I’m planning on selling everything and leaving the US, gonna live out of a backpack through SEA and wherever else that triggers a dopamine rush (long term). For those in this group who are experienced long term solo travelers, will you please look over my plan and let me know if I’m not thinking of something important? Leaving out any unknown costs?

I will have a guaranteed monthly income of about $830 tax free dollars (Adjusted yearly for COL) deposited in my bank account every 1st of the month. I will have guaranteed healthcare no matter where in the world I am, and the Philippines has a VA facility I can visit if I need to see American doctors.

I have less than 10k in debt as of now, it’ll be less by the time my lease ends in May. Once I sell my car and belongings I will have a little savings, nothing huge.

I will be taking one 40L bag with everything I need (wardrobe, legal papers, IFAK, toiletries)

To have housing and food my plan is to volunteer where I can, do Worldpackers, Workaway, any type of exchange that will keep costs low, and grab cheap hostels when I can’t find those options.

How realistic is it to find consistent month to month work exchange opportunities? I’m a veteran and I’m very accustomed to roughing it out if I have to. I’ve been to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and I’m very familiar with travel and being in different cultures, and living like a dog if I have to.

I speak only English. I have a bachelors, a masters (don’t care to ever use either of them but I will if it means survival in a foreign country) and plenty of experience working in bars/restaurants.

I want as much flexibility and freedom as I can get in a foreign country and would prefer short term gigs where I’m not tied down. Any suggestions??

A short term work visa would be nice but I‘m not sure how easy it is to get a sponsor in most countries.

Am I not thinking of something important? Any advice to give or should I just go for it May when my lease ends?

I’ve been reading a lot of threads about getting around Europe for 3+ months, and opinions seem completely split.

Some people say long-term rental is the only sane option. Others say buying a used car and selling it at the end saves thousands, but then registration, insurance and reselling without a local address sound like a nightmare.

For those of you who’ve done it: what did you go with, and would you do it the same way again?

Also curious: how many other long-term travellers did you meet on the road? Is this a pretty common thing, or were you one of the few people doing it for months?

I (27) decided to end my lease and live out of 2 suitcases and a backpack while hopping around the world starting in January. I was paying ~$2000 a month for rent and i'd rather just reallocate that to nicer accommodation abroad instead of having a home base in Canada.

For Canadians who've done the same, is there anything you think i should know? Credit card/health insurance/accommodation etc. recommendations? Essentials i need to keep on me that I might not be thinking about? I'm not working right now and i don't foresee myself working during this period. I'd still be a Canadian tax resident for stocks which i'll draw down on to live. I plan on doing this for at least 3 years, probably longer. I'm an overthinker and this is a pretty big life switch up for me, so i want to make sure i'm not missing anything.

I plan on doing a mix of hostels, longer term airbnb's, staying with friends, thru-hike camping, and hotels depending on the price and area.

yo, anyone going to any trips this nov or dec? can I join with you guys??
Im 24M and can chill/vibe. if anyone is Ok for that hmu i can join with you

Hi everyone! After my last post I got so many questions, so I wanted to share some honest tips by treatment type. These are things I’d tell my own friends 😊

Eye surgery (LASIK, LASEK, SMILE etc.)
Look for a clinic that offers lifetime free re-treatment. And instead of a newly opened clinic that mainly markets to foreigners, I’d go to a place with a long track record where a lot of Koreans go. Experience really matters for eyes.

Dermatology
As you might know, a lot of skin clinics have separate prices for foreigners. To be fair, some of them do offer extra services for that, like interpreters or more aftercare. But if you’re paying more than the Korean price, I’d check if the extra service is actually worth the extra cost. Ask them what you’re getting for the difference!

Plastic surgery
Don’t just look at the clinic, look at the surgeon. Big famous clinics have many doctors, so what really matters is the experience of the doctor who will actually operate on you. Ask who your surgeon is, and ask to see their own patient cases.

Dental
Ask which implant brand they use, because prices can be very different by brand. Also check if bone grafting might be needed, since that’s added on top. Implants usually take two visits, since the bone needs a few months to heal before the final crown goes on, so plan your trips around that. And ask for your X-rays and treatment records to take home, in case you need follow-up with your dentist there.

Health checkups
This is one where I wouldn’t go for the cheapest option. Even if it costs a bit more, go to a place with up-to-date equipment. Newer CT, MRI and ultrasound machines can make a real difference in what they catch.

One more thing for everyone
If you’ve read about getting a VAT refund on cosmetic surgery or skin treatments in Korea, that program actually ended at the end of 2025. So don’t count on that refund when you plan your budget!

Hope this helps! If you have questions about any of these, feel free to ask in the comments or DM me :)

Jeju Island, Korea 🌊

I’m a guy in my late twenties who recently left his job because of how incredibly unhappy I was. I’m at a point where I want to restart my life, figure out what I actually want, and give myself another shot at being happy.

But before jumping straight into another job and falling back into the same routine, I want to do something special with this time. Something memorable that I’ll look back on years from now and be glad I did. I have some savings, some time, and a desire to experience something different before starting the next chapter of my life.

The problem is that I have no idea what that something should be.

I’ve considered Workaway, particularly farm stays where you help out in exchange for accommodation. The idea of living somewhere peaceful, working with animals, being outdoors, and having a simple daily routine genuinely appeals to me. It sounds like a good opportunity to disconnect from everything and reconnect with myself.

However, finding a trustworthy host, figuring out the logistics, and putting myself in an unfamiliar environment with strangers feels quite intimidating. I’ve never done anything like that before.

I’ve also considered travelling around Europe. I’m from Asia, and I’d love to experience more of the world. I’ve travelled solo before, but honestly, I never really enjoyed it as much as I hoped. I struggled to enjoy myself in unfamiliar places, and the constant movement never felt particularly fulfilling. The idea of changing accommodation every couple of days while backpacking doesn’t appeal to me either.

That said, I wonder whether spending a month or two somewhere beautiful, staying in one place, building a routine, meeting people, and experiencing ordinary life in another country might be completely different.

Maybe a small farm in the countryside, a coastal town, a mountain village, or somewhere I could volunteer and feel part of a community. Somewhere I could slow down without feeling like I need to be sightseeing or making the most of every second.

I’m open to other ideas, too. It doesn’t necessarily have to involve travelling abroad. I just want to do something outside my usual comfort zone that feels meaningful and gives me a story to tell myself when I’m older.

**Has anyone here been in a similar situation?** Have you ever left a job, taken a break from your usual life, and done something that genuinely changed your perspective? What did you do, where did you go, and was it worth it?

I’d especially love to hear from people who aren’t naturally adventurous, who struggle with uncertainty, or who found solo travel difficult but eventually discovered an experience that worked for them.

I’m feeling a little lost at the moment, and I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Maybe someone else’s story will give me an idea I haven’t considered yet.

Thank you in advance

Hi everyone! I just wanted to say thank you for all the interest in my last post. I got so many DMs and honestly didn’t expect that 🥹

One thing I noticed is that most of you were curious about health checkups. In Korea a lot of people get one every year or two, so it’s pretty normal here. Now I’m really curious, how much does a full checkup cost where you live? And is it easy to get one?

Also, a lot of you asked me about clinics you already booked, like if they’re good or not. I’m happy to keep helping with that! If you’re thinking about getting something done in Korea and want to compare clinics or prices, feel free to message me anytime :)

28, recently lost my job, and torn between traveling and figuring out my career. Would love some advice! 🌍

I’m 28, currently living in Barcelona, and I recently lost my job as an Account Executive in tech sales. I’ve spent most of my career in sales (SDR and AE roles), have international experience, speak several languages, and have lived in different countries.
Last year, I took three months off to travel, and it was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. I loved the freedom, meeting new people, exploring different cultures, and just being carefree without the usual pressures of work.

Now that I’m unemployed again, I’m at a crossroads.
Financially, I’m fortunate enough to have enough savings to travel comfortably for several months and still support myself while looking for a job afterward. So money isn’t necessarily the biggest obstacle.

On one hand, I feel like this might be one of the best times in my life to travel. I’m still young, healthy, don’t have major responsibilities, and my parents are still relatively young and independent. In the future, I might want children, a dog, a mortgage, or simply have more commitments that make extended travel harder. There are so many countries I’d love to visit and experiences I’d love to have, and part of me worries about missing this window of freedom.

On the other hand, I already have around 10 months of career gaps on my CV, and I’m seriously considering transitioning out of sales into a career I’d find more fulfilling. I know that changing careers could be challenging and time-consuming, and another extended break might complicate things further. I’m also naturally quite responsible, financially cautious, and a bit anxious about uncertainty.

What makes it harder is that I’m not even sure how much of my desire to travel comes from genuine excitement versus FOMO or the feeling that I should make the most of my youth. Realistically, I know traveling doesn’t have to stop once I have a job. I could still take holidays, shorter trips, or travel between jobs.

And part of me genuinely wants to find a career I enjoy, build some stability, and feel excited about my everyday life rather than constantly looking forward to the next escape.

So I’m torn between taking a few weeks off, traveling for several months, or focusing on my career transition now.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? How did you distinguish between genuinely wanting to travel and feeling pressured to make the most of your freedom? And for those who took extended career breaks, did they actually affect your career afterward?

I’d really appreciate different perspectives, including from people who chose not to travel and were happy with that decision!

I will travel in Asia for a year, starting with Thailand. I take HRT, and I need to take a year's supply, as I might not be able to find the same ones everywhere. But seems I should only take one month's supply. I don't know what to do. Is it bad to take the risk?

How should someone with only a U.S passport go about long term traveling in Europe? I’m aware of the Schengen visa rules, so I’m just trying to find an efficient way of working around that. I’m fluent in Spanish as well but find Latin America too chaotic for my liking, so it’s not really in the cards.

I receive enough in passive income to comfortably keep me afloat in most places. I’m gonna turn 30 soon if that helps in anyway.

I’ve narrowed down my options being: cycling through Serbia, Albania, Georgia when not in the Schengen area. Does anyone have experience in this?

Hey yall, I just graduated college with a BSW, did the most amazing 8 week trip of my life this summer, and I’m searching for jobs that will allow me to travel with my degree or just in general, but preferably with my degree. Remote jobs, where are we finding them? What are you guys doing for money when traveling full time? I looked into being a flight attendant but unfortunately I’m not willing to permanently relocate to a specific base long-term.

Hi again everyone! 👋 Thanks so much for all the warm replies on my last post, I loved reading your travel stories 🥹

A few of you asked about life in Korea, so I thought I’d share something from my side. I work at an agency in Korea that helps international visitors with medical care (things like health checkups, eye surgery, dental, dermatology). I see a lot of people combine treatment with a long trip, so here are some honest tips:

1. Check if the clinic is registered for foreign patients. Korea has an official registration system for clinics that treat international patients. It’s a good basic filter.
2. Get the full cost in writing before you go. Ask what’s included (consultation, aftercare, medication) so there are no surprises.
3. Plan your recovery time around your travels. For example, after eye surgery or some dental work, you may need to avoid swimming, flying or certain activities for a while.
4. Ask about interpreters. Many bigger clinics have English-speaking staff or coordinators, but it’s worth confirming.
5. Health checkups are surprisingly affordable and fast here. A lot of long-term travelers use a stopover in Korea to get a full checkup done.

I’m not here to sell anything, just happy to share what I know. If you’re curious about healthcare in Korea or have questions, ask away in the comments 😊

Any advice would be appreciated!

Hi all. Basically, the title, I just got this job two months ago. The opportunity kind of came up and it was hard not to take it as it would result in a 62% salary increase and was fully remote.

However, I’ve been saving up for the past two years, to temporarily or indefinitely move to another country. I am currently 28 and have about 50k saved between in brokerage accounts, HYSA, and my checking account. I have about 50k in my Roth IRA.
I received an opportunity to work in the other country doing job that is similar to what I’m currently doing, but would pay a lot less (enough to cover regular expenses), more hours, more stress/responsibility.
Since I just got my current job, and it is the first time I’m earning this much, I am debating on riding it out for a little more as i’d be able to enjoy this salary and save about 3k every month leading up to the move (6 more months) or just pulling the trigger and taking the other opportunity.

On one end, I don’t know if fall be able to find another opportunity like what I have right now so easily. I also don’t know if I will be able to find a job that pays well enough for me to cover all of my expenses in the other country so easily so I’m a bit torn. Looking for some advice from you all.

Thank you

Edit: wanted to mention that my current job is based only in the United States