This is a post I am VERY excited to write, since this was the pain of my existence when planning for my 6 month travel. Knowing that you are leaving on a long trip can already be a whirlwind. Having so much to do before you go can just add to the anxiety. Now that I am here in Asia, I realize it’s not just the planning aspect of it, but also things I thought I could figure out while I was here. However, there were several things that didn’t work out in the best way and that’s where I think a travel checklist could have been more handy!
So I am here to help. A long term travel checklist is absolutely necessary when in the planning stage to set yourself up for success. While I created this list for those traveling long term, it can be used no matter how long you are traveling! They are great things to look into before you leave, and some you may have never even thought about. So don’t skip over any!
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Confirm your cell phone is unlocked
This is super important, honestly no matter how long you are traveling for. Depending on where you are going, using the countries SIM cards can save you a ton of money. However, if your cell phone is not unlocked, you are stuck and won’t have that option. Call your cell phone carrier beforehand and ask if your cell phone is unlocked. If it’s not, ask them what are your options for doing so.
Once you get to the country, it is usually relatively simple to get a SIM card. You can either go to the countries cell phone provider, or even somewhere like 7eleven. Hostels or hotels will also know where to get them and can help you. But, this will save you hundreds of dollars depending on how long you will be traveling for.
Put your cell phone plan on hold
To save costs, you can also put your cell phone plan on hold for minimal costs. I have Verizon, so I put my plan on hold. All I have to do is pay for my cell phone, and $10 per month to have it on hold. So each month I am paying $40 instead of $80. That saves me $40 per month! It’s well worth looking into and talking to your provider before leaving on your trip.
Get a checking account that reimburses ATM fees
If you travel, you should do this no matter what. There are a few banks that reimburse ATM fees, but the one that I have is Charles Schwab checking. If you are traveling internationally, you will most likely be taking out money often. Having your ATM fees reimbursed will save you hundreds of dollars a year throughout your travels.
Also, DO THIS BEFORE you travel. I am an idiot and didn’t, and now am paying for it. It’s been a total nightmare.
Create a packing list
A packing list is essential when traveling, no matter how long you are planning to travel for. It could be a week, or even a few months. I personally only bring a carry on, or my Osprey travel backpack wherever I go. Therefore my packing cannot be extensive. I have to cut it down and only bring the things I need.
Creating a packing list will help you be organized and not forget anything. I recommend creating it at least a week in advance, that way if something comes to mind, you can write it down. Don’t wait until the day of or you will definitely miss something!
Purchase any additional gear needed
Is there anything on your packing list that you don’t currently have? Do your research and buy it NOW! Don’t wait last minute to get what you need. You will rush, and not get the right product or even potentially miss the shipment!
Get travel insurance
I repeat. Do NOT travel without travel insurance. Why? Honestly, it’s not that expensive. You need to make sure you are covered in case anything happens to you. My friend was traveling in Indonesia and a dog bit her. If she didn’t have travel insurance, she would have had to spend thousands of dollars because of it. Get it.
I personally use World Nomads, which has been a travelers favorite for years! It doesn’t just keep you safe if you have a health emergency, but it also covers theft, lost luggage and more! Get your free quote today using the below!
Figure out your health insurance
I quit my job to travel for the next 5 months. In the US, in some states, you need health insurance or you will get penalized during tax season. Although my state isn’t one of them, I still wanted to make sure that once I got back from traveling, I would have health insurance. I didn’t want to have to stress about it upon my arrival. So if you are in the same boat, do your research. Call your state health department and tell them yours situation. They will be able to guide you in the right direction.
Get your shots and medicine
Again, this depends on where you are going, but this is an important step. If you are traveling SE Asia, Africa or somewhere remote, then getting your shots could be crucial to stay healthy. Some places you even need certain shots in order to enter the country. All you need to do is make an appointment with your travel clinic or primary care doctor. There they will give you the shots and medication you will need.
If you are planning to leave your job or won’t have insurance, try and get all of this done before you go!
Call your credit card and bank companies
Your credit card company or bank will need to know that you are planning to travel. If you don’t let them know, they may put a hold on your account and not let you use your credit card or take out cash. You can simply just call them, or most companies also let you do this online now. Just make sure to do this ahead of time so you don’t run into any troubles while you are there!
If you are looking for an amazing travel credit card to use, I use the Chase Sapphire Preferred which has gotten me a handful of free flights throughout the last year. It has the best travel rewards program and I couldn’t recommend Chase more!
Look into the VISA information
If you are heading to a new country, there may be VISA needs. Look into these well ahead of time in case you need to get one beforehand. A lot of countries you can obtain a VISA upon entry, but some you cannot. Make sure you do your research beforehand!
Cancel any current memberships
If you are traveling for a month or longer, you might as well cancel any memberships you currently have and won’t be using. This will save you money in the end, and maybe you don’t need them in the first place!
Looking for other ways to save money? Check my list here on 15+ ways to save money!
Scan passport for copies
This is important in case your passport gets stolen or lost. Having copies of your passport is really important while you are traveling. Make multiple copes and put them in each bag that you have. That way if anything happens, you will have a copy somewhere to share with the embassy.
Store your belongings / sell your stuff
If you are heading off to travel long term, this is the best time to go through all your things. Either pack them in boxes to come back to, or sell it all. All the money you get from selling it can be used on your travels. Don’t wait last minute for this! The longer time you give yourself, the less frantic you will be.
Check out my post on how my friend made over $7k selling her stuff on Poshmark last year!
Look into your 401k
I am no financial advisor, but I was advised to take my 401ks I currently have and put them into a rollover IRA. That way all of them are in one place and can continue to grow. Talk with your current company you have your retirement with and ask for your options. Do your research. There are tons of financial bloggers and resources out there that can point you in the right direction! Just make sure you finances are in order before you head out of the country.
Update your resume
If you are leaving your current job, you are most likely going to come back to work eventually. Update your resume beforehand. That way you still have access to any data that could be useful for your future interviews. Don’t wait until you’re back, because you will probably forget a good amount!
Get proof of onward travel
This is probably the most frustrating part of a long term trip. If you are leaving with minimal plans as to when you will return, you could get stopped at the airport. I heard and read horror stories where people couldn’t move on because they didn’t have proof of their onward travel.
I wish I had a more concrete answer for you. I called everyone I could to get a true answer. I was heading to Thailand, so I called the Thailand Tourism’s Boston office. She was sure that I needed to book a flight back to the states. Thank god I didn’t do that, because they didn’t even question me at the airport.
However, to be safe, we book an onward flight with onewayfly.com. I learned this from expertvagabond, so I can only trust that it works. We didn’t have to use it, so I can’t be certain, but he has plenty of times!
Make a bucket list
This is the fun part! Creating a bucket list for your trip can be a benefit in many ways. First, it can help you stay on track to what’s REALLY important. If an elephant sanctuary that’s $50 is on your bucket list, then maybe you pass on a tour to a national park that’s the same price. It’s going to be tempting to want to do everything, but having an exciting list that you will feel good about will help you prioritize.
Create a budget
Any type of travel, it is great to have a budget (unless you have a ton of money, which I do not). Set your daily budget, then figure out how much you will want to spend on each necessity (accommodation, transportation, food, etc.). For example, in Asia, I set my boyfriend and my budget at $25 per day. We tried sticking to $10 each for accommodation, $10 each for food, then $5 for everything else. This is actually really hard, hah! But if we didn’t have a budget, we wouldn’t have been so thoughtful when it came to choosing.
There are also tons of apps that you can use to help your budget. The one I use is called TrailWallet and I seriously LOVE it. It’s amazing in every way. It’s $5 for unlimited usage and I will be using it for the rest of my travels forever and ever.
Create a rough itinerary/route
If you are planning to travel long term, creating a rough itinerary and route can be helpful in the planning process. You don’t need to go crazy and book everything. That’s not the point of long term travel! But it would be good to have your bucket list items on a google maps to sort out places, and make sure you don’t miss anything!
Take out USD
No matter the country you are in, if you are planning to travel throughout Asia, plan to get clean, crisp US dollars. To get international VISA’s, they require them to be perfect (no crinkles or slits in them). You can get in with different currencies, but USD typically is what gets you in the cheapest.
Get your international drivers license
I’ve quickly realized that this should be a part of your checklist, no matter where you are going. It is just good to have! Especially in Asia. If you are planning to drive around in a car or motorbikes, this could save you a fortune. If you get stopped by the police in Asia, they basically know most foreigners don’t have their international licenses. It’s a way for them to make extra money. So get this before you go!
