5 Travel Tips for Going Abroad Long Term!

Okay so any idiot can pack a suitcase for 2 weeks in the Costa Del Sol, and even if you forget half the stuff you wanted to take so long as you have money and your passport you'll probably survive the holiday anyway. But what if you're going in for the long haul though? Whether it’s a gap year of travelling, a long holiday or even moving abroad these top tips will make travelling much easier and hopefully more fun!

5. SAVE YOUR MONEY, BUT DON'T SPEND YOUR TIME!

I cannot stress this enough, this little motto can be an absolute lifesaver because 99% of the time you're so busy worrying about expenses that you forget travelling should be fun! So while that 39 hour, 5 stop flight to Bangkok might save you some cash it will also make you want to curl up and die before you've even got to your destination. Trust me on this. I took a 19 hour flight to Japan with two stops in China, and while the flight length wasn't so bad the stress, uncertainty ( I did not know how to say "is my luggage being transferred?" in Mandarin) and sheer BALL-ACHINGNESS was horrible. So be smart with your travel choices! Check airline sales and tour operators for great deals and don't be afraid to pay a little bit more for some comfort. If you're staying in a 16 person dorm and eating cup noodles for a month you probably deserve it!

4. Don't be scared to go off the beaten track!

(Okay so obviously I don't mean going solo into the jungle and live out some kind of Tarzan fantasy) what I mean is don't be afraid of going native and seeing more than the guidebook wants you to! Some great sights and experiences can be found just by asking around, or even going for a little walk (you'll be amazed how many temples you can find in Japan just by walking down a side street!) so don't feel like the official guides know it all! It's a great way to explore where you're staying and to get an authentic taste of life in whatever country you're in.

Another great tip to save money and make the most of wherever you are is to stop eating in 'touristy' areas and find some delicious local noms! It can be scary eating street food, or in local restaurants, but often these places give you great food at much cheaper prices (and hey if the locals are eating there you probably won't get food poisoning and die). If you can't read the menu or have no clue what to have why not just ask for the special or what's most popular? You might get something CRAZY but it also might be crazy delicious!

3. PLAN AHEAD! I MEAN WAAAAY AHEAD!

So you've booked the tickets, bought the phrasebook and have a list of stuff you want to do once you're there. That's great, but before you start packing your life into a suitcase or two a really great idea is to do a bit of research on what stuff the place your going to does (or more importantly DOESN'T) have available. For example, here in Japan deodorant is kind of hard to come by (unless you want to pay for more expensive foreign imports). Apparently Asian people sweat (and smell) less so most products out here are more 'I want to smell pretty' then 'help me I'm disgusting'. So whenever I've packed to come out here I always make sure I'm stocked up for the length of my stay! This can apply to loads of random stuff from toiletries to some medicines so if there's something you can't live without, make sure you're prepared!

**BONUS ADVICE**

If you're on a certain medication for something, are on birth control etc. I really advise you to check what the country you are visiting offers and whether you can get what you need. Many countries have different laws and versions of medication (as well as limits on what you can bring in) so you might need to bring a lot of supplies with you or check you can get what you need easily. (FUN FACT, Japan doesn't have the implant so when a friend of mine went to the doctors she had to call an international specialist to explain to him why she had a weird lump in her arm. Awkward.)

2. Spread things out!

If you're travelling around many different places this isn't so much of a problem, but if you're staying in one place it's best to not go crazy and see and do everything in the first week! I suggest mixing big trips, and sightseeing in with smaller things to do so you can keep yourself entertained for longer! So for example, Go see a big tourist attraction one day, go explore a local park or something the next, go find some awesome food after that and then the next day you're all ready to do something big again! The reason for this is a) it stops you going crazy and spending all your money by day 3 and b) it gives you time to relax and enjoy the whole experience. If you've only got a week somewhere you need to cram everything you want to do in; if you've got a year you can spread it out, maybe make some new friends you can go do things with, and you can budget yourself so you're never strapped for cash.

Another great thing about travelling long term is getting to see and do seasonal stuff! Check local websites, notice boards and ask people around you to find out what's going on where you are at whatever time of year. You might end up experiencing stuff you didn't even know about before! Oh and seasonal food is THE BEST so see if the country or region you're in has any specialities!

1. DON'T OVER PACK!

So remember a couple points ago when I said to stock up and bring stuff with you? Well I'm kind of going back on that with this but hear me out. While making sure you have all the essentials you need for the length of your stay (or at least a good idea of how to get them) is a smart move, taking 100 outfits and 100 pairs of shoes is not. Wherever you are going I'm sure there will be at least one shop and so you can always buy stuff during your trip. I mean, who are you kidding YOU WILL BUY STUFF during your time abroad whether its clothing, souvenirs or whatever so don't stuff your suitcase so full there's no room! Or if you can't stand the thought of not bringing everything AND the kitchen sink it can be useful to sell some of your stuff, or give it to charity to make room for new things. Personally I struggle to 'pack light' but I find making lists of everything I want to pack, and then narrowing it down from there really helps! Just don't forget underwear! (Maybe that should have been a separate point!)

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Hopefully these 5 points have helped you in getting prepared for whatever adventure you're going on, and even if they haven't I hope they brought a smile to your face! I'm not the bravest or most confident person in the world and I know travelling (especially long term) is daunting so here's my final, secret top tip…....

*0.5* GO TRAVELLING! JUST DO IT!

It's scary, and hard and stressful but living abroad and visiting amazing countries has been the best thing I have ever done. So stop worrying about money, you CAN afford it. Stop worrying about jobs THERE ARE ALWAYS JOBS. Stop thinking you can't do it BECAUSE YOU CAN. Going abroad for an extended amount of time can seem like an impossibility sometimes, especially for those with children, careers or just a fear of the unknown. But believe me it is possible, and there is loads of great advice out there to dispel the myths around long term travel. (I've read two this week about travelling with small children and travelling for over 5 years!)

So go and do what you want to do :) Happy travelling!

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