Das Planning a long-term or round-the-world trip isn’t something you do on the side. To be honest, at first we weren’t sure exactly where or when to start planning our long-term journey. With our guide, we want to make planning your long-term trip easier. In this article, we walk you through all the important steps for planning a long-term trip and share our experiences, including things we would do differently in hindsight.
Costs of a long-term trip: How to plan your budget properly
Are you thinking about going on a world trip or long-term trip? Then you should start planning the costs as early as possible. A well-thought-out travel budget plan is the key to a stress-free journey.
Check finances and set a safety cushion
Before you start, check your finances. What do you already have in your account? It’s important to think about setting aside a safety cushion. A safety cushion is an amount of money that remains untouched during your trip and serves as an emergency fund for unexpected events or for the time after your return. It is often recommended to save enough money to cover at least 6 months without income. Six months is a good time frame to find a new job and a place to live. How much money you need depends on your lifestyle. We decided on a 6-month sum that we are not including in our travel budget.
Plan travel destinations and duration: Consider cost differences
The amount of travel costs depends heavily on the duration of your trip, your destinations, and your travel style. One month in New Zealand or one month in Vietnam? There are significant cost differences here. The budget you need in Vietnam could last you only a few days in New Zealand. Your travel style also plays a role: Are you traveling by camper or rental car? Do you prefer staying in hotels, or is a hostel enough for you? Are you staying in one region, or do you need multiple flights between different continents?
So, plan roughly where you want to travel and research the costs for gas/diesel, accommodations (hotels, hostels, campsites), and food in the respective countries. This way, you’ll get a better sense of the overall costs and can adjust your route according to your budget.
Start saving early
Once you've set your savings goal, you should start putting money aside monthly as early as possible. The anticipation of a long-term trip often makes it easier to save consistently. Set realistic monthly goals and stick to them—every euro counts on your way to the trip of your dreams.
Insurance for long-term travel: What you need to consider
On a long-term trip, it is essential to get the right insurance. They protect you from high costs in case of an emergency and provide you with security during your journey. Here is an overview of the most important insurance policies you will need for your world trip.
International health insurance for your long-term trip
International health insurance is essential for a long-term trip. Numerous providers are offering special rates for world travelers and long-term travelers. We chose the "Young Travellers" plan from ERGO, which fits our needs perfectly.
An important factor in choosing travel health insurance is whether the USA and Canada are included in the insurance or not. Insurance that covers these countries is usually more expensive. The advantage of the „Young Travellers“ tariff is that the USA and Canada are always included. Here, the tariffs differ depending on whether you spend more or less than 50% of your trip in these countries. Since we wanted to keep our options open as to whether we would only travel through South America or drive the entire Pan-American Highway, this tariff was the ideal choice for us. You can take out the insurance for up to 2 years. The cost of the insurance depends on both the travel destinations (more or less than 50% in the USA and Canada) and the age of the travellers. We paid €1,128 and €1,320 for two years.
Tip: It is easier to end the insurance early than to extend it. Therefore, we took out the travel health insurance for the full two years. If you end your trip earlier, you can cancel the insurance as soon as you return.
Liability insurance (including drone)
Even during a long-term trip, liability insurance is a must. Before looking for a new insurance policy, check if your existing liability insurance may still be valid during a world trip or in the case of deregistration from Germany. Some insurance policies offer worldwide coverage, even if you live abroad for several years, while others require you to remain registered in Germany.
If you use a drone during your trip, make sure that your liability insurance includes drone coverage, or take out a separate insurance policy. Drone liability insurance is even mandatory in many countries.
Tip: If you live together with a partner, you can often save money through joint liability insurance. For just a few extra euros, you can both be insured together instead of each taking out individual insurance.
Car insurance for your vehicle
If you, like us, are traveling with your own vehicle, you will need car insurance in some countries. For South America, we chose the insurance from "Abgefahren." Communication was straightforward, and we know several other travelers who are also very satisfied with this insurance. You can find more information about car insurance and our experiences in our article "Car Insurance in South America„.
Health on long-term trips: Vaccinations and malaria
Good preparation, the right vaccinations, and precautions against malaria, as well as any necessary medications, can save you a lot of trouble during your long-term trip. Here are some important aspects you should consider:
Vaccinations for long-term trips
Whether you choose to get vaccinated against diseases such as Japanese encephalitis, typhoid, or rabies is a personal decision. However, there are countries that require certain vaccinations as an entry requirement—yellow fever is particularly common in this regard. Additionally, some countries may deny you entry if you have previously been in a high-risk yellow fever area.
It is advisable to schedule a vaccination consultation early, for example with your general practitioner or at a certified tropical medicine clinic. Some vaccinations, such as the yellow fever or rabies vaccine, follow specific schedules. There can be days or even weeks between doses, so it's a good idea to book a consultation about six months before your departure.
Malaria: Prevention and stand-by medications
Unfortunately, there is still no vaccine for malaria. Depending on your travel destination, it may be advisable to carry a stand-by medication to act quickly in case of an emergency. Whether this is necessary for your trip can be discussed during a consultation with a travel medicine specialist.
Be aware that not all malaria medications are available in every country. For example, Malarone is difficult or impossible to find in South America. Therefore, it is important to clarify availability and alternatives in advance.
Medications while traveling
In addition to vaccinations and malaria prevention, you should also carry a well-stocked travel first aid kit. This should include not only necessary medications for personal use but also general emergency medications such as painkillers, disinfectants, and band-aids. An overview of a useful travel first aid kit can be found at the Tropical Institute (Tropeninstitut)..
Visas and authorities: What you need to know for your long-term trip
Visa
On a long-term trip outside of Europe, a visa may be required in some countries. However, a German or Swedish passport is a real privilege. In many countries, no visa is needed, or you can conveniently get a "visa on arrival" upon entry. In many countries, there is also the option to apply for an eVisa through the respective websites.
For most countries in South America, no visa is required. Upon entry, you usually receive a residence permit for 30 to 90 days, depending on the country. This makes traveling in the region much easier.
Passport validity
An often underestimated point is the validity of the passport. Many countries require a minimum validity of six months upon entry. If you're traveling for an extended period, make sure that your passport meets this requirement throughout the entire trip. If you need to apply for a new passport, plan enough time, as processing can take four to six weeks. In urgent cases, you can apply for an express passport, which you can receive within a few days. However, this costs significantly more.
International driving permit
The international driving permit is quick and easy to obtain and should not be missing on a long-term trip. Important to know: it is only valid in combination with your national driving license. We have been traveling in South America for ten months, and so far, no one has asked for our international driving permits. Nevertheless, it is advisable to have it as a backup.
Obligations in your home country before a long-term trip
Before embarking on a long-term trip, there are some important obligations at home that you should take care of. From quitting your job to forwarding your mail – here is an overview of all the essential to-dos before your journey.
Quit your job or take a sabbatical?
If you enjoy your job and want to return to the same position after your trip, a sabbatical might be a good option for you. Many employers now offer a sabbatical year, although it is not legally regulated. The advantage of a sabbatical is that you can return to your job and start earning a salary immediately after your trip. However, the downside is that you must return by a fixed date, which limits your flexibility.
If you decide to quit your job, it’s a big step that can be quite nerve-wracking. It’s best to inform your employer early, as this increases the chances of parting on good terms. I received nothing but positive reactions and a lot of support for my decision.
Registering as a job seeker and as unemployed
If you quit your job, you should deal with the bureaucracy. You are not required to register as a job seeker or unemployed with the employment agency, but if you don't, you will lose the right to unemployment benefits upon your return. It’s a good idea to keep this option open in case you don't immediately find a new job after your trip.
Registering as a job seeker
Once your resignation is confirmed, you must officially register as a job seeker if you wish to receive unemployment benefits later. Late registration can negatively impact your benefit entitlement, so it's best to do this immediately after your resignation. If you quit voluntarily, you should expect a waiting period of usually three months. You can easily register as a job seeker through the employment agency’s online portal.
Registering as unemployed
You must register as unemployed no later than the first day of your unemployment, but no earlier than three months in advance. This can also be done through the online portal. Typically, you will be invited to a personal meeting. My own appointment was not very helpful. I had to create a full profile—even though my profession wasn’t even listed in the job database, and I had explained that I wouldn’t be claiming unemployment benefits at that time.
Terminate or sublet your apartment
If you're renting, you can either terminate your lease or discuss the possibility of subletting with your landlord. If you know you want to return to the same city after your trip, subletting might be a good option. Otherwise, you should check your notice period and submit your termination in time. Since we knew we wouldn’t be returning to Stuttgart, we decided to terminate our lease.
Forwarding mail and changing address
Even though many things are digital nowadays, you still receive mail from authorities, banks, and other institutions. It's best to create a list early on of places where your address is registered and update it in time, for example, to your parents' address. It may also be useful to set up mail forwarding for the first six months to ensure that no important letters are missed. In my experience, I always forget at least one place, and this way, you'll also be notified if you forgot to update your address somewhere.
Store or sell things
A long-term trip is the perfect opportunity to get rid of unnecessary baggage. Decluttering and selling things takes a lot of time. Measuring items, taking photos, answering questions, packing, and going to the post office all take more time than we thought. Especially if you want to sell things, because you won't get rid of a lot of things overnight. It takes patience. For selling, we used classified ads and Vinted. What we couldn't sell but was too good to throw away, we donated to second-hand shops.
We were lucky enough to store our remaining items at my parents' place. Alternatively, you can rent a storage unit, but keep in mind that this will incur additional monthly costs.
Contracts: What you need to consider
Before embarking on a long trip, it's important to review all your active contracts early and cancel them if necessary. If you deregister from Germany, you usually have a special right to cancel. However, if you remain registered in Germany, you must adhere to the respective cancellation periods.
Electricity, gas, and water
In many cases, the cancellation period for electricity and gas contracts is only one month. It’s best to check your contract early and cancel in time.
Internet contracts
Internet contracts often run for two years, so you should review your options early. A special right to cancel usually applies if you deregister from Germany. Keep in mind that you often need to return hardware like routers to the provider. If this isn’t done in time, rental fees for the equipment may still apply, even if you’ve already canceled the contract.
Mobile phone contracts
There are now many prepaid providers that are ideal for long-term travelers. To stay flexible and avoid unnecessary costs, you should switch to a prepaid plan early. This way, you can keep your German phone number and continue using apps like WhatsApp with your German number.
Licence fee (GEZ)
You can easily deregister from the licence fee (GEZ) online, provided you either submit proof of deregistration from Germany or evidence that the fee is already being paid at your new place of residence.
Deregistering or changing your address in Germany
Until a few years ago, most long-term travelers simply changed their address in Germany and registered with their parents or friends. However, it is now necessary to provide a landlord’s confirmation of residence when changing your address. This can be issued by the property owner or landlord and confirms that you are actually living in the residence. This is likely not the case during a long trip. While it may never be checked, it could cause fines for false registration.
If you decide against changing your address and instead deregister from Germany, you can do so at the earliest seven days before the start of your trip. You will only need your ID card for the deregistration. You will then receive a document confirming that you no longer have a residence in Germany. This is necessary to make use of your special cancellation rights. Once you are deregistered, the consulate or embassy of the country you are in will be responsible for you.
Credit cards and debit cards
For withdrawing cash and making payments abroad, you should get a credit card or debit card in advance. We use the DKB Visa Debitcardbecause it allows free worldwide payments and free withdrawals at many ATMs. The condition for this is a monthly income of at least €700 or being under 28 years old. However, local banks may charge additional fees for cash withdrawals regardless of the card or your bank. Our experiences vary: In Bolivia, we were always able to withdraw money for free, while in Peru only certain ATMs were fee-free, and in Chile there was almost always a fee. In such cases, we try to pay as much as possible with the card.
In addition to the DKB Visa Debitcard , we also carry the free travel credit card from Bank Norwegian . Although a debit card is usually sufficient, having an "actual" credit card provides us with additional flexibility for unforeseen expenses like medical costs or car repair bills.
Tip: If you don’t already have a credit card, apply for one before quitting your job. Without a permanent position or a steady income, it can be difficult to get approved for a credit card.
Digitizing documents and records
It is advisable to digitize all important documents before your trip. This includes documents such as health insurance, tax records, and also your passport and vehicle registration. This way, you have access to the necessary information at all times, even while on the go. Additionally, we have stored all important documents with my parents, so they have access to them if needed.
Power of attorney
Even though it’s not a pleasant topic, you should think about who can make decisions for you in the event of an accident or illness before your trip. With a power of attorney, you can arrange for your partner or another trusted person to have the right to access information and make decisions, such as if you are hospitalized. The Federal Ministry of Justice provides templates for such powers of attorney.
It is also a good idea to grant power of attorney for banks and authorities to remain flexible in an emergency. For example, if you lose your credit card and need a replacement, an authorized person in your home country can request it on your behalf. Banks often provide specific forms for such powers of attorney, and it is easier to fill these out rather than relying on a general power of attorney.
Conclusion: with these tips, you are well-equipped
A long-term trip is an exciting and life-changing experience, but it also requires careful preparation. Looking back, we highly recommend starting as early as possible. With thoughtful planning and completing all necessary tasks in good time, you can embark on your adventure much more relaxed. Good luck with your planning!
If you want to travel on another continent with your own motorhome, take a look at our posts on the topic. Shipping a Camper. and the process as well as our experiences with Caravan Shippers .
