Living in New Zealand Part 4: Hitting the Sack

Behold, the promised follow-up article to my last post on getting around New Zealand, which focused on methods of transportation. This time, the spotlight's on places to stay during your travels. Depending on your budget, there is a wide range of options to choose from; in keeping with the travel-on-the-cheap spirit of this blog, I'll stick to reality and steer clear of the 4-star hotel side of things. The good news is:

Hitting the Sack...

On the road (and on a budget) is easier in New Zealand than just about anywhere. This country is insanely welcoming to foreigners and quite accustomed to the young-and-penniless crowd. As such, you can stay just about anywhere for dirt cheap––or even for free! Read on for a list of affordable accommodation options, roughly in order from most to least expensive. Note: all prices in USD, and per person unless otherwise indicated.

1. Airbnb

If you haven't heard of Airbnb, it's high time you do. Essentially an online listing site for folks looking to rent extra space in their homes, it's chock full of relatively inexpensive places to stay for a night, a week, or longer. 

Upsides: Airbnb hosts are by and large incredibly welcoming and helpful. Many of them will cook for you, show you around the area, and more. You'll get lots of amenities (laundry, wifi, breakfast, TV, etc.) at little to no extra cost. Plus it's just nice to stay in an actual house for a change. 

Downsides: You can find some great deals, but they're usually still pricier than other options. Advance booking is generally required. Also, if you can't handle sharing space with strangers, this isn't for you. Then again, traveling cheaply might not be for you either. 

Price Range: Technically $10 and up, but more realistically $30-60 (no charge for an extra person though, so this is a great option if you're traveling with a buddy).  

Our Airbnb host helped us find...

...the one and only Weta Workshop!

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2. Backpackers

Known as hostels to the rest of the world, Kiwi "backpackers" are affectionately named after their most popular customers. You're probably already familiar with this concept (and if not, I wrote a whole post about them a while back), so I'll skip the details and jump right to the cost.

Price Range: $20-25 for a shared room; $40-50 for private.

3. Holiday Parks

If you haven't heard of Holiday Parks, it's ok, because they're not a thing in America (or pretty much anywhere else other than down under). But they should be, because they're awesome. Basically, they're privately-run campgrounds, with cabins, bunkrooms, tent sites, RV sites, and the like. The facilities vary park by park, but you can generally count on bathrooms, showers, laundry, and a kitchen. Rankers has put together a fantastic database of Holiday Parks and DOC campsites (see below) here. 

Upsides: It's not hard to find great Holiday Parks in beautiful locations, including those too rural for hostels. You usually won't need a tent, since most have hostel-like accommodation in addition to camping. Many offer activities and equipment rentals at reasonable costs. 

Downsides: Quality varies widely from park to park, so it's important to do your research... reviews are your friend. And even the best Holiday Parks are not resorts, so don't expect luxury, because you won't get it. 

Price Range: Around $10-$15/person for a tent site, and progressively more expensive from there.

We found a nice quiet spot for our tent at the beautiful Smiths Farm Holiday Park outside of Picton.

4. DOC Campgrounds/Huts

New Zealand's DOC (Department of Conservation) runs all of the National and Regional Park land, and it takes its job very seriously. Campgrounds are abundant and kept in good condition, plus they cost next to nothing. The interior of many parks also contain "huts" (think backwoods hostel), which are also pretty cheap and often surprisingly nice. Also, see link above to see all sites on a map.

Upsides: If you're into the outdoors, these campsites are set in some of the most spectacular places in the country. They're also generally quiet and secluded.

Downsides: You need a tent, unless you're staying in a hut. Depending on the location and the time of year, they can fill up pretty quickly. Some require advance booking, some suggest it, and others don't pre-book at all, which is kind of annoying. 

Price Range: Free - $12 per night, depending on facilities and location. 

5. CouchSurfing 

CoachSurfing International Inc. is basically the free version of Airbnb, except you (typically) get a couch instead of a bed. It's a membership-only online community of travelers who basically host each other in their homes free of charge, out of the goodness of their hearts. So basically CouchSurfing and Kiwi Land are a match made in heaven. 

Upsides: Other than the free part, this is a great way to meet locals and have an "authentic" cultural experience. Hosts are usually very open and generous people... a friend of mine even got a free plane ride from her CouchSurfing host! 

Downsides: Again, like with Airbnb, if you need personal space, this isn't for you. It's also not ideal for spouses (the whole sleeping on a couch thing). While CouchSurfing takes safety seriously and requires hosts to provide extensive references, there's still a slight risk you'll end up staying with a creep.

Price Range: Free (except cost of food in some cases).  

6. Freedom Camping

Freedom camping is another ubiquitous Kiwi thing that's not exactly encouraged in the States. Back before The Lord of the Rings broadcast the glories of New Zealand to the world, when travelers were more scarce, you could just set up a tent anywhere not marked private property. Alas, times have changed, and as the rules stand now, you can spend the night on any Conservation land that isn't designated otherwise, with a few catches (see below). Since designated areas are in constant flux, your best bet is to find an information centre and ask where you can camp in the area. If you're the outgoing type, you can also knock on doors to ask if you can pitch a tent on someone's private land. 

Upsides: No cost, often very private, and obviously no bookings necessary.

Downsides: No facilities are provided. Due to increasing numbers of freedom campers, more and more areas are being restricted to self-contained vehicles only, meaning you need an RV with its own toilet. Illegal freedom camping is punishable with a hefty fine.

Cost: Free.

Backroads like this one (minus the fences!) are your best bet for successful freedom camping.

Living in New Zealand Part 3: Getting Around

So jobs are great, and money is, well, a necessity. But no one comes to New Zealand just to work. I'm not trying to brag, but this is Middle Earth for crying out loud. We're talking 100,000 square miles of mountains, forests, plains, and rolling hills (30,000 of which are government-protected)... and only 4.5 million people. We're talking 10,000 miles of coastland, 18 peaks over 10,000 feet, a dozen active volcanoes, the most beautiful fjords outside of Norway, and lots and lots of sheep. It's home to some of the best skiing, bungee jumping, rafting, sky diving, surfing, and pretty much every other adrenaline-pumping activity you've ever heard of (and a bunch you haven't). Not to mention the great wine, great beer, and great chocolate. My point is, you don't want to come here and be stuck in one spot and never get to see the place. Luckily for you:

Getting Around...

Is no problem if you know what you're doing. This is a pretty small country, so you really can see a lot in a comparatively short period of time. Like anywhere, you have options, and which ones you choose will depend largely on your budget and length of stay. I've already touched on getting to New Zealand here, so this post will focus exclusively on intra-New Zealand transportation (post on travel lodging to follow soon). 

By Car

The first decision you need to make when it comes to getting around New Zealand is whether or not you want to buy a vehicle. This may sound like a big and potentially risky investment, but consider all the advantages before you write it off:

• First, a car of your own gives you more freedom than any other form of transportation, hands down. And in a country like New Zealand, where many desirable destinations are pretty remote, that's a big plus. This is not the place to fly into a city and just stay there.
• Second, people are buying and selling used cars all the time down here, so you'll 1) have options when you buy, and 2) have buyers when you want to sell. In fact, if you find a good deal, you can even make money on the flip, which means in the end you're only paying for gas. 
• Third, if you buy a big SUV or a van, you can sleep in it while traveling and thus nix the cost of lodging all together. This is locally known as "Freedom Camping," and it's extremely common in New Zealand. Not for the faint of heart. 

My husband next to our "brand new" 1996 Honda CRV (whose name is Shadowfax). 

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So, should you buy a car? If you'll be in the country longer than a month or so, I'd suggest yes, particularly if you're traveling with a buddy who can split the costs. Compared to the other options, it's cheaper and offers greater flexibility. Plus, you'll get to drive on the wrong side of the road! AND the wrong side of the car! If you decide to go for it, here's the DL:

• To find a vehicle, go to trademe.co.nz, local bidding site and stuff of dreams. Imagine Craig's List and Ebay had a lovechild in New Zealand. That's TradeMe. It's where everybody (even dealers) lists used stuff, including cars. 
• Remember to keep your standards low. You're only gonna own this thing for a matter of months, so who cares if it's a little banged up here and there? Just make sure it has a current Warrant of Fitness (basically an inspection sticker), 'cause you can't drive it without one. 
• After purchasing, be sure to fill out an Acquiring Motor Vehicle form at the Post Office. While there, you can register your vehicle if necessary (piece of cake as long as you have that Warrant of Fitness). More questions? Look here for the answers. 

Note: I do NOT recommend renting a car to anyone planning to stay in the country longer than a few weeks max. Every other option in this list is cheaper, especially if you're under 25. 

By Plane

Somewhat surprisingly, air travel can be one of the least expensive options here in New Zealand. You can commonly find tickets between the 26 different airport cities from $30-60 NZD/$25-$50 USD one-way on grabaseat.co.nz. Yes, it's a great deal, but bear in mind that:

• You can't count on getting a cheap ticket where you want and when you want. So keep your eyes peeled and be willing to plan your trip based on the available destinations. 
• These reduced fares only include a small carry-on, so while they're great for shorter trips, you can't even bring your hiking backpack without paying up for a checked bag. 
• If you fly somewhere, you'll either need to rent a car or figure out other transportation once you get there. Tip: many NZ hostels offer free or cheap airport pickups/drop-offs. 

By Bus

If you decide against buying a car, buses are another intra-New Zealand road travel option. Though they take longer than planes and aren't much cheaper (if at all), they do offer more choices in terms of destinations. In fact, if you are flying somewhere, buses can be a great way to navigate the area once you arrive. Some tips:

• You can buy a pass with one of the major companies (see here and here) that meets your needs and fits your price range, or just go ticket by ticket. 
• Keep an eye out for "specials," as you can save a load of cash; this also applies to various activity, lodging, and meal discounts offered for ticket-holders. 
• Much like hosteling, this can be a great way to meet people, both local and international, many of whom will be young adventurers like yourself. 

By Ferry 

Ok, ok, so ferries aren't really an option for travel in most parts of the country. But they are crucial for one particular trip: the crossing between the North and South Islands. Yes, you can fly, but if you have a vehicle and/or a bunch of luggage, the ferry is your only choice. It's expensive, so if you want to spend time on both islands, plan on making this trip a one-time thing. 

There are only two ferry companies, and the prices/travel times are comparable. Bluebridge is generally considered the nicer of the two, but Interislander has larger ships, meaning it's much slower to sell out. Either way, go ahead and buy your tickets as soon as you can, especially during the busy season (December/January).

The Interislander Ferry making its way up the Tory Channel and back to the North Island.

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By Train

The final option I'll review here (if you want to walk or cycle, good for you) is train travel. It's not cheap, but using the Scenic Rail Pass is supposed to be one of the most beautiful ways to see the country. Unfortunately, the rail system in New Zealand isn't as developed as in, say, Europe, but with various packages you can combine train/bus/ferry travel and get just about anywhere. As with the bus pass, you'll have to option to add discounted lodging and tours at each destination. Note: train travel is limited between May and September (the New Zealand winter). 

P.S. - Check back soon for a post on where to stay during your travels!

Living in New Zealand Part 2: Real Live Jobs

One of the major focuses of this blog has been, and continues to be, affordable travel. If you scroll through the archives, you'll find a 4-part series called Living Abroad (Without Bags of $), and an additional post on financing your time abroad. The goal of the current series on Living in New Zealand is to "get specific" with these general concepts. So, while much the contents are equally applicable in other places (especially Australia, which is very similar to NZ when it comes to visas and job opportunities), keep in mind that not everything will hold true outside of New Zealand.

Real Live Jobs...

Are abundant for Working Holiday visa holders, if you know where to look. The following non-exhaustive list will give a profile of a wide variety of job opportunities, some of which are paid and some of which are not. It's worth mentioning that volunteer positions are often a lot more attractive than they sound, financially speaking. Think of it this way: earning a small wage and spending most (if not all) of it on living expenses isn't much different than working an unpaid job in exchange for food and lodging, especially since lodging can be a real headache. If you find a paid job that also covers lodging, you've really hit the jackpot. Anyway, here goes:

1. Christian Camping

If you have experience working at a camp, or don't but wish you did, you're in luck. New Zealand boasts an extensive camping industry, and given the nature of the work, they're always in need of staff to fill a variety of positions. Unlike in the U.S., most of these camps are open year-round serving school and church groups, so you'll have work for as long as you want it, from a few weeks to a full year (or more if you can extend your visa). To get the gig, go to the Christian Camping New Zealand website, put together a list of camps you're interested in, and send out email inquiries asking about available paid and/or volunteer positions. It's that simple. Even if a camp's website says their staff needs are filled, there's no harm in asking.

Location: Just about anywhere. Find a map of camp locations here.
Duration: Flexible (i.e. you can move around from camp to camp with relative ease).
Job Type: Hosting (activities + cleaning), maintenance, office, kitchen, equestrian.
Compensation: Typically just food and lodging; paid positions exist but are rare.
How to Apply: Informal email inquiries, followed by CVs/references on request.
Tip: You do not have to be a Christian to work for the majority of Christian camps.

Lakes Ranch in Rotorua, one of dozens of Christian camps across New Zealand. 

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2. Fruit Harvesting

New Zealand is known for its agriculture, especially the fast-growing wine industry. As such there is huge demand for "pickers" to harvest and pack fruit and vegetables. Job conditions and accommodation vary widely from place to place, but you can count on finding work throughout the year in a variety of locales. Word on the street is the work can be pretty monotonous, but the pay is good, probably the best you'll find for a short-term job.There are a number of websites with detailed information on this sort of work, but PickNZ is generally accepted as the go-to place for wannabe pickers. 

Location: Farms/orchards/vineyards across the country (see detailed job map here).

Duration: Varies, but most locations have a multi-week minimum commitment. 

Job Type: Harvesting, packing, pruning, inspecting. 

Compensation: Anywhere from $13.75 to $20 NZD/hr (roughly $11-$16 USD/hr). 

How to Apply: Contact a regional representative for assistance.

Tip: Many hostels offer to find work for backpackers staying with them - just search Google!

3. DOC Hut Warden

If you love (and I mean love) the outdoors and don't mind pretty bare-bones accommodation, consider volunteering with the NZ Department of Conservation as a Hut Warden. It's kind of like being a Park Ranger! Sort of. Basically you live in and manage one of the many "huts" (essentially back-country hostels) located along multi-day hiking trails throughout the country. Duties include bookings, giving out weather reports, maintaining the hut and nearby trails, and search and rescue. You'll get to live somewhere gorgeous, meet all kinds of people, do all the hiking you can handle, and even participate in research. This might not be the poshest option on the list (though many of the huts are surprisingly civilized), but it sure is one of the coolest, and if you're considering a career in anything outdoors, it also counts as serious résumé-building. For more info, see individual listings here. 

Location: Regional and National Parks throughout the country (see link above). 

Duration: Varies, but openings increase during the NZ summer months (November-February).
Job Type: Some combination of hospitality, cleaning/maintenance, and outdoor research.
Compensation: Lodging and (usually) basic food.
How to Apply: See individual listings via above link.
Tip: A good command of the English language is generally a requirement.

4. Hobbiton

Yes, Hobbiton is a real place, and yes, you can work there. We took my family to visit, and our tour guide was a 20-something American who really liked Lord of the Rings. 'Nuff said. Obviously this is a more specific option than others on the list (there's only one Hobbiton, after all), so the number of available jobs are fewer. You have to apply at the right time - the U.S. summer is your best bet - and hope there's an opening. But it's a worthy goal for any Tolkien fan/aspirational tour guide.

Location: The Alexander Farm, outside of Matamata in the Waikato region.

Duration: Tours operate year-round, but increase dramatically over the NZ summer.

Job Type: Tour guide, food service (in The Green Dragon!), basic cleaning. 

Compensation: Unsure, probably at/around minimum wage (about $11.50 USD/hr). 

How to Apply: Keep tabs on Jobseeker and Hospotrade, where Hobbiton lists annually. 

Tip: The closer to a full year you're available to work, the more likely you are to get the job.

View of the Mill and The Green Dragon from Party Field in Hobbiton

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5. Ski Fields

The New Zealand winter coincides with summer in the States, so ski field work is particuarly well-suited for college students wanting to travel over summer break. Previous experience is great, but you can also complete an instructor program (or work in a hospitality role). Obviously the job only lasts the winter (June-September/October) so plan accordingly. 

Location: Queenstown, Wanaka, Methven, Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook. 

Duration: Ski season, typically June-September/October.

Job Type: Ski/snowboard instruction, lodge hospitality.

Compensation: Depends on past experience and location. 

How to Apply: For instructor positions, look here and here; for hospitality work, see here and here. 

Tip: If you can take an instructor course in the States before you go, you'll up your salary.

Living in New Zealand Part 1: Before You Go

The world is full of incredible places, and you don't have to come to New Zealand to have an awesome, life-changing, insert-cliché-of-choice overseas experience. But I've written plenty about travel in general over the last three months. Now that Alec and I have had time to get to know the place, I'm going to use the next three to take a deeper look at New Zealand travel specifically. Life in the closest thing Earth has to Middle Earth is pretty great, and if any of you reading this have been following the blog with mild (or extreme) jealousy, I encourage you to consider taking the necessary steps to go on a Kiwi adventure of your own. Over the next few posts, I'm going to attempt to give a comprehensive, roughly chronological overview of everything you need to know to plan and execute a trip to pretty much the coolest country ever.

Of course Hobbiton is a real place. 

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Before You Go...

You will, minimum, need to buy plane tickets and get a visa (and passport if you don't have one). It's also a good idea to form a rough idea of where in the country you want to spend your time, and how. Note that if you want to fly by the seat of your pants, you can just figure all that out once you get here. Either way, I'll take you through the preparation process so you don't have to do all the Google searching Alec and I did before we left.

1. Let's fly, let's fly away. A while back, a Kiwi heard I was from the States and asked me, "Did you fly here?" Winner. Fact is, unless you want to spend tens of thousands of dollars on freight passage, or you happen to have the skills necessary to sail across the Pacific, flying is your only option. You can get direct flights from LA or San Francisco to Auckland or Wellington for $600-$800 one way. Yes, that means the round trip will put you out about $1200-$1400, unless you hit on a deal somewhere (lucky you). To find the best prices, you've got to do the leg work. Some tips:

• Compare as many fares as possible. For flights from CA, look at Air New Zealand and United. 
• If you're departing from elsewhere in the States, try Orbitz and Kayak for combined tickets. 
• Be aware of baggage allowance, because more and more airlines are charging for checked bags. 
• It's typically cheaper to fly in the middle of the week (Monday-Wednesday). 
• Take note of trip duration, because it can vary widely, and trust me, it makes a big difference. 

2. Do you have papers? If you don't have a passport, you should, so get on that. Moving on. US tourists don't need visas to enter New Zealand, but if you want to work in any capacity, you will need what's called the Working Holiday Visa. Read about the details here. Basically, you can apply online for $140 USD, and if you're between 18 and 30 and a US citizen, you'll get the visa. Do this as soon as you have your tickets (not before, since you need to provide travel details on the app). Once you have it, you can stay in the country for up to a year and work anywhere you can get a job.

Ninety Mile Beach, the longest beach in New Zealand and the 4th longest in the world. 

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3. Pick your poison. Both the North and the South Islands of New Zealand are amazing. It's difficult to get from one to the other (you have to fly or take a long, expensive ferry ride), so you'll either need to pick one or switch at some point on your trip (Alec and I are about to head down South for the second half of our time here). The point is, don't expect to hop back and forth a bunch, because the Cook Straight ain't the Long Island Sound if you know what I mean. Here's a basic geographic breakdown to help you decide where to spend your time: 

• The climate is upside down; North = warmer (sub-tropic) and South = colder (temperate). 
• Both have both, but for beaches, think North Island; for mountains, think South Island. 
• The 2 largest cities (Auckland and Wellington) and 7 of the top 10 are on the North Island. 
• Out of over 30,000 square km of National Park land, over 26,000 are on the South Island. 
• Out of the 9 renowned Great Walks, 3 are on the North Island and 6 on the South Island. 

4. Sing for your supper. If you're looking to spend more than a short vacation in New Zealand, and you don't want to spend your life savings (or you don't have life savings), this is a biggie. Once you know where you want to go, you need to decide how you're going to live once you get here. Essentially your options are 1) find a paid job (likely minimum wage or close to it) and figure out living expenses, or 2) find a volunteer position in exchange for food and lodging. I've already written general articles on both (see here and here), but for those who are interesting in coming to New Zealand, my next post will be on a range of Kiwi-specific work opportunities. Check back soon!

Not ALL Travel Makes You An Awesome Person

There's a Huffington Post article floating around called Why Travel Makes You An Awesome Person. For the most part, I think it's great. I have a whole blog based on this concept and it's nice to know I'm not nuts for thinking it's a worthwhile subject to write on. But while I generally agree with its assertions, the article is woefully unspecific when it comes to the kind of travel it's talking about.

The words Vacation and travel are often used interchangeably, but vacations are not the kind of travel being referred to in the article above (or on this blog). They can certainly be part of a longer travel experience that does, but taken by themselves, vacations do not make you an awesome person. Happier? Maybe. Tan? I hope so. Well-rested? For sure. But awesome? I don't think so.

While the article does a bad job of differentiating, one easily-overlooked sentence hits the nail on the head: "Unless you sit at a resort drowning your brain in frozen drinks, travel will teach you about the world." That's a big unless. Sadly, plenty of people out there who consider themselves "well-traveled" have experienced little during their time abroad other than an upscale version of their own culture, transplanted into a prettier location.

The thing is, you don't get more adventurous, smarter, less materialistic, or any number of other "awesome" qualities listed in that article by spending a week or two living the high life in some exotic location, surrounded by other Americans. There's nothing necessarily wrong with going away and doing nothing but "tourist stuff," but just because you went up the Eiffel Tower doesn't mean you learned jack about French culture. Know what I mean?

Now, my goal here is not to rip on vacation. My family and I have enjoyed plenty of wonderful vacations that have provided rest from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and given us the opportunity to make some great memories together. I'm also not trying to say you can't be awesome if you don't travel the way I say you should. You can still be awesome; it just won't be due to travel.

I am saying you need more than vacation to really learn about the world. And lest you think this whole post was just a little too serious, I'm going to use Disney/Pixar to help make my point. Not sure whether trips you've taken have made you awesome or not? Here are a few ways you can know you have actually traveled (and not just vacationed):

1. You had to pinch pennies before, during, and after your trip.

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2. Your standard of living was lower while away than it is at home.

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3.  Forget "getting out of your comfort zone," you were (at times) downright uncomfortable.

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4. You actually got to know some locals (who weren't wait staff).

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5. You cleaned (or didn't clean) your own living space.

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6. Consistent internet access wasn't a thing.

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7. You went to extreme lengths to communicate on multiple occasions.

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8. Being lost – really lost – was a legitimate possibility, if not a reality.

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9. You packed something other than bathing suits and "resort wear."

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10. Once it was over, you needed a vacation. 

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Can’t Afford It? 4 Tips for Financing Your Time Abroad

Money is far and away the biggest excuse young adults, whether single or married, throw around for not traveling as much as they would like to. Why? I haven’t run a study on it or anything, but it seems pretty clear. The thought process goes something like this:

Maybe it’s ok for college students to blow their savings backpacking through Europe, but we’re adults now. We have responsibilities, and extended travel isn’t in the cards right now. Frankly, I/we can’t afford it.

Let me clue you in on a little secret. Spending time abroad can actually make a lot of financial sense. Don’t sell yourselves short because you don’t think you can make it work. You can. Like all good things in life, it just takes effort. So, if you’re looking for some solid advice on how to live abroad “wisely,” read on.

1. Extended trips are cheaper than short vacations.

It surprises me how few people seem to figure this out. Say you want to go to New Zealand (and trust me, you do). Weigh these two options and tell me which one sounds better to you:

1)    You could take a 2-week vacation there, during which you will spend $1600 on plane tickets, another $500+ on lodging (yes, even hostels would cost at least $400), not to mention the $500+ it’ll cost to do all the sightseeing and thrill-seeking, and you will be getting over jetlag the whole time to boot. In all likelihood you won’t get to know any actual Kiwis (the people, not the birds… or the fruit), and you have a 0% chance of seeing a significant portion of the country in a meaningful way.

2)    Or you could spend 3-12 months living and working there, either staying in one location or moving around every so often. You will spend roughly the same amount of money on plane tickets and “tourist stuff,” but if you play your cards right, you can get food and lodging for free (see here) and/or make enough money to break even or better (see here). You’ll make a bunch of friends who are actually from New Zealand, and from a bunch of other countries to boot. And you’ll have the time and know-how to see as much of the country as you want to.

So, let’s do the math. With Option 1, you spend $2500 minimum in two weeks. With Option 2, you spend anywhere from $0 to $2500 in 3-12 months. I know, I know, if you spent those same 3-12 months working a steady job at home, you could probably make a lot more than $2500. But my point here isn’t that extended travel makes you rich… it’s that extended travel doesn’t have to make you poor, and experientially it’s more worth your while than “binge traveling.”

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2. Traveling with a buddy is cheaper than traveling alone.

Plenty of “rogue” types out there will tell you traveling by yourself is where it’s at. And that philosophy definitely has its merits; I’m a big believer in the importance of spending time alone out on the road. I even wrote about it once, and you can read my musings here if you feel like it. But when it comes to extended trips abroad, it’s tough to argue that it makes more sense to go with someone, at least from a financial perspective.

This isn’t rocket surgery. It’s not brain science either. If you travel alone, all the expenses fall on you and no one else. If you travel with another person, you split a lot of these expenses (cars, campsites, etc.). You also have twice as much brainpower to research deals, make reservations, and that kind of thing. And if there were some kind of emergency, as it says in the Good Book, two are better than one.

A tip: whether it’s your childhood best friend, your college roommate, your sibling, or your spouse, choose your travel buddy wisely. You’ll be spending a lot of time together.

3. The secret to saving up is… save up.

You already know all about saving money. Chances are high that you’ve had to find ways to put funds aside to pay for education, a car, the latest hot technological commodity, an engagement ring (guys), or possibly all of the above. Which is why I’m a little skeptical when you say you can’t afford to travel. What you actually mean is, travel isn’t high up enough on your priority list to merit saving for it.

Not everyone is in the position to drop everything and jet off to live in some exotic location (though a lot more people are than want to admit it). But if you’re serious about wanting to live abroad “someday,” start preparing for that someday today. Make room in your budget for travel, and regularly set some of your earnings aside for no other purpose. And again, you do not need bags of money to live abroad. I’ve already written four blog posts on different, legitimately affordable options that don’t require much in the way of savings, so go read them if you haven’t yet.

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4. Don’t let career concerns scare you away.

If you’re worried that “wasting” a year living overseas would hurt your future job prospects, don’t be. In fact, spending a year abroad after college will help your career in the long run. I have a lot of good reasons for saying this, and I’ll list the top three here:

1. Taking a year “off” to travel after college will look great on your résumé. Most good job openings will have a number of qualified applicants, and any Career Services counselor will tell you that you need to find ways to stand out. Work experience overseas is the perfect way to set yourself apart and make potential employers take notice. And they should; no matter what you end up doing abroad, you will develop skills that will serve you in any workplace.

2. What you do abroad doesn’t have to be irrelevant to your future career (though in my personal opinion, if it is, who cares?). If “relevance” is that important to you, look for jobs that tie in to your long-term aspirations… they’re out there. Also, if you plan to get an advanced degree, consider studying in a foreign university. You’d be surprised how inexpensive tuition can be, and in many cases, a diploma from another country will look pretty snazzy back in the U.S.A.

3. Living overseas will automatically expand your professional network. Make no mistake, if you spend some solid time studying or working in a foreign country, you will discover all sorts of job opportunities you would never have known existed otherwise. Both your peers (classmates and/or coworkers) and your superiors (professors and/or bosses) will have a host of internationally-applicable tips and connections that could influence your future career.

So there you have it. If you have any other tips to add, or any questions about the finer details of living abroad, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments box below!

One of Us Wants to Travel...

My last post on Why Marrying Young ≠ Selling Your Soul generated a lot of responses, with a number of readers saying they'd love to live abroad with their soon-to-be spouse but they either 1) can't convince their fiancé/spouse to jump on board, or 2) don't know how to make it happen financially. Now, I have no intention of turning my blog into a relationship advice column, and I promise future posts won't be so couples-specific. But these are fair questions that I happen to be in a good position to answer, so here goes. I'll deal with the first quandary here and tackle the second in a follow-up article. 

One of us wants to travel, the other isn't so sure.

This just might be the number one issue that keeps couples who contemplate living abroad after marriage from actually doing it. And it makes sense, given the whole "opposites attract" axiom. One person wants adventure, the other wants stability, and more often than not stability wins out because hey, it's the easier path.

Long-term travel is scary and hard to plan; staying close to home is less scary and, well, less hard to plan. Just like that, the more logical partner convinces his/her more adventurous other half that maybe extended travel isn't the best idea. I'd like to gently challenge this oh-so-reasonable tendency to follow the path of least resistance (and to you logical halves out there––know that we still love you bunches). 

Please note that I'm not trying to say you can't have a perfectly happy life, whether single or married, spent entirely in your country of origin (or even in your home town). But I do want to suggest there might be more out there for those who are willing to take the plunge. See 5 Reasons You Should Live in Another Country for more on this, but here are 5 reasons young couples should live abroad after they get married:

1) It's all about sacrifice.

In my experience, the number one thing that separates young couples is unwillingness in one or both people to make sacrifices. The result being that either the couple breaks up, or one person does all the sacrificing and ends up being unhappy and/or bitter in the long run. And it's not always the case, but in Christian circles at least it's more often than not the girl who gives up her dreams to follow the boy. I find this problematic not simply because it's "not fair," but far more importantly because God gives dreams to all of his children, sons and daughters alike, for a purpose. Forfeiting them may well result in us serving his Kingdom less faithfully. Logical halves, a year(ish) abroad may seem irresponsible to you, but honestly, why should young couples without children be any more tied down than their single counterparts? If your spouse (or future spouse) feels pulled toward travel, whether in a missions context or simply to experience other cultures and landscapes in this incredible world of ours, I want to encourage you to take this desire seriously. Nothing reassured me I was marrying the right person in the right stage of life more than when, part way through our engagement, Alec let out a deep breath and said "Ok, let's go to New Zealand." 

Alec catching his breath during a pre-dawn scramble to the top of the Pinnacles to watch the sun rise. 

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2) Nothing brings you together like traveling together.

If there's one thing I can say I have learned personally from my experiences living abroad with my husband, it's that there is no better form of bonding out there. Moving to another country is like moving to a new town, times a bazillion. When we arrived in New Zealand, we were literally all each other had to lean on. Together, we had to figure out how to arrange transportation, set up a bank account, buy a car, and interpret the crazy Kiwi slang. By this point we have made plenty of new "mates," but we are still each other's only close friend this side of the Pacific. We aren't just husband and wife. We're fellow travelers, coworkers, confidants, prayer partners... and drinking buddies. All of this has taught us that we can trust each other completely. We are a team, 100% of the time. I know all newlyweds spend a lot of time together, but Alec and I are together about 20 out of every 24 hours, minimum, and we're loving it. We already can't wait to look back on the memories we are making. 

3) Independence is the only option. 

Independence is something a lot of newly married couples struggle with, and it can be especially difficult for Mom and Dad to let go (or to let go of Mom and Dad!) when you're barely grown up as it is. Parents (not to mention siblings, extended family, and close friends) are awesome, and I'm not suggesting you cut yourselves off completely or anything dumb like that, but it's important to establish boundaries as your own familial unit right off the bat. At least that's what our pre-marital counselor said. And what better way to politely yet abruptly establish said boundaries than to ditch the country all together!? Seriously though, we miss our relatives and friends like crazy, but we are also grateful for the independence that naturally flows from living overseas. We are not merely able to make our own decisions (and, yes, learn from our mistakes)... we have no other choice. 

Our trusty Chacos, set in front of Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Penninsula here in New Zealand.

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4) You'll learn to do without.

Another big lesson all married couples learn and that extended travel throws into sharp relief is managing your resources. And I don't just mean money, though money is obviously a big deal. I also mean time, and heck, just stuff. In terms of finances (more in-depth post on this coming soon), it's an added challenge to keep a budget when there are so many awesome opportunities to spend inordinate amounts of money. Thus, we force ourselves to spread out extravagant expenses, figure out the cheapest possible ways to do things, and really consider whether a given attraction is worth it. Sometimes you just have to say no. Time-wise, there's so much to do here, but we also work full time, on a very erratic schedule. So we've learned to pace ourselves, get enough sleep, and use our days off wisely. As far as stuff goes, Alec and I each brought one suitcase and one hiking backpack to New Zealand. Two bags each for 8 months. When you don't have a lot, you learn to make do with what you need (and to be thankful for the extras).  

5) Now is the time.

If you are young and either married or about to be, there is literally no time like the present for extended travel overseas. In this you have a huge advantage over your older counterparts. They have to worry about pre-established careers and pressure to have a family in the near future. You don't. From this perspective, there is actually tremendous freedom in marrying ahead of the curve. Being "tied down" too soon is an oft-cited criticism of early marriage, but who says you need to tie yourselves down? You can pick up those long-term plans of yours after you spend some solid time abroad, growing as individuals and as a couple, learning to see the world from different perspectives, and all that jazz. Sure, you could wait for retirement; plenty of people do. But how many older folks have you heard wishing they had the energy and stamina of their 20-something selves? So, if anything I've written above has spoken to you, if you feel yourself itching to follow this advice, I urge you... leave. Pick a place and go. Don't wait for a better time, because there isn't one.