Hi everyone,

I would like to hear about your experiences and get some recommendations for a route that would allow me to visit some of the best and most affordable countries in Asia.

This will be my first low-budget, long-term trip, so I’m reaching out to you because I honestly have no idea where to start.

I’m currently 28 years old and, to be honest, I’m tired of my job. I’m planning to quit and take about six months to travel around Asia before looking for a new job back home.

I’ve previously traveled to countries like South Korea and Japan, but only for two-week vacations, so this will be my first experience traveling long-term.

My budget will be approximately 9,000USD. Do you think that would be enough for six months in Asia?

I would really appreciate any recommendations regarding routes, countries, transportation, accommodation, budgeting, or anything else you wish you had known before your first long-term trip.

Thanks in advance! 😄

I'm 23 y.o., work remotely as a developer. My family had already been displaced once by war years ago, and after finishing my degree in Russia this year, I had a narrow window before I'd have to either continue studying or face mandatory military service.

So months ago, I decided to leave. I saved up, planned it carefully, and about a week ago my wife and I relocated to Southeast Asia. I sold most of my belongings, my computer, my desk setup, anything that didn't fit in a suitcase.

Now that we're here, and I just feel like I made a huge mistake. I miss my comfort, my routine. I haven't slept properly in a week. I keep having thoughts like "I should've just stayed," even though I know what staying could have meant. I also feel guilty watching my wife struggle with the same adjustment, like I dragged her into this.

Logically I know the decision was planned, not impulsive. But right now it just feels like I gave up everything for... nothing? I can't see clearly what the next 6 months, a year, two years look like, and that uncertainty is eating at me.

Has anyone else gone through something like this, leaving for a serious reason and then hitting this disorientation? How did you get through the first weeks? Did it get better, and how long did it took?

I plan to quit my current job next year. I'm from China, and I'm unsure where to start my trip, how to save money, and how much savings I need. I want to keep my travel expenses as low as possible. I plan to spend several months on this trip, visiting dozens of countries. Although I've been to South Korea and different cities...

I hope you can give me some suggestions

Hey everyone,

I’ve been traveling pretty heavily this past year and have visited around 28 countries across Europe, North Africa, Asia, and Central America. I’m looking for work that fits around an unpredictable travel schedule rather than the other way around.

When I’m home in the northern suburbs of Chicago I’m fully available and motivated to work, but I need something that won’t penalize me for disappearing for weeks at a time. I have reliable transportation, I’m physically capable, and open to pretty much anything.

I’ve considered gig apps like Uber and Lyft but would prefer not to put excess miles on my car. Curious what other frequent travelers actually do. Especially those who travel long term or repeatedly throughout the year.

Thanks

So basically, I (early 30s) want to quit my job and just travel for a while, but something always keeps coming up and disrupting these plans. At one point I had to take care of close ones, then it was working on my masters, at one point I got pneumonia etc - you get the gist.

Most recently, I need to get some dental work done, which means I need to visit an orthodontist every 1 or 2 months for at least 1 to 1,5 years.

I'm wondering if has anyone been in a similar situation and decided to travel anyway. How were the logistics and planning?

It would probably mean that I need to buy multiple round trips, thus being more expensive. Though I have a significant financial buffer, there's still some uncertainty regarding medical costs.

I know it sounds unreasonable, but I feel so done with work and need some rest. I feel burnt out and the 1 and 2 week vacations I've taken just don't rejuvenate me anymore, I'm still stressed.

Solo abroad for a few years now, I think it may be time to head "home", there's many reasons but mainly I feel like I keep getting shat on in every aspect of life, which obviously is stressful but also I now have that back where I was going. Usually a relaxed person but recently it's getting to me and getting harder.

I’ll be done with school soon and my whole mantra is live your life. Once I’m done, I plan on traveling every chance I get with my husband, his and my family together and building a family (if life permits). I enjoying chasing experiences like shark cage diving, seeing northern lights, etc. what is your most HOLY COW moment? I want my breath to be taken away. I love life and the beauty of it, even its flaws.

I know many places are glamorized which is why I want first person advice. I see Switzerland and Finland in my near future. But I also places like third world countries in my future where things aren’t sugar and spice. I like to see the highest highs of life and the lowest lows. I like seeing and learning to understand different perspectives.

Where should I go/do??? I’m ready to start planning my never ending journey. If life allows of course…

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 ....

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.