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Ultimate Packing Guide for Moving Abroad (+ Checklist)

Last Updated: October 21, 2021 · Digital Nomad, Living Abroad

Having lived in going on nine countries now, I can easily say I’ve had to pack for moving abroad more times than I can truly keep up with! Over the years of my travels to other lands, I’ve had to narrow down what exactly I need to take with me for each move. My first course of action whenever it’s time for me to move to another country is to write down an extensive moving abroad packing checklist!

Now that I’ve got several huge moves under my belt — from the US to Nepal, Europe, Colombia, Mexico, Canada, Guatemala — I can honestly say I am becoming an expert on what to pack when moving abroad and what to leave at home (wherever that may be for me at the time).

In this post, I’m going to simplify your life by giving you my ultimate packing list for moving abroad! And since what you take with you when moving abroad may vary depending on where you go, I will categorize down below both the packing basics and the country specifics you might need for the most popular destinations.

Here we go!

  • packing checklist moving abroad
  • Ultimate Packing List for Moving Abroad #movingabroad #packinglist #packing #travel www.bucketlistbri.com Bucketlist Bri

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

Table of Contents show
Bri’s Ultimate Packing List for Moving Abroad
Essentials
Clothing + Shoes
Electronics
Travel Gear
Toiletries / Makeup / First Aid
What to Pack When Moving Abroad? The “Misc.” Section
Country-Specific Packing Checklist for Moving Abroad
Packing Essentials for Moving to Europe / UK
Packing Essentials for Southeast Asia
What to Pack for Nepal and India
Packing Essentials for Moving to South America
What to Pack When Moving to Mexico
My Ultimate Packing Tips When Moving to Another Country
Packing Tip 1: Lay it out and half it
Packing Tip 2: Backpack it – Don’t suitcase it
Packing Tip 3: Roll and stuff
Packing Tip 4: Pack smart country-wise
Packing Tip 5: Keep important stuff extra handy (but hidden)
Packing Tip 6: “Don’t trust yourself” – Check twice!
Hope You Enjoy This Packing List for Moving Abroad!
Pin this moving abroad packing checklist!

Bri’s Ultimate Packing List for Moving Abroad

No matter where you go or when there are a handful of must-have items mostly everybody packs for travel. Whether it’s for short trips or year-long study abroad moves, here are (in my view) the packing basics.

Also Read: How We Became Full-Time Slowmads (& How You Can Too)

Essentials

Paul and I always say to each other whenever we move somewhere new, “Do you have your passport, visa, wallet, laptop, phone, keys?”

[su_list icon=”icon: square-o”]

  • Passport
  • Visa or required travel documents
  • Wallet (cash, credit cards)
  • Laptop + Phone (optional for some)
  • Keys
  • ..and backpack!

[/su_list]


Clothing + Shoes

All clothing packing lists will be different. I am a minimalist packer, so expect this list to cover the basics. The quantity (how much of each you take) depends on your needs.

Below I put “the average” for plans to pack for moving abroad for a year.

[su_list icon=”icon: square-o”]

  • Underwear & socks x 5-10
  • Bras x 3 (sports + regular)
  • Jeans or pants x 3
  • Leggings x 2
  • Basic tees x 3-5
  • Dresses x 2
  • Rompers/jumpsuits x 2
  • Long skirt x 1
  • Sleeping shirt/shorts (pj’s) x 2
  • Denim jacket x 1
  • Swimsuits x 2-3 (or 5 just cause)
  • Long-sleeves / Sweaters (seasonal/country-specific) x 2
  • Coat (seasonal/country-specific) x 1
  • Outdoor boots x 1
  • Allbirds shoes x 1
  • Walking sandals x 1
  • Bonus: Journal, jewelry, hats, scarves, kimonos (I’ll always take my journal!)

[/su_list]

What do you think about my clothing list? Too little or too much?

Ultimate Packing List for Moving Abroad #movingabroad #packinglist #packing #travel www.bucketlistbri.com Bucketlist Bri
Me at the end of my 14-month study abroad. I had reduced my stuff to fit in this bag for a 1-month backpacking trip around Europe | Bucketlist Bri

When I first moved abroad to France I took an enormous black suitcase, plus a large carry-on, and a personal tote. I left 3 weeks later not even touching half of what I brought! Later, after my second trip to France during which I stayed over a year, I greatly reduced what I believed I needed! After I backpacked Europe for one month with a small backpack, I realized I didn’t need half as much as I once thought I did.

That being said… Do not be tempted to take everything you have!

Read more tips below on how to cut out this bad habit of packing your entire closet when you travel (yes, even for moving abroad occasions, too).

Electronics

Electronics are huge these days. From working online to watching videos and keeping in touch with family or listening to music, every traveler will carry at least one electronic, if not like 10.

[su_list icon=”icon: square-o”]

  • Laptop / Tablet / Phone
  • Camera
  • Universal Travel Adapter
  • Chargers (check twice!)
  • Kindle or books
  • Headphones
  • Rechargeable battery
  • Bonus: Nintendo Switch Lite (if you like to geek out and play video games on the plane like me!)

[/su_list]

I just recently bought a Kindle in August and I must say this gadget is a travel game-changer for me! I am so happy with my purchase and have downloaded and read: Becoming, Trevor Noah’s Born A Crime, and I just finished Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom.

I never thought I’d add a Kindle to my list of must-have travel gear items. But now I’m so happy to have one! I’ve increased my reading time like crazy. | Bucketlist Bri

Travel Gear

There might be some overlap here – but I wanted to make a special column for travel gear because lots of times these items are used for the in-transit period.

[su_list icon=”icon: square-o”]

  • Airplane travel pillow
  • Entertainment (books, Kindle, laptop with downloaded movies, journal, headphones for music)
  • Eyemask
  • Extra pair of socks for the plane
  • Moisturizer/wipes
  • Spare chargers, USBs, and travel adapters
  • Reusable water bottle
  • and of course, SNACKS!

[/su_list]


Toiletries / Makeup / First Aid

I combine makeup and first aid inside my toiletries bag because I do not wear makeup anymore, and I only ever carry basic first-aid such as Ibuprofen, cold sore treatment, or some natural oils.

[su_list icon=”icon: square-o”]

  • Teeth gear; toothbrush + toothpaste
  • Eye gear; glasses + contacts + drops
  • Skin gear; any makeup or lotions (I use natural ones)
  • Tools: tweezers + nail clippers
  • Natural deodorant
  • Period kit: eco-friendly menstrual cup, daily liners, backup tampons
  • Razor
  • Medication/antibiotics (if needed)

[/su_list]

When I move abroad, I normally don’t pack items I can find anywhere in the world, such as shampoo or body wash. Unless I have a very picky brand (like my deodorant), I will only pack the essentials with me wherever I go.

As you’ll see in a bit, doing this extremely helps simplify the task of packing itself along with saving space for more important items.

Nepal 2015. I always took my Camelbak everywhere I went and always wore these sandals. I had just bought these and they lasted over 4.5 years. I walked all over Southeast Asia, Europe, Colombia, and Mexico with them! | Bucketlist Bri

What to Pack When Moving Abroad? The “Misc.” Section

The miscellaneous section of packing is usually my favorite. Why?

This is where I pack stuff like family photos, personal keepsakes I can’t leave behind, my journal, my Nepali flags to decorate my new home, and so on and so forth.

When you move abroad, it’s not like you can whisk back home to take these precious items.

As I said, you can pick up a new razor or even a new jacket in whichever country you move to.

But having your favorite gift, or diary, or photo with you when you build up the courage to move to another country (it’s a big deal!) can give you strength when you’re feeling down. It serves as a gentle reminder of what you love.

I personally always take an old picture of my grandma and grandpa. Signed and dated from 2003, I’ll always wrap it up in a plushy piece of clothing to ensure the casing doesn’t get squished in my backpack.

[su_list icon=”icon: square-o”]

  • Journal/diary
  • Photos of family and friends
  • Something decorative (for me it’s my Nepali flags)
  • Jewelry (I always bring my rings)
  • Travel accessories/gear

Country-Specific Packing Checklist for Moving Abroad

Let’s briefly go over some of the country-specific items you might need when moving to a new country.

I’m going to list all of the ideas I can think of in relation to my own experiences, feel free to comment at the end of this article with other ideas!! I’ll add them to the list.

Packing Essentials for Moving to Europe / UK

The UK and Europe have similarities but they differ lots in style, weather, and land diversity.

Ultimate Packing List for Moving Abroad
September 2016. We had just moved to Groningen, The Netherlands for my master’s program. | Bucketlist Bri

Europe / UK uses different plugs

If you’re moving to Europe or the UK, be sure to pack a travel adapter.

Europe uses two-pronged outlets, whereas Great Britain uses three. In this case, you can either buy specific European or UK travel adapters. But I find it easier just to buy a universal adapter.

Europeans and Brits tend to dress nicer

As for clothes, Europeans dress more business-casual even in the streets. You’ll never see someone going to the grocery store in their pajama’s like you see in the States. That shit just does not happen (or at least, very rarely).

Dressing up and looking nice is generally expected, but hey, I could be wrong. When I used to take the metro to university in France at 7 am in the morning, I would be bare-faced and dressed in large sweaters while the rest of the girls wore red lipstick and heels.

Pack a sense of humor

Europeans and the British just have a different sense of humor. I have a proud British mum and she never fails to remind me of that. I also found it interesting while living in France that the French were less approachable than what I was used to. Conversations were more fast-paced and distant.

Moving and living in Europe for the first time is exciting, but you’ll observe fairly quickly the different ways people interact, how to carry yourself, behave, and so on.

Packing Essentials for Southeast Asia

Asia is so diverse, so where to start?

I have traveled throughout Southeast Asia for a month in Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam and can say that although these countries are extremely diverse (on their own and from each other), I didn’t necessarily need anything that I didn’t already have.

Again, travel adapters might be your biggest issue. As you can see here, plugs around the world vary. Sometimes they’re different even within the country!

Courtesy of Southeast Asia Backpacker

Clothing / Modesty

Pack light clothes. Asia is hot and humid and you’ll want those fresh linens and cotton fabrics!

I wore long shorts in each of the above countries and felt just fine. Thailand is way more used to tourists and you will see everyone wearing every type of clothing here.

Cambodia is a much poorer country, and so beware of showing more skin as you stroll around the streets. I often get looked at anyway because I’m blonde and white, but it helps to not be showing off too much leg.

What to Pack for Nepal and India

Packing for Nepal and India can be challenging. At times the country is scorching hot, at times it is cold. Depending on where you travel you will need to adjust what you pack!

If you are traveling in Kathmandu, Nepal (where we lived for a year), know that in the downtown area you can wear more modern-day clothing. In fact, most Nepali teens are wearing “Western” style clothing.

I do encourage you to buy a Kurthi or shawl and wear that around either for fun or to integrate more into the culture. Locals might also give you better bargaining prices if they think you live there too!

Depending on the season – Pack for warm temperatures during the day and cooler temperatures in the morning and at night for travel within Nepal and India.

Packing Essentials for Moving to South America

I moved to Bogota, Colombia for three months in 2017 and I was extremely surprised at the temperature.

Ultimate Packing List for Moving Abroad
La Guajira Desert, Colombia 2017. The only dress I truly ever wore during my travels along the Colombian Caribbean coast. It was long and airy, and I could cover up with a denim jacket when needed.

I lived high up in the capital of Bogota and found it way cooler than I expected (even during summer months!). However, you’ll want to pack light linens when traveling to sultry cities on the coast like Cartagena.

South American style is a lot different from Asia or Europe. Locals in Colombia dressed more comfortably and casually with businessmen and women dressing like in the US or Europe. I never felt like I stood out based on my clothing, compared to when I traveled in South Asia.

If moving to South America, pack for fall-winter temperatures but bring a couple of tees and shorts for hotter days.

Of course, the clothes you bring depend on where you move to. You shouldn’t have a problem exposing more skin in these countries, especially in bigger cities. Just be careful when touring the smaller towns in Latin America. Also, the plugs in South America are like plugs in Europe.

Ultimate Packing List for Moving Abroad
To beat the heat, I usually wore long dresses or skirts with a basic cotton tee. And of course, my trusty sandals.

What to Pack When Moving to Mexico

I brought so many dresses when I moved to Mexico and I only ended up wearing the same short romper practically every day. Depending on where you move to in Mexico you’ll need to adjust your wardrobe.

Mexico City is very hot and humid in the summer but becomes frigid and very cold in winter.

The coast of Nayarit (where we lived) stays warm practically year-round with insanely humid and hot temps during the rainy seasons (summer months).

As for Cancun and the Yucatan Peninsula, you can bring all the summer clothes including lots of bathing suits, dresses, and linen cover-ups.

Packing for Mexico in general: Bring a light jacket, lots of swimsuits, and some hiking pants and long-sleeves because of the mosquitoes!

Ultimate Packing List for Moving Abroad
I brought this festive romper dress thing to Mexico thinking I’d wear it all the time. I never ever did and it hung in my closet for a year. I quickly learned I should’ve brought more light and breathable linens. 
Ultimate Packing List for Moving Abroad #mexico #bucketlist www.bucketlistbri.com
A year after living in Mexico. I finally learned what was best to wear every day. And for the town I lived in, a beach cover-up was just the solution.
 

My Ultimate Packing Tips When Moving to Another Country

Take it from me, do not pack everything you own when you move abroad to live in another country.

Instead, take the opportunity to downsize and simplify your life. Trust me, it works wonders!

You are not obligated to take everything with you. Not your closet, your baggage (literally and figuratively), and neither your box full of shoes you never wear anyway.

Packing Tip 1: Lay it out and half it

It took me several times moving countries to truly learn to pack less. It really, really did.

[su_note note_color=”#017261″ text_color=”#ffffff”]So here’s my best advice. You will use half of what you think you will and you actually only need half of what you think you need.[/su_note]

Lay out all your clothes and gadgets. I always do this on a nicely made bed so I can get a good visual of everything I need to stuff in my backpack.

Then… Half it! Half the amount that’s on the bed. Really, try it! You’ll already feel better.

If you’re ready to take it to the next level, then you can half what you already halved. I did that for my move to Mexico and it was liberating. Plus, when I ended up moving from Mexico a year later, I had way less stuff to re-pack thanks to my initial effort to downsize. Boo-yah!

Packing Tip 2: Backpack it – Don’t suitcase it

I also learned after moving to Europe for the second time to stop carrying a suitcase with me for both my check-in bag AND my carry-on bag.

Now, I never-ever check-in bags at all! I only ever travel with what I can fit in my backpack which is about the same size as this one here.

Packing Tip 3: Roll and stuff

Did you know rolling your clothes saves so much space when packing? Yep! This is a well-known packing tip but I thought I’d reiterate it here.

I’m an avid roller when it comes to packing, so much that I’ll scold Paul if I see him folding! Haha.

Also – stuff socks and other little things in empty spaces such as on the inside of shoes. I’m usually able to fit all my socks and bras in these spaces and it saves lots of room!

Ultimate Packing List for Moving Abroad
Rolling your clothes, stuffing into shoes, filling up hats, etc., will save you tons of space when packing! 

Packing Tip 4: Pack smart country-wise

Whichever country you are heading to will largely determine what goes in your final luggage.

I always do a little bit of research before packing to move to a new country.

If you are moving somewhere warm: Pack ultra-light. Take two or three t-shirts, several dresses (long and short), your best pair of shorts and shoes, and a long skirt.

Remember to pack and dress modestly and appropriately should you travel to countries where exposing more skin is seen as disrespectful or even unlawful.

If you are moving somewhere cold: Don’t underestimate the cold when it comes to choosing between the cute sweater or the warm sweater. Always choose warmer! Pack several leggings, long socks, warm scarves and hats, and a decent coat or jacket.

Packing Tip 5: Keep important stuff extra handy (but hidden)

It’s a common mistake for travelers to pack the essential stuff in too-exposed places or in too-difficult to reach places.

Have you ever arrived at the counter for check-in and felt stupid because you had to dig out half your stuff just to reach your wallet?

Well, packing loads and loads of times teaches you to bypass these mistakes (although it still happens to me sometimes) and save on travel time.

Packing Tip 6: “Don’t trust yourself” – Check twice!

Haha by not trusting yourself I mean don’t trust the thought or feeling you might have about “Did I pack that?” Especially when it comes to the essentials – passport, visa, phone, wallet – make sure to double-check and look again to see if you have these items.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve traveled to one country or one hundred, these types of human errors happen to the best of us.

EXTRA TIP: If you travel often, check how many free pages you have left in your passport. If you get too full, some countries will deny your entry because you don’t have a minimum of 2 open pages. This just happened to big Instagrammers and travelers Marie and Jake. Marie didn’t have enough empty pages and so their whole planned trip to India was canceled last minute.

Hope You Enjoy This Packing List for Moving Abroad!

I hope this moving abroad packing list and guide are helpful for your upcoming move to another country!

Please let me know if you have suggestions, questions, or general moving abroad questions! I’ll be happy to chat about my experiences living abroad! 🙂

Pin this moving abroad packing checklist!

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  • Ultimate Packing List for Moving Abroad #movingabroad #packinglist #packing #travel www.bucketlistbri.com Bucketlist Bri
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By: Bri · In: Digital Nomad, Living Abroad

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Comments

  1. Áine says

    July 18, 2023 at 11:55 am

    Just found your website. Moving to New York in 1-2 years time and will definitely be using these tips.

    Reply
    • Bri says

      July 19, 2023 at 5:40 pm

      What an exciting move! Best of luck and thank you for reading 🥰

      Reply
  2. Sylvaline says

    August 31, 2022 at 4:22 am

    Hi Bri! Thanks for this piece. Please I will be relocating to Uk in 2months and would really appreciate if you can email me the complete list of things that I need to fit in the country.

    Reply
    • Bri says

      September 7, 2022 at 2:30 pm

      Hi Sylvaline! That’s very exciting! Are you needing this entire post, or are you looking for UK recommendations specifically? Feel free to shoot me a quick email!

      Reply
  3. yessenia says

    August 4, 2022 at 1:16 pm

    Loved this! I am moving to france for a year in two weeks and have been freaking out about how to pack for both fall/spring and winter wardrobes. Could you email me the pdf list as well.

    Reply
    • Bri says

      August 15, 2022 at 1:27 pm

      Aww, so awesome! I’ll send that over — I hope you have an amazing time!! Bon voyage 🙂

      Reply
  4. Kendra says

    May 24, 2022 at 7:51 am

    Great article but how does someone pack when there is not option to leave things in their homeland? When reading your blog post, it seemed like others who are reading may have the option to leave things at “home” but I am fully relocating to another country, what are times for downsizing and moving my whole life to another country?

    Reply
    • Bri says

      May 30, 2022 at 12:54 pm

      Hi Kendra — thanks for reading and writing! Ahh — good questions! I would suggest either:
      – 1. selling, donating or
      – 2). shipping what you need abroad.
      My friends moved from Hawaii to the mainland and had all their sport/adventure gear and furniture shipped on cargo (took about 2 weeks, so plan ahead). If you want to downsize though, selling/renting out/donating your things will be the best option. Then, you can keep the essentials and buy whatever you need once in your new country! That’s how I would do it. I travel now with only two backpacks and so does my partner. We don’t own anything other than some clothes, books and souvenirs we want to keep for our tiny home one day (all of which we leave at our families’ houses in US/France). If you can’t ship something, but want to keep for later, I’d check out U-haul storage locker options or something similar. I hope that helps a bit — feel free to ping back or email me to chat! x Bri

      Reply
  5. Sara B says

    November 19, 2021 at 6:21 am

    Hello Bri 🌻
    Loved your article 🙇
    Do you happen to have a list including children(baby and toddler).
    Thank you again for your time and help
    ✌💚

    Reply
    • Bri says

      November 22, 2021 at 6:51 am

      Hi Sara! Thank you for your sweet comment ❤️ Sadly, I don’t have a baby/toddler packing checklist! If you’re having a hard time finding one, let me know. I must say I’m not as experienced in that domain, yet 😆

      Reply
  6. Karina says

    July 6, 2021 at 9:49 pm

    Awesome list! Will you send me the pdf also? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      July 7, 2021 at 8:24 am

      Hey Karina! Of course, sending an email your way now! ✨

      Reply
      • BRANDY says

        February 8, 2022 at 10:38 pm

        Oh I would love the PDF version too if you dont mind 🙂
        Your article was so helpful!

        Reply
        • Bri says

          February 11, 2022 at 3:31 am

          Thanks, Brandy! Sending you an email 📧

          Reply
  7. Mandy says

    June 22, 2021 at 11:01 am

    Great article! I would love the pdf as well 🙂 and, if possible, the brand of sandals that you’re wearing in your Nepal photo?? Thanks Bri!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      June 22, 2021 at 11:33 am

      Hi Mandy! Sending you it by email now 🙂 Also, those sandals were the best but sadly I don’t remember the name!! They were just a random brand I found in the Bhatbhatini supermarket in Kathmandu. Those things lasted me 5-6 years. Wish I could find sandals like that again!

      Reply
  8. Connie says

    May 13, 2021 at 1:09 pm

    Is there a way to download or print this list?

    Reply
    • Bri says

      May 13, 2021 at 1:13 pm

      Hi Connie! Let me send you an email with a pdf of this page. Thanks for the reminder too – I’ve been meaning to add a downloadable checklist within the post! x

      Reply
      • Mrittika Munshi says

        June 3, 2021 at 9:40 pm

        Can I have it too please??

        Reply
        • Bri says

          June 7, 2021 at 10:47 am

          Absolutely! Sending an email your way! x

          Reply
  9. Adele says

    November 3, 2020 at 9:39 am

    Great article full of useful information, thanks!

    Reply
  10. Auckland Wide Removals says

    September 7, 2020 at 7:18 am

    This is really great content, I can see how detailed you have gone through and explained about what to pack moving abroad. I love this article, thanks for producing such great content. I love your posts always

    Reply
  11. NYC Moving Company says

    May 31, 2020 at 1:34 pm

    That’s what I call a useful article! Great tips!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      June 1, 2020 at 6:45 am

      Glad to hear it!

      Reply

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I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

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1.  Getting familiar with SEO, better blog writing, structure, site speed, etc. I grew two successful niche blogs before ever turning my focus on my travel blog, so when I finally did start, I already had a good foundational knowledge of what to do + how to improve!
 
2. Believing I could do this and actually saying out loud that I was a blogger / writer. 
I waited a LONG time to give myself permission to take action. I used to say allll the time, “If only I had started sooner” — so much so, that I got sick hearing myself repeat it — so I decided to start. I took my travel blog seriously at the end of 2019, right before you know what… But that didn’t stop me and after travel picked back up, so did my traffic (and quickly!)

PRACTICE 💻

3. I adapted to the changing blog landscape and prioritized valuable long-form content and originality > shortcuts

4. I put my head down, grit my teeth, and focused on my output. 
For a month straight, I’d wake up at 6AM, make tea, and then blog until 12PM. After lunch, I’d write a 3k-word blog post for my freelance client, and then I’d spend the remaining afternoon and evening publishing my blog post from that morning, and starting on the next one. I grew so much during that time (from 12k to 30k+ sessions), & it showed me just how powerful FOCUS was. I was quickly ranking in organic search results so traffic (+ earnings) came in fast. 

5. I grew authoritative content hubs and internal links 🕸️

6. I prioritized my goals: writing, and earning sustainable, passive income from my blog > growing on social media to score brand deals that would take me away from writing 

7. I started another (niche) travel blog to keep learning, experimenting, and putting my skills to the test!

8. I created a mastermind and community of travel bloggers @bootstrapblogging. The community helps SO MUCH in overcoming stagnancy & loneliness (because blogging can be a lone-wolf gig). 

9. I keep my blog ethics close to heart and keep my focus on what impact I want to have. This is crucial because burn out happens so quick with blogging!

IF I CAN, YOU CAN TOO!! 💛

#travelblogging #travelblogger #blogtips
The adventures that your soul craves, that mine cr The adventures that your soul craves, that mine craves, originates from a curious desire to go beyond — to seek, to learn, to travel deeper beyond what is known, what is familiar.

If you dare not to live outside your comfort zone, then you will default to comfort. 

It is not easy to choose different or difficult, but it is always, always worthwhile ⚡✨

#traveldeeper #slowtravel #mindfultravel #liveadventurously #adventureanywhere
How to travel more locally ⬇️ I believe local How to travel more locally ⬇️

I believe local travel / responsible tourism can have a long-lasting, positive, and powerful radiating effect on both the individual and on the communities and destinations they visit — starting with an internal (and eternal) spark, a seedling… one of inspiration, love, and connection 🥹💛

(Add a healthy dose of adventure, and voilà — my favorite travel recipe!)

🎥 footage is all from my 3-night stay with the indigenous Tharu women and families of the Barauli village nearby Chitwan National Park, in the lowlands of Nepal.

Read below if you want to have more local experiences like this ❤️

🏡HOMESTAYS
Not all destinations offer homestays, but many around the world do! I found this homestay in Nepal through @communityhomestaynetwork 

*If I don’t lodge with a homestay, I’ll seek out eco boutique hotels, guesthouses, or local Airbnbs

🔍RESEARCH / DEEP TRAVEL
Do research about local activities and organizations in advance and make the effort to include these off-beat or underrated places/things to do in your itinerary. 
Search Google for the destination + words like ecotourism, responsible travel, local, community tourism, women-owned businesses, etc, to see what surfaces. I’ll also check Instagram and tourism board websites + social accounts.

🌿BOOK TOURS RESPONSIBLY
Really take a moment to vet the tours you find online before you book!
> How do they operate? Are they local, employing locals, benefiting local communities? Do they operate transparently? Can you find more info about their mission, sustainability actions, certifications, etc? 

💰WHERE DOES YOUR MONEY GO?
Local bus vs private taxi,
Local food vs international restaurants
Local shops vs commercial stores
… Being mindful of how your money supports your host community/destination is meaningful and can totally transform your travel experience(s) 🙏

Choosing the local route opens up so many new opportunities for discovery and connection!! 

✨Share this to your story if it resonates + follow for more adventures abroad + local travel tips! ✨

#localtravel #chitwan #adventuretravel #mindfultravel #nepaltravel #responsibletourism #barauli #homestay
Mexico with mummy pt. 1 🌵 Last November, Paul Mexico with mummy pt. 1 🌵 

Last November, Paul and I slow-traveled and lived for 6 months in La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur where we basked in the sunshine, dove with sea lions, and ate our weight in fish tacos 🌮 

(Peep my La Paz blog guides for all the juicy deets)🧃👀 

Some of you may remember La Paz is also where I started my Invisalign treatment earlier this year (update: my bottom teethies are nearly straight!!) so here we are six months later to pick up my second load of trays, but this time I brought mom along for the ride to show her around some of my favorite places😃 

Highlights from La Paz (except for the first)👇

💀 Face painting for Día de Muertos in Oaxaca
🌊 Playa Tecolote, one of the best beaches next to Balandra Bay
💡 When in La Paz
🍕 The BEST Naples pizza + burrata salad @ La Casa Madre 
🦋 New baby tats thanks to @tattooinknm
🌞 Sunset and sunken ships from the hurricane
💻 Snuck in a bit of blogging 
🍻 Beach beers!
♟️ My favorite little park in La Paz with a giant chessboard (Parque Piedras y Pájaros)
✈️ We got a plane to catch! La Paz > Oaxaca 

Being back in La Paz made me super nostalgic 🥲 
Revisiting a place after spending an extended amount of time there is always a strange feeling; you feel at home yet you're still a visitor, a tourist, with much to discover. You see people from the community you started to build, but before you know it you are packing your bag and saying goodbye again. I even had to go pick up some clothes we left in our last apartment 🙈

As bittersweet as it is, I'm so grateful for the "slomad" life. And also very grateful to be able to share some of the places close to my heart with my mom 🇬🇧 

I'm not sure exactly when I'll be in La Paz again (if not for my teeth, lol, which is not a bad place to "have to go back to" for that, right?) but I know that this wasn't my last visit 🥲 

#lapazmexico #bajacaliforniasur #mexico #mommydaughtertrip #golapaz #lapazbcs
Alone but not lonely is my new mantra 💛 I am s Alone but not lonely is my new mantra 💛

I am so proud of and grateful for the version of myself that solo travel has made me to step into... 🤗

10 years ago, even if I had already been living abroad, the thought of eating ALONE in a restaurant or taking myself out alone (not to mention traveling through different countries alone) just baffled me — literally, I didn’t understand what the attraction was to do such things alone! 
But now... OH MY GOODNESS 😱 total transformation. Now I’ve solo traveled abroad in Portugal, Japan, and Nepal and all three were like stepping stones to the next solo adventure 🥾 🧘‍♀️ 🏔️ 🥰 🏯

Please everyone go solo travel, if you can, and if you feel pulled to!! 

It’s such a powerful way to get to know yourself, step outside your comfort zone, and make connections! 

As much as I enjoy traveling with my partner, I just simply wouldn’t have had the same encounters or made the connections that I did on this trip and to think what I would have missed out on 🥲 ❤️

Because traveling alone literally forces you to *go out there* and in doing so, you realize just how capable you were of doing it all along! 🙏

#solotravel #solofemaletraveler #nepal #soloadventure #nepalnow #nepaltravel #nepaltourism
When you stay open and curious, pretty magical thi When you stay open and curious, pretty magical things can unfold 🥹 ✨ 

I’ve been harboring this story unsure as to HOW TO EVEN BEGIN to tell it, but the how is less important than the why. 

And this experience reminded me of my why ☺️ 

I live for this kind of magic in life, or rather, it’s this kind of magic that lights me up and makes me feel most alive — the adrenaline of an adventure and how a story unfolds right in front of me like a movie, one in which I’m not only the producer, director, graphic artist, etc but the screenwriter too. And perhaps most interestingly, the viewer as well. 

I’ve said this before, and recently too, but whenever I travel, I often let “the story” lead the way. And there’s always a story. Whether you think of it as scripting your own play, directing your own film, or authoring your own book, we get to be both the creators and the audience. And I think that’s pretty neat. 

For a long, long time, I’ve often kept those kinds of travel moments locked away in my journal — for my personal reflections only, unsure that they’d mean anything to anyone else. But what I’ve come home to lately, is that these stories are mine to tell and if they matter to me, then, well, that’s all that matters.

So here’s to sharing stories that matter, for the intrinsic value of the story itself, and for the meaningful seeds of inspiration and magic that take root in our hearts 🥰 ✌️ 

#solotravel #trekking #nepal #langtang #travelstories #travelblogger #travelstories #mindfultravel
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