I’ve got a one-way ticket to Chiang Mai, Thailand in mid-June, and I’m super excited!
Here’s something I wish I knew earlier, though: there are two kinds of instructions on how to travel the world.
The first, more common, type is all the nitty-gritty details like how to book a flight and what vaccines to get. The second type of advice is how to actually set up your life for long-term travel.
This involves careful consideration of which country/province you’re a permanent resident of, how you’re going to balance your budget while traveling, and which energy-draining commitments you can get rid of (your 9-5 job, hoards of useless crap, debt, and anything else keeping you tied to one place).
The sooner you start sorting these things out—and thus saving more and consuming less—the better.
When you’ve done the second part right, none of the first part matters. Trust me, as long as you’ve got a passport and travel insurance, you can wing the rest of it.
(Not that I recommend doing so—I prefer to be as prepared as possible, which is why I’ve written such a detailed guide to all these things—I’m just saying you don’t actually *need* to read it.)
Unfortunately, the first kind of advice forms the bulk of “how to travel the world” guides, because it’s straightforward. No one is searching for the second kind of advice, because it’s the kind you only realize you need in hindsight.
Well, my hope is that it’s not too late for you!
If you’ve got a vague sense that you’d like to quit your job and travel the world, you should start setting up a remote lifestyle now. You’ll find everything you need to know in this guide.
Section 1: Becoming a nomad
Section 1 covers things you should do long before you’ve booked your flight. Like, years before.
Before you do anything else, you need to become a resident of the right province, find a way to earn income while you travel, and save up enough money.
This part takes the longest, which is why I’ll talk about it first. When you’ve got these steps down, it doesn’t matter what you do next… the important part is you’re FREE!
Section 2: Actually leaving
This is where you pull the trigger and actually book the flight. There are a million details to sort out, like what to pack, where to stay, and how to keep in touch with friends and family, but don’t worry, because I’ll walk you through all of it.
Section 2 covers all the usual to-do’s, but with a focus on Canada:
- How to look after your health: travel insurance, vaccines, and medications
- What to do about your stuff: getting rid of your car, apartment, and all that other crap
- What to pack: the best backpack, shoes, clothes, and travel essentials
- Setting up your laptop and phone: tips on cloud storage, international data plans, and password security
- Booking your trip: planning flights, accommodations, and activities
- All the other little things you might forget about (an extremely thorough checklist!)
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