After months on the road, we gathered a wealth of practical tips to help make long-term travel smoother, more enjoyable, and budget-friendly. From packing hacks to ways to save money and helpful advice for travelling with kids, these are the tried-and-true tips we wish we’d known from the start.
- Immerse yourself in the culture. Stay with locals, eat locally, attend cultural events, learn the language and use public transportation.
- Pack a ball. It’s a great way to meet other kids.
- Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Whether it’s sleeping in a jungle or riding a motorcycle, try something that scares you.
- Build your travel community. You’ll be surprised by the number of travellers and families you’ll meet along the way. Swapping stories and tips can lead to new friendships and unforgettable detours.
- Bring a filtered water bottle. Saves on plastic, and you always know your water is safe to drink. Use for brushing teeth as well.
6. Pack less. Pack items that coordinate and can be layered to make multiple outfits with fewer clothes.
7. Follow your gut. If something doesn’t feel right. Don’t do it.
8. Bring essentials in your carry-on. We learned this the hard way when we lost our luggage for an entire month!
9. Always have your camera ready.
10. Ask locals where they eat—and what to order. Trying some local dishes is one of the best (and tastiest) ways to experience a new culture.
11. Get travel insurance.
12. Bring earphones and a tablet (doubles as an e-reader). Get some quiet time when living in close quarters.
13. Subscribe to the Libby app or another book app so you can borrow e-books from the library.
14. Bring an international plug adaptor.
15. Use overnight transportation to save on costs. Red-eye flights, overnight buses and trains allow you to skip the accommodation booking for the night.
16. Visit a medical/travel clinic before you go.
17. Bring earplugs and an eye mask.
18. Always let people back home know where you are. We used a group chat on WhatsApp to keep our families up to date.
19. Book non-direct flights to save money. When you are travelling for an extended period, travel days become part of the journey.
20. Stay connected. Set Zoom dates with family and friends—include virtual playdates for the kids too.
21. Accept that family members will get sick. No matter how hard you try, illness is part of life (and travel).
22. Travel in the shoulder season. It’s a great way to get cheap deals and fewer crowds.
23. Have emergency cash reserves in multiple places ($50 in a few different bags) in case of loss.
24. Wear everything you pack before you go—even the shoes.The last thing you want is blisters or clothes you regret bringing.
25. Watch the sunrise at least a few times.
26. Pack quick-dry clothes for on-the-go laundry in sinks and tubs.
27. Pack a medical kit. You don’t want to be searching for a pharmacy when illness or injury hits.
28. Don’t blindly trust GPS. If the route feels wrong, it probably is. In Botswana, we followed a detour into thick bushland and got so stuck Derek had to chop down a tree to free us—while we nervously kept watch for lions. Worst part? The detour looped us right back to the same road we started on.
29. Bring a deck of cards.
30. Return to places in the evening. The bright lights can completely change the look and atmosphere of temples and landmarks that you saw during the day.
31. Check Google reviews before choosing a restaurant. Always visit places with 4 stars or better. The one time we didn’t, it landed us with food poisoning.
32. Always tell your kids your flight information in case you get separated at the airport.
33. Have your kids send postcards to friends back home. They won’t even realize they are practicing their writing skills.
34. Wear a hat.
35. Say YES when you could say NO. After a few messages with friends-of-friends back home, we were invited to stay with them in Cairo. We said yes, and it turned out to be one of our best experiences. What started as a casual connection quickly grew into a real friendship.
36. Bring a wet bag. Whether it’s damp swimsuits, muddy clothes, or unexpected spills, a waterproof bag is a lifesaver when you’re on the go.
37. Book an extra night when arriving early or leaving late. Having a room ready at 4:30 am—or a place to rest before a midnight flight—can make a long travel day feel a whole lot easier.
38. Check with your hotel or host about safety tips before heading out in the evening.
39. Watch your belongings in busy areas. Wear your purse across your body and keep it in front of you in tight spaces like public transportation.
40. Have kids pack something sentimental from home (stuffed animal or blanket).
41. Keep coins and tissues for public bathrooms.
42. Look for family-run hotels that include breakfast. Saves time, money, and is often delicious.
43. Bring snacks with you on day trips. Stops at cafes add up quickly.
44. If travelling to multiple countries, invest in a mobile hotspot.
45. Eat your way through Italy. You won’t regret it even if you leave with snug pants.
46. Use travel days to connect. Use long car rides and airport waits to chat, play cards, and reminisce about the journey so far. Some of the best conversations happen when you’re going nowhere fast.
47. Give kids time to process. Children don’t always react to things in the moment. We noticed that their thoughts and questions often came days—or even weeks—later. Be ready to revisit experiences together when they’re ready.
48. Know the local traffic laws if renting a car.
49. Hit up local markets to find exotic fruit.
50. Plan a rest day after long or overnight travel days.
51. Eat as much bread and pastries as you can in Europe.
52. Wear long pants and full socks on jungle treks
53. Keep a journal (adults and kids).
54. Get an international driver’s license. Several countries we visited required one when renting a vehicle. Just keep in mind that it’s only valid for one year from the date of issue.
55. Sightsee early in the day. You’ll be rewarded with fewer crowds and cooler temperatures.
56. Book accommodation with flexible cancellation policies.
57. Apartment rentals were often the most affordable option, offering more space, the chance to save by cooking at home, and convenient laundry facilities.
58. Have digital copies of all travel documents and be able to access them from any device. Have hard copies with family at home as backup.
59. Upload photos to a cloud.
60. Try places off the beaten path. Instead of visiting the Amazon in Colombia or Peru, we chose Bolivia. It was more remote and harder to reach, but we were rewarded with quiet, untouched landscapes, and it cost significantly less.
61. Book tours after you arrive. You can often find last-minute deals and local recommendations.
62. Plan your cash withdrawals. Not all ATMs accept North American bank cards, and in some countries, ATMs occasionally run out of cash.
63. Try to learn a few words wherever you go. Please, thank you, hello, and goodbye go a long way.
64. It’s okay not to want to sightsee every day.
65. Stand still and experience. Photos are great, but don’t just live through your lens.
66. When things go sideways, take a breath, regroup, and find a new plan. Flexibility is key to surviving travel fails.
67. Use Google Translate and Google Lens to bridge language gaps. Whether you’re decoding a menu or asking for directions. It’s not perfect, but it often gets the job done.
68. Skip guided tours and go it alone. Save guides for experiences that require one or when you want a deeper dive.
69. Kids don’t need much. A ball, a book, and a deck of cards go a long way.
70. Enjoy the simple things. Go on a hike, find a playground, or wander the streets with a gelato.
71. Incorporate homeschooling into everyday adventures. Use real-life experiences, like teaching kids about local currency at the market, to blend learning with your travels.
72. Get independent car insurance if you plan to rent a car. We used Worldwide Insure, which cost about C$200 for the entire 17-month trip and covered all our rentals worldwide. In contrast, rental companies charged CAD 15–30 per day for insurance. This simple hack saved us roughly C$2,000 over the trip. If you travel full-time or rent cars frequently, it’s a must. Keep in mind, our credit card insurance wasn’t an option since we didn’t return to our home country between destinations, so having independent coverage was essential.
73. Keep family traditions alive. A little sense of familiarity can keep homesickness at bay.
74. Engage your kids before you go. Getting kids familiar with upcoming destinations—through books, movies, or stories—builds excitement and helps them connect with the places you visit.
75. Take a break from tourist activities. Go to a movie or a local pool.
76. Let your kids take photos.
77. Use packing cubes.
78. Teach your kids to pack their bags. When kids take charge of packing, travel days run smoother. Plus, letting them pick their backpack gives them a sense of ownership and responsibility.
79. Check travel advisories and visa requirements before entering a country.
80. Have your kids play tour guide. Get them to pick a monument or place, then research and present it to you when you visit.
81. Get your kids a step counter. They will love seeing the number of steps on sightseeing days. Mason is still excited about his top count: 30,000 steps the day we visited the Marrakesh Medina.
82. Embrace the chaos & let go of the things you can’t control. Travel is unpredictable; understand that it’s all part of the journey.
83. It’s okay to feel homesick at times.
84. Smile and be kind.
85. Dream up your next adventure while you’re on the current one—it keeps the spirit of travel alive and gives everyone something to look forward to.
Adventures Abroad
Travelling for an extended time comes with challenges, but with a bit of preparation and flexibility, it becomes one of life’s greatest adventures. We hope these tips help you create your own unforgettable journey, full of discovery, connection, and plenty of memories.
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Check out these related posts to help plan your World Trip:
• Our 17 Month World Trip Itinerary
• How much does a World Trip cost?
• Building a World Trip Itinerary
•What Travelling the World Taught Us: Our Five Biggest Takeaways
• How to Involve Your Kids in Planning a World Trip?
