Here are answers to a few questions that might help get you started....
1. How much will it cost me to do this full-time?
As far as how much money to save (or earn) for a year of travel, that really depends on how much of a spender you are and how many countries you will want to visit. My philosophy is that I buy an airline ticket as inexpensively as possible, then try to plan on staying in that one general location for a long enough period of time to make it worth the ticket! For example, I bought my ticket to Europe and planned on staying 5 months (3 months in the Schengen area and a couple months in Croatia, Bosnia, etc), but I made sure I had the resources necessary in case my plans changed (which they often do if you're living an open-ended, nomadic lifestyle)!
I don't usually do a lot of expensive sightseeing (so I don't usually need a whole lot of extra money), but it's nice to have enough for a few "extras" if possible. Personally, I enjoy being someplace for at least a month or more so I can get to know more about the culture, sit in cafes and watch people or talk to people, etc. With that in mind, I don't feel the need to have a whole lot of extra money for sightseeing or food, but I do live pretty simply when I travel so I probably spend less than the average traveler!
2. How do I find inexpensive transportation?
If you have any mileage tickets, that is always a good option to go certain places. Most mileage tickets allow a stopover in the same "zone" if it's all booked together. So, for example, I could fly to someplace like Ecuador, then maybe Peru, then back to the United States (and I get the stopover in Peru for free)!
There are all sorts of tricks to the trade, and I'm happy to share whatever you need to know to make this easy for you! I usually start with Google Flights because it's easy to use and easy to figure out alternative dates, airports, or other options that might keep the ticket price lower. Expedia, Kayak, and SkyScanner are also good!! I always check directly with the airlines just to be sure I'm not missing out on a special deal!
I often wait and see where I can find a good ticket, and then look for house-sitting in the area. Or it sometimes works to find the house-sit first, then figure out the transportation (depending on the location). It's usually kind of a simultaneous process....it just depends!! I seldom spend more than $400 - $700 on an airline ticket, so it depends on how much you plan on traveling to various places and in what timeframe.
Sometimes you can fly into a major city in Europe like London, Paris, Brussels, Munich, etc. and connect with one of the budget airlines like RyanAir, WizzAir, etc. In addition, check out the cost of trains (including the possibility of a EurailPass if you are traveling a lot of days to lots of countries in Europe), buses and long-distance Uber-type options. It's always good to balance safety with expense, and the local people and other travelers you meet along the way are a GREAT resource of local information!
3. How long should I stay in each place?
I can usually tell if a house-sit is going to work before arriving (thanks to video-chat!!), so I don't have a problem committing to whatever amount of time the homeowners need (as long as it fits within the travel visa requirements, of course). However, I've learned through my experiences with WorkAway that it's important to spend some time with the family to see if it's a good fit before committing to anything more than a month...or maybe even more than a few weeks!!
The people I stayed with were all very nice, but family dynamics are something that can be more difficult to navigate than just taking care of someone's house and pets! I suggest starting with a couple weeks if they are willing and hold back on committing to a longer period of time until you feel sure it's a good fit (just so you don't have any awkward exits - or, alternatively you stay longer than you're comfortable)!
4. Will I need to rent a car and is that expensive!
Local transportation is always something I try to figure out before I commit to anything. If I am house-sitting, I usually try to make sure they are close to a bus or some sort of public transportation. If they are in a rural setting and are not near any public transportation, they will oftentimes let me use their car (based on a clean driving record and their insurance company saying it's okay, of course). I always go in with the assumption that I will figure out public transportation and don't count on the car, but it's a nice bonus when it happens!
Rental cars can really eat into your budget, but you might check with the people you're house-sitting for to see if they have options for inexpensive rentals. And....think about how comfortable you feel driving in another country! I've not tried driving on the "opposite" side of the road yet, but I could probably figure it out if necessary. Most European Car Rental companies provide fairly inexpensive insurance (since American insurance companies don't cover you outside the U.S.), so be sure to check out those options when renting a car outside your home country!
Personally, I prefer to watch for opportunities that provide a left-hand driver car or pick places I can get around on public transportation, walking to cafes, etc. GoogleMaps will usually start you in the right direction for public transportation (and Uber/Taxi options), but Rome2Rio seems to track down all the possible options (and does a general cost-comparison)!!
5. Should I get travel/health insurance?
I always get healthcare insurance when I travel internationally and it's usually not very expensive for the value (and peace-of-mind while you travel). I think on my last trip, I spent around $60 for 6 months. It's usually at least under $100 (so not a huge investment, but I think its essential to have when you travel)! I always like to plan ahead "just in case" (with the intention that nothing will happen, of course)! I don't usually bother with trip cancellation insurance because I don't spend a whole lot on the tickets (or accommodation, obviously), but you can get it quoted both ways and decide what works best for you. Most of the policies I've done in the past include health insurance, as well as transportation back to the United States in case of death or medical emergency. Here's a good link I've used before since it gives a few options and has different companies....InsureMyTrip
6. How much luggage is too much?!?!
My advice is only bring what you can easily carry up and down stairs (just in case there aren't any escalators like many of the train and bus stations in Europe)!! I have a carry-on size bag with roller wheels plus a small backpack which also has wheels, and that's about the right amount for me (although it WAS a little tricky getting up and down stairs at train stations in Italy, but definitely doable)!! Pare down as much as you can, but bring a few small "comfort items" if needed to make the settling in process easier wherever you land! For me, it's the smell and feel of my Jergens lotion and a few other items that make anywhere in the world feel like home!
7. What if this whole process feels overwhelming and I need support?!?!
If you are interested in seeing more of the world but aren't sure where to begin, I would love to help you as you begin your journey of exploration! We can discuss ALL the doors of possibility available to you and begin the dreaming process - honing in on where you might like to travel, what situations might be a good fit for you, and some of the pros and cons of each possibility.
You can explore, sort through and find out which direction feels right, and I will be happy to support you in moving forward on your path towards YOUR Travel Dreams!! We can do a "one-and-done" session to get you started and/or a discounted package price for additional sessions if you decide you need a bit of support figuring things out and making decisions along the way!
If you decide to work with me, I hope that in the future you will look back on this experience as the first step in creating a whole new reality of how to live your Best Life - a time when you get to explore new places, meet new people and live the life you've always dreamed of living!!
Please email me at: HolisticCoaching@yahoo.com if you have any questions, need additional information, or if you would like to schedule a session!
1. How much will it cost me to do this full-time?
As far as how much money to save (or earn) for a year of travel, that really depends on how much of a spender you are and how many countries you will want to visit. My philosophy is that I buy an airline ticket as inexpensively as possible, then try to plan on staying in that one general location for a long enough period of time to make it worth the ticket! For example, I bought my ticket to Europe and planned on staying 5 months (3 months in the Schengen area and a couple months in Croatia, Bosnia, etc), but I made sure I had the resources necessary in case my plans changed (which they often do if you're living an open-ended, nomadic lifestyle)!
I don't usually do a lot of expensive sightseeing (so I don't usually need a whole lot of extra money), but it's nice to have enough for a few "extras" if possible. Personally, I enjoy being someplace for at least a month or more so I can get to know more about the culture, sit in cafes and watch people or talk to people, etc. With that in mind, I don't feel the need to have a whole lot of extra money for sightseeing or food, but I do live pretty simply when I travel so I probably spend less than the average traveler!
2. How do I find inexpensive transportation?
If you have any mileage tickets, that is always a good option to go certain places. Most mileage tickets allow a stopover in the same "zone" if it's all booked together. So, for example, I could fly to someplace like Ecuador, then maybe Peru, then back to the United States (and I get the stopover in Peru for free)!
There are all sorts of tricks to the trade, and I'm happy to share whatever you need to know to make this easy for you! I usually start with Google Flights because it's easy to use and easy to figure out alternative dates, airports, or other options that might keep the ticket price lower. Expedia, Kayak, and SkyScanner are also good!! I always check directly with the airlines just to be sure I'm not missing out on a special deal!
I often wait and see where I can find a good ticket, and then look for house-sitting in the area. Or it sometimes works to find the house-sit first, then figure out the transportation (depending on the location). It's usually kind of a simultaneous process....it just depends!! I seldom spend more than $400 - $700 on an airline ticket, so it depends on how much you plan on traveling to various places and in what timeframe.
Sometimes you can fly into a major city in Europe like London, Paris, Brussels, Munich, etc. and connect with one of the budget airlines like RyanAir, WizzAir, etc. In addition, check out the cost of trains (including the possibility of a EurailPass if you are traveling a lot of days to lots of countries in Europe), buses and long-distance Uber-type options. It's always good to balance safety with expense, and the local people and other travelers you meet along the way are a GREAT resource of local information!
3. How long should I stay in each place?
I can usually tell if a house-sit is going to work before arriving (thanks to video-chat!!), so I don't have a problem committing to whatever amount of time the homeowners need (as long as it fits within the travel visa requirements, of course). However, I've learned through my experiences with WorkAway that it's important to spend some time with the family to see if it's a good fit before committing to anything more than a month...or maybe even more than a few weeks!!
The people I stayed with were all very nice, but family dynamics are something that can be more difficult to navigate than just taking care of someone's house and pets! I suggest starting with a couple weeks if they are willing and hold back on committing to a longer period of time until you feel sure it's a good fit (just so you don't have any awkward exits - or, alternatively you stay longer than you're comfortable)!
4. Will I need to rent a car and is that expensive!
Local transportation is always something I try to figure out before I commit to anything. If I am house-sitting, I usually try to make sure they are close to a bus or some sort of public transportation. If they are in a rural setting and are not near any public transportation, they will oftentimes let me use their car (based on a clean driving record and their insurance company saying it's okay, of course). I always go in with the assumption that I will figure out public transportation and don't count on the car, but it's a nice bonus when it happens!
Rental cars can really eat into your budget, but you might check with the people you're house-sitting for to see if they have options for inexpensive rentals. And....think about how comfortable you feel driving in another country! I've not tried driving on the "opposite" side of the road yet, but I could probably figure it out if necessary. Most European Car Rental companies provide fairly inexpensive insurance (since American insurance companies don't cover you outside the U.S.), so be sure to check out those options when renting a car outside your home country!
Personally, I prefer to watch for opportunities that provide a left-hand driver car or pick places I can get around on public transportation, walking to cafes, etc. GoogleMaps will usually start you in the right direction for public transportation (and Uber/Taxi options), but Rome2Rio seems to track down all the possible options (and does a general cost-comparison)!!
5. Should I get travel/health insurance?
I always get healthcare insurance when I travel internationally and it's usually not very expensive for the value (and peace-of-mind while you travel). I think on my last trip, I spent around $60 for 6 months. It's usually at least under $100 (so not a huge investment, but I think its essential to have when you travel)! I always like to plan ahead "just in case" (with the intention that nothing will happen, of course)! I don't usually bother with trip cancellation insurance because I don't spend a whole lot on the tickets (or accommodation, obviously), but you can get it quoted both ways and decide what works best for you. Most of the policies I've done in the past include health insurance, as well as transportation back to the United States in case of death or medical emergency. Here's a good link I've used before since it gives a few options and has different companies....InsureMyTrip
6. How much luggage is too much?!?!
My advice is only bring what you can easily carry up and down stairs (just in case there aren't any escalators like many of the train and bus stations in Europe)!! I have a carry-on size bag with roller wheels plus a small backpack which also has wheels, and that's about the right amount for me (although it WAS a little tricky getting up and down stairs at train stations in Italy, but definitely doable)!! Pare down as much as you can, but bring a few small "comfort items" if needed to make the settling in process easier wherever you land! For me, it's the smell and feel of my Jergens lotion and a few other items that make anywhere in the world feel like home!
7. What if this whole process feels overwhelming and I need support?!?!
If you are interested in seeing more of the world but aren't sure where to begin, I would love to help you as you begin your journey of exploration! We can discuss ALL the doors of possibility available to you and begin the dreaming process - honing in on where you might like to travel, what situations might be a good fit for you, and some of the pros and cons of each possibility.
You can explore, sort through and find out which direction feels right, and I will be happy to support you in moving forward on your path towards YOUR Travel Dreams!! We can do a "one-and-done" session to get you started and/or a discounted package price for additional sessions if you decide you need a bit of support figuring things out and making decisions along the way!
If you decide to work with me, I hope that in the future you will look back on this experience as the first step in creating a whole new reality of how to live your Best Life - a time when you get to explore new places, meet new people and live the life you've always dreamed of living!!
Please email me at: HolisticCoaching@yahoo.com if you have any questions, need additional information, or if you would like to schedule a session!
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