2016 was a busy year for me. And beyond the calendar year, the last 18 months have taken me to 20 countries—that’s a lot of travel! It’s gotten to the point where my friends at home just automatically assume I’m abroad. When we do happen to cross paths, their first question is inevitably: where next?
The life of a digital nomad is enviable, in a lot of ways. Everyone I meet is curious about how I do it, what my advice is. Here, in no particular order, are 20 lessons I learned from visiting 20 countries:
Airplane Tickets Are Cheaper than You Think
When I took my first trip, I paid something like $800 for a one-way ticket from Denver to Thailand. Now, years later, I would never pay that much for a plane ticket—and definitely not a one-way ticket. If you’re paying attention to deals, you can pretty easily get a roundtrip ticket for less than that.
And travel from the U.S. to Europe?
Amazingly cheap. If you keep an eye on the deals, you can fly roundtrip from any major U.S. hub to most European countries for $300-$500, often on nice carriers. Even if you can’t fly directly to your destination, keep in mind—train travel and low-cost air carriers make moving around Europe (and Asia) extremely easy and cheap.
Don’t let the myth of the “expensive plane ticket” keep you from traveling. Often it’s just as cheap to fly to Europe as it is to take a domestic vacation.
Slow Travel is the Best Travel
You know the saying: “It’s about the journey, not the destination.” Nowhere is this more true than in long-term travel. If you can, take the train instead of a plane. And if you can, walk instead of taking the train. And if you don’t feel like walking? Just stay in one place, and soak it in for a while.
Travel isn’t a competition, no matter how much certain travel bloggers might make it seem that way. Nor should you care about the dick-measuring contest at the hostel, when the conversation between you and your new mates inevitably turns to who has visited where. I did 10 countries in two months on my Balkans trip last year—that was way too fast.
A three-day vacation to a beach resort will tell you nothing about a place, even if you do have the passport stamp to prove you were there. Spending a month or two living in one place, meeting the locals, and absorbing the daily rhythms of a place? That will teach you so much more, and stick with you for so much longer. Looking back on my travels, my favorite places are generally the ones where I spent the most time.
Long-term Travel Isn’t as Crazy as it Seems From Home
When you hit the road, there is something shocking that you’ll quickly realize. That revelation? There are a lot of people doing this. Like… a lot of people. And those people come from all walks of life.
Some work as servers or cashiers or other low-pay jobs; they worked for years and years and saved as much as they could, and now they’re off on their next adventure. Some people work as digital nomads while they travel, earning income to support themselves on the road. Other people are rich, and take their families with them. Some are taking a gap year after uni, while others have spent one lifetime already in the workforce, and are now looking for something new.
Some people are traveling for a week off work; others have been on the road for years without stopping. Some people live on $10 a day, while others stay in luxury hotels and fly first class. No matter where you are: there will be people to make friends with.
Travel is the Only Thing You Can Buy Which Makes You Richer
Words of wisdom on Copacabana Beach, in Dubrovnik, Croatia
A good buddy of mine took a trip to South America after graduation. Back home now, working away, he posited a question to me: “Are things better than experiences?”
It seemed an unlikely question to hear from a traveler.
His reasoning? “Pablo works all the time. And he buys a lot of nice things which last him forever, while I’ve basically forgotten most of my trip by now.”
Personally, I think in 30 years, you’re a lot more likely to remember the months you spent backpacking Asia than the years of Netflix you watched on your 60 inch TV. Science backs me up on this one. And my friend has come around too—he is now planning a new trip.
But…
Travel Costs More Than Money
Opportunity cost is a real thing. Whether you’re quitting your job, taking a gap year, or setting off to live in a new country—all those actions come with big consequences. Chasing my dream to travel cost me a serious relationship. My climbing partner set off to travel about a year ago, fell in love, and never came back.
Your relationships with your friends back home will suffer, people will get married and break up, huge life events will happen, and you won’t be there. You may, in fact, be on a beach in Bali when a close friend needs a shoulder to cry on. And there is no getting around it: this will make you feel bad, even if you know it shouldn’t.
Go With The Flow
I’m a terrible planner. I don’t plan anything when I travel, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. In my experience, things are generally more enjoyable, fluid, and authentic when you don’t saddle your trip with too many expectations. Almost all of my favorite travel memories—clubbing in Sarajevo with a local woman we met on the bus, playing chess and smoking hash with an old Malaysian man in a café in Pokhara Nepal, getting stumbling drunk in Budapest at 8 a.m. on election day—were spontaneous adventures that I could never have planned for.
Travel Blogs are Full of lies
Not mine, obviously 🙂
I like to tell stories. They like to sell things.
Travel blogs depend on selling you a dream, which isn’t ever totally accurate. Anyone who’s done long-term travel understands this implicitly, I think, but a lot of people reading these blogs are aspirational travelers. I know I was, before I set out on my first trip. My advice: take what everyone tells you with a grain of salt.
For example:
There’s a HORDE of Tourists Behind That Instagram Pic
That beautiful, deserted Thai beach you discovered on Instagram? Might be beautiful, but it’s probably not deserted.
I’ll plead guilty to this one. Take a look at the Instagram photo I posted from Kuta Beach, on Bali, above.
And now look what the beach behind me looked like when I took that photograph:
This photo, I feel, doesn’t even accurately depict the size and obnoxiousness of the crowds at Kuta. It’s the only one I took though.
Koh Phi Phi, in Thailand, is one of the most Instagrammed spots in the world. But the islands themselves have become so overrun with backpackers and tourists, everyone in the region recommends you avoid going there. It’s pretty, but it’s been ruined, people say.
Sometimes tourism is good for a place, but too much, and eventually it turns bad.
Americans Don’t Travel
As a US citizen myself, I could have told you this just from observing my friend group. International travel is an exotic thing for many of them. As an American abroad, in many places, you will be the exotic thing.
American Pop Culture is Global Pop Culture
Although our citizens might not travel much, our pop culture certainly does. I was recently in Iceland, where I met two guys on their way to study abroad in Italy. As we sat in a coffee shop and warmed our bones against the windy Reykjavik winter, one of the guys could not get over the fact that this coffee shop was playing Mumford and Sons. “That’s wild!” he said.
But really, it’s not. Ask any foreigner, and they’ll know all the American movie stars and pop idols. Hollywood has conquered the globe. Why? Because it has the best production values, people say.
My favorite instance of this phenomenon: a lot of the young Nepali guys I met love Justin Bieber. (Canadians in the comments would like me to clarify that Bieber’s actually Canadian).
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That’s the first 10 lessons I’ve learned from traveling to 20 countries! Click here for Part 2! Did you like this article? Help me get the word out by sharing it on Facebook or Pinning it on Pinterest!
thisisyouth 
I did most of my traveling while in the Service, but still get to do international on occasion. And you’re right, it’s never “Like the pictures.” But if i hadn’t gotten sun poisoning in Tavira, i’d never have met that wonderful retired British couple, in their lovely little cafe, who made me tea and a proper English breakfast while my traveling companions headed for the beach… And that is a memory i cherish.
Awesome post. I like all of them especially the slow travel. I’ll try to be slower next time 🙂
Nice blog post. Totally identify with you passion for travel – its the best and most exciting form of education 🙂 Good luck in your travels!
Great tips! There is some good budget travel advice here as well!
http://www.pilotlifeforme.com
I’ve your enthusiasm and the way you write! A great post! Cannot wait for more!
Love Soph xxx
Thanks soph! 😊
Great post!
Totally enjoyed reading it.
http://sagrikajhamb.com/2017/06/18/to-travel-is-to-live/
This post is amazing!!
I’m new here and I just published a post about traveling too. I would be happy if you could check it out one time. https://juliasspot4.blog/2017/06/11/stepping-out-of-the-bubble/
Wow I’m so jealous of all your adventures!! I’ve explored some, but excited for more!
Love this post! Dream of doing more travelling in the future but for now I relish being in one place https://housewivesofharrogate.wordpress.com Will need to be satisfied with living vicariously through you!
Wow. You are awesome with this journey you met. Yes, I definitely want to be rich as well with traveling. Thank you for this thoughts.
https://mymainetravels.com
This is so accurate! Especially the travel blog/instagram photo illusion, and the fact US citizens don’t travel (I’m a US citizen and rarely ever see Americans). Most Americans I know rarely travel passed the Mexican/Caribbean resorts or cruises. They’re missing out!
Couldn’t agree more on how commercial spots are glamorized by pretty photos but are really crowded… intense research is the key to best travel…
Or… orrrrrrr… is the key to travel doing absolutely no research, and seeing where the wind blows you?
That way at least, you have some surprises waiting for you when you arrive 😉
I love this post and your blog in general.
Definitely agree with you. One thing, I think long term travel is what Americans see as exotic. There are so many damn American tourists in big European cities😂 But they’re usually just as amazed as the locals when you point to the backpack you’re living out of.
I traveled to six countries in Europe and lived for a brief time in China twice. The things you learn about yourself and about your country going abroad it changes you. I totally agree about the crowds and tourists, lol. I remember feeling like I was in a can of sardines more than a couple of times in China. Even in Europe, I was exotic, lol.
This is such a great blog, I would like to take off for a few months and just see where I end up one day. I’ve written few travel posts and would love if you could take a look – they’re nowhere as good as this though hahaha
https://youthculturelife.wordpress.com
We really love this post and we are so excited for our mummy to read us more of your stories. You said you love telling stories. We love telling stories too! Thats why we started our adventure travel blog. We love hearing stories! They make us so happy! And we want to make other people happy too!
We really like the bit about spending lots of time in one place! We like getting lost in places. Our daddy says thats when you really find it. We also like what you said about meeting lots of new people. One of our favourite bits of our adventures are all the new friends we make!
We are really excited to hear more of your stories!
Wolf, Bear & Monkey xxx
Thanks for this, very helpful! 🙂 Hope we could share more travel ideas so do follow us too! 🙂
Couldn’t agree more with travel being worth so much more than money. You learn so much and develop and evolve as a person. But I will keep enjoying my Netflix marathons in the meantime 😉
Great post! Totally agree about the “glossy” travel blogs, im hoping my blog https://7months31countries.wordpress.com/ will stick to stories and keep it real 🙂
Love this post!
So true.. 🙂
“Americans don’t travel” this one striked me the most 😀
This was a nice set of lessons, thanks! The opportunity cost of long term travel is something that scares me… Even moving to different cities within the same country can stop you from being there from old friends or maintaining relationships!
But if the relationships are real they’ll last whenever you go and whenever you return from your long term travels you’ll find out you have friends from all over the world 🙂
Slow travelling, Insta-fibbing and the impact of globalisation (and pop culture) are my favourite aspects of this post. Keep up the good work!
Travel makes you richer also due to spiritual shifts and a greater sense of self. You don’t forget that, no matter how crap your memory is. Unplanned, long term travel is also probably the only time such experiences abroad will genuinely change your life. Pleasant read.
Just found your blog after you liked my post on my trip to Budapest – great entry! So many true things and facts that you really learn only when you start traveling!
Thank you!!
Good post but as a proud Canadian I feel it necessary to point out that Justin Bieber is Canadian too;)
Thanks for sharing… Great tips!
Great post, thanks for sharing! Enjoy reading your posts and look forward to the next one! Peace and blessings! 🙂
Your posts are a big inspiration, and always well written. Looking forward to part two.
Thank you for the honesty and I may say the accuracy of your observations.
Wise words!
Sharing this one with my friends, friend.
Please do! Thank you 🙂
Great post! Definitely made me feel wistful for my semester abroad 🙂
The Instagram one is sooo real!
Great post. It’s very true what you say about slow travel, I’m always amazed by the number of people trying to cram everything in to a short trip or hopping from destination to destination. I think it must be a result of our instant gratification culture, we’ve forgotten how to spend time slowly.
I am so glad you like my post. I am feeling my gypsy stirring. Your real stories make me want to go more than ever. How do you find the ticket deals?
I love the true-to-heart list! keep it up!
Great post! Very down to earth and sincere 💋
Good honest list. Look forward to reading your next post.
Thanks!
Thanks for the tips..
Thank you so much for this insightful compilation about traveling.I am more aware of it because of you!I am going to make sure to recount my first travel journey whenever I have one!I so look forward for it and also for the your next ten lessons.
I applaud you for following your passion.
I have totally enjoyed your travel exploits and look forward to more. But just for the record, Justin Beiber is Canadian. 😉 Sorry, couldn’t pass that one up. Oh yeah and saying sorry all the time is also Canadian. Hope one day to see you up here. I live on Vancouver Island, absolute beauty.
Haha yeah I know!the Nepali know, too 😛 He’s definitely a cornerstone of pop culture