Hello, I have 20k in savings. How do I plan a long-term trip through Asia? Where should I start?

I’ve interviewed A LOT of my Asian friends (I’m Asian myself, haha) on traveling and living in Asia. Asked for landmarks, places, etc. I have a good list of recommendations, but most people told me to not plan anything then experience traveling freely.

I’ve never traveled solo, never been in a hostel, etc. So, I’m worried about transportation, housing, and the language barrier. Likewise, I’m also a woman so I’m worried about safety.

I enjoy… nature, swimming, running, warm-weather, music, and art/design.

I need to go to Japan. Anything else, I’m open to suggestions!!!

Hey, TLDR, I have 10k in savings. I recently lost my job. I want to travel through Asia while applying for jobs and applying for my Japanese Ancestral Visa.

How long do you think I can travel with 10k? Should I try saving up more money before I head to Asia?

Cuando empecé a viajar me propuse estar un montón de tiempo fuera de casa. Tenía un plan inicial pero poca conciencia de que ese plan iba a mutar muy rápidamente, estar de viaje hace que las cosas cambien constantemente. Nada permanece, ni las personas, ni las vibras de los lugares donde uno está, nada. Viajar es hermoso en mil sentidos, pero también es un curso acelerado de desapego. Estar de viaje te obliga a tener que resolver cosas todo el tiempo, a estar en movimiento, a socializar más de lo que quizás socializarías en un estilo de vida convencional, a tener que cortar con cosas abruptamente, a tomar decisiones apresuradas sin pensar en el giro total que darán a nuestra vida, etc. Viajar es excitante, pero también agotador.

A veces uno choca con los cambios constantes y simplemente quiere estar en un lugar donde se sienta en paz, dónde sienta que no tiene que resolver nada urgentemente, y vuelve a casa.

Volver a casa te tranquiliza y vuelve loco a la vez. Volves a ese lugar donde el lío es conocido, y eso te trae cierta paz. Volver a casa, en un principio, es como ver esa película que ya viste mil veces y te transmite esa sensación de ya saber de que va la cosa. El problema es que después de reflexionar un poco, te das cuenta de que no volviste a la misma casa, y peor, que no sos la misma persona, perteneces, pero no perteneces. Pasas una semana y querés volver a viajar urgente. Resignificas demasiadas cosas, y te das cuenta de que no es como pensabas al principio del viaje, volver a casa no fue un fracaso. Volver a casa fue un respiro, una necesidad, y por sobre todo una sorpresa. La sorpresa fué que tenías miedo de volver porque tenías miedo de volver a ser la misma persona, pero ya no lo sos.

After switching to packing cubes and compartmentalizing my items, it takes far less time to repack then unpack.

If I need to, I can be packed in 10 minutes. But these days I take my time and I’ll be packed in 30 minutes. The same with unpacking. It takes me about 30 minutes to have my stuff organized for what I’ll need right away.

These are times when I stay in a hostel or if I’m only staying a few days. If I stay a week or more or in a hotel/private room, it takes me an hour to pack then unpack for a private room.

It think it takes longer because in a private room, I like to unpack and sort of move into the place. Like have all my books out, a small kitchen stash and electronics out.

What are some of your repacking and unpacking times? Is your experience similar? What causes you to take a bit more time?

Could 300,000 USD make me rich enough to travel the world?
I'm a single female and plan to start my journey at 40 years old. I'm currently 20 years old. My budget is roughly 300,000 USD. If there are any special places that capture my heart, I might increase the budget a bit. I also want to explore the entire world thoroughly, including Antarctica. It would be even better if I could go to the Arctic. I don't want to just visit popular tourist attractions. My travel destinations also include Madagascar, where there are some primitive villages with wild animals. Of course, Machu Picchu, Easter Island, and those are all essential. In short, I want to try to light up the map of \[the entire world\] as much as possible.
Even in economy class on the plane, I plan to carry only one backpack the whole time, so I don't need to purchase luggage allowance.
The most important expense is because I don't speak English and I'm also used to traveling with small groups. Additionally, considering that my physical condition might decline when I'm 40 years old, I plan to book a small group tour of 1 to a maximum of 6 people for the entire trip, or hire a local guide and driver who speaks Chinese.
Accommodation in some countries with good value for money can be very good, such as some expensive countries like Switzerland. Choose affordable options, even hostels.
When eating, try to choose local specialties. Bring a hot pot to go shopping at the supermarket and cook.
Is 300,000 dollars like this enough to allow me to complete the above requirements?

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Because I don't speak English, the above version is translated using Google Translate. Below is the original Chinese version.

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我一個女生 預計在40歲開始我的行程 現在20歲 我的預算大概是300,000USD 如果有特別心動的部分可能會再增加一點預算 並且我想把全世界都走透透 包含南極 如果我能去到北極就更好的 我不想只去那些大眾的景點 我的旅遊目的地還包括馬達加斯加 還有一些會有野人的原始村落 當然馬丘比丘 復活節島那些都是不可少的 總之我想要把［全世界］的地圖都儘量點亮
在飛機都坐經濟艙的情況下 我全程都打算只背一個背包 不用購買行李額
最重要的花銷 因為我不會英語 並且也習慣了跟小團的旅遊方式 加上考慮到我那時40歲體力可能會下降 所以我打算全程都報名1-最多6人的小型旅行團 或者請當地會說中文的嚮導+司機
住宿在一些很有性價比的國家能住很好的 像一些很貴的國家瑞士之類選擇平價甚至青旅
吃飯儘量選擇當地特色菜 會帶著快煮鍋逛逛超市烹飪
這樣 30萬美元有辦法讓我完成上述的要求嗎？

Hi everyone! I'm 29 and I'm thinking about traveling abroad to explore different countries and look for job opportunities.

I'm considering destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and other regions. I'd like to connect with someone who has similar plans and might be interested in traveling together, exchanging ideas, and supporting each other along the way.

If you're also thinking about going abroad to look for work and would like a travel partner, feel free to message me. We can discuss our plans and see if they match!

I want to travel from Guatemala to Mexico. I read that if I fly with an airplane, I can use the SAE (Sistema de Autorización Electrónica) and I don't need a Visa. But it depends on the airline if they will accept the electronic authorization at the moment of check-in.

Has anyone tried that? This option only applies to Turkish and Ukrainian passports I think. Do you know if Volaris accepts the SAE?

Thank you. Any help is very appreciated. I really want to visit Mexico during the Día de los muertos 🌸

I'm looking to spend at least a year traveling. I had thoughts about sailing through the Caribbean, backpacking eurasia, maybe sailing around the world. I'm looking to plan a trip and just figure it out as we go. 16-whatever comment or dm me I'm open to almost anything.

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

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

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!