Your bags are packed, you head out into the world full of wanderlust and some nerves, you start your adventure but then you’re hit by traveling realisms! What do you do?
There are two sides to every story and It’s no different with long term traveling. There is the mind blowing, creating unforgettable memories, experience things you couldn’t imagine, life changing side and then there is the other side..
(Please note: The traveling realisms posts in this series mostly applies to those looking to or are budget or solo traveling/backpacking long term. I.E 6 months+. To those only traveling for a few days or a couple of weeks, these posts probably don’t have any relevance to you.)
The other side of the story
Table of Contents
It’s the side we don’t like to think about, the side that doesn’t get talked about much, because…well It’s not glamorous, not pretty or appealing – It’s the traveling realisms & realities of everyday life, the things that get edited out of what you read and see.
Have you ever noticed how when you research traveling you’re mostly only shown the shiny side? You get told about the adventures, you see the jaw dropping picturesque scenery, the incredible stories but where is the in between stuff?
For example you read an article about experiencing a night market, it talks about the vibrancy, the mouth watering food, the atmosphere but there is no mention of the communication issues. Or you see pictures from the highest peaks, tempting you, telling you how you can experience it, but it conveniently leaves out the struggles, and arduous journey it took to get there.
Before your long term travels begin, you will read and see so much about how easy it is to pack your bags and travel the world without mentioning or making you aware of the nuts and bolts, the everyday life.
- Next to no mention about downer days
- Times you will feel lonely
- Times you might run out of money and low on funds
- How to replenish depleted funds
- The possibility of falling into a party lifestyle
- What happens when the novelty runs out
- The possibility of getting bored
- Feeling like crap, accidents, things going wrong, making bad decisions
- Transport and accommodation not being what you expected
Our fault too
All the blame cannot be placed on the things we see and read though, we have to shoulder the blame too because we don’t want to really think about it.
We are all guilty of it. When the time comes to plan a trip, the excitement, nervousness, fear and anxiety takes over, we seek out all the amazing things we will experience. We think of the highs, discovery and adventure but we rarely think about what everyday life will be like. We build pictures in our heads, thinking of jumping from one adventure to the next, we don’t think about the in-between days, or how we will feel months into our travel life once the novelty runs out.
It’s only once we experience it for ourselves that we think ‘Oh I wish I knew about this before’.
Helping you become aware of traveling realisms for your future travels
This traveling realisms & realities series was created to help you for your future long term travels whether that’s solo or budget traveling. It’s to help you be aware of the traveling realisms & realities, so when you’re faced with the situation you will know how to cope, overcome, adapt and even thrive rather than panicking.
I’ve traveled all over the world for over a decade, I’ve been through most situations, I’ve cursed that I wasn’t made aware of certain things beforehand and I’ve met so many first time travelers who didn’t know how to deal with situations because they just weren’t aware. So this series is to help prevent that happening to you.
Traveling realisms series covers
Long term travel can be gruelling at times, there are times you have to dig deep, find motivation to keep the lifestyle going and you do have to have mental toughness. It’s not a long holiday that’s for sure.
You have to be willing and prepared for both sides of the coin, the good and the bad, take the rough with the smooth. However the series of posts below will help you prepare for when traveling realisms appear for you.
The traveling realisms posts covered in the series:
- Adapting to hostel life
- Reasons you can get stuck in one place long than anticipates
- How to cut costs and make money stretch when funds run low
- Learning to deal and cope with language and communication problems
- The backpacker party culture
- What everyday long term and backpacking life is really like
- How to deal with loneliness when it hits
- How the backpacker hostel bubble can turn into a trap
- How long term travelers can lose sight of reality
Long term budget traveling realisms series:
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61 Comments
Taryn · October 15, 2017 at 11:29 am
This is a great post for anyone looking to get started exploring living abroad. Thanks for the tips and insights.
Jem · October 15, 2017 at 8:44 am
Thank you for your honest post, often travelling the world is portrayed as something completely different from the reality and people are too scared to write about what actually happens behind the photos and articles.
Jen · October 15, 2017 at 3:40 am
This is very insightful and very true! Behind our very nice travel photos and travel stories and looking free from all the worries is the fact that we have a lot of things to face when we travel long term.
Having said, this type of traveling is very fulfilling in that you’ll learn so many things along the way. Also good for sustainable traveling as we don’t get to flights as often.
Coralie Grassin · October 14, 2017 at 10:05 pm
Thank you for showing the “real life” side of backpacking! People think it’s just “grab a bag and go” but to make the most of your budget you do indeed need to do your research…
Nisha · October 14, 2017 at 7:54 pm
You have touched a chord ! Travelling long term & budget go hand in hand. Just returned from our 4 months trip to Europe and I can very well empathize with you. Public transport, street food, looking for a decent toilet… all part of the game. ?
Yesh Sewdayal · October 14, 2017 at 7:00 pm
I love this no-BS post – we so often see the Yay-Wow-Hooray posts with gorgeous instagrammable pictures and how everything was so delightful and fluffy, that we make travel plans on the notion that everything will be brochure ready! With the realisms that come with traveling, there’s always a bigger emotional aspect to dealing with it and I like how you’ve been honest about it. I have a mission to prove people wrong so at some point I’m definitely solo backpacking and will refer to your “realisms” posts!
Divyakshi Gupta · October 14, 2017 at 6:13 pm
There are so many challenges in long term travel even slow travel for that matter and budgets need to be worked upon creatively! You have put it out so well, especially the part where it is distinctly different from luxury short term travel. No permanent address , loneliness… People find traveling all the time toooo glamorous, well this is an eye opener to the flip side!
PossesstheWorld · October 14, 2017 at 5:39 pm
Love, love, love this and the way you have written it. We are 10 months into a 12 month trip and whilst we are not really backpacking (we have suitcases and don’t stay in hostels but apartments) and we are travelling as a couple, there are certainly challenges that we face pretty regularly and it is not for everyone. I could do it for ever, my other half not so much he is ready for the comforts of home. Having said that we would never give back our experiences. Great post, there needs to be more honesty in travel blogging and you have set the bar high with this one. Thanks
Teja · October 14, 2017 at 5:12 pm
Nah, no arguments from me. I don’t know if I’d do long-term travel even if it were more possible for me to do. I know it’s a whole different kettle of fish from even a sabbatical. >2 weeks already has a different rhythm to anything shorter than that. I can imagine multi-month would require an even bigger shift of how you live.
foreverroamingtheworld · October 14, 2017 at 6:11 pm
You’re right the linger u travel the challenges change …from a week to two week ..to a month …for ling term traveling 3 months seems to be when people hit the brick wall or find a new lease of life and want to continue …for me anything under 6 months is a short trip haha ….although I came home for short holidays I was out there roaming living and working for 6 years before I really needed to come home and have a break from traveling …..now having been back home nearly a year I’m ready to jump back innthe horse haha
Amrita Sen · October 14, 2017 at 10:03 am
You are so right. Long term travel has its own restrictions. Budget is really a great constraint especially when I am so cleanliness freak. I had this problem even in my regular travels.