Know Before You Go

Finances

It all begins and ends with money. Once you have set your mind to travelling for a year, or indefinitely, it is high time to start saving up – unless, of course, you have already been doing that.

How much money do you need? That depends on the duration of your trip and what you want to do and see. It also depends on your preferred travelling style – is it backpacking, hitchhiking/using public transport and sleeping in the hostels or do you feel more comfortable staying at boutique hotels and going on organized trips? The difference between the budgets of the above travelling styles can be quite significant. It also depends on whether you are going to spend most of your trip in countries with a high economic standard (e.g., the USA, Australia, the Baltic states) where the prices are several times higher than the ones in Southeast Asia and some South American countries.

Once you have decided on which style of travelling you prefer and which countries/continent you would like to visit, you can look up a lot of information online; it should be obvious that one thousand euros per month should more than suffice for a low-budget backpacking in Southeast Asia.

Do not forget to add the approximate price of the plane tickets, insurance, visas etc. to the amount of money you will be needing, though.

TIP: If you want to go low budget, there are many places around the world where you can volunteer (in exchange for food and accommodation), “look after” the house and pets, or find temporary work in the tourism or agricultural sector (hostels, cafés, fruit picking, helping on an organic farm...). In such cases, you can set out with a minimum amount of money you have saved up, plus you will be having an unforgettable experience.

Travel documents and visas

The last thing you want to experience during your trip around the world is to find out somewhere in the middle of your journey that your passport has expired. Therefore, it’s necessary to check your passports expiry date before travelling – it should be valid at least six months after your approximate intended return.

If you intend to drive a car or a motorcycle abroad, you’ll also have to have or apply for a driving license.

Some countries require travelers to obtain a visa to be allowed to enter the country, so check whether you have to obtain your visa at home, before travelling, or at one of the embassies, during your trip. But definitely try not to leave your visa at home, in your scanner.

It is best if you make copies of your documents and keep them someplace safe.

Regular costs

When you go on a trip for a whole year, it seems only logical to reduce the costs at home. If you live in a rented flat, you can simply move out, otherwise you should consider renting your flat or house for the time of your absence, or at least cut non-essential costs (e.g. TV and internet).

You can also cancel your mobile phone contract, since it’s more convenient to use foreign SIM cards abroad and you can still connect with your family and friends through Wi-Fi.

Paying when abroad

Generally, every country has its own currency and, with the exception of an “emergency stash” of a few hundred dollars, you shouldn’t take cash with you on your trip, but rather withdraw money at an ATM when necessary. It’s good to carry various credit and debit cards with you because it can happen that an ATM won’t accept all of them or an unpleasant incident may occur and you end up without one of your cards. And what if the impossible happens and you end up without all of your credit cards? Well, if you authorize your next of kin at home, they can access your bank account and transfer money to you through Western Union.

Healthcare

Before setting out on your trip around the world, schedule a general health check with your doctor and/or dentist (and of course your gynecologist if you’re a woman). In case you’re taking medication regularly, your doctor will prescribe them in a larger quantity and, in order to avoid any possible trouble, they should also enclose a signed statement (that you’re supposed to be taking the medication).

Also check the vaccination requirements and/or whether you need to take antimalarials. Some vaccinations are compulsory (e.g. against yellow fever), others are recommended (e.g. against hepatitis A and B, and rabies). Take your vaccination record booklet with you on your trip, and if you figure out as you go that you’ve missed out on a vaccination you can visit a hospital abroad and get vaccinated later.

And don’t forget about your travel health insurance!

TIP: For long trips we recommend extended insurance that, along with health services, covers cancelled flights, lost luggage, stolen electronic equipment etc. – the longer you travel the bigger the chances something might go wrong. If you do sports, such as diving, hiking and mountain biking, don’t forget to add them to your insurance policy (for an extra fee, of course) because these aren’t included in the basic tourist insurance.