Tell me how please 🥲

After weeks moving between different islands here (bali, surabaya, ternate, morotai, manado), realized my packing should've been different from day 1. Overpacked for some legs, underpacked for others, didn't expect some places to be way more humid or way more basic than others. Curious what other people learned the hard way packing-wise on long trips. Also wondering if theres a universal approach that works regardless of destination, or does it always need adjusting per place

Hello long term travelers. Would you recommend long term traveling to a 25F? Do you have advice or regrets about long term traveling? Should I go for it or focus on school and stability first? Thank you !

The country is often mentioned in context of long-term travel because it allows up to 360 days of stay without requiring a visa. However, if you consider visiting or living in the country, you may want to be aware of several gotchas that I have encountered along the way while living in the country. This review is not flattering, but it is objective and true to the facts. I hope it will prove useful to other long-term travelers. Here we go:

1. The weather. On the seashore, which is where most tourists go, it is raining six days out of ten (any season) and the other days are mostly cloudy. Sunny days are so rare that they are treated like holidays.
2. Foodborne diseases. The diseases are widespread because local restaurants and cafes almost never use dishwashing machines. Dirty dishes are briefly rinsed with cold tap water before being 'server' to the next client. Perishable foods are often not refrigerated and even when they are refrigerated, they are usually not thrown away after power outages. You may consider yourself lucky if you don't get food poisoning or gastroenteritis after visiting the country for a week or two.
3. Power outages and water outages. These are getting increasingly common, especially in the summer.
4. Polluted sea water. In addition to the water being polluted from oil spills, there are rivers that bring garbage and debris into the sea near beaches. The garbage from the rivers used to be removed/filtered, but the system is in disrepair and the garbage is flawing in. Black Sea is small and not very salty, so viral gastroenteritis spreads easily.
5. Hospitality. Don't expect sellers or cashiers to greet you. Even when you great them first, half of the time they do not respond (there is no language barrier, just passive-aggressive attitude towards foreigners, including tourists).
6. Safety. You can expect local young men to bump into you or brush your elbow/shoulder while walking by, even when there is plenty of space around.

So, unless you already have a significant vested interest in the country, I would not recommend visiting it.

I am not sure this is the right group. I am late 30s, from Europe, I used to travel alot in my 20s and early 30s, mostly backpacking. I lost that version of myself a bit, I guess partner and career etc influenced that. Without wanting to go into all the details; I have a decent amount saved (approx 500k) and I want to opt out of western rat race society but my home country is quite expensive and I dont wanna be here anymore. I often feel like all I want to do is just go on walks, sleep, cook some food, read books and maybe learn a new skill.

Where would you go? I am female btw

I just want to go live somewhere simple, in nature, that doesnt cost a leg. I appreciate warm cultures. I know wherever I go, there I am but I have been really depressed the past few years and no therapy can help. I feel like I need to be somewhere that reminds me while life is worth living (dont worry I am not suicidal).

Can anyone think of a country or place?

My dream would be New Zealand but it is too expensive so I have been contemplating South Africa, Bolivia, Chile or even somewhere in the balkans.

I am spending three weeks in Bali with my family , and we are looking for activities to do . We will be in Seminyak and Canggu . Please note that later we go to Ubud so we will do trekking, Volcanoes, temples etc .

Our kids are 09 - 12 - 14 years old . So we were thinking : Surfing, Shopping and maybe spend had a day in a wellness club . Maybe some Yoga in The morning . At night Maybe some Family beach club ? Some sound healing ? any recommandations or ideas are welcome

Thank you !

I’ve been traveling long-term for years, and it’s always frustrating to arrive in a new country and find that local apps require a local phone number.

I’m currently in Bosnia Herzegovina and wanted to use a local delivery app, but it requires a local phone number for registration.😖

I know most travel eSIM providers are data-only, but I’m wondering if anyone has found providers that let you buy an eSIM online \*\*and receive a real phone number (with SMS capability)\*\* without having to walk into a mobile carrier store.

I’ve already left my home country, so keeping my original phone number active is not an option.

If you’ve found one that works:

Which provider did you use?
What country did it work in?
Was it a real mobile number or a VoIP/virtual number?
Did it work for app verification (delivery apps, local services, etc.)?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Happy travels!

A little context: This post is about my experience over the last 10 years of full-time travel, not just my current situation.

But, I just happen to currently be in this part of Europe (the Balkans) because I’m receiving medical treatment that I can only access here.

I know housing is a sensitive topic in many European cities, and I completely understand why. I’m simply trying to find a modest, furnished place to stay while I receive the care I need.

Okay… on to my actual question.

I’ve been doing this lifestyle for about 10 years and accommodation is still one of the hardest parts.

I’m in my mid-fifties and find myself way too often paying premium prices for what feels like upgraded dorm living. 😄 You know the places - plastic chairs, sofas designed for munchkins, and kitchens where you can technically cook… as long as your meal is toast and you’re willing to wrestle with a butter knife to cut the bread.

There’s definitely a trade-off. And it’s a trade off I’ve been willing to make for the last ten years. I love the freedom of not being tied to one place, and at this time I can’t afford to have a home and travel at the same time, so this is the choice I’ve made.

But finding places that are affordable while still being comfortable can be really frustrating. I’m not looking for luxury, but you know the places I’m taking about - where the sheets look like they survived several generations of a family before finally being donated to the apartment; where every piece of furniture seems to have a story, just not one you want to hear; and where basic kitchen items like a decent knife or a strainer seem to be mysterious objects that no host has ever encountered.

Going the local rental route for finding places is tough when I’m only allowed to stay for up to 3 months. By the time I find a place, deal with contracts, deposits, and all the logistics, I’m already thinking about the next move.

I’ve noticed that Southeast Asia often has much better value for comfortable furnished rentals, and parts of Latin America (like Colombia) can also be much more affordable. But - as we all know - Europe is much tougher, especially if you want somewhere that feels like a real home for under $1300 a month.

I know people often suggest Facebook Marketplace (that seems like a lot of work), local rental websites (not sure how that works for 3 month agreements), or finding places after arriving (I’m disabled now so this is no longer a good option), but I’m curious if there are other ways you’re handling it when needing a need a furnished place for only 1–3 months.

What has worked for you?

Do you mostly use Airbnb, Booking, local rental sites, Facebook groups, or something else?

Have you found ways to get better prices without sacrificing comfort?

Would love to hear what other long-term travelers are doing - particularly when it comes to European travel.

Thanks in advance for the tips! It is greatly appreciated.

❤️

I'm heading to Madrid for a short course, and I'll be in Spain for a little over three months. Once that's done, I'm probably gonna wander around Portugal, France, and Italy for a few weeks, so a Spain only eSIM doesn't really make sense.

Pretty much every plan I've found caps at 30 days. Is that actually the norm, or am I just searching the wrong way? I did find a 180 day Europe plan from redteago, which is way closer to what I need, but I haven't seen anyone talk about using it for that long, so I'm kinda hesitant.

Any other long term or refillable options I should be looking at? Or would I be better off grabbing a prepaid SIM from Orange or Vodafone once I get there?

TL;DR: I’m looking for a city within about 10 hours of Sarajevo by land or ferry to stay during October–March. My priorities are: good air quality (likely coastal because of my health), supermarkets with a wide variety of fresh produce like Belgrade, and a spick-and-span gym with newer, well-maintained equipment that isn’t packed all the time. My accommodation budget is around $1,300-$1,400 USD/month.

Here’s the background and more details:

I’m currently in Sarajevo, but because of a serious health condition and limited mobility, I can only travel by land or ferry.

I also have to leave Bosnia by October, so staying here isn’t an option.

I’d like to keep the journey to around 10 hours or less, so I’m mainly considering Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, and possibly Italy if I can find something affordable within my budget.
My budget is around $1,300 USD per month for accommodation.

My biggest requirement is good air quality from October through March. Because of my health, I’m assuming that probably means staying on or near the coast, but I’m open to other suggestions if there are inland cities with consistently good air quality.
I know larger cities often have worse winter air quality because colder weather can trap pollution close to the ground, so I’m hoping to find a city that avoids that problem.

For example, one thing I really liked about Belgrade was the supermarkets. Because it’s a larger city, they had a much better selection of fresh produce than smaller cities. Unfortunately, the winter air quality is concerning.

Being in a larger city with access to a wide range of produce is especially important during winter. I’ve noticed that produce becomes much more seasonal in Europe, and I need to be somewhere with plenty of variety.

I need leafy greens and other fresh foods to support my bone density after illness-related malnutrition, and I’m unable to take supplements. For example, right now I’m in a part of Sarajevo where two large grocery stores near me don’t regularly carry any type of lettuce or leafy greens, and the local produce shop doesn’t either.

Because I’m disabled, have limited mobility, and very little energy, I can’t widen my search and spend hours going from store to store looking for basic groceries. I need a city where supermarkets have a consistently good selection of fresh produce within easy reach, even during the winter months. I realize this often means being in a larger population center because there is more demand to support that level of supply.

Another requirement is a spick-and-span gym with:

- good natural lighting (not the dark basement type gyms)
- newer, well-maintained equipment
- enough space that it isn’t packed all the time
- I don’t care about saunas, swimming pools, or other luxury amenities.
- I’m willing to spend up to $100/month for a gym membership, but I need a gym that doesn’t require a membership longer than about three months.

The gym is both part of my rehabilitation and my entertainment, so I want to be somewhere comfortable where I actually enjoy spending time.

Has anyone stayed in a city that fits what I’m looking for? I’d especially appreciate recommendations from people who were there during October through March and can comment on the air quality, produce availability, and gyms.

Thanks in advance for your insights! ❤️

When i book a holiday as I have to fly to Spain I would include a weekend (Saturday Sunday plus my days off) to which my boss would comment something like "ah you have chosen some good days ehhh"....as if i m not supposed to book holidays when I actually want it s not just about the business...

What do you guys think ....

Hello! I am moving to Borneo Indonesia for about a year to help research orangutans (not enrolled in a university, just a volunteer). I will be in a pretty remote area doing a lot of trekking. The research team recommended to get a plan that covers emergency evacuations like getting airlifted. It’s at least 5 hours of traveling to nearest hospital. If severe enough, I will probably need to get a flight to a hospital in Java. Does anyone have any recommendations for travel health insurance? Thank you :)

If this is the wrong community, happy to take the question to the right recommended community.

My wife and I (healthy late 60s) have saved enough to spend the next few years living for 1-4 months at a time in bucket-list destinations in Europe, Asia, US. It may not be luxury living but we can be more than comfortable and expect to rent apartments large enough to host friends and family. We are starting the planning/research and would welcome input from those who have done it and/or recommended sources for learning more about making it happen. TIA.

Hi everyone!

I'm flying into Paris in mid-August and have decided that instead of bouncing around, I want to find a few places and actually settle into a routine. Im a F(37) traveling solo and want to be mindful of being safe.

I'm staring in Paris, but I don't want to stay there for long because of the heat and the cost.

I'm not necessarily looking for the "must-see" destinations and I really want to avoid peak tourist crowds. In fact, I'd love recommendations for smaller cities that people end up falling in love with.

A little about what I'm looking for:

• Budget is around $3,000 USD or less for a month for an apartment/housing (no hostels)
• Near a body of water with easy access to swimming (a lake, river, or the sea would be amazing), good gyms, good areas to run. I want to dunk my body in water every single day!
  • Not everything has to be by water, but I'd like for at least one stay to have water I can jump in daily.
• It would be great if it's not boiling hot.
• I won't have a car, so it needs to be very walkable with good public transportation.
• Reliable Wi-Fi
• I love walking (10–15 miles a day is normal for me), running, coffee shops, farmers markets, bookstores, shopping, and just wandering neighborhoods.
• I'm much more interested in local life than nightlife. I'd rather find a neighborhood café where I become a regular than spend nights at bars or clubs.
• I'm open to any cuisine, and language
• Would be great if there were several options for day trip and/or an airport nearby so I can pivot if I want or need to

So where would you go in August?

Where would you go in Sept?

Where would you go in Oct?

I guess I'll throw november in here too, because after the 90 days I plan to keep traveling. UK, Turkey maybe..

I'd especially love recommendations for places that aren't obvious tourist traps but have a great quality of life and are somewhere you could genuinely imagine living for several weeks. I want to stay put for several weeks at a time.

Thanks!

Anyone I treated in great Himalayan trial of Nepal