How to Travel Full Time
If you've been dreaming about traveling, we share our advice on how to get started. Your adventure awaits!
We meet lots of people who tell us they’d love to live their own adventures and travel the world but don’t know how to get started. It certainly can be overwhelming to think about, let alone do!
I know when we first started it was very scary.
There were times we thought we were completely insane. Who sells almost everything they own, with no real backup plan or idea of how things will go, and simply takes the biggest leap of faith in their lives?
But if your desire is to get out in the world and see all it has to offer, there’s a point you will not be happy until you listen to the calling and follow it.
It’s better to try and fail than to never try at all.
So if you’re hankering for the need to satisfy your traveling desires, there comes that moment you must go. And we want to help you get on the road.
Our Advice for Traveling Full Time
There are so many travel lifestyle blogs or YouTube videos to learn from, as well as thousands of opinions on how you should do it. It’s mind numbing.
Ultimately it comes down to preferences and just getting started.
1. Make the decision.
This is the most important and critical aspect of living from the road. Until you decide it’s really what you want to do AND are going to do it, there’s no point in doing all the other work. It’s a waste of time.
We daydreamed about traveling for years. It wasn’t until we finally made the decision and commitment that it started to become a reality.
When you make the decision it becomes more tangible.
And if you want to put some urgency to it, set a date for when you want to make it happen. This will give you something to work towards.
If you want to be really bold, announce it to the world. Doing so makes you accountable and will push you harder to make it happen.
2. Forget what others tell you.
As I said previously, there are thousands of travel experts (including us) who will provide excellent advice or recommendations. You could spend weeks or years trying to learn from others.
I recommend you go with your gut and listen to your heart.
While there is value in learning from others, every adventure or experience is unique to the person doing it. There is no right or wrong way.
The best advice I ever received was from a friend and U.S. Marine. He simply told me to “just fucking do it” because all the intelligence I gathered didn’t mean shit.
He was right!
When we rolled out of Oklahoma in August of 2020, we had a tentative plan based on what we wanted to see first. That was it. And a few weeks later we learned to throw that all out the window.
When you forget the roadmap it becomes easier to just go.
The only certainty is change. There will be detours, potholes, and breakdowns along the way. You’ll have to constantly adapt and improvise to keep going. So there’s no reason to figure it all out.
Have an idea about how to get started but don’t stress the rest.
3. Save up some money.
There’s a misconception you need to be independently wealthy in order to travel the world. It’s all BS.
Many people have fulfilled their dreams without having a bank account full of money. If you know how to budget and stick to your means, you don’t need a lot to hit the open road.
However I do recommend saving up a little money to reduce stress.
It’s nice to know you have a bit of a cushion to rely on in case of unexpected costs or emergencies. Plus you won’t have to beg people with GoFundMe campaigns because you only had $300 in your pocket.
We were fortunate to have some savings from the sale of our house which allowed us to breathe easier — but those funds don’t last forever.
If you don’t have an endless supply of cash, you’ll want to be very frugal and/or work from the road.
Thankfully, our ability to work our online businesses from anywhere has given us the freedom and longevity we wanted.
4. Create a budget.
Before you start your journey, it’s also good to know what the minimum threshold of money you will need to maintain the lifestyle you want. Then you should create a budget and stick with it. Why?
It’s easy to spend more than you have while traveling.
All of those craft beers, souvenir t-shirts and stickers, fancy coffees, entrance fees, and eating at restaurants really adds up. You can go broke pretty fast if you’re not careful.
In our experience, if you want to stretch your money and get more from your traveling adventure, it’s better to have a strict budget and follow it.
5. Sell your stuff.
Depending on how you choose to travel, you’ll discover space is very limited on what you can bring.
Not only that, if you decide to sell your house or not pay for storage, then there’s a very high probability you’ll have to part ways with your precious belongings.
For most people this ain’t easy but it has to be done.
Many years ago I fell in love with the ideal of a minimalistic lifestyle. I looked around at all the stuff I’d accumulated over 48 years and wondered why I even needed or wanted it. Most of it I never even used.
We cried as we burned, trashed, or sold things. But you know what? When it was over we felt amazing. Getting rid of your stuff will lighten your load mentally and physically.
As for traveling in a pick up truck, you can’t take everything with you either. For us that meant downsizing to the very basics. We have what we need and that’s all that matters.
We’ve never missed the rest.
6. Build an online business.
Unless you’re one of those lucky few who don’t have to worry about an income, you’ll need to figure out a way to keep cash flow coming in.
While there are options like working seasonal jobs in tourist towns or temporary work arrangements, it’s so much easier run your own company.
Building an online business is the best solution.
Technology gives you the power to work from anywhere with an internet connection. You can start an online business for $100 and easily make $2,000-$3,000 per month fairly quickly.
Plus you can set your schedule to work around your new traveling lifestyle. This freedom is incredible and rewarding.
It’s not always easy but it’s so worth the effort.
And the earlier you start the better.
7. Enjoy the journey.
This is the second most valuable piece of advice we can share.
Your goal is getting out to there to explore, living the adventure of a lifetime, and enjoying the journey.
Without a doubt you’ll encounter challenges and there will be tough days ahead, but that’s gonna happen whether you travel or not. Embrace the fact it never goes as planned.
Choose to live in the moment.
Choose to make priceless memories while you can.
Choose to ignore the fears, the negatives, or the unknown.
Choose to do what others only dream about.
Finally, remember this.
Traveling full-time isn’t just for the wealthy, the retired, or the lucky. You can do it if you really want to. You just have to start.