some harsh truths and random tips after 8 months on the road

i’ve been on the road for about 8 months now (mostly latin america and asia) and wanted to drop some harsh truths and random tips i wish i knew before i started.

1.travel burnout is 100% real

instagram makes it look like an endless party, but around month 3, you will hit a wall. you’ll look at a world-famous temple or beach and feel absolutely nothing. you'll just want to sit in an air-conditioned room and binge netflix. this is normal. don't feel guilty about taking a "vacation from your vacation." just rest.

2. data/sim cards: stop stressing at borders

data is literally oxygen when you travel long-term. i used to buy local physical sims at every border crossing, but getting scammed at bus terminals gets old fast. i switched to airalo for a bit, but their regional plans got weirdly expensive and dropped signal in rural areas. a guy in a hostel in vietnam told me to try a superalink esim, and it’s been a lifesaver. their regional plans are way cheaper, and it just auto-connects to the best local towers. landing in a new country at 2 am and instantly having google maps working is priceless. whatever services you guys use is i don't care and don't know but recommend to use esim. just set it up before you leave.

3. atm fees will quietly eat your budget

stop going to currency exchange booths. get a wise card, revolut, or charles schwab (if you're us-based) to avoid foreign transaction and atm fees. always carry two cards and keep them in separate bags. the amount of money you waste on atm fees over a year could literally buy you another flight.

4. pack half of what you think you need

if you are packing something "just in case," leave it at home. you can buy toothpaste and socks anywhere in the world. a couple of merino wool shirts and one pair of solid shoes are all you really need. a heavy backpack will ruin your mood faster than anything else.

stay safe out there, and let me know if you have any questions!