How do I resign from my job and prepare for a long-term trip?
Timeline: Start planning 6–12 months before departure. Finances: Save at least 1.5 times your planned travel budget (buffer for unforeseen expenses and return transition). Resignation: Check if a sabbatical or unpaid leave is possible — some employers hold positions for 6–12 months. Housing: Subletting (with landlord's consent) saves rent and maintains the apartment; resigning saves more but means searching for a new place upon return. Cancel or pause contracts: Gym, magazines, streaming services, mobile contracts (switch to prepaid or pause). Health insurance: German statutory health insurance can be suspended upon deregistration from Germany — take out long-term travel health insurance (WorldNomads, BDAE, Hanse-Merkur, €30–60/month). If necessary, deregister from Germany (registration office) — this has tax implications, so inform yourself in advance.
What route is ideal for a first round-the-world trip?
The classic East Route: Germany → Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bali — 3–4 months, inexpensive) → Australia/New Zealand (2–3 months, more expensive) → Fiji/South Seas (2 weeks) → South America (Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile — 2–3 months) → back to Germany. Alternatively, the West Route: Germany → USA/Canada → Central America → South America → Oceania → Southeast Asia → India → back. Mix expensive and inexpensive countries: 1 month in Australia (expensive) + 3 months in Southeast Asia (inexpensive) balances the budget. Don’t plan too many countries: 8–12 countries in 12 months is ideal — spend 3–6 weeks per country to really immerse yourself. Leave 20% of your time unplanned for spontaneous decisions. Flight direction: Always fly in one direction (east or west) to save on flight costs.
What insurance do I need for a long-term trip?
Long-term travel health insurance is mandatory: BDAE Expat Private (from €40/month), HanseMerkur Long-term (from €35/month), or WorldNomads (from €50/month) offer worldwide coverage including repatriation. Pay attention to: Validity in all planned countries (some exclude the USA), coverage for risky sports, dental treatment (often excluded), and mental health issues. Liability insurance (private, from €5/month) remains active during the trip — important for damages to third parties. Electronics insurance for laptop and camera (from €5/month via Wertgarantie or Schutzklick). Travel baggage insurance is worthwhile for expensive equipment (from €3/month). Car insurance and household insurance can be suspended or canceled if you have no car/apartment. Notify your health insurance: Upon deregistration from Germany, statutory health insurance is suspended — you must re-register upon return.
How do I earn money while traveling on a long-term trip?
Remote work: Freelancing (writing, design, programming, translation) through platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer.de — many digital nomads earn €1,500–5,000/month. Online teaching: German as a foreign language or English via iTalki, Preply, or Cambly (€15–30/hour). Working holiday visa: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Japan offer visas for 18–30-year-olds (sometimes up to 35) that allow paid work — in Australia, farm jobs (€20–25 AUD/hour) and hostel work are popular. WorkAway and WWOOF: Work in exchange for accommodation and meals (4–5 hours/day) on farms, in hostels, or with families — costs only the annual membership fee (€40–50). Caution: In most countries, you are NOT allowed to work with a tourist visa — remote work for German employers is a legal gray area, so inform yourself about local regulations.
What should I pack for a long-term trip?
Less is more: A backpack (40–55 liters) plus a small daypack (20 liters) — maximum total weight of 12 kg. Clothing for 7 days: 4 T-shirts, 2 pairs of shorts, 1 pair of long pants, 7 pairs of underwear, 4 pairs of socks, 1 sweater/fleece, 1 rain jacket, 1 swimsuit, 1 lightweight shirt/dress. Shoes: 1 pair of sandals, 1 pair of sneakers/hiking shoes. Wash every 3–4 days: In Asia, laundry costs €1–2/kg, and hostels often have washing machines. Tech: Laptop (light, used is okay), smartphone, power bank, universal adapter, headphones. Essentials: Lock for hostel lockers, travel towel (microfiber), headlamp, earplugs, silk sleeping bag for questionable beds. What you DO NOT need: Many 'just in case' items — you can buy or replace almost everything anywhere in the world.
How do I stay in touch with family and friends while on a long-term trip?
WhatsApp and Signal work worldwide with Wi-Fi — free calls and video chats keep the connection alive. Schedule regular 'family calls' (e.g., every Sunday at 6 PM German time) — routine provides security for both sides. A travel blog (WordPress, Blogger, Medium) or Instagram account documents your journey and allows passive participation without constant individual messages. Postcards are old-fashioned but personal — the joy for the recipient is immense. Plan occasional 'visiting windows': Invite friends or family to visit you for 1–2 weeks in a nice location — this strengthens relationships and gives travel newbies an adventure. To combat homesickness: Keep photos from home on your phone, listen to familiar podcasts/music, and consciously enjoy the new surroundings instead of constantly comparing.
How do I stay healthy on a long trip?
Regular exercise: Hiking, swimming, yoga, and cycling are easy to implement while traveling — many hostels have fitness rooms or yoga classes. Nutrition: In Southeast Asia and South America, fresh fruit is cheap and widely available. Cook in hostel kitchens instead of eating street food every day — this gives you control over the ingredients. Mental health: Travel fatigue after 3–4 months is normal — consciously plan 'rest phases' where you stay in one place for 1–2 weeks without sightseeing. Sleep: In hostels with earplugs and sleep masks, occasionally book a private room for restful sleep. Update vaccinations: Before departure, complete all standard vaccinations plus travel-specific ones (Hepatitis A+B, Typhoid, Rabies, Yellow Fever). Dental check-up before departure — dental treatment abroad can be expensive and risky.
How do I deal with bureaucracy on a long-term trip?
Deregistering from Germany (registration office): Advantages — no tax liability, health insurance is suspended. Disadvantages — no German bank account possible (with some banks), re-entry into statutory health insurance is more complicated, voting rights during stays abroad over 3 months are limited. Bank account: N26, DKB, or Wise accounts work without a German residence and offer free worldwide withdrawals. Mail: Set up a forwarding address (parents, friends) or use a digital mail service (Dropscan, from €8/month). Visa: Most countries offer 30–90 day tourist visas — research extension options and visa runs (e.g., Thailand 30 days, extendable to 60). Tax return: Mandatory if you earned income in Germany during the current year. Power of attorney: Grant a trusted person power of attorney for official matters and banking transactions.
How do I plan my return after a long-term trip?
The 'reverse culture shock' is real: After months in Asia or South America, Germany can feel cold, gray, and materialistic — this feeling normalizes after 2–4 weeks. Plan a financial buffer of 2–3 months of living expenses for the time after your return — searching for an apartment, job hunting, and reorientation take time. Health insurance: Re-register with statutory health insurance immediately (upon re-registration in Germany). Housing: Start online searches 4–6 weeks before your return — the housing market in major cities requires quick action. Job: Update your resume DURING the trip and apply 2–3 months before your return — a round-the-world trip is a plus for most employers (self-reliance, adaptability, intercultural competence). Don’t expect everything to be 'normal' again immediately — take conscious time for readjustment and seek contact with other returnees.
