1. Test This Lifestyle Before Committing

Before you make the decision to travel full time, I strongly recommend testing this lifestyle first. One of the best ways to do that is by taking a sabbatical from your job for at least one year.

A full year gives you a much better sense of what long-term travel actually feels like. A few months abroad usually feels like an extended vacation, which is very different from living this way long term. After about a year, the excitement settles and you start to see the normal rhythm of this lifestyle.

If possible, try to take a sabbatical instead of quitting your job right away. I also would not tell your employer that you are planning to travel full time in the future. Just treat it as a break or extended leave. That way, if you realize this lifestyle is not for you, you still have the option to go back to your job.

In my opinion, anything shorter than a year is usually not enough time to properly test whether this lifestyle truly fits you.

After testing this lifestyle for a year and deciding it is right for you, continue with the steps below.

2. Ask Your Employer About Remote Part-Time or Contract Work

If you still have a full-time job, it might be worth asking your employer if you can switch to part-time, contract, or consulting work that you can do remotely from anywhere, even overseas.

You really have nothing to lose by asking, since you are already planning to leave your job anyway. Sometimes employers are open to keeping you in a smaller role if they know your work and trust you.

This can also give you something to do while traveling and bring in some income, even if you do not really need the money. Some people realize they actually enjoy having a little work just to stay busy.

3. Build an Accommodation Strategy That Costs Less Than a US Mortgage or Rent

Based on my own experience doing this full time, staying in Airbnbs and hotels worldwide can actually cost less than a mortgage or rent payment in the US, and the quality of the place you stay in is often much better for a lower price. That only works if you actually get rid of your US house or apartment first. This strategy is about replacing your housing cost, not adding a second one on top of what you are already paying back home.

Before you start full time travel, it helps to have a real strategy for where you will stay, not just a plan to book things as you go. The key is booking monthly stays instead of nightly ones. Airbnb and many independent landlords offer steep discounts, often 40 to 60 percent off the nightly rate, when you book for a full month at a time. Combine that with choosing lower cost-of-living countries and cities, and your monthly housing cost can end up well below what you were paying back home, often for a nicer place than you had in the US.

In most cases, that monthly price already includes all utilities: electricity, water, internet, and sometimes even cleaning. That is very different from a US mortgage or rent, where utilities are almost always a separate bill on top. When you compare the two side by side, factor that in, since it closes the gap even further in favor of the Airbnb or hotel strategy.

If you want to see exactly how I keep my accommodation costs low worldwide, click here for more details.

4. Sell the Car, End Your Apartment Rental Lease, and Decide What to Do With the House

Before you start full time travel, take a hard look at three things you are probably still holding onto: your apartment rental lease, your car, and if you own one, your house.

Ending your apartment rental lease is usually the simplest of the three. In most cases, the easiest path is to just let your current apartment rental lease run its course and not renew it once it ends. If the math clearly favors leaving sooner, look into legally terminating the apartment rental lease early through your landlord or property manager rather than just letting it run out. Once you run the numbers, you will likely find that accommodations overseas cost less than what you are paying in rent right now, and in a lot of cases the quality is actually better for the price. There is no reason to keep paying US rent for a place you will barely be in once your lease term is up.

The car is a step people hesitate on, but it is worth thinking through carefully. If you are traveling full time, you will only be back in the US for short stretches throughout the year. During that time, a car sitting parked most of the year still costs you money. You are paying insurance on it, and maintenance does not stop just because the car is not being driven. Batteries die, tires dry rot, and fluids break down, and a car that sits for long stretches often needs more repair work than one driven regularly. On top of that, you also have to figure out where to actually park it while you are overseas, whether that means paying for a storage lot, relying on a friend or family member’s driveway, or leaving it street parked somewhere for months at a time, none of which are ideal. When you add up insurance, maintenance, parking or storage, and the money tied up in the car itself, it usually does not make sense to keep it if you are not going to be putting real miles on it. Personally, the cost of renting a car during my short visits back to the US is less than what it would cost me to own a car full time, since I am spending the vast majority of my time overseas anyway.

If you own your home, you have two real options. You can rent it out, which means becoming a landlord from overseas and dealing with everything that comes with that, including bad tenants, repairs, and property management, all while you are on the other side of the world. Or you can sell it and reinvest the proceeds into something simple, like a low cost index fund that tracks the S&P 500 (this is not financial advice, just my personal approach).

Personally, if I were a homeowner, I would sell and invest the proceeds in the S&P 500 rather than deal with being a long-distance landlord. The stress of managing tenants and property issues from overseas is not worth it for most people, and a simple index fund gives you growth without the phone calls about a broken water heater.

5. Establish Domicile/Residency in a State That Doesn’t Have Income Tax

While you are in the process of selling many of your possessions (car, furniture, home, etc.) before starting full-time travel, consider establishing Domicile/residency in a state with no state income tax. State income tax can be a significant expense, and doing this beforehand can help minimize it. States like Texas and South Dakota are popular choices. Establishing residency may include things like living there, setting up a permanent address, getting a driver’s license, registering to vote, and finding a new primary doctor and dentist in that state for your routine care. It is important to cut all ties with your old state. Otherwise your old state can claim you never really left and try to tax you as a resident. Check with a tax or domicile lawyer for more details. I wrote a full post on why I picked Texas for domicile and every step I took to establish it.

6. Arrange Mail Management and Jury Duty Handling

The USA PATRIOT Act, passed in 2001, requires that you have a physical US address. If you have sold your house or no longer rent a place to live in the US, this means you still need a trustworthy family member who is willing to let you use their physical address. Managing your mail while traveling can be challenging. While mail service companies can help by scanning and forwarding your mail, they are only part of the solution and do not replace the need for a real physical address. I wrote an article that covers this topic in full detail because it is one of the most important things every US citizen should understand when retiring overseas or living and traveling abroad full time. Click here for more details. I also cover how to handle a jury duty summons if it shows up while you are overseas in that same post.

7. Get a Phone That Supports eSIM and Switch to an Ultra Mobile or Tello Plan

Keeping your US phone number is important because many banks in the US send their two factor authentication codes by text. Use a phone that supports eSIM so you can add local data plans without swapping SIM cards. This lets you stay connected, use local internet, and still keep your US number for banking and other important texts while you travel. Make sure to turn on WiFi Calling feature and test it before you leave, since you will rely on it a lot overseas.

I recommend buying your phone directly from the official store, like an iPhone from Apple or a Samsung phone from the Samsung Store. Phones bought this way are unlocked by default. When you purchase the phone, do not sign up for any contract or payment plan. Pay the full price so your phone stays fully carrier unlocked. Click here for more details.

8. Arrange Healthcare Coverage

Healthcare coverage is vital, both internationally and domestically. Purchase an international health insurance plan that covers you while traveling abroad. Also, find an affordable US healthcare plan through the marketplace to cover any visits to the US. This dual coverage ensures you’re protected no matter where you are. Click here for more details.

9. Renew Your Passport and Get the 50 Page Book with a Passport Card

Running out of blank pages in your passport can disrupt your travel plans. Before you start your journey, renew your passport and request the large 50 page book. This gives you plenty of space for visa stamps and reduces the chances of needing a renewal while you are abroad. It is also a good idea to get a passport card along with your passport book as a backup. The passport card cannot be used for international air travel, but it can serve as an additional government issued ID. It also acts as proof of US citizenship at any US embassy or consulate if your passport book is lost or stolen, which makes it much easier to request a replacement while overseas.

Side note: you don’t have to fly back to the US to renew your passport once it expires while you’re abroad. If you’re staying in a major city for a month or more that has a US embassy or consulate, you can renew it right there. It usually takes about 10 days to 2 weeks. You apply in person, no mail involved, and you pick up the new passport in person at the embassy or consulate once it’s ready. Once you have the new passport, ask the embassy for instructions on updating the local immigration office with your new passport number. If you skip this step, you may run into trouble departing the country, since your visa or entry stamp is tied to your old passport number.

10. Get ATM Debit Cards with No ATM Fees Worldwide

Access to cash is very important when traveling internationally. Obtain at least 2 debit cards from 2 different banks that allow you to withdraw cash from any ATM worldwide without charging foreign transaction fees. Also look for checking accounts that reimburse any ATM fees. Make sure these debit cards are issued by different banks to diversify your financial security and ensure access to funds if one account is compromised or if one debit card is lost or expired. (I recommend Charles Schwab and Fidelity). Click here for more details.

11. Set Up a Wise Account to Pay Rent to Landlords in Other Countries

Sooner or later you will run into a landlord who will not take a credit card or cash, and instead wants a transfer straight into their local bank account in local currency. This comes up a lot when you rent directly from a local landlord instead of through a platform like Airbnb.

Do not open a foreign bank account to solve this. It is not worth the paperwork, the residency requirements, or the FBAR and FATCA reporting obligations that can come with holding a foreign account. The simpler fix is opening a Wise account before you leave the US. It lets you hold and convert balances in multiple currencies and send local currency directly to a landlord’s bank account, without needing foreign residency or a local ID.

Set it up and get identity verification done while you are still in the US, since Wise can freeze funds on early transfers until you prove your address, and that is not something you want to be dealing with while a rent payment is due. Click here for more details.

12. Get Several Credit Cards That Work Well for International Travel

Get several credit cards from reputable US banks that are known for being reliable for international travel such as Chase, American Express, Citi, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America. I wrote a separate post that covers my favorite cards for full time travel and nomadic life. Click here for more details.

When you build your setup, aim for a mix of networks so you never get stuck. A good starting point is to have a few Visa cards, a couple of Mastercards, and a couple of American Express cards. Make sure they have no foreign transaction fees because you will use them everywhere. Also try to have at least two cards that support chip and PIN since some train ticket machines and gas pumps require a PIN even if your card normally uses tap or chip and signature. It is also a good idea to have these cards issued by different banks so you have backups if a bank system goes down or if one card is lost or stolen.

13. Set Up Multi Factor Authentication for All Your Banks and Test It Before You Leave

Set up multi factor authentication for all your bank accounts, credit cards, and financial apps before you leave. Make sure the codes work on your new phone plan, and test everything while you are still in the US. Some banks send verification codes by text, while others use app based authentication. You do not want to find out something is broken after you are overseas. Taking a few minutes to test every login will save you a lot of trouble later.

14. Add Your Travel Credit Cards to Your Digital Wallet

Before you start full time travel, add all your travel credit cards to your digital wallet like Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. It makes payments easier and a lot safer since your card details stay encrypted. Using your phone or watch to pay is also more reliable overseas because many stores support contactless payments.

Another big benefit is what happens if your physical card gets lost or stolen. Most card issuers push the new card details to your digital wallet right away when they replace the card, so you can keep using it without waiting for the physical card to arrive. This can save you a lot of stress when you are outside the US.

15. Maintain Your Auto Insurance History with a Non-Owner Policy

If you plan to own no car at all after selling your car and starting full time travel, it is still important to keep your auto insurance history active. The easiest way to do that is with a non owner insurance policy. It provides liability coverage when you rent a car in the US or drive a friend’s or family member’s car. It is also an affordable way to avoid a lapse in your insurance history while you are overseas. Keeping that history intact can help you get better rates if you ever return to the US and buy a car again. Non owner insurance is a simple, low cost way to protect your record for the future.

If you are a veteran or have a spouse or parent who served in the military, USAA offers one of the best non-owner liability insurance policies available. USAA membership eligibility extends to veterans and certain family members, not just active duty service members, so it is worth checking even if you never served yourself. If you do not qualify for USAA, Geico is a solid alternative for non-owner liability coverage.

Most of the time, non-owner policies are not something you can set up online through USAA or Geico’s website. You will usually need to call them directly and ask specifically about a non-owner liability policy, since it is not a product that is always listed or quoted through their standard online flow.

16. Set Up Your Social Security Online Account Before Leaving the US

Before you head overseas long term, create an online account with the Social Security Administration. This lets you view your earnings history, check benefit estimates, and manage certain requests online.

The initial setup can sometimes require you to be physically in the US, and in some cases you may need to visit a local office for identity verification. Doing this ahead of time can save you a lot of hassle later, especially if you suddenly need access while you are abroad.

Even if you think you will not need it anytime soon, I still recommend setting it up. It is one of those small tasks that is much easier to handle before starting full-time travel.

17. Create an IRS Online Account and Set Up an Identity Protection PIN

Before leaving the US long term, I also recommend creating an online account with the IRS and enrolling in the Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) program. An IP PIN is a six-digit number that helps prevent someone else from filing a tax return in your name if your personal information is ever compromised.

The initial setup might require you to be physically in the US or could trigger a visit to a local office for identity verification, especially if additional documentation is needed. Setting this up while you are in the US is much easier than trying to handle it from abroad.

18. Freeze Your Credit With All Major Credit Bureaus

Before leaving the US long term, I strongly recommend placing a security freeze on your credit reports with all major credit bureaus. This helps prevent criminals from opening new accounts in your name if your personal information is ever compromised.

You can do this directly through each bureau’s website for free. Once the freeze is in place, no new credit should be issued unless you temporarily lift or remove it yourself.

Make sure you create accounts with each bureau, confirm the freeze is active, and test that you can unfreeze and refreeze your credit easily before you leave the country. Doing a quick trial run while you are still in the US can save you a lot of frustration later if you ever need to apply for credit or deal with fraud while traveling full time.

19. Get an International Driving Permit

If you plan to drive while traveling, obtaining an International Driving Permit (IDP) is essential. Some countries such as South Korea and Japan do require it. You can get an IDP from the American Automobile Association (AAA). This permit, along with your US driver’s license, will allow you to legally drive in many countries around the world.

20. Get a VPN for Accessing Location-Restricted Content

Another essential step is securing a reliable VPN from a trusted company. A VPN not only ensures a secure internet connection while using public WiFi but also allows you to choose a virtual location. This is especially important for accessing US-based websites and services that may require a US IP address to work properly. Also, a VPN enables you to stream your favorite US TV shows and content on devices like Amazon FireStick or Apple TV while abroad. I recommend NordVPN for its ease of use and robust security features.

21. Buy Your Electronics in the US Before You Start Traveling

It is usually cheaper to buy your electronics in the US before you leave. Devices like iPhones, laptops, tablets, and cameras often cost more overseas because of local taxes, import duties, and tariffs. Prices in the US tend to be lower, and you also get US warranty coverage.

Most electronics need to be refreshed every two or three years, so if your current devices are already old, it is a good idea to upgrade before you start full time travel. Then, when they reach the end of their lifespan again, you can upgrade during one of your future visits back to the US. This approach keeps your devices up to date while avoiding the extra costs you would pay abroad.