Travel. It’s a good thing, right? It inspires us to learn about new cultures, meet new people and live lives of adventure. But there is a darker side. With the negative environmental impacts of air travel and the harmful effects of mass tourism, travel can begin to look less glamorous. Enter, sustainable travel…
Would you rather be sustainable or unsustainable when you travel? The answer is probably “yes”, right? It’s a bit like asking if you’d rather pass your driving test or fail it. But, you’re probably still left wondering “what is sustainable travel?”.
“How does it work?”
“What do I need to do?”
“Is it even possible?”
This post is going to teach you everything you need to know about sustainable travel and introduce some ways you can be more environmentally responsible on your next trip!
Sustainable travel is an environmentally conscious form of seeing and experiencing the world.
It’s all about considering the environment with the choices we make on the road and choosing to lessen our impact on the Earth wherever possible.
The whole point of sustainable travel is to allow you to enjoy your backpacking adventure while lessening the negative impacts you have on a given destination and the world, as a whole.
It just takes little changes here and there and, they may not seem like much on their own, but collectively they add up and make a significant difference (especially when you consider all of the other backpackers that read this too).
Although it may feel like a pain in the ass, at first, traveling sustainably will soon become a breeze to you, and – as that happens – you will begin to feel much better when you travel and you’ll be having a far more positive impact on the places you visit.
Do some research into which countries are the most environmentally sustainable to visit.
By visiting these countries and putting your money back into sustainable and ethical tourism practices, you are encouraging other nations to do the same. This will slowly begin to happen as sustainable travel becomes more popular in the backpacking community.
Check out Ethical Traveler’s Top 10 Ethical Destinations 2018
This isn’t the cheapest way to fly so I wouldn’t recommend it to budget backpackers but if you have the money to spare, booking non-stop flights will help reduce your carbon footprint while traveling.
Planes use up most of their fuel when taking off and landing so if you have a journey with multiple layovers, you’re going to be taking off and landing at least twice as much as flying direct.
Check out our guide – Everything You Need to Survive a Long Flight
Packing and traveling light is something we can all do and something that most of us can get better at.
More weight = more fuel = more harmful/less sustainable
Consider this when you’re loading up your backpack and try to be as brutally honest with yourself as possible. It may even help you to travel with a slightly smaller backpack.
I use the Osprey Farpoint 40 which is accepted as a carry-on, on almost all flights.
It’s quite a well-known fact that we should save paper whenever possible and recycle it after we do use it. Well, using e-tickets to get through security, etc. at airports completely takes paper tickets out of the equation.
After being questionable when they were first introduced, the technology behind e-tickets has greatly improved and now, they should be everyone’s go-to choice when traveling through airports.
If you’re going to be doing a lot of moving around within your travel destination, consider making use of public transport.
Instead of flying domestically – which is very environmentally destructive – why not make use of night buses or overnight trains?
Yes, you may spend a bit more time in transit but it will often be cheaper and you’ll get to see so much more of the country traveling this way. Not to mention, this is a much better example of sustainable travel!
If you’d rather avoid public transport, why not make a little road trip out of your travel adventure.
When traveling with a group of friends or family, this will be more sustainable (even if you hire a real gas chugger).
If you have space, you could consider also picking up hitchhikers. Sustainable travel at its finest. And, you’ll also get the chance to make a new travel friend.
For those ultra-sustainable backpackers, consider hiring a hybrid or electric car.
Check out our guide – Road Trips
Having access to safe drinking water is not only a backpacking essential, it is also a life essential.
And, in many popular backpacking countries, tap water isn’t safe to drink. So, it’s an excellent idea to buy a BPA-free, refillable water bottle to take with you on your travels. This will mean you can avoid spending money on plastic bottles every day and this is also far less wasteful and more sustainable.
If you are backpacking in a country without safe drinking water, what you can do is buy huge containers of water, store them at your accommodation and fill your bottle up each day before you head out.
Straws (plastic straws, anyway) are one of the most wasteful inventions.
The best thing to do is to just avoid them, outright.
If you do insist on using them, I would advise getting a metal straw. These are reusable and far more sustainable.
This may be slightly surprising but showers actually use up less water than baths do.
Since we’re backpackers, chances are we’ll never really have the opportunity for a bath anyway, but there are still ways to save even more water when showering:
If you have a chance, take a natural shower at a waterfall or a bath in a river like Rob Greenfield
Lots of accommodation that offers laundry services, will usually keep all guests’ laundry separate and wash everything independently (even if one person only has a few items).
You could just gross it out and skip on doing laundry while you’re away or if you – like me – want to have clean clothes, consider doing a joint set of laundry with whoever you’re traveling with.
Many places charge on a “per load” basis so you’ll be saving money as well as demonstrating what sustainable travel is all about.
Do you wash your towels every day back home?
Well, why should you do it while traveling?
Instead of getting your towels washed after every shower, just hang them up to dry. If you’re staying in accommodation that provides cleaning services, this is the universal sign that means “don’t take my towel”!
Whenever you leave your Airbnb, hotel – or whatever accommodation you’re staying in – remember to turn off all lights, TVs, and air conditioning.
When done every day, this can make a significant difference.
Leave the “do not disturb” sign up on your door whenever you go out (unless your room absolutely needs to be cleaned). This will lessen the amount of harmful chemicals that are used in common cleaning practices.
Also, who needs their sheets and towels washed every single day?
The two most sustainable ways to travel around your destination. While most backpackers cannot avoid flights completely, we can reduce the negative environmental impact we have by traveling like a local.
Get around by foot or hire a bicycle wherever possible and reduce your carbon footprint while working on your fitness. Not only are these methods more environmentally friendly, but they will almost always be cheaper too!
Check out our guide – How to Hitchhike Safely
You know the free toiletries you are provided in most hotels and some other accommodation?
Well, after you leave, the remains will likely be thrown out and never reused.
To stop this from happening, just take the leftovers with you. This will save you some money also!
Another great product to add to your toiletries kit is an eco-friendly hygiene product like LastObjects’ reusable swabs.
Any Western goods you find on the road will most likely have had to be imported at great cost and environmental expense.
Reduce your carbon footprint by sticking to local goods and vendors. This also helps the local people and the local economy.
Again, any of the famous chain restaurants you encounter will also have been imported.
Stick to the local supermarkets and restaurants.
A well-known backpacker secret is to go where the locals go. Not only will you usually find the cheapest local food in the area, but you’ll also find the most delicious places to grab a bite!
Check out our guide – Food & Drink Safety
If you’re planning on visiting the local supermarket during your stay, bring bags with you (or just stuff everything into your backpack).
People are trying to get plastic bags banned in many countries and we can help with this by refusing to use them at all.
Do not ride elephants (this is popular in countries like Thailand) or agree to see any shows featuring performing animals.
Those that do (often without even knowing it) are contributing to the illegal capture and brutal torture of these animals for the sake of profit.
Not to mention that riding elephants can actually cause lasting damage to the creature’s spine.
Now, this is something we’ve all heard of (and one that most of us probably do).
But what about on the road?
Well, the principle remains the same. Recycle whenever you can. Be sure to ask your accommodation about their recycling policies. Obviously, it’s preferable to stay at accommodation that is already environmentally aware and is taking steps towards sustainability.
If you feel like going the extra mile, why not pick up bits of trash that others have left behind?
If you bring an empty backpack with you, you could pick up a fair bit.
Never be afraid to ask questions when it comes to sustainable travel.
Ask restaurants
Ask your hostel or hotel
Ask fellow backpackers. Maybe they can give you some insight as to what you can be doing to travel more sustainably.
This issue isn’t going to be solved by staying silent.
And with that…
The more of us that are aware of these issues in the backpacking community and the more of us that become aware of sustainable travel, the more of a difference we can make.
So, this doesn’t just stop with you. Once you learn and begin to implement these more sustainable travel habits into your backpacking adventures, start to show others how they can do the same.
Even if it’s just one person!
If you liked this post and found it useful, please share it with your backpacking circle and on social media!
Traveling is fun and this is the reason why we all love vacations. However, the traveling thrill comes with its fair share of challenges. For most people, the question is how to maintain the balance between having fun and remaining healthy. It is very critical to ensure that you take good care of your body, soul, and mind at all times. We have compiled some tips that will help you stay healthy while you are on your travel adventures.
Whether you are at home or traveling, staying hydrated is one of the guaranteed ways of boosting your health. The need for hydration is even higher when traveling. This is because, while traveling, you may be exposed to high temperatures, low pressure, and low humidity environments, hence leading the body to lose more water. Always carry enough water when you are going on a long-distance road trip. However, the real answer to hydration is to always carry a reusable water bottle with some water purification pills. This way, you can get water at every stop and purify it on your own.
In some destinations, you can also find additional hydration options. For instance, in the US you can find specialized services to help travelers stay hydrated and healthy. If you're feeling particularly dehydrated, you might consider trying IV therapy in San Diego to quickly replenish fluids and essential nutrients, ensuring you can continue enjoying your travels without interruption.
There is probably nothing that synchronizes your body, soul, and mind better than Yoga. The art of yoga on your travel will help you embrace peace and spiritual healing. For this reason, always make sure you pack a yoga mat when traveling. During long-hour journeys, you may encounter swellings dues to blood circulation issues. Yoga and therapeutic hot water baths can help relieve these symptoms, and the experience is even more restorative when they’re part of a yoga wellness retreat surrounded by nature.
The secret to a healthy life is healthy eating. It is common for most people to use their travel time as the time to let go. You don’t want to waste your entire year of healthy eating on a one-month vacation. While indulging a little is okay, maintain some level of discipline. Take time to look for proper nutrition at all your destinations. Stick to healthy travel snacks other than falling for the sugary options. When you lodge somewhere, try to find healthy restaurants. You can even stay focused on your keto diet while traveling. All you need to do is find restaurants that serve meals that are in line with your healthy eating habits. For an easy, travel-friendly option, consider Carnivore Snax — a convenient way to stay on track with your nutrition goals wherever you go.
While there are some locations where you have no access to a gym facility, you will never miss a chance for hiking when traveling. No matter where you go, always make a point to have a morning run or an evening run to make sure that you keep your body fit. To ensure that you maintain your workout routine, find the closest hiking trails to your hotel and have some 2 to 3 hours of hill climbing or just walking on rough terrain. You will find that you lose more weight and stay fitter when you hike than spending too much time in a gym facility.
Natural mud baths have some therapeutic properties that can help you replenish your mind and soul. You may choose to indulge in a natural spa such as the dead sea saltwater bath or the Colombian mud volcano. Whichever the case, a careless mud bath will help you give your pores some boost, leaving you more fresh and healthy. This will also help rejuvenate your skin and give you a fresh glowing look.
The whole point of vacations and travel is to get away from the artificial world and get in touch with nature. Those who enjoy their travel time know that it is not okay to keep on following news or receiving work emails. If you want to have peace of mind, you need to give your phone a break. You can either get rid of all electronics for a few days or completely lock yourself from the digital world for the entire vacation. This will help you focus on yourself, diet, health and spiritual being.
There is no compromise about the fact that you need to sleep. Even though you love to party, having at least 8 hours of sleep every day will help you stay focused and enjoy your travel more. Depriving yourself of sleep will lead to fatigue and tiredness, which may lead to illnesses. Avoid staying on your phone until morning.
While you may spoil yourself with a drink from time to time, do it responsibly. Avoid intoxicating amounts of alcohol to a state that you forget yourself. This is not healthy for you and will not help you enjoy your travel. Never drink when getting on a plane or when driving.
It is not always easy to maintain a clean bill of health while traveling. However, by maintaining a little discipline, you will find it very possible and enjoyable. Stick true to your personality, avoid junk foods and get yourself at peace with the environment.
Without a doubt, moving is one of the most challenging things you will ever live through. It is a challenge moving from one home to another, or from one state to another. But, moving to a different country brings a whole new set of challenges.
We are going to give some step-by-step tips on moving. We will focus on the most challenging moves, (to another country) and you can reduce the steps as needed to meet your move.
For a seamless relocation experience, consider hiring Bailey's Moving and Storage, a trusted company known for its reliable moving and storage solutions.
It is best if you allow yourself plenty of time to prepare. You will be able to be more efficient, and there is less chance of things going wrong if you have time to work them out. The first thing you should do is contact a company with experience to help you with international moving. They can give you first-hand advice on what you will need and how long the shipping will take. You should also check with your state government officials regarding what they require for the move. Make sure you have your passport, immunization records, visas, and identification.
Of course, you will need:
This may sound strange, but you would be amazed at the people who chose a general destination and have little knowledge of the actual town or city they are moving to. Just because the place looks awesome on a postcard, or you had a layover there on doesn’t mean that the place is perfect for you! Search for charter flights that would ease up the burden of moving and enjoy your new destination! This will give you time to find a new doctor in the new area. The laws concerning medicine and the availability of particular drugs may be something you will have to deal with.
You live in the age of technology. Reach out and start building your network. Visit some of the businesses in the area. Look for groups on social media and start making friends and connections.
If you are moving to another country, you do not know what technology laws hold. There are often hackers who attack the devices travelers have. Be sure to change your passwords and do not overlap them. Be sure your spyware and virus protection is up to date. Put screen locks on all your devices. Treat your devices as you would a credit card. Be very careful where you use them and do not assume they are safe.
Keep a copy of everything in your wallet, front and back. If it is important enough to be in your wallet, copy it. Keep the list and a list of medications and emergency contacts in another bag. If your wallet is lost or stolen, this will help you contact the right companies to have your cards canceled and replaced.
Banking is pretty important. Check with your bank and find out if there are any branches or sister companies that are in the place you are moving to. Make sure your debit cards work internationally. Let your bank know of your plans. If your bank sees an unusual charge from a city across the globe, they may lock your card until they can contact you. Considering the time differences, this could be a problem if you are trying to pay for dinner or rent a hotel room.
Be sure you have some cash, and at least $200 in traveler’s checks that you can cash at a bank if there is a problem. Do not forget to educate yourself on the money exchange rate. What may be enough to rent a room here, may not be the case in another country.
It stands to reason that if you move something, it is going to cost something. Now, if that something is something that you do not want to part with, then wrap it up. But, if it is something that you really do not care about or if it is something that will costs less to replace than to move, donate it, have a yard sale, or give it away.
Every person with a sense of adventure would love the opportunity to travel the world, spending their time exploring new cultures and countries instead of pushing papers at the office or working long hours for “the man”. However, the stability and steady income a job offer usually make it impossible to consider indulging in that wanderlust. With the rise of many former desk jobs being outsourced to online freelancers, it can now be possible to maintain that cash flow while traveling, allowing you to leave the world of suits and ties in favor of something a little more comfortable in any location you desire. The age of the digital nomad is now, and the following job options could provide some financial relief while on your journey.
Many young start-up companies choose to hire a virtual assistant rather than have one in-office. As a virtual assistant, your tasks could vary greatly depending on the niche your employer works in. From data entry to appointment setting to writing and editing newsletters and website content, this is perfect for a jack-of-all-trades with experience in an office setting. Many listings in this area offer training to teach their new hire how to perform the exact functions they require. This job’s hours can range from full time to only several hours a week, so make sure to find a listing that matches your level of availability.
"Travel Tip: If you're planning to work remotely while traveling through Europe, having steady internet access is essential. An eSIM for Spain can be a convenient option, especially if your travels include time in Spain, where it helps avoid the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards—perfect for digital nomads, whether you're working from a café in Madrid or a co-working space in Berlin."
There are many freelancing sites online, allowing clients to post job listings and interested job seekers to apply for whatever listing catches their fancy. Freelance writing is a field that is in high demand, with a plethora of different writing subjects to choose from. Easily doable from any location, all you need is a reliable wifi connection. If you have a knack for good grammar and creative ideas, this is an opportunity that provides an income based on your quality of work and experience.
In case you take something for creativity, another benefit is that freelance is one of the careers that don’t drug test, according to medsignals.com.
If you have ESL certification or a degree, this may be a great option for earning some cash while traveling. Many countries hire online English tutors to teach students in their schools. There are also platforms that you can apply to as well. One of these is Preply. They don’t require a TESL certification, besides, teaching online doesn’t demand a large time commitment and usually pays well. Plus, it’s a fun, interactive job that doesn’t cause a lot of stress or preparation. Learning plans are often provided by the company that employs you. That leaves you the task of helping to shape the education of students far and wide.
If words are your forte, why not write a book while adventure-seeking? As your creativity ebbs and flows, you can enjoy the available activities around the area you currently reside in and write whenever the feeling moves you. With the wide availability of e-books, finding a publisher or self-publishing is an easy task compared to years past. Perhaps your free, wandering lifestyle will lend creativity to your writing style and prose and you’ll end up with a bestseller on your hands.
Another option that allows you to work for yourself is becoming a YouTuber. Figure out what message you want to share with the world and create funny, witty, or informative videos to reach your potential audience. This is a great avenue for promoting your new digital nomad lifestyle or for sharing tips and tricks you’ve learned on your journey. You could end up becoming “YouTube famous.”
There are many simple data entry jobs available online and they usually require little to no previous experience. It’s a relatively simple job to execute and usually has detailed instructions provided. Employers can offer one-time assignments or long-term contracts, letting you decide how and when you want to work.
As a social media presence is becoming more and more important for businesses to connect with their audience and reach potential customers, it has become common to assign the task of managing all social media channels to a freelancer experienced with the programs and apps. Usually requiring very little time commitment, such as several posts a week across all channels, this is an easy way to make a few extra bucks.
What better way to make money than to share your adventures from around the globe by writing your own blog? Use personal experiences along with photographs or videos to create an interesting, detailed blog that people will have avidly read and follow. Find sponsors that sell products or services related to your niche and provide affiliate links to gain a little extra income when your visitors click their links. One could also start their own passion blog, an example of this is how https://coffee-channel.com has created an informative and interesting blog to engage readers. It may take some time to set up and design, but the memories you make while traveling can be easily revisited time and time again whenever you feel the need for a little nostalgia.
Depending on your past experience or creative hobbies, web design may be an advantageous and potential money-maker for you. Many jobs are available online for a quality web designer with extra work or recommendations and referrals possible after a job well done. High-quality jobs usually pay very well and can be completed in a timely manner if you have prior experience and knowledge of the field.
If you are bilingual or multilingual this is a perfect job that will allow you the freedom to explore your surroundings while still paying a decent wage. Translators are high in demand for many languages in many different professional areas. One-time projects usually require no more than a week’s commitment while finding a perfect match in expectations and style could lead to a long-term contract.
The best thing about it is you don’t need much in the way of experience to be on the path as a translator. All you need is a laptop and fluency in another language and you’re good to go. If you want to learn how you can get started, check out this article on how to get translation jobs with no experience.
There are many other job options available to those savvy enough to find them. Many freelance sites offer thousands of new listings daily of employers looking for new, qualified workers to fill their needs. Jobs that can be completed with a computer and internet connection allow you to travel to your heart’s content while still providing you a stable cash flow.
Taking a month-long family vacation to the beach or a weekend camping trip with friends? Regardless of where you are headed, the ride there can feel very long if you do not bring the right things with you. Here is a list of things that are essential for the perfect road trip.
Clearly, good music has to be the first on the list because if you don’t have good tunes, you are in for a long ride. Hopefully, everyone in the car jams to the same music or at least can bear to listen to the same melody. Whatever music listening program you are attached to (Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Pandora, etc.) make sure to create the ideal playlist before you leave. If you are using Spotify you can even make a collaborative playlist that everyone can add to (depending on your company, you might not want to do this. Sorry, Mom). Or if you want to go really old school, burn a bunch of CDs with your favorite hits and then decorate them with sharpies before you leave. That way, you can find the perfect soundtrack for the mood of the car. Want to listen to old throwbacks the entire way? You’ve got a CD for it. Or maybe jam to the newest Taylor Swift soundtrack? Check the CDs.
No one wants to make a bunch of stops along the way, so make sure you pack a ton of snacks so you don’t need to (as much). If you are headed on a long road trip, caffeine and sugar are crucial to keeping your driver awake. Now keep in mind, that with loads of caffeine and sugar comes loads of bathroom breaks. If you think you can do without coffee by the hour and bags of sour patch kids, then make sure you bring lots of water. Cold water can keep you awake just as well as coffee can, even though we’d like to think otherwise. Bring fun snacks to keep your belly and mind happy while you are stuck in a cramped car for hours on end. I suggest lots of salt and vinegar potato chips and a ton of Reese cups.
If you are hitting the road with your best friends and want to remember the car ride there, bring a camera. Make funny videos along the way (that aren’t distracting to the driver) and make a huge montage of them after the trip is over. You will always be able to go back and remember how much fun you all had just driving in the car. Also, take pictures and videos of all the sites you pass when you are driving. Whether it’s a scenic mountain range or miles of city limits, it will be beautiful.
If you are not driving or are switching off driving, bring a good book for when you are sitting in the back watching cars pass. After a while, listening to music constantly can give you a headache and you need some peace and quiet. Bring a new book or one you’ve been working on but haven’t quite found the time to finish and enjoy the silence as you read. The peacefulness of the drive will give you the perfect reading setting for whatever good book you brought. My suggestion is On The Road by Jack Kerouac, it’s too fitting, right?
Above all else, the most essential things you need on a road trip are a big, soft pillow and a warm, fuzzy blanket. If you are uncomfortable during your drive, no snack or perfect soundtrack is going to make you happy; except for your favorite set of pillows and blanket. Sitting in the car for 5 hours or more can be dreadful, but a good nap to break up the hours can make it so, so much better. Make sure to pack your favorite pillow and blanket for when you eventually doze off in the car during your perfect road trip.
Now that you’ve got your essential road trip packing list, you’re all ready to set sail. Happy traveling!
In the 21st Century, tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries and helps boost many flagging economies around the world.
With the rapid growth of reliable communication options and improved transport infrastructure, more and more people from around the world are making the decision to travel to faraway places and distant countries that used to be a dream, once upon a time.
As with anything, tourism is not always positive and can have certain negative impacts on the world, including environmental deterioration, social exploitation, abuse of cultural heritage, human rights violations and/or economic dependence.
In order to get ahead of challenges being brought to the forefront by tourism, a new term, “Responsible Tourism” has been coined, with the hopes of minimizing the negative impacts of the industry.
Making responsible choices for your vacation can actually contribute to making this world better. All should be made better aware of responsible travel so that travelers can become more conscious about ‘how’ they travel, rather than just concerning themselves with ‘where’ they travel.
With that in mind, here are four ways you can become a more responsible traveler.
Possibly the most important thing that needs to be taken care of when traveling is the environment. One of the biggest negative impacts that tourism has on the world is environmental damage, the result of increased pollution, clearing of land and damage to local resources. We all are already suffering from the adverse effects of global warming – the polar ice-caps are melting, animals are losing their lives, glacial rivers are overflowing and causing floods and coral reefs are dying out, among other negative impacts.
While on a vacation, people usually tend to cause quite a bit of environmental damage, either knowingly or unknowingly. The most common practice is littering plastic and other waste here and there. Also, adventure sports like snorkeling and scuba diving are becoming so popular that marine life is increasingly being threatened.
When we travel to a different country, we should remember not to make a mess of the place. Being environmentally aware will help us save this world for future generations.
Responsible tourism is a means to achieve sustainable environmental development while promoting the economy of a country.
A new word that has recently been added to the dictionary – ‘voluntourism’ – essentially means combining volunteer work with tourism. There can be no better way to meaningfully engage with host communities, serve local people and help them improve life than by volunteering. By volunteering, you can help educate kids or help improve the local health care system.
Several local, as well as international organizations, offer volunteering opportunities to travelers who wish to create positive change while exploring a country. Imagine how satisfying it would be to volunteer and teach the street children while in India or to be a part of a wildlife conservation project while exploring South Africa. Each country has a specific need and travelers can contribute in their own way.
Before getting involved with any sort of volunteer work, however, it is essential that you do your research properly. Being associated with a reputable organization will not only ensure the fact that your contribution paves the path for sustainable growth of host communities, but it will also provide you with a deeper insight and perspective of life. A volunteering experience can change the way you look at your life and motivate others to walk on your path, but make sure you are volunteering responsibly.
Tourism can only support a country’s financial growth when travelers make a conscious choice to contribute to the local economy. Take a deeper look at your sustainable choices, however, and you will often find out that many of these businesses are owned by larger corporations that are multinationals.
When you travel to the beaches of Thailand, wouldn’t you rather try the local food from small shacks rather than going for KFC or McDonald’s, which you can find on almost every corner of your own city!
This is just one example. While traveling to a foreign country, it is necessary to eat and shop from local outlets, take the assistance of a local tour guide and avail the mode of transport that is run and used by natives. By doing this, you can effectively add to the country’s economy.
Who doesn’t love animals? But if we love them so much, then why can’t we feel their pain while riding on them?
In Thailand, for example, elephants are extremely popular and people love to go for elephant rides. Did you know, though, that often one of the reasons why these animals are so tame is that they are beaten and abused until their spirit is literally crushed?
To be a responsible traveler, you should stop encouraging animal abuse and inspire others to stop it as well. Keep in mind that going for animal rides does nothing but cause pain to innocent animals for the sake of your enjoyment.
Rather than going for a ride, why not visit a National Park or a rescue center where animals have more freedom to live, where their well-being is taken care of and they are not subject to any sort of violence. There are several conservation projects that will give you the opportunity to get closer to these animals, spend time with them and get to know more about their lives and daily habits. If you are in Thailand, you can visit the elephant villages where you aren’t able to ride on them or see them painting a picture, but you can see them happily playing in the water and roaming around carelessly. Maybe even volunteer with animals.
When traveling, try to enrich not only your experiences but also help inspire others. Making this world a better place, saving the environment and helping the underprivileged isn’t only the responsibility of governments. We, as responsible individuals, should take up the cause in whichever way possible and contribute as much as we can.
Remember that the actions taken today will affect the lives of tomorrow!
You might find yourself reaching for your phone in moments of stress, but before you open Facebook or Twitter, consider that studies show that the use of social media can increase stress in the long run. Instead of seeking comfort on the internet, try spending more time outside. Sometimes a quick walk is all you need to reset your mind, but spending a longer length of time outdoors can have positive effects on your health.
If you want to go on more intense escapades, like rock climbing or camping, to help improve your mood, don’t be put off by lack of experience — even first-time adventurers can participate in more extreme outdoor activities.
Beginners and dabblers in all things wild alike can feed their wandering hearts no matter their expertise. Traveling is great for personal improvement, and trying out new outdoor activities or sports is a great way to create effective exercise routines and habits and can have positive impacts on your overall health, but can be intimidating to start. If you’re not sure where to begin, read the following guidelines to help you on the journey of becoming an adventurer.
Safety should be the first priority when engaging in any adventurous endeavor, especially for beginners. Properly researching safety online and asking for advice from others who have experience can make the difference between a fun experience and a tragic one. Even if you are trying a relatively low-key activity like paddleboarding, it is important to know the dangers and learn safety precautions. According to Scott Jorss, a standup paddleboard instructor, “it’s important to remember that you’re in charge of your own safety when you’re out on the water, whether it’s knowing how to get back on your board if you fall off or understanding what moving water is safest.”
Keeping an open mind and fueling the desire to spend time outdoors encourages an exciting and healthy life, and trying new things requires the ability to overcome your fears. However, it is important to balance those desires with understanding your personal limits. Once you have figured them out, communication with those around you is important.
For example, if you go skiing or snowboarding with friends who are more experienced than you, make sure to vocalize any concerns you have along with your excitement. Though you might feel the pressure to keep up with your friends, remind yourself that their skill level and experience is higher than yours, and in this case, it would be okay to go down an easier hill or take a break while others brave a run that requires more developed finesse.
Personal finance experts at Fiscal Tiger have found that millennials spend their money on memories more than on collecting consumer goods. However, you don’t want to make your credit card suffer when trying new things. Though starting a new hobby usually requires putting money into it, there are ways you can keep costs manageable.
First, think about ways you can save money. If you really want to dedicate yourself to spending time outdoors, save money in other areas of your life, such as food. Also, consider the essentials and nonessentials; season passes or monthly memberships to specialized gyms can be worth it if you are going to go enough times every month to make it worth it. Buying the basic equipment makes sense if you plan on going regularly enough that you save up money, but not if you will try it only once or even occasionally.
Next, consider where you make your purchases. Buying used items from secondhand equipment stores, people in your community and rental stores selling their gear are great ways to get equipment for less. Keep quality in mind, only purchase reliable gear, and remember that some equipment, like rock climbing ropes, should only be purchased in new condition.
Also, consider your resources. If you know someone who is into the activity you are looking to try, ask them for help. They might know a good place to buy what you’re looking for, or they might even be willing to lend or give you a good deal on extra equipment they have.
Another possibility is that if someone you know has a membership to a rock climbing wall or another specialized gym, they may have guest passes you can use for free. If your activity requires driving out somewhere, you can carpool and save on gas.
Okay, well maybe think a little (remember the safety section), but go for what you want to do and try new things. The world is out there waiting for you; don’t keep it waiting too long thinking about the obstacles in your way. Do what you can to prepare, like working on your strength and getting the necessary equipment, but don’t be afraid to go for it.
Not every adventure has to be crazy, and not everything you try needs to become a hobby. Look for daring things to do that are nearby, tag along with your daredevil peers, and take advantage of every opportunity you can. Even doing something as easy as going off-roading for a few hours can be the opportunity you are looking for to get some stress relief outside.
As long you get a memorable experience out of it, you can’t fail. The point is that you’re getting outside, exploring the world and yourself, and making memories. The best way to get started is to just do it.
Hiking is truly a beautiful experience that will really make you appreciate the fact that you’re alive and breathing in this wonderful world, but only if you’re well prepared for it. I’ve been hiking for well over fifteen years now, and I’ve seen my share of accidents and mishaps, almost always through the fault and ignorance of the hikers themselves. It’s not the surprise bear attack that gets you in the wild, it’s overestimating your abilities and underestimating your needs when you’re in the wilderness.
(Side note: Bear attacks are actually quite rare and easy to avoid if you know what you’re doing. For more info on avoiding and surviving bear attacks, or just hiking in bear country, check out this bear safety guide by Survivalmag.)
Today, I want to make sure that doesn’t happen to you by talking about some of the essential items you should always bring with you when you go hiking.
A lot of people tend to forget this one, and it’s primarily because they have no idea how dark it can actually get in the forest. You see, in an urban environment, there’s always some kind of illumination – a distant street light, a TV set shining through a window, and so on. When you’re out in the woods, it’s a different story altogether, because unless there’s a full moon out, your only source of illumination will be your fire and the stars themselves. Always make sure that you have a flashlight with fresh batteries in case you need to find your way at night or things can get really complicated, really fast.
The same goes for heat. What many people don’t realize is that even during a hot summer’s day, the temperature can often drop an additional 10 to 15 degrees compared to an urban environment. This is because when you’re back home, you’re surrounded by concrete all around, and concrete is an excellent thermal absorbent. This means that it’s great at absorbing heatwaves and radiating them back at you at night, keeping you warm and letting you sleep without the covers. There’s no concrete in the woods, however, so don’t even think that you should attempt to make it through the night without starting a fire. Bring some waterproof matches, some old newspapers, and anything else you need to be able to light a campfire, and you should be fine.
One of the worst things you can do to yourself when hiking is not bringing enough water. Hiking is really good exercise, which means that it will dehydrate you faster than you might think, and you’ll need to replenish that water in order to keep going. This goes double if it’s actually hot outside, but you shouldn’t be without water even during winter. Apart from bringing all the water you need, it’s also a good idea to get your hands on a good water filter, in the case of an emergency, so you can purify your water on the go.
It’s a rule of thumb to pack more food than you need when you’re out hiking. However, you also need to make sure that you do not pack anything that spoils easily because no matter how much you bring it will be for nothing if it all goes bad the first day. Go for food with a long shelf life, like nuts, canned food and stuff like that.
Like I said, your number one enemy in the wild isn’t that big, evil lurking black bear – it’s getting lost and having no idea how to find your way back. Make sure your phone is charged so you can use its GPS, but also bring a good compass and map that you can use to navigate in case your phone dies. It’s very easy to get lost in an unfamiliar environment if you aren’t careful, so this is something you should definitely pay attention to.
The first premise you should accept when going out to spend a few days in the wilderness is that the weather is always unpredictable, even when it isn’t. Pack some spare clothes that you can change into if you happen to be caught in a flash shower because the last thing you want to do is have to sleep on the ground in wet clothes, or in no clothes at all.
A good Swiss army knife is always good to have when you’re out in the woods. You can use it to kill and skin an animal, cut up paracord to make a clothesline, and even prep a campfire. A good one will run you for about $60, but rest assured that it will last you a lifetime if you take good care of it.
Don’t even think about spending a night in the woods just in a sleeping bag. Although it’s a romantic notion to fall asleep under the stars, in reality, it is almost never warm enough to warrant this. Get a good tent, or learn how to find or make a shelter for yourself, because you really are going to need it.
As I said, accidents happen in the wild, and the worst thing about this is that you’re too far away from civilization to get immediate assistance in case something does happen. So, until you can get back, you’re on your own and you need to find a way to treat the injury until you can get professional help. A first aid kit is an absolute necessity for this kind of situation, and it should be filled with stuff like sterile gauze, elastic bandages, band-aids, antibiotics, pain killers, and the like.
Bugs can be a real nuisance when you’re out in the woods, and some can actually cause serious irritations and allergies if you’re susceptible. Bring along some bug repellant and apply it often to make sure you aren’t bitten. Additionally, you should probably protect yourself from sunburns and UV radiation by packing some high SPF sunscreen, as there are few things more annoying than having to carry around a huge backpack when your shoulders are all burned and sore.
Does the idea of a long bike tour, turning your legs for hours, make you tingle with excitement? Me too! Sadly, if you’re not careful, an extended bike trip can become incredibly expensive. If you wanted to, you could spend an entire month's travel money on a set of handlebars.
There’s nothing wrong with this, but the budget tourer has to be frugal in their approach. I recently cycled my bike across Europe and learned a few tricks along the way.
Here’s my approach to saving cash.
Don’t use campsites. I was once cycling around Italy at 8 pm at night. I found a campsite and asked to pitch my tent. After finding out the price of camping wasn’t much less than the price of a hotel room, I said thanks, but no thanks.
With that, I cycled around the corner, made friends with some locals, and ended up camping in their garden for free.
If there are no locals around another great way to save on accommodation is to simply stealth camp. You’re able to stealth camp almost anywhere. During my travels as well as camping in people’s gardens I’ve camped on the beach and under motorway bridges.
Quieter places in nature can also be nice, and I’ve spent the majority of my nights here. It’s easy to take a quick look at your map and cycle towards the green areas. Once you arrive, all you need to do is walk 100 meters inwards, and you’re ready to go.
Once you’ve done it a few times, you’ll develop an eye for what areas are best to stop off at. Many people sleep in tents, but nowadays I’m more of a hammock kind of guy. They’re easier to keep away from wildlife, and I personally find them much comfier.
If you’d rather not camp out in the elements, then consider places that’ll let you stay for free. Couchsurfing is a platform that puts you in contact with people from all over the world that are willing to host you for a night or two. Even better is Warmshowers, which is the same concept but especially for bicycle tourers.
When you’re on tour, you’ll usually be on the bike, but it’s quite common to want to use some transportation in the less inspiring areas.
I try not to do this. Sometimes I quite like the dull areas as it gives me a bit of perspective and helps me enjoy the nicer parts even more.
Plus, some of the biggest surprises happened to me when I was cycling through duller landscapes.
If you do use transport, make sure you take local buses. Or, another great option is hitchhiking. Backpacker Travel has an excellent guide on how to do it safely. But the simple concept is to stick your thumb out and see if a truck will pick you up. You’ll meet some interesting people. It’s an adventure, and… it’s free!
If you’re not spending cash on accommodation or transport, your next big expenditure will be through food. Especially if you’re cycling many miles a day. It’s easy to want to reward a hard day cycling with a big feast, but you have to stay strong!
In Asia, it may be possible to eat out, but most of the time you’ll have to make do with your own cooking. Don’t worry too much! It can be fun getting food from the local market and experimenting with different recipes. During harvest seasons, you can eat for almost nothing. You’ll find fruit everywhere, and you’ll feel like a proper hunter-gatherer picking food from your environment.
You can also get discounted or even free food from shops that are about to throw food away. By law, shops have to get rid of it, but it’s more than suitable for you or me to eat.
Also, be sure to watch where you get your drinks from. If it’s suitable, you can ask locals to fill up a water bottle from their taps, or in places like Asia, they have water stations where you can fill up from instead of having to buy new bottles each time.
I’m a big fan of repairing everything that gets broken. With a bit of patience, everything from your bicycle to your sleeping bag can be fixed.
Fixing everything myself also helped to give me confidence on the road. It’s a great feeling to know that you’ll be OK if something goes wrong and you’re on your own.
Most people transition to nomadic or expatriate living after many years of following the conventional work path. My path was a little different. I grew up in France near Strasbourg, but always had dreams of living around the world. When I went to the U.S. in 2004, I studied the American tax system in Louisiana before moving to New York to work in corporate finance. In 2005, I finally received my U.S. green card and became a U.S. citizen in 2009. I was now a dual citizen of two of the most powerful and free-to-travel nations on earth.
I was already living a very diversified life, mixing and merging international cultures and bureaucratic rules in ways that were completely unknown to me before. All that would seem small, though, in comparison to the major lifestyle overhaul I would experience just four years later when I decided to pack my bags and transition to a life of full-time nomadism around the world.
Many people who travel and work online manage to do so in a mostly anonymous and “under the table” way. They are afraid of making their activities known and having to become tax compliant. What if they file something incorrectly? Why should I risk anything now by coming into the light? These people need to realize that avoiding their U.S. tax obligation would only get more complex and risky as time went on. As my earning capabilities increased, I would stand out more and more on the government’s radar. He also showed me that because I planned to eventually, renounce my U.S. citizenship, I would need to prepare now by getting caught up on at least the last five years of unfiled taxes.
Despite an unconventional working style, it is possible to keep your tax obligation as low as legally possible. I’ve worked with many U.S. citizens who have obtained multiple residencies and passports and started businesses in strategic locations. Each of them learned to branch out from the constraints of their home country to pursue their own version of an authentic lifestyle. They overcame the fear of the unknown to learn the rules of the new systems they were entering. Now they are each master of those systems. You can do the same.
Many people in the modern age continue to work for a U.S. company while going wherever their heart desires. After all, why not? Almost everything done in an office environment can be done online, from conferencing face-to-face to sending and signing documents. If you ever want to do this in a company that doesn’t already practice this arrangement, consider actively demonstrating to your employer that working remotely won’t be any functionally different to the operation of the company (or that your productivity could actually increase from home).
Personally, I have found that convincing an employer in most conventional workplaces to let you work on your own schedule from halfway around the world is too much of a cultural shock for them to handle. It is generally more favorable to create a living for yourself on your own terms. This also has an amplifying effect on the personal freedom most people are pursuing by going abroad in the first place. Alternatively, if you take your skills abroad to a foreign marketplace, you may suddenly find yourself in high demand in the job market.
Working for a larger foreign company is the easiest tax situation for Americans living abroad, and the most likely to cause you to avoid being liable to pay both income tax and Social Security. Being fully liable to both in a country with a higher tax rate and with a Social Security Totalization Agreement is another way to go about it. You may be surprised to find that some of the commonplace skills and experiences you have developed in your ordinary career at home are highly valued in certain other places. You could find yourself in a much higher-salaried position with the same qualifications simply by going where you are in greater demand.
If your goal is to start a new company and register it abroad, you can save on Social Security. You could simply create a foreign corporation with other Americans or by yourself. However, having more than 50% of the corporation owned by U.S. shareholders will make it a Controlled Foreign Corporation (which is best avoided). As your business becomes more location independent, you will likely also have a greater pool of talent available for hiring. Your money could go further – but you might have to spend more of it to overcome the shortcomings of the local infrastructure.
The new variables to deal with are nearly endless but can be mastered with time. Just be aware that the way you are used to getting things done in the United States may not be appropriate in other places. No matter what specific path you choose, it can all be managed on a practical level and in regards to your tax obligation back home. Take advantage of every tool available to you. You’re not the first one to walk this path.
If you’re an American working overseas you’ll want to pick up a copy of Olivier’s book:
U.S. Taxes for Worldly Americans – The Traveling Expat’s Guide to Living, Working, and Staying Tax Compliant Abroad
