Embarking on long-term travel is a major decision. This post is not going to cover the big questions about deciding why or whether you want to take a RTW trip. Instead, this is meant to be a guide for people who have already decided when they are leaving and need to get their “life admin” in order before their departure. I know I can get a little verbose, so feel free to jump to the bottom of this post for a printable chronological countdown checklist.
(Note: As residents of the United States, most of these links are specific to the U.S., but we believe the general list will be helpful for anyone.)
Paperwork
Get or update your passport. If you don’t yet have a passport, start that process early (preferably a year in advance). Appointments can be hard to come by in some areas, and you don’t want to be stressed or have to pay rush charges if you wait too long. If you already have a passport, make sure it’s good for at least six months after you plan to end your trip and that you have plenty of blank pages. (Some countries won’t let you in if your passport isn’t valid for six months past your entry date, and some visas take up an entire page.) You’ll also want to pack physical and digital copies of your passport’s bio page and extra passport photos (required for some visa applications), and leave a copy of your passport bio page with a friend or family member in case of emergency.
Speaking of visas, look at the first few countries you plan on visiting to see if you need a visa. Also look ahead to see if any of the countries you hope to visit have difficult visa application processes. It can be hard or even impossible to apply for visas in a third country sometimes, so if you absolutely know you want to visit a particular country, plan ahead. Or, you might just decide those countries will be visited at a later date. (Note: We’re not a big fan of planning too far in advance during long-term travel, but we also don’t want you to be disappointed if you can’t get into one of the crown jewels of your trip because you can’t get a visa.)
If you're a student, pack your student ID! You never know when you might get a discount (sometimes there are also age or nationality requirements for student discounts). Speaking of nationality, if you have dual citizenship, be sure to bring both IDs. Full-time students can apply for an International Student Identity Card, which offers even more discounts. Do your research first based on your destinations to see if an ISIC is worth it for you. If so, apply at least 6 weeks before your departure date.
Get an International Driver’s Permit. Some countries require this to rent a car. Given the relatively low price point, I recommend getting one even if you don’t think you’ll need it. If you’re a AAA member, this is very easy: Visit your nearest office, pay $20 and get your IDL! Learn about the complete process on the AAA website. IDPs are only valid for one year, but you can post-date the permit (within 6 months) to start on the first day of your trip, so you don’t need to wait until right before your departure to complete this task. (Tip: You can also get extra passport photos at your AAA office.)
Apply for Global Entry. This isn’t that useful if you won’t be traveling to the U.S. regularly, but it’s worth considering if you travel a lot to or within the U.S. When we flew to the U.S. after our Tanzania trip in January, it took us about 90 seconds to get through passport control in San Francisco from start to finish. (And if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card, it covers the $100 application fee!) The Global Entry website says it takes 4-6 months to be approved, but as interviews can be hard to schedule, we recommend applying at least a year in advance of your trip.
Finances
Open a separate savings account. This helps ensure you don’t spend the money you’ve worked so hard to put away for this special trip. I also like the idea of physically transferring the money you’ve saved so it’s earmarked for travel. For example, maybe you pass up spending $50 online shopping because you’d rather spend that $50 on a waterfront hotel room in Vietnam. Transfer that $50 into your travel account so it doesn’t get spent elsewhere! (Make sure you understand any transfer limits on your accounts so you don’t get hit with unnecessary fees.)
See how we saved enough money for our 50-week, 5-continent RTW trip in just one year.
Apply for travel cards: You’ll want a travel credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Other perks might include travel insurance, good travel rewards (“points”) and/or airport lounge access. Our Chase Sapphire Reserve offers all these benefits. It does have a hefty annual fee ($550), but it includes a $300 travel credit, so as long as you’ll earn at least $250 a year in rewards (we certainly do), it’s worth it. If you’re not ready to commit to such a hefty fee just yet, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is only $95 a year, or you can get a Bank of America Travel Rewards card for no annual fee. You’ll also want a debit card that reimburses ATM withdrawal fees and has no foreign transaction fees. We have had a Charles Schwab Investor Checking Account for years and have no complaints.
Check out our tips for avoiding common money mistakes while traveling.
Update your beneficiaries. This sounds morbid, but this is good practice for life in general, not only when you’re taking a long trip. On that note, if you have any accounts that require verbal authorization for activity, see if you can assign a power of attorney or switch to a managed account so your financial advisor can make decisions on your behalf. This is particularly useful if you plan to travel without an international phone plan or will be in a vastly different time zone than your bank.
Consider travel insurance. Credit card travel insurance often doesn’t cover longer trips, and you might want additional coverage regardless. We purchased third-party travel insurance through World Nomads and luckily never had to use it during our RTW trip, but the nominal cost was worth the peace of mind for us.
Disclaimer: World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
Taxes. If you’ll be traveling over April 15 (for our fellow U.S. taxpayers), plan ahead for tax season. Even if you file for an extension until October, your payment is still due by April 15. We’re not tax professionals, so talk to one before you leave, or at least have your paperwork in order so you can file from the road.
Cancel recurring subscriptions. You might want to keep some subscriptions like Netflix and Libro.fm for entertainment on the road, but do you really need six different streaming services? (And if you decide you miss Hulu while traveling, you can always sign up again!) Also make sure you’re not paying for anything at home you won’t be using, like gym memberships, public transit passes or delivery meal services. Start evaluating your subscriptions several months before leaving, as some services require advance notice to cancel. For subscriptions you decide to keep, set up autopay so you don’t miss any payments.
Withdraw some cash. Although you will likely be able to withdraw local currency from an ATM or find an exchange counter once you arrive in your first international destination, you may feel more comfortable getting some cash for the first country (or two) on your itinerary before you leave. You can often order foreign currency from your local bank at a reasonable rate (do this at least a month in advance to be safe). Also pack a few large bills in a widely accepted currency such as USD, EUR or GBP in case you run into issues using your cards or finding an ATM and need to exchange money at a good rate abroad. (Learn more about exchanging currency in our post on avoiding travel money mistakes.)
Health
Travel medications and vaccines. Schedule an appointment with a travel health clinic (like PassportHealth) or talk to your primary care physician about your travel plans. I’ve done both options for different trips, and it cost me more to consult with my PCP even with health insurance, so look at both options to see which is best for your situation. You can also research travel health recommendations on the CDC website. We recommend doing your initial consult at least six months before your planned departure date, as some vaccinations are given in multiple doses and there’s a minimum amount of time you must wait in between.
If you use birth control, think about what type you want to use while traveling and how you will be able to obtain it. If you want to switch birth control for your trip (e.g. to a more long-term option), talk to your doctor as soon as possible. If you want to switch methods, I recommend doing it at least a year before your trip so you can adjust to any side effects and have time to change again if needed, but that’s not medical advice. Please talk to your doctor.
If you have any other prescriptions, also make a plan for those, including if you need to switch to other brands that might be more accessible abroad. While you’re at it, ask if you should get any new prescriptions for travel (i.e. to prevent malaria or treat traveler’s diarrhea).
Tip: If you have one, use your FSA/HSA/HRA to pay for or reimburse your vaccine and prescription expenses. They can definitely add up!
Schedule a physical. Especially if you’ll be losing your health insurance, get a comprehensive medical exam before your trip. And don’t forget your dental and vision check-ups!
Speaking of health insurance, if you are leaving your job and live somewhere where health insurance is tied to your employment, see if you need to purchase your own health insurance for your uncovered months. You might feel your travel insurance coverage is sufficient for your needs, but be sure to find out if you’ll be hit with any penalties for not having health insurance. (In the U.S., this varies by state.)
Gear
Clothing
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to buy a fancy new travel wardrobe for a RTW trip. In fact, I highly discourage buying new clothing items or accessories specifically for your trip. A good rule of thumb is that if you wouldn’t wear it at home, you probably won’t wear it while traveling! You want to be comfortable in your clothes, especially because you’ll likely be wearing the same 4-5 outfits over and over again. That being said, you might want to invest in a few quality items that will last the trip (i.e. can sustain a lot of wear and is resistant to odor). As you might expect, such clothing is more expensive than fast fashion, so start looking early so you can shop sales, use coupons, or even ask for specific items for birthdays or holidays, if you have gift-giving family or friends.
See Megan's RTW packing list for women here. See Jonathan's RTW packing list for men here.
Luggage
This is a personal decision, but we highly recommend backpacks for long-term travel. They are easier to maneuver, less likely to be taken from you on planes/buses/boats/etc., and generally fit everything you need. You probably don’t need to pack as much as you think you do, and if you really need something, you can likely buy it on the road. Remember, if people live there, you can buy goods there. When looking for a backpack for long-term travel, we highly recommend sturdy hip-belts, lockable zippers (i.e. you can use small combination luggage locks to secure the pockets), and a water bottle pouch. If you decide to buy new luggage for your trip, do not wait until the week before—you’ll want to take it on a few trips to see if you really like it!
See our favorite items we packed for our RTW trip.
Travel Accessories & Tech
Think about what kind of technology you need/want for your trip. (If you plan to work along the way, that can make a big difference for your tech requirements.) For example, Jonathan likes making home videos for our travels, so we bought a lightweight laptop as an open-box deal at Best Buy that would allow him to edit videos. (Again, start early to look for sales or other deals.) If you won’t be working or have other special tech needs on your trip, a tablet or even your smartphone could be sufficient. Megan takes lots of photos, so she upgraded to a phone with a better camera and more storage before our trip.
Speaking of phones, what are you going to do for phone service and/or data while traveling? You might decide you are comfortable using only wi-fi. You might want to buy SIM or e-SIM cards when you arrive in a new country. You might do a combination of both depending on where you are, but talk to your phone company in advance to get it figured out (and to make sure your phone is unlocked).
For my fellow readers, even if e-readers have always been anathema to you, you might want to consider one for your trip. You can still pick up (and subsequently donate) print books along the way, but with a stocked e-reader, you’ll always have books in your preferred reading language at your fingertips. If you don’t already have a public library card, get one before you leave so you can use the Libby app to check out ebooks for free, including travel guides! (Most titles compatible with Kindle.)
Miscellaneous tech items: We recommended packing a wall plug with multiple USB ports so you can charge multiple items at once. We travel with a wall plug that has built-in adapters for various outlet types around the world (similar here). A portable battery charger is another clutch item while on the go; we have a massive one that works wonders (similar here), but if you’re not packing a laptop or don’t plan to be away from electricity for a few days at a time, a smaller one can still provide plenty of juice. (Ours is the biggest you can legally take on a plane!)
Pack It Up
Don’t wait until the week before your departure date to practice packing your bag. You’ll want to make sure everything fits, and more importantly, you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t weigh too much. Not only is a heavy bag no fun to carry, but many airlines have weight limits for carry-on baggage. And if you have extra room—great! Don’t feel like you need to fill it. (It will be more fun to fill it on the road anyway.)
Take photos of any expensive gear and upload the photos and your receipts to a digital location (or email them to yourself) in case you need to file a travel insurance claim.
Miscellaneous
There are a lot of small things that can add up to create a big headache if you don’t plan ahead. I recommend taking these smaller tasks and doing one or two a week in the months leading up to your departure, so you’re not stuck scrambling during the week before you leave.
Will you store, sell or donate your stuff? Or some combination of these? Okay, this one isn’t a small thing, but it didn’t fit anywhere else. If you own a home, decide whether you are going to sell or rent and then make the necessary preparations. Make a plan for your vehicle: If you decide to keep it, plan ahead for insurance and registration before you leave, including investigating lower-cost options if it won’t be driven while you’re gone. Long-term travel is also a great time to declutter and downsize! There’s no use storing stuff you’re going to get rid of anyway when you return. (And even though we thought we did a good job downsizing … spending a year living out of a 35-liter bag meant I still felt like I had too much stuff when I returned! So that was another great opportunity for downsizing.)
Get a library card. Yes, really. In addition to using Libby for ebooks and audiobooks, many local libraries offer free access to useful online resources, like Mango or Pronunciator for learning languages, or LinkedIn Learning if you want to learn or improve remote-friendly skills to make money while traveling. Check with your local library to see what resources they offer and what you need to do to get a card (proof of address may be required).
Forward your mail. Ideally, you will have a friend or family member who is willing to accept your mail for you while you’re gone. You can also get a P.O. Box, but those aren’t really meant to hold mail for long amounts of time. To prepare, be sure to change your address on all your most important stuff (bank accounts, etc.) and cancel as many subscriptions/mailing lists as you can so your kind mail receiver is not being inundated with flyers and catalogs. Note: When you search “mail forwarding” online, it’s easy to accidentally sign up for a third-party service that will charge you. This service should only cost $1.10 through USPS. Visit USPS.com directly to avoid extra fees and learn about your mail forwarding options.
Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery. This way, you can get emails about the mail you’re receiving at home and know if it’s something you need to address. This is a free service. You will see all the mail being delivered to the address you choose, however, so be sure to get permission from whomever is receiving your mail.
Register with your State Department or Foreign Office. This varies by country, but in the U.S., you can register in STEP (the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) for overseas trips to receive embassy alerts via email. We didn’t do this for every country we visited—only if there was anything serious going on about which we might need updates (e.g. military action, widespread protests, etc.).
Tell family and friends. Honestly, this can be nerve-racking. We were excited but also a little nervous to tell people about our plans. How would they react? Would they be judgmental? Un-encouraging? Even insulting? But, we were pleasantly surprised! Even when people didn’t understand the appeal or expressed reservations, they were overall happy for us. If it’s a true friend, they will be excited that you are excited, even if they think you’re making a poor decision. (And hey, we totally agree that RTW travel isn’t for everyone! But if you’re reading this post, you’ve probably decided it is for you, and that’s all that matters.)
After you spread the news, think about how you’ll share your stories from the road. Do you want to start a blog? A social media account? A photography page? Get that set up before you go. And if you don’t want to share publicly, that’s fine too! Travel doesn’t have to be shared on the internet to be real.
Have fun! The weeks leading up to your departure might feel overwhelming, but you can handle this. Consider it good practice for adapting on the road. And when you land in your first destination—all of this will be worth it. Bon voyage!
View and Download Our Printable Checklist
Feature image: Megan looking out over the desert landscape of Wadi Rum, Jordan (November 2019)
