What I’ve Learned from over a Year Traveling Full Time

I have been vagabonding for most of the last two years, both domestically in the United States and Europe.  Learn from my mistakes and successes, and gain travel tips and insights from my long term travel adventures.  On today’s podcast we will:

• Bust the two biggest myths of travel :  Travel is Expensive and Travel is Dangerous
• We discuss share travel money saving tips on lodging, transportation, activities, tours and meals
• You will learn how to travel with no planned itinerary
• Learn Kit’s most used and favorite Travel Apps

TRAVEL MYTH:  Travel is Expensive – “I can’t afford to travel”

There are four large categories of travel expenses.  With a little thought, you can tailor your travels to your budget so that you can afford to travel more.  The biggest travel expenses are:

• Lodging
• Transportation
• Food
• Attractions and Tours

How to Reduce Transportation Expenses

• SLOW DOWN!!!  Don’t try to see too many destinations on a single trip.  Not only will you save a ton of money on transporation costs, but also you’ll be spending your precious time actually enjoying you vacation rather than sitting in a van, bus, train or plane!
• Use Public Transportation.  I use the Rome2Rio.com  app to find out what my travel options are, how often the bus or train runs, and the approximate cost.  It is not full proof, so ideally, check on the ground when you arrive at a new destination on the best way to depart.
• Look for lodging near the bus or train station so you can walk instead of taking a taxi.  Or at least near the local bus or tram stop.
• Evaluate whether a train or bus pass will save you money (often it won’t, so crunch the numbers)

How to Save Money on Food when traveling

• Fix you own by buying food at the local market or grocery store.  If your lodging has a refrigerator, microwave and/or cooktop, there are many simple meals you can make.  Or simply buy some cheese, bread and wine for a delicious picnic!
• Eat like a local:  if you eat the same food as the locals, you will pay a lot less money.  This means chicken, rice and beans in Latin America, and stews or minced meat in Eastern Europe, for example.
• If you crave your ‘regular’ food, or tourist food, at least find a restaurant severla blocks from the main tourist areas.  The prices will be lower and if they cater to locals, the food will be better.

Drill down deeper on how to save money both FOR and ON travel by checking out my companion Adventure Travel Show podcast and website – Click the boxes below!

Travel Myth #2 :  Travel is Dangerous, especially overseas

BUSTED!  I have visited over thirty countries, plus 48 of the 50 United States, most of which I traveled solo, and I did so without incident.  The world is a much safer place than the news would indicate.  We tend to fear the unknown.  And just because there is a lot of crime in one part of town, doesn’t mean that there aren’t other SAFE parts of town.  That being said, here are some safety guidelines I follow:

• Let someone back home always know your itinerary:  just forward your lodging accommodation coonfirmation
• Pack your common sense and then use it:
  • Don’t get impaired with alcohol or drugs
  • Don’t leave a drink unattended
  • Get home at a reasonable hour
  • Don’t flash money, jewelry or electronics
  • Keep aware of your surroundings
  • Be suspicious of overly friendly strangers
  • YOU choose who to ask for help, not visa versa
• Ask the locals about any special safety precautions you need to take:  they know and want you to stay safe
• Always be careful with your belongings to avoid being a victim of pickpockets or bag theft.
• When traveling internationally, register your plans with the State Department STEP program (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program).  This way, if something bad happens while you are in country, they know you are there and can try to help

How to Travel without an Itinerary

Does the idea of going someplace new without a firm plan sound scary?  It did to me at first, but now I love it and have been traveling this way for close to two years.  I rarely plan more than a few days in advance if I don’t have to catch a plane.  This allows for serendipity.  What if you make new friends who invite you somewhere cool, and you’ve already booked non-refundable lodging?  What if you fall in love with someplace and would rather stay longer, but can’t for the same reason?

The internet allows you to travel on the fly because you can find out in seconds what’s available.  One exception, I don’t book same day Airbnb stays as it always blows up in my face.  Choose a hotel or hostel instead.  Here are some of my tips for unplanned travel:

• I usually book my accommodations at least three days in advance (and try to stay in each location several days which gives me time to decide if I want to extend my stay.  I have found that I prefer five days in most locations.
  • Know where you are going to stay by noon.
  • Try to get there before dark
• Have a rough idea of where you think you might want to go next, and then check schedules for getting there in case the bus or train only runs certain days of the week.
• Familiarize yourself with the bus or train station you will be departing from.  I usually swing by when I am nearby to see how the ticketing works, I double check the schedule and pricing, and then guage how long (and how) I will get there on departure day.  If possible, do this when you arrive there.
• I usually don’t spend too much time figuring out what I want to do once I am there.  I visit the Visitor’s Center to get a map and a better idea of what I want to do, and then plan a rough outline that evening.
• I try to take a walking tour the first or second day.   This gives a broud overview of the destination so you can see what you’d like to explore more.  You might also make some travel friends!  Most cities offer free (tip-based) tours.  I also like AirBnB Experiences.

General Travel Tips

• BEFORE you leave your last destination, and while you have wifi, take screenshots of your next lodging:  take one of the map from your transport to the lodging, the address and phoone number, any check in instructions (door codes, etc.), just in case you don’t have cell service when you get there.  You may want to purchase a local SIM card to avoid this problem.  But this will require that you pack a second phone or go without your phone number while you are traveling.
• Keep your FULLY CHARGED phone on Airplane Mode to save battery juice, BUT before you do, plug in your next lodging address in your map app.  Even offline, you will be able to find your room.
• When you arrive at your lodging, PIN your location so that no matter how lost you get, you can find your way back, or show a taxi driver.

Choosing Your Next Destination when you have NO Itinerary

1. Once you decide on your next country, then Google “Best Places to Visit in [insert country]”.  Scan a couple of blogs posts and make a short list of cities and towns that look interesting.  Put a star by the ones you really want to see.  Don’t worry about details now – just whether the place appeals to you in general.
2. Open Google Maps and then using the ‘Get Directions’ link, start adding destinations.  The destinations you add are the towns you have on your list above.  Don’t worry that your map is a mess.  Once you’ve inputed all the towns, you will now have a general idea of the geography of the country.
3. Draw a rudimentary map of your Google map.  Just a dot and town name with a rough proportionate distance.  This gives you a bit of an idea of the order you may want to visit the towns.
4. Go to Rome2Rio (either use the app or on your laptop).  Search routes based on what looks like a logical path.  If something is too difficult, consider deleting it from your list.  Make notes on your map of frequency, cost, and bus or train, and time it takes to get there.
5. Consider taking Day Tours from a Base City.  This might be the easiest way to see some of the ‘difficult’ towns.  Yes, you spend more time going back and forth instead of simply going forward, but there is value in not moving lodging all the time.  Plus, you usually start early morning, AND get dropped off and picked up at the right place without waiting around.

6. Look into taking a Day Tour TO your next destination, but bring your pack and just stay behind.  You not only solve your transport problem, but also get a tour out of it!  Check with the tour company BEFORE you book.  If changing countries, you can usually only GO with them and get dropped off (ie, you can’t return WITH a Day Tour, or Immigration may have a problem with you).

7. LOW TECH Road Tripping Tip:  Get a paper atlas.  Cut mini post it notes into thirds and write down people or towns, etc. that interest you.  Post them on the state or country you are driving in.  Before you enter the state, look at your map and using a highlighter, mark a logical path of places to visit.  Prior to arriving at the town, google the town to see what it was that caught your fancy(or make a short note on your post it note).

8. TECHIE WAY:  Make up a spreadsheet.  Make a column each for Continent, Country, State, Town, and Activity of Interest, and Notes. As you hear about someplace interesting, add it to your spreadsheet.  Check your spreadsheet before you reach a new area.

Packing for Long Term Travel – even Adventure Travel!

I  have everything I need to visit almost any country and be able to hike, bike and paddle.  All I carry is a backpack and a daypack.

BONUS TIP: Don’t bring your favorite clothes!  This way, if you find you aren’t using something, you can leave it behind for someone else to use.  Remember, if you NEED it, they will sell it where you are going.  You can even pick up things at Thrift Stores (think heavy coats – and just donate it when you move to warmer climates).

This is what I have in my adventure travel backpack (Men’s recommendations too):

Please use my AMAZON link to purchase any of your gear (or anything for that matter!) .  I get credit for you entering the Amazon site from my link – at no additional cost to you – no matter waht you buy, or whether I recommended it.  You will be helping to support the program and helping to keep it AD FREE:)   Please BOOKMARK my LINK to make it easy to use in the future – many thanks!  Kit

CLOTHES & GEAR

Choose neutral colors that work for any season!  Think LAYERS like an onion!

• 70 L Backpack
• 20 L Daypack
• Hiking pole (bring both if super rugged)
• (2) large Neoprene Water bottles
• Water Bladder – if needed for long hard hikes or bike rides
• Grayl Water bottle if going to areas where you can’t drink the tap water
• Lifestraw as a back up to purify water
• Trail runners (pack boots or hiking shoes if super rugged)
• Water hiking sandals (for water sports, public showers, ‘dress’ shoes, light hiking)
• Wide brimmed hat
• Baseball hat (great under rain jacket hood or helmets!)
• Balaclava or wool hat (maybe ear wrap or buff)
• Bike helmet
• Neon Bike Wind Jacket that converts to vest
• Padded Bike Shorts
• Bike Gloves
• (?) Padded Bike Seat
• (1) Roll up performance long sleeved hiking shirt
• (1) Long sleeve hiking/biking shirt that doubles as a town shirt
• (1) Quick dry knit short sleeve top (nicer)
• (1) Quick dry knit tank top – MEN:  Or another knit short sleeved top
• (1) Knit long sleeved (nicer) tunic – MEN:  One nice wrinkle free long sleeved short
• Pashmina (shawl, head or neck scarf)
• (1) Pants or jeans
• (1) Zip off hiking pants
• (1) Quick dry shorts (for hostels and laundry day, too)
• Sports bra
• Nude T-shirt bra
• Tankini or bikini (NOT one piece – too hard to use a porta toilet!) MEN:  Swimming trunks
• (1) Quick dry Camisole (use for night shirt and wash day)
• (2) Wool socks
• (1) Toe socks as liner socks
• (3-4) Quick dry underwear (wash in sink between laundry days)
• Woolies: long sleeved top and bottom (preferably black)
• Fleece top
• Puffy Jacket
• Wool gloves
• Rain Jacket (lightweight)
• Rain Pants (lightweight)
• Waterproof Gloves
• Sunglasses and neck holder

TOILETRIES AND MEDICINE

• Sunscreen
• SPF Chapstick
• Day and night lotions
• Makeup (minimal!)
• Makeup Remover
• Q-Tips
• Toothbrush, floss and paste
• Deoderant
• Razor
• Ear plugs
• Eye mask
• Comb or brush (many places have a blow dryer)
• Nail file
• Nail clippers
• Shampoo, conditioner and gel
• Small Alcohol gel for daypack + larger refill
• Medicine for the length of your trip PLUS paper prescriptions as a backup

OTHER

• (1-2) At home Covid Tests (the call in kind)
• Emergency Kit (scroll below)
• (?) Paperwhite Kindle
• (?) Laptop
• Electric converter
• Electronic Chargers
• Earbuds
• Notepadad and a couple of pens
• Lightweight Silk Sleeping Bag liner (great in Europe and hostels)
• (30′) Parachute cord – Laundry
• Laundry sheets
• Lightweight bottle opener/corkscrew
• (2) Large Zip bags labeled ‘Trash’
• (1) Small Zip bag with TP
• (2) Zip bags
• Reusable shopping bag
• Backpack cover (mine coverts to a duffle so I can  check my large backpack on the plane)
• Spork (a plastic knife/fork/spoon combo)

CONTAINERS FOR STUFF

• Stuff sacks for:  daypack snacks, toiletries, medicine, emergency bag, miscellaneous
• Mesh sack (holds my cords and chargers and doubles as my delicate wash bag)
• Clothes cube (maybe two for a ‘nice’ and a hiking one)
• Plastic shopping bag for dirty laundry

MY DOWNSIZED EMERGENCY KIT

Note: If going in back country with NO guide, bring your FULL kit!

• A headlamp with fresh but no back up batteries
• A compression sock in case i twist an ankle or need a tourniquet
• Emergency space blanket
• Small mirror to signal help
• Whistle
• A few bandaides 
• Antibiotic ointment
• A little bit of Neon surveyors tape
• Dryer lint mixed with petroleum jelly as a fire starter
• Mini butane lighter
• Mini pocket knife
• Compass

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