Putting Down Roots: Getting to Know a Place

Putting down roots is something you might consider if you're going RTW or if you're on long-term travel.

Perhaps you're suffering from travel burnout and need a break, or have a passion for a place. Maybe you have a love interest you'd like to pursue, or you want to study language abroad. Or perhaps managing travel loneliness is an issue. Whatever your reason, settling down is something many of us do at least once on the road.

If you're on the road and decide you need a real travel break, you'll have to make sure your port of call matches your expectations.

What exactly are you looking for?

Here are some points you might consider when shopping for a temporary home away from home:

Accessibility
How near are you to major transport hubs? How easy is it to get in and out? However lovely your new home, you might get tired of it once in a while and you'll need to escape. Countries and cities served by low-cost airlines are worth a look, as are places near major train lines and bus stations.

Connectivity
You'll probably want some kind of internet access or wifi. How often will you need it? Is a weekly visit to an internet café enough or will you be uploading hundreds of photos a day? In addition to access, cost and signal strength and speed should be considerations.

Legality
Is it legal for you to live there a month or two or more? If you're not European, getting a long-term visa in the EU will be difficult unless you're a student or have a job (and even then, it's far from simple). Some countries are stricter than others so check extensively before you go. Thailand, for example, is relatively flexible, allowing you to nip in and out of the country to renew your visa. Indonesia, on the other hand, is quite strict.

Security
Is the country politically stable, or do you run the risk of being sealed in or deported? I was once stuck in Prague while the then Soviet Union decided whether to re-invade Czechoslovakia. The borders were temporarily closed and the most popular building was the post office, where people lined up for blocks to call abroad and let everyone know. It only lasted a day or two but - it might not have.

Safety
Is this a safe country for solo women? How to avoid crime abroad is always a concern, more so if you plan on living somewhere for a number of months. Lets face it - some countries are more woman-friendly than others. While I'd feel perfectly comfortable in Turkey, I'd definitely feel less so in Iran. There's also the issue of unwanted male attention, which is more common in some countries than others.

Familiarity
Putting down roots might be easier somewhere relatively familiar. You may prefer a 'taste' of home - the existence of a Starbucks, for example, of bookshops or a large English-speaking community nearby. Or you may like the novelty of difference - Arabic or Cyrillic script, for example, or a country where English isn't the second, or even the third language. A place like Ethiopia is - at least to me - quite foreign. The only significant expat community is in the capital, Addis Ababa, but elsewhere, you're on your own.

Cost
If you're on a limited budget putting down roots is a financial decision. We may all want to live in Tahiti or London but it's not always possible. You have to take your budget into account, as well as working possibilities. Some countries will allow long-term visas and allow you to work as well. Others will throw you out the moment you're suspected of teaching English abroad without working papers, so choose wisely and match your destination to your budget - and to overseas jobs possibilities.

Liveability
Quality of life is something we can't neglect, especially if we're staying put for some time. Weather, for example - I get nervous at the first sign of freezing so France, where I now live, is about as cold as I can handle. If the idea of tropical rains makes your skin crawl, stay away from the Equator!

Then there are all the other things that make a place liveable - public transport, entertainment, friendliness, cleanliness, health infrastructure and the existence of disease... make sure your chosen home matches your own values and needs.

Putting Down Roots: Choosing a Place

Once you've set your criteria, it's time to start shopping - for a new home, that is!

Over and over, the same places come up. That's because other travelers have tried them before you and can speak from experience. Here are just a few of the eternal favorites:

• Thailand: it continues to top my list for best value for money, and simply ease of living (although the political situation comes and goes)
• non-EU Eastern Europe: costs are climbing but some of these countries remain popular
• Central America: my vote goes to Panama, but several other countries fit the bill
• Argentina: an insanely popular destination with women travelers
• China and India: cheap, diverse and exotic (although becoming less affordable daily)
• Australia and New Zealand, assuming you have the right paperwork

I'm a great believer in putting down roots when I travel. Some of my own homes away from home? Bangkok (more than a year); Algeria (three months - twice); Eritrea (three months); South Africa (two months); Italy (six months); Brazil (four months).

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