While I’ve never specifically set off on a Round the World Trip, I’ve done most of my traveling on working holidays. I find this to be an excellent way to temporarily get settled in a country and gain a better understanding of its people, geography, customs, and lifestyle. Prior to coming to New Zealand, I spent four months in Ireland and about six months in the United Kingdom.
Traveling long term doesn’t necessarily come easy. Being on the road for extended periods of time can become waring. While these challenges are part of the journey, these seven tips will make traveling long term a better experience for you.
1) Keep a Schedule
These seven tips all revolve around this one piece of advice. Maintaining a schedule on the road is crucial to successful long term travel. While living the life of a backpacker is drastically different than the life of a 9 – 5er, it’s essential that you still maintain some sort of a schedule – just as you would at home.
2) Mind the Drinking
Backpackers that head over to Europe for a three week stint traveling around can stand to get pissed ever night. You can’t. If you’re considering long term travel, you’ve got to keep tabs on your drinking schedule. The midday pint or cocktail might be alluring for the first couple weeks you’re on the road – but sooner or later, you’ll find you’ve got to ditch the lunch cocktail and nightly benders.
Drinking to excess daily isn’t healthy – but I’m not here to act as the Surgeon General. A heavy drinking schedule kills the budget and generally makes for an unproductive trip.
3) Plan and make your dinner
If only the life of a backpacker allowed for nightly meals out, things would be so much easier. Or would they?
I think one of the main keys to successful long term travel has to do with your nightly eating habits. There is certainly an allure to eating out on the town every night, yet realistically this isn’t possible for the budget traveler. Clearly, a nightly meal at a restaurant with a bottle of wine would kill the budget. More importantly, I think keeping a nightly structure allows for easier travel plans. Make a habit of cooking your own dinner nightly. It’s significantly healthier, more budget friendly, and you’ll inevitably meet more people at the hostels you’re staying in. Which brings me to number four.
4) Avoid staying in massive chain hostels
There is something to be said for checking into a hostel like the Flying Pig in Amsterdam. The drinking, the parties, and (for you single gents), the ladies. Wherever you go, chances are you’ll be able to find a party oriented hostel similar to the Base or Nomads chain in New Zealand. Stay in them if you wish – but only for a couple nights.
If you’re planning on remaining on the road long term, and intend on staying in the same city for more than a couple days, consider finding a locally owned, chilled out hostel. You’ll stand a better chance of staying rested, keeping up with tips two and three, and chances are you’ll meet other long term travelers.
5) Keep up with your exercise
Even if you didn’t have an exercise schedule before you left home, now is the time to start one. Trying to keep to an exercise schedule will ultimately result in you trying to keep a normal day to day schedule. You’ll be less tempted to stay at the pub till the wee hours of the morning if you’ve got to run a couple miles in the morning. More importantly, I think exercise generally makes for a healthier outlook on life. Those down moments on the road will be less likely if you’re keeping active.
6) Keep up with the news
Sometimes it’s hard to believe, but while you’re cruising across Europe in a train, New Zealand in a campervan, or Bangkok in a tuk tuk, life in the rest of the world goes on as per the normal. Keeping up with the daily events of the news will help you to remain somewhat grounded. While sometimes I rejoice in the fact that traveling gets me out of the day to day politics of news at home, it’s still important to keep updated with the latest happenings in the world.
7) Write a travel blog
Maintaining a travel blog on the road is an excellent way to document your travels, keep up with friends and family, and most importantly – maintain a schedule. Two weeks into your traveling, you’ll probably still be glad to be away from work and the realities of home and will still be enjoying the midday pints. Two months into your traveling, and you’ll probably be looking for additional responsibilities other than planning your trip.
Keeping up a travel blog allows you to keep a schedule, but more importantly, you feel responsible for something at the end of the day. If you make it a goal to keep generating content, you’ll feel responsibilities from day to day which will result in a more meaningful time on the road.
If you treat your traveling as a lifestyle, and have structure in your day to day life, it’s much easier to continue on for weeks, months, or even years.
What do you think? Leave your tips for successful long term travel in the comments section below.
Backpacking Matt 
Great post!! Can I add one? I think challenging yourself is important when you travel for a long time. Take a class in something you’ve been curious about, learn a foreign language, volunteer…it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you try something outside your comfort zone.
@Andrea Excellent – I definitely agree.
@Jonathan In keeping a schedule, I don’t mean, ‘today I’m going here, tomorrow I’m doing this and going there.’ Rather, I believe that it’s beneficial to have structure in your day-to-day life if you’re going on an extended backpacking trip. Yes, it is a bit redundant, but all of the other tips make it easier to maintain structure in your life when you’re moving about from place to place. Re: keeping up with the news, believe me, I don’t make a point of checking CNN every day, yet keeping yourself educated with the general happenings in the world is crucial. Especially as we’re traveling the world.
I actually disagree with your first point which kind of makes most of the rest of the points redundant. Although it may be a question of definition, but I would say that the one defining point of all my travels in the last 18 months has been that there has been no schedule whatsoever.At times some forward planning is necessary, but a schedule? Never.
I agree with numbers 7 and 4 (most of the time) though, but am absolutely against following number 6. One of the joys of losing yourself in travel is losing yourself completely and cutting yourself off from the world. Most of the time it’s impossible to escape, so when you get the chance it’s such a pleasure!
Haha I stayed at the Flying Pig in Amsterdam… crazyness.
I really appreciated this post. As I’m gearing up to do this serious, year long backpacking trip, one of the things I’ve been thinking about a lot is how I can relax, recharge and keep my stamina up during such a long trip. I think you’re suggestion to have a routine is good, and I would add getting enough sleep to the list. That is something I tend to sacrifice when doing short trips, but after while it can really take it’s toll. Better to be well rested and energized!
@Steph I didn’t stay at the Flying Pig, but I’ve heard stories! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Tips for you as you’re about to set off – so exciting! Yes, keeping up with your rest is essential as well and significantly easier if you’re not staying nightly in hostels like the Flying Pig. If you don’t keep up on your rest, you’ll end up sick on the road and have to resort to the advice in your most recent post.
@Amanda You’re right, most of these tips are probably applicable to all sorts of travel. Glad you enjoyed and agree with the advice.
Great post, Matt! I haven’t done any extended travel of this sort… I only studied abroad for about 5 months in college, but that’s slightly different. However, I think your tips are still really useful. I think 2, 4, 6 and 7 can probably apply to any length of travel (and I’ve definitely applied them to my adventures in the past).
Great post, Matt!
I have to disagree with your first tip. If I’m travelling, it’s exactly because I don’t want to maintain a schedule just as I would at home. I want the option to do whatever I want, whenever I want. That said, we have to be more “pro-active” with our activities than we’d be at home, so we don’t get stuck.
I understand we may need a schedule if we need to work, but we must be able to break that schedule any time if we feel it’s time to move on. That’s the beauty of travelling, isn’t it?!
And I agree with all the other tips! Even if it’s hard to keep up with tips 5, 6 and 7 sometimes.
Thanks for the comment Cris. By keeping a schedule, I mean maintaining structure in your day-to-day routine – not necessarily planning your trip out days or weeks in advance.
Although I prefer to be as flexible as possible when travelling I agree with you on the whole schedule idea. When you’re self-employed and travelling long-term you need some structure in your day to keep productive. Without this sort of structure it is so easy to get into the habit of sleeping in every morning and missing out of getting work done.
I think flashpackers hostels (like the Base or Nomads chains) have their place and are ideal for a soft landing in a new country; but for longer stays it can make a big difference to your budget finding a good small hostel (like a lot of places in the BBH chain in New Zealand). The big flash hostels are usually clean and well-equipped but they generally have bars (which often means no cheap outside alcohol allowed) and limited kitchen facilities – those two things can kill your budget.
Also most long-term travellers fit in better in smaller hostels, which generally have a more mature crowd of other long-term travellers (a lot of long-term travellers do freelance work or run their own business, because they are now too old to get a Working Holiday Visa but want to keep backpacking for as long as possible).
@Tim For a solo traveler, I’ll agree that a flashpacker hostel like Base or Nomads would be good when you’re first arriving to a country – especially if it’s a place you intend on staying for awhile. I’d avoid Base in Auckland though – that place was appalling, though I’ve heard most city center Auckland hostels are. You’re spot on about meeting like-minded long term travelers. Cheers for the comment.
@Angeline I’m glad you found Backpackingmatt, and especially glad you enjoyed the article. Great advice too, thanks for adding it.
@Agentcikay It’s those long days walking and exploring that make me especially ready for a pint! I’m no teetotaler believe me, but excessive partying will just destroy a budget.
@Eli Cheers for the comment mate. I like that, “Long term travel is not a vacation, it’s just like living a regular, routine-based life, just on the road and not in one set location.” Spot on.
@Christine I think generally eating and living a healthy lifestyle is important as well. I guess by exercise, I’m not specifically saying a nightly gym run is necessary. Walking and exploring is good, and I enjoy the odd jog around a new location – I find it gives you a whole new perspective to the area.
@giuliadventures Thanks for the comment! Glad you agree. Here’s hoping you get on an extended trip soon! 🙂
Good article! 🙂 In terms of long-term traveling these are great tips!
It’s my dream to travel with one-way ticket (meaning: long-term).
I’d like to add some points:
– Bring versatile clothes for mix-match & easy to wash, yet sturdy. Traveler doesn’t have to look like a bum.
– Respect locals, and welcoming other travelers regardless the nations.
and I agree with Andrea’s points 😉
Thanks! Glad to find your blog through @lonelyplanet twitter.
i totally believe in no.2 and no.5 in fact, when on holiday, i sometimes forget to drink alcohol even because the amount of exploring and walking just gets you tired by the end of the day. However, 1 beer is fine with dinner i think;) great post – thank u for sharing!
The advice on drinking is spot on, I find I can’t sleep as well even after just a couple drinks (which may be psychological at this point) and that magnifies over an extended period of time. Also, exercise helps regulate your body a bit and helps you sleep sounder and better.
Matt, these tips are all great, especially the drinking in moderation tip. I’ve learned this while saving up money at home. You just can’t realistically maintain a budget and party everyday at the same time. It’s all a matter of compromise and sacrifice. Long term travel is not a vacation, it’s just like living a regular, routine-based life, just on the road and not in one set location.
And, of course, if you’re traveling in the long-term you MUST have a travel blog 🙂
Totally agree with the “don’t drink too much” tip. I rarely drank when I was backpacking for five weeks, since a hangover does not motivate you to wake up early and explore! Plus, drinking is EXPENSIVE. No quicker way to run out of money with nothing to show for it.
I’m not totally sold on the exercise one. I was a total gym rat in America, but I’ve yet to come up with an exercise routine here–gyms are expensive and a bad knee makes it hard to run. However, just being active and healthy is enough for me here–I used the gym as an outlet for stress, as time to focus on “me” when I was at home, and my lifestyle is so much healthier that I don’t really need it here. I walk everywhere and I take four flights of stairs several times a day. Add in plenty of fresh food and lots of water, and I think I’m doing OK 🙂
I agree with everything, expecially about the “don’t drink” tip. But maybe that’s just because I don’t like drinking:) And it’s always so expensive!
Concerning the schedule, I understand what you mean: not a strict one, with timetables etc!
I’ve never had a very long trip (not more than 1 month for now, unfortunately) but I can imagine how hard it can be if you want to travel for many months and maybe sleep just a few hours a night. That’s probably not gonna work unless you’re very young!
Thank you for the tips, very interesting!
Great post!! There’s something to be said for pacing yourself when travelling in terms of the partying. It can be tempted to ‘sample’ the nightlife in every location but the reality is that just leads to trying to get antibiotics at a hospital on Mykonos for what should of only been a cold had I actually stopped partying to rest!
Also I’ve gotta say my favourite hostels have always been those quiet, local boutique ones, but I’m not one who particularly enjoys the experience of staying at those large, practically hotel hostels!
And cooking on the road I think that’s a great tip! That keeps me sane while I’m living abroad so including that in travels is a great idea!
@Sasha Thanks, glad you agree. The smaller hostels always have much more character, are often equally budget friendly, and you stand a better chance of meeting fellow long term travelers. Win, win, and win. With cooking on the road, you get to sample the local produce yourself!
@dreamtravelerjess Great point. It’s always rewarding to meet someone that calls the destination you’re at ‘home.’
@Cam Glad you can relate. Long term travel certainly isn’t a vacation, something those looking in from the outside may not realize. Rewarding, yes. Exciting, yes. Yet it sure isn’t a one week vacation full of glitz, booze, and glamor!
@Ayngelina Great idea with the Spanish lessons. Keeps you structured and gives you something to work for too.
I think another great tip is to make an effort to live like the locals. Yes you make friends backpacking but they’re always moving. It’s nice to have a friend that lives down the road and works at a local shop.
Good list Matt. Having just returned from a year of consecutive travel, I can totally relate, and I agree.
I think sometimes it’s too easy to forget that traveling is not vacationing. It’s important to develop somewhat of a routine to keep you grounded and also keep your excitement levels up.
I’m totally with you on structure. The first few weeks of my RTW were unstructured and it didn’t work for me. Once I started taking Spanish lessons my days were a bit more structure it worked better for me.
I don’t run so I still haven’t figured out exercise yet but it is on the top of my list and I may be visiting the dreaded gym on the road.
Some great tips. I’m still in the planning stages of my round-the-world adventures, but it’s so nice to read tips for on the road. I want to travel for at least a year, but I often wonder what that really means and how things will play out. I’ve already decided to not drink, as it gets seriously expensive.
@SpunkyGirl Drinking is a budget killer. Hopefully the other tips help you as well. Good luck in your planning!
@Brandon Thanks for the comment. A RTW trip is worlds different than a quick backpacking stint overseas. Yet, I’m not sure I agree that you shouldn’t set off to see the world if you’re happy at home. I think regardless of your situation at home, there is much to be gained after a long term trip traveling. Not only a better appreciation of the world, but a better understanding of who you are. Happy at home or not, I still think a long term trip is a good idea.
Definitely resonates with some of the stuff I experienced earily on. Unlike a month stint through Europe or SEA, doing a year or more is more of a extistential move, you have to look at it as a tool to change your life for the better and the main tool of change is how you use your time to form healthy and happy habits. This much time out of a structured setting can either liberate or ruin you, depends on the person. For me, having a return plan in the beginning is the last thing you want to do, consider the savings you’ve put away to make the trip happen an investment in your self and with the right mindset, you can turn the trip into a journey of discovering your passion, not just a freedom romp for bar, to beach to hostel party. You will know a lot more about yourself upon returning to your life, or hopefully you will have the positive intention and action to create something along the way that will turn your journey into your new life. If you are happy in your home life, I wouldn’t recommend long term travel, because the novelty of seeing new places and monuments wears off and if there isn’t some deeper purpose underlying the trip, there may be a better use of your time.
Agreed! While I am planning to stay in a different place for three months at a time, at my first stop in Italy, I have implored many of these tips to keep my extended travel successful. I do find it difficult to keep up with work abroad. I just freelance write for several companies, but when you have Italy outside, it can be hard to focus on writing. Keeping a routine is key to procrastination. I’m still working on that one.
Great post. Some very interesting pointers. I like the exercise tip; I generally (and usually unintentionally) structure some of my travel around exercise of sort. Running races around the world gives me a great kick, and I am currently taking Taekwondo classes during my stint in Korea.
I travel in the complete opposite field to you and I have had some amazing experiences: I quite often completely run out of money, I quite often wake up not knowing where I am, I quite often forget to eat, I quite often need to stay in train stations. Here are my seven hints:
1. If you are running out of money go to a bar and spend your last 20 on buying good people drinks- you will find yourself sorted. 2. smoking fags is good for hunger. 3. Use guide books for toilet paper. 4. keep a clean pair of trousers and a shirt in the bottom of your pack in case you need to be straight. 5. Many businesses need short term help. 6. Hitchhiking is more fun than trains, trains are more fun than planes, though stewardesses rock. 7. never let people see you unhappy- you’ll bore them
Great tips. I’m one for shopping in local food markets and making my own meals. I love fresh fruit, cheese and some warm bread. Although the temptation to eat out is always there.
I also agree with the drinking. I learned that lesson a couple of years ago. Now, I rarely drink when I travel (TBEX was a HUGE exception haha).
@SpunkyGirl Thanks! I think they’re all great tips, yet they’re certainly not easy to follow. I heard TBEX was a bit of a drunk fest!
The only one that I don´t agree with entirely is the first one. I don´t like to make my plans too set in stone — keep the flexibility to do some things that you hear about on the road and such. Other than that…. great list that I agree with.
Hi
I suppose we are all different … cos I can’t really agree with most of them – especially #1; as I believe travel is about crazy, unplanned meandering adventures (which often one has no control of ..). So a schedule – say in West Africa – Guinea, Sierra Leone – usually means unpredictability and spontaneity, no breakfast, no internet, no transport – and waiting around forever.
Anyway, I can agree with #4. Big hotels are dull unless you’re with a girlfriend being decadent. And #7 – keeping a blog/diary/record of some sort is good for memories when ya get old and hazy …
Enjoy.
Regards – Michael Robert Powell / the candy trail … a global nomad, since 1988 (PS: I believe I qualify for a “long term traveler” badge)
@Michael Thanks for the comment – I it’s important to realize we all have our own unique travel style. What works for me won’t always work for you.
By keeping a schedule I don’t necessarily mean you have to have every hour of every day planned. Rather I think it’s important to keep some structure in your day-to-day life if you’ll be on the road for extended periods of time.
Just wondering how old people are when they do the whole long term travel thing? I’ve always wanted to travel for a year to see challenge myself, and I might have the opportunity to do this. I’m 37. Also, how much money do people take generally when travelling long term?
@Darren Thanks for stopping by Backpackingmatt – I suspect “older” people have similar travel to styles to “younger” backpackers who have set off on an extended, round-the-world trip. If you’ll be traveling constantly for long periods of time, and are traveling on a budget, you’ll be staying in hostels or guesthouses, preparing your own meals, and generally treating travel as a lifestyle.
As far as a budget, so much depends on where you’ll be traveling to – your monthly budget will change drastically depending on what country you’re in. A month in New Zealand where I’m at now will cost heaps more than a month in Thailand where I’m headed in a week!
@Connie – Thanks for the comment! Believe me, I’m not out running every morning! I just think it’s a great habit to aim for and attempt to incorporate into your travels.
Great post! I try to keep the same tips for my own travels but I’ll admit, the one I fail on is exercise. I just don’t do it. I make excuses that all the walking, hiking, and carrying around a heavy bag is exercise enough. Unfortunately, it’s not. Thanks for the reminder to help push me to exercise a bit more while on the road!
Minding the drinking is soooo hard though!
Keeping up with exercise is key! I may walk a lot more travelling, but no gym = I am so much weaker!
@Hogga Very true, hard but good on the budget.
@Jenny Thanks Jenny! You can party and sleep all day when you’re at home and not traveling – I enjoy getting a taste for the nightlife scene wherever I’m at, but it’s important to remember the other motivations behind travel.
Great tips on successful long-term travel. I totally agree with the less drinking. I met so many people on the road that drank all the time and didn’t even really get to see what was around them or participate in the culture. They were either hung-over, partying late, and sleeping till 5pm everyday only to repeat.
Totally agree with all the points! Especially with the drinking one. I quit drinking 2 years ago and each time someone asks me where I get money from for my trips, I always say I dont go party every night and get pissed like them 😀
Drinking less is a really easy way to save some expense, since drinks are often so pricey. Don’t get me wrong I love to indulge in a good cocktail here and there, but the nightly binge? It gets boring. If you’re in it for the long-term, I think that is very sound advice Matt.
Hey Matt – excelent list I have just returned from a round the world trip and the non chain hostel is the best peice of advice. I stayed at a small hostel in Sydney for 4 months lived with the same people and then all traveled up the coast together – it was epic.
All great tips, especially the not-drinking-so-much one. It’s incredible how quickly a few big nights out can eat chunks out of your budget.
If however like me you like a good night out, try to at least keep it to a minimum, and do research on the area you’ll be. Are there any special events going on? Live music, etc? Local bars are also often far cheaper than the bars and clubs that cater to tourists and foreign students, so in general I try to stay away from the places the hostel recommends.
And don’t forget, depending on your hostel, you can always buy a few cans of the local brew at your supermarket and take them back for a fun, inexpensive evening sitting around chatting and playing card games with your new friends.
@Nicole Cheers for chiming in. I often find that hostels do well in pointing you to a cheap place to drink – they certainly do here in NZ. Although yes, you can’t beat hanging out and drinking beers at the hostel.
Great tips 🙂
I certainly agree with the need to keep up exercise – when you’re travelling long term you can get so caught up with tasting the food – but I guess all the exploring burns that off!
Drinking alcohol is a good point too – you can do that at home, no need to over do it on your travels 😛
Absolutely perfect and worthy tips!