A Realistic View of Full-Time Travel on a Budget

We've all seen the glossy, idealized portrayal of full-time travel from certain influencers. While I adore the lifestyle it offers, I'm committed to honesty and transparency in the community we're building. Social media often presents curated images that don't reflect the full reality, especially in realms like travel.

It's crucial to recognize the complete spectrum of experiences and challenges that come with any lifestyle, including full-time travel. By openly discussing both the highs and lows, we can provide a more authentic understanding for those interested and help them make informed decisions.

While highlighting the positives is inspiring, it's equally vital to address the less glamorous aspects, such as loneliness, logistical hurdles, financial considerations, and the constant need to adapt to new environments.

In this article, I aim to offer a realistic view of what full-time travel entails on a day-to-day basis. I will preface - my partner and I only know what it's like to travel while on a budget. So if you are someone that has absolutely no need to be crunching numbers daily - this lens may not be as realistic for you.

Yes, I'll still celebrate the good things, this won't be a mere venting session. Ultimately, as someone who chooses to travel full time, I believe the benefits outweigh the challenges. However, the balance may vary for each individual based on their needs and priorities. I invite you to make your own informed decision, hopefully now armed with a less biased perspective.

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The Good of Full-time Travel

I thought I would go in reverse here and start you off with the all-familiar good things we've experienced due to full-time travel. This way, you can leave the article on a bad note with a more realistic view, rather than the good ol' sandwich method making everything seem all fine and dandy.

You finally feel free.

No one is expecting anything from you; there's no boss over your shoulder, and you don't have to be somewhere at a specific time or date – it's all about you making the plans. This is probably one of the main reasons I adore traveling so much. I've never been someone who enjoys staying in one place for too long – I almost feel stuck when I do so. Could this be a form of escapism? Oh, absolutely, but we can address that another time.

Time slows down.

I've discussed this numerous times on my podcast: the best trick for slowing down your life is simply experiencing new things. I genuinely believe there's no other lifestyle that compels someone to consistently do, eat, see, and try new things. So, if you feel like your life is flying past you, you'd be surprised at how long a day, a week, and, God forbid, a year can feel when you're constantly traveling.

Encourages self-discovery and transformation.

When you immerse yourself in new cultures and customs, you have the opportunity to develop a more informed worldview rather than simply hitting copy and paste from your hometown. It's as if you can feel your brain constantly making new connections, reshaping the way you perceive every aspect of life itself.

Feeling healthier & more in touch with your natural instincts

From our perspective, having lived our whole lives in the United States, we feel more attuned to what our bodies naturally should be doing. We attribute this mainly to the abundance of locally sourced food and the walkable nature of many places. Additionally, we receive more sunlight each day compared to our time in the USA, largely because much of our work and leisure activities take place outdoors. Therefore, if you already reside in a part of the world where these conditions hold true, perhaps our experiences won't seem too unfamiliar to you.

Getting to experience beautiful sites every single day

Naturally, the sites you encounter will vary greatly depending on your location or destination for the day. Yet, having the opportunity to witness such diverse wildlife, biodiversity, and natural wonders of the world is a privilege in itself. While traveling, you're in control of the experiences you seek out and encounter.

In general, travel can easily be cheaper than renting or own a place back in the USA

As travelers, we find ourselves spending significantly less money each month than we did when living in the United States. The amount we used to pay in rent alone now covers our expenses for food, activities, and travel combined. This is largely due to our conscious effort to save money every single day. We've adopted various strategies to cut costs, such as rarely paying for accommodation. Instead, we often collaborate with local hostels, offering our skills in website design and social media management in exchange for lodging.

Learning new skills & languages

The cultural exchange you experience with both locals and fellow international travelers is truly priceless. Through our work exchanges, we've had the opportunity to learn a plethora of new skills from our gracious hosts, ranging from natural health remedies to bio-construction techniques. Additionally, we have the privilege of practicing our Spanish skills every single day – an opportunity not readily available to many from the USA. While language apps like Duo-lingo are helpful, there's no substitute for real-world immersion.

Zach's new BFF Heinz

Creating an international network of friends around the world

One of my favorite perks of traveling, and one I didn't fully anticipate, is the sense of community it fosters. Not only are you able to establish a support system within your local surroundings, but you also have the opportunity to connect with travelers from various countries who may extend generous offers, such as a place to stay when you visit their homeland. For instance, Zach forged a deep friendship with a 70-year-old German man named Heinz while we were staying in Nicaragua. Heinz has graciously offered his home to us for the upcoming summer. It's truly remarkable how such unexpected connections come about when you have an open mind.

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The Not So Good of Full-time Travel

Alright, now that we've gotten the amazing things everyone always talks about over with, let's get into the nitty-gritty. This next section, "The Not So Good," covers things that can be challenging but not so much so that you just wish they would go away. They're doable, as I'd like to say.

Language barrier frustration

This one is pretty self-explanatory but necessary to mention because you're faced with it almost every day. Yes, it is always great to have your mind working and learning new skills like this, but sometimes when you're in a pickle or low on time, the language barrier can become overwhelming. This simply requires patience, slow speaking, and sometimes, a translation app.

Never being familiar with your surroundings

Yes, seeing all of these beautiful new sights is wonderful and again, a privilege. That being said, right when you think you're starting to know your way around the town, have a new favorite coffee or grocery spot, it's time to leave again. You're always on your feet when you're traveling and simply never too comfortable.

Shared Sleeping Spaces (You simply cannot control the odors, sights, and sounds)

This one, some people simply cannot deal with, which is quite understandable, for I feel Zach and I are finally approaching this mindset. When on a budget, the most affordable accommodation option is often hostels, which offer shared dormitory arrangements. This means you are often sleeping with a multitude of different travelers (sometimes rooms are up to 24 people) in bunk beds with a few fans going during the night. If you have not experienced this yet, I'm sure you can imagine the array of smells & sounds surrounding you as you try to doze off into the night...

Figuring out new currencies for every country

I could probably just title this entire section as logistics in general, for most of it is honestly just trying to figure out and be prepared for each country. The currencies can vary greatly between countries in one region, and making sure you're getting a fair trade and price can be challenging.

Being cautious of drinking water

As someone from the United States, when I first began traveling, this was something that would often slip my mind, and probably one of the last things that should. Not only is it necessary to be aware of which countries you can drink the tap water in, but also remembering to say no to ice in your drinks, using bottled water for brewing coffee, cooking some dishes like soup, brushing your teeth, etc. Sometimes it's just not worth taking the risk.

Figuring out phone and wifi logistics if you work online

This may only apply to some people, but if it does apply to you, it's a big one. Making sure your accommodation actually provides strong wifi, locating coffee shops if needed that will let you work for extended periods of time, and having a VPN available for yourself to avoid hacking. It's good to double-check with your phone plan to see what countries are serviced and figuring out if you need to get a new SIM card and how once you've entered a new country.

Doing your research on the next area your going to while still in the previous one

Even when you think it's time to relax, there's probably something you could be planning or preparing for your next destination. You never want to show up to an area doe-eyed and unprepared, not only will you look silly, but it can lead to some pretty serious situations.

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My face as I wait for the 4th bus of the day

The Oh My God This is Terrible

24-Hour Bus Rides (like how is this allowed?)

To be fair, we've definitely done this to ourselves. There were probably much better routes we could've chosen, or we could have just bitten the bullet and paid for a plane ticket. But budget travelers we are - and budget travelers we shall remain. Not to mention, your girl has intense motion sickness - but Dramamine does do wonders. If you'd like to see our vlog on this travel day click the link here.

Crossing Borders - Why do I always think I'm doing something illegal?

Some people may not find this as absolutely horrible as I do, but I just hate this whole process. To this day, every time I cross a border, I am convinced I will get in trouble and be taken to jail. Is this my anxiety of structure and rules? Possibly. It's similar to the fact that I am currently 25 years old but still get nervous every time I buy alcohol.

Missing Those You Love Back Home

If you ask me, this is definitely the hardest part of traveling. Not being able to see your family and closest friends for sometimes years at a time is genuinely horrific. Yes, you can always make phone calls, but we all know this is not the same as quality time. What makes it worse is sometimes you truly connect with another traveler as you spend time together gaining new experiences, and then you must part ways for basically the rest of your life. It's as if pieces of you spread all over the world, and there's always going to be someone you miss. It's too bad they can't all just follow you to each location.

Missing Big Milestones Back Home - Travelers' Guilt

Building off of the inevitable homesickness, when you're halfway across the world, sometimes you're going to miss significant life events of those you love. Things like weddings, birthdays, and graduations become more complicated and sometimes simply unattainable for yourself. Not only will this make you upset, but there's a feeling we call travelers' guilt. You don't want the people you love to take your being far away personally and feel guilty that you're missing these parts of their lives or your family getting older. This is normal and okay to be felt - but it does suck.

Ending Up in a Place You're No Longer Safe In

Although we have not experienced this many times, it can be quite scary when it does happen. Sometimes your GPS stops working in an unknown area, people will start following you and making calls to friends; you simply have to keep a lookout no matter where you are. Make sure when you stay somewhere that you have a list of resources readily available if you do need help, such as people at your accommodation, emergency numbers, etc.

When Housing Falls Through

This may just happen when you're budget traveling; I don't hear many stories of people losing their accommodation at their luxury resort last minute. As many of you know, after our 8-hour journey to Drake's Bay, Costa Rica, our host simply stopped responding to us. We had nowhere to stay as we stood there alone in the middle of the night. For more details, you can read that article here.

Zach playing doctor as usual

Getting Sick with Mystery Illnesses

I swear Zach and I catch something at least once a month while traveling, never having confirmed what each one is. We will admit, we are currently traveling without international health insurance, so we do avoid doctors when possible. Maybe if you were in a different situation, you would have more clarity on these infections/viruses?

When You Accidentally Stay with a Cult

Maybe this one doesn't happen to many, but it happens enough for us to experience it. I would give more details on this, but I'm currently writing this article while waiting for our bus to pick us up and take us far, far away. Once we've reached whatever faraway destination we go to, I'll go into more detail. Just know this is one more thing to add to your list to look out for!

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My General Consensus

In conclusion, full-time travel is a multifaceted journey that offers both incredible opportunities and significant challenges. While I've shared the highs and lows of my own experiences, it's important to remember that everyone's journey is unique. By embracing honesty and transparency, we can foster a community that supports and empowers one another to navigate the realities of long-term travel.

Despite the obstacles I may encounter along the way, the personal growth, cultural enrichment, and sense of freedom that travel brings make it a journey worth embarking on. As evident within the article, many of the pros and cons are similar, albeit worded differently. It all depends on the mindset with which we approach things. I find that a good sense of humor and a companion to share adventures with often make all the difference.

I hope this reality check on full-time travel was helpful to some. I plan on keeping all of my content honest and open within the community we are building. If you resonate with this, please join our website, follow our YouTube channel, and subscribe to our podcast!