FAQs

I knew I was as prepared as possible for this trip back in the summer at my last dental appointment. I was able to answer every question my dentist threw my way rapid-fire while I lay supine with a bright light shining directly in my face and metal tools poking and prodding at my teeth. Many people dread the torturous visits to the dentist, but I looked forward to them as they became my accountability meetings keeping me on track, making sure all areas of this world-trip project were being managed to Dr. S’s satisfaction.

Here are the questions he asked, and the answers I gave to the best of my ability while not able to move my tongue or lips…

What are we doing with our house while we travel?

We rented our house out for year. If we come back early we will travel around the U.S. till our renters move out.

What do we do if we run out of pages in our passports?

When I renewed our passports I opted for passports with extra pages. You used to be able to have extra pages added to your current passport but they don’t do that anymore.

Do we need to apply for visas before we travel?

Most countries we are visiting do not require visas. The few that do all have online e-visa applications and are processed within a few days.

How much are we packing?

We each have an international carry-on size suitcase, plus a backpack. We packed a capsule-style wardrobe (minimal items that coordinate with all other items), lots of layers, and a good amount of merino wool which does not need to be washed as often. If we buy souvenirs or gifts that don’t fit in the suitcases we will ship them back to the U.S. periodically.

How are we doing laundry?

We have dry laundry detergent sheets, a drain cover and a laundry line. We hand wash our clothes in the sink when necessary, but many of the accommodations we’ve booked have washing machines.

How will we do our banking/ATMs?

We have online access to all our accounts. We both opened Charles Schwab Investor Checking accounts, which reimburse all ATM fees worldwide. This is an incredible benefit since some ATMs charge as much as $20 per withdrawal! We withdraw local currency from the airport ATMs when we arrive in a new country, but we use credit cards for most of our purchases.

How will we handle medical expenses?

Medical care outside of the U.S. is relatively affordable compared to the U.S. We pay out of pocket for dental care; we use our travel medical insurance for emergency care.

What medical insurance will we have?

We purchased international travel insurance that covers both travel disruptions as well as emergency medical care. If you exclude coverage in the US, it is extremely affordable.

How much have we pre-planned and booked vs. how much of the trip is still open and unplanned?

We planned and booked everything for September to mid November 2023 (U.S./Oceana/Southeast Asia), plus January in the Middle East and Africa, almost a year before we left. We started our trip with six unplanned weeks in November-December and nothing planned after January 2024, during which time destinations, transportation and accommodations were open and flexible.

As we travel (and learn what does and does not work for us) we book travel and accommodations to fill in the gaps, and several times we have completely changed the itinerary after making all the reservations. Most of our plans include free cancellation!

What is the plan for our kids’ school?

Z is completing 6th grade online, utilizing an asynchronous full-time online curriculum.

S will apply to college while we travel.

Are we going to be working?

M is able to do some work remotely, but we saved up for the trip so he wouldn’t have to work full-time while we travel.

Will we be posting on social media?

We post on Facebook and Instagram.

How will we handle our mail?

We have the post office forward our mail to a mail service which opens and scans our mail, then shreds or forwards it at our direction.

What will we do with our cars?

I sold my car and M is storing his at a family member’s home.

*****What other questions do you have that my dentist missed?*****