, drinking, shopping, traveling, etc. Pretty much I cut back on having a life! I will be very honest & admit that this was extremely difficult for me as I’m not naturally a homebody. I was sacrificing A LOT in order to make this happen and there were moments when I felt it may not be worth it. You know, like on that 5th consecutive Saturday night I stayed in to Netflix & chill by myself. Or the day I had to cancel my high-end gym membership & kiss my favorite kickboxing class goodbye. But in those moments I had to remind myself “Hey! That could be a train ride to Goa, or an excursion to a secret waterfall in Costa Rica, or a meal in one of the world’s best restaurants in Bangkok.” It was worth it, soooooooo worth it! I had a number in mind & I was very determined to save that if not more.
Now as for budgeting, I will say it is far more affordable than you think it is to travel slowly in developing countries. Key words here: travel, slowly, developing, countries. As in rent an apartment for a month, cook in that kitchen, meet locals that can show you around, use public transportation, and take your sweet time getting to know a place. You can live on as little as $50-$60 a day in places like Southeast Asia & India. Obviously you need to take into account flights, pre-travel expenses, etc. I have to be honest & say I did not create this crazy excel spread sheet with every day laid out & budgeted. It’s just not my style. But if that is your style, there are so many examples online, like Eliot Peper’s 6 month budget breakdown.
One last money saving tip: open an account with Charles Schwab. Why? No ATM fees! Well, to be fair, they refund all ATM fees at the end of the month. And no charges for international transactions or currency conversion.
Plan, But Don’t Over Plan
I gave up over planning trips after my second trip to Costa Rica. It was in Costa that I learned to travel slowly & the true definition of going with the flow. I always have an idea of a few things I must see/do when I visit a place, but I don’t go as far as planning every day out with wake-up calls & bus schedules. The beauty of long term travelling is going with the flow and not really having a detailed plan. My best travel memories are those unplanned spontaneous moments! The only thing I am kind of crazy about planning are my flights. Even if I purchase at the last minute I always make sure I arrive to my destination when there is still light out. Very important!
Go to the Doctor
And the dentist. And the gyno. And the optometrist. Just make sure to get a general check-up before you leave. This is also a great time to ask your Doctor about vaccinations. Also, if you wear contacts like I do, make sure you take enough for your trip, an extra set of glasses and a copy of your prescriptions.
Get Your Vaccinations
You don’t HAVE to, but I, along with the CDC, highly recommend you do. The most common vaccines are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Meningitis, Yellow Fever, Tetanus booster, Typhoid/Diphtheria, MMR booster (measles, mumps and rubella) and Polio. Of course this is all dependent on where you’re going and what kind of activities you have planned. Start this early as some shots are done in series & may need at least 6 months between them.
There are certain countries that require proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever. You can start your vaccine research on the CDC’s travel website.
Don’t get overwhelmed. This part of the planning process freaked me out. Visit a clinic that specializes in travel medical care, like Passport Health. After my initial consultation it was much easier to navigate thru this.
Purchase Travel Insurance
Again, you don’t HAVE to, but my thinking is better safe than sorry. A friend recommended Allianz Travel Insurance which I chose because it worked with my budget. World Nomads is another highly recommended & trusted site.
Renew Your Passport
Or get one if you don’t have one already! Note, there are some countries that will not allow you to enter if your passport expires within 6 months of arriving. It’s easy to renew your passport online. Remember processing time is 4-6 weeks, so make sure to give yourself enough time.
Sell Your Stuff
When you start selling your stuff shit gets real. You've officially committed. It's scary, but it's exhilarating! There's no turning back and there's no wanting to. Sell your car, your electronics, sell whatever you don't need. Add that extra cash to your travel fund!
Pack Light
Lay out everything you think you need. Now, get rid of half of that. That’s some of the best advice I’ve encountered while researching packing lists. Check out what I’m taking to Costa Rica for 3 months for some inspiration on what to pack. Just always remember, comfort is king!
Say Goodbye
In style of course! Plan a little party with your family & friends. This is a big moment in your life & it should be celebrated! I found the cutest travel party ideas on Pinterest. Make sure to use this time to collect everyone’s physical address. They will really appreciate a post card or two while you’re traveling!
How do you prepare for a trip? Whether it’s a short or long trip, share with me your planning tips & tricks in the comments below!
