How to Travel Full Time (8 steps from a real live nomad)
Full. Time. Travel.
That’s the dream…right?
It’s a life full of adventure, crazy experiences, culture, language, meeting amazing people and doing amazing things.
It’s a movie life and it’s creative. And it’s real’ fun.
So I want to break down how you (yes you!) can learn how to travel full time.
This all comes from real experience. Everything here is how I’m able to wander around and live abroad whenever I want.
Sooooooooo, let’s get to it.
Table of Contents
Full-Time Travel (the pros—the cons)
Being a full time traveler is fun — but it’s not always IG destinations and sunrise waterfall hikes.
The Benefits of Traveling Full Time
You’re living a life full of adventure and unique experience
You’re getting an unmatched education
You’ll meet amazing people and forge lifelong, global friendships
You’ll develop more of a growth mindset
You become more confident
You find unique opportunities
The Downsides of Traveling Full Time
It can get lonely traveling full time
It can be hard to always feel like an outsider or not part of your local community
It’s difficult and expensive if you need to return home quickly
You have to say goodbye a lot (to all the amazing friends you meet along the way)
It’s exhausting
Living out of a suitcase (and not having a real home base) gets old
Essentials for Traveling Full Time (checklist)
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✔ Your passport
This one is obvious, but be sure to check your expiration date and renew it in time
✔ Required documents, visas and things
This varies by country, so just check the appropriate websites to see if you need to prepare anything before arriving
✔ Proof of onward travel
You’ll need to have proof that you’re leaving the country you’re visiting (unless you’re working there and have the proper visa)
✔ Accommodations
You’ll need to share the address and phone for where you’ll be staying (initially) with immigration
✔ An income source
For example, I work as a remote freelancer
✔ Travel Insurance
You know, to cover any medical emergencies or other travel surprises
✔ Universal charger
A universal adapter lets you plug in and charge your stuff anywhere
✔ Essential toiletries
I like to bring extra deodorant and travel-sized toothpaste
✔ A power bank
Having an extra power source is super handy (especially when adventuring)
✔ A credit card with no foreign transaction fees
I use the AMEX Delta SkyMiles Gold Card
✔ A SIM card
A local or international SIM card will do
✔ Hardside suitcase with wheels
Protect your things with a hard shell (and trust me on the wheels…)
Explore more:
➤ International Travel Essentials Checklist
How to Travel Full Time (8 steps)
1. Figure Out the Money
Let’s address the elephant. To travel full time, you need money.
So after making a travel budget (of what you’ll realistically need), think about how you’ll make money abroad.
Here are the main ways:
Work abroad
Get a travel job
Volunteer, couch surf and housesit
I started my full-time travel journey by teaching abroad as an English teacher. This was an awesome stepping stone.
After a while, I transitioned to working online as a freelancer (becoming a digital nomad).
Explore more:
➤ Best Remote Jobs for Travelers (what I do)
2. Start Planning
If you’re working overseas, your company sponsor should help you with the next couple of steps.
But after you’ve figured out the money, planning is the next move:
Choosing your destination(s)
Researching your destination(s)
Finding flights and accommodations
Figuring out entry requirements
Researching travel insurance
Once you have a clearer picture for these details, you’ll be ready to start booking tickets.
3. Book Stuff + Go
This is when things get real.
Just keep in mind when purchasing your plane tickets, you’ll want to always buy another ticket for proof of onward travel. You might not be asked to show it, but it’s still important to have just in case.
For accommodations, I usually book long-term stays since I prefer slow traveling, staying in one place for a couple months at a time.
I usually use:
Once you’ve got your flights and accommodations booked, it’s time to pack your bags and go.
And double check for extra entry requirements depending where you’re going.
For example, South Korea was requiring an electronic entry registration for a while — although, this requirement was paused for many countries recently, including for U.S. citizens.
Explore more:
➤ Alternative Airlines Review (my experience)
4. Stay Flexible + Take Breaks
“The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.”
This is one of my favorite Japanese proverbs. And it’s the perfect reminder for full-time travelers!
Because things rarely go as planned and staying adaptable is a huge advantage. Simply planning ahead (by having a plan B) or just learning to love the bumps along the road can keep your adventures more chill.
Long-term travel requires a flexible, carefree mindset.
So remember, it’s okay to backtrack, pivot, take breaks or even quit altogether if you find things aren’t working.
Alternatively, starting as a part-time traveler is a solid option. This is actually pretty close to how I often travel (for example, staying in Japan for a few months and then visiting family for the summer).
So stay flexible, don’t feel like you need to always be traveling and embrace the journey for what it is (good or bad).
Explore more:
➤ How I Keep Travel Carefree + Stress-Free
5. Have An Exit Plan
If things get sketch, it’s important to have a way out — or a way home.
That’s why I like to always have an exit plan.
For me, this is a contingency fund that covers at least a flight back home if I need it.
So I like to keep a credit card as an emergency option or have some available PayPal credit to use for flights (through Alternative Airlines).
This is also another reason I like to keep my credit score in decent shape (in case I need a micro loan or to finance a flight).
So if you’re traveling full time, remember to include plans for a way out.
6. Connect With People + Find Community
Solo traveling can get pretty boring if you don’t have people to connect with.
So finding a travel community is an important part of full-time travel life. This is actually a big reason I like to stay in share houses while traveling — it’s an instant network.
You can check my favorite share house companies in Tokyo here.
Luckily, it’s pretty easy to find like-minded people these days. You can try sites like Meetup, go to cowork spots or just to find a community wherever you’re staying at.
Most countries will also have local expat communities you can connect with.
I’ve also used messaging apps like Tandem with success.
But of course, remember to use your best judgment and intuition (i.e., avoid weird people).
Explore more:
➤ Solo Travel Tips for Introverts
7. Have A Travel Project Or Purpose
This step isn’t necessary, but having a travel project has been a huge part of my journey.
It creates a higher sense of purpose and makes the adventure more creative. Travel projects or specific goals to work on while abroad. They give you motivation and a strong source of personal fulfillment.
For example, you could:
Grow a personal brand using social media
Make travel films
Make travel-inspired music
Start a travel blog
Do art and “paint the world”
Do cultural research
Learn the local language
While there’s nothing wrong with a little aimless wandering, having a bigger project in mind supports a more sustainable long-term travel strategy.
And your pursuit doesn't need to be complex or some grandiose vision. Simplicity works too.
Just remember to have fun.
Explore more:
➤ Create Your Travel Project + Purpose
8. Don’t Forget About Taxes
Even if you spend no time in your home country, you still need to file taxes.
I can only speak from experience as an American citizen, but if you’re living abroad, don’t forget to keep up with your tax stuff and file them in time to report your income.
Of course, I am the furthest thing from a tax professional, so don’t listen to me.
But Kathy from wanderers.wealth has a ton of valuable resources and videos about how to manage your finances as a full-time traveler. So check out her content to learn more (or talk to a tax professional).
Later ✌️
Full-time travel is a life full of adventure, creativity and fun.
While it’s not always easy, it’s more than possible. The most important thing is to clarify why you want to be a professional traveler and then figure out your logistics (like how to make money, what you need and budgeting).
To sustain life as a full-time traveler, it’s super helpful to have a community of like-minded explorers, not be afraid to take time off and create rewarding travel projects for your adventures.
Or, start slow by becoming a part-time traveler. This is just as fun and there are no rule, so whatever you can do is good.
Alright then, thanks for stopping by and epic travels out there!
Want More? Nice. Here’s More.
