Sabbatical travel: 10-step plan
Want to take 3-6 months off and travel? Here's the practical step-by-step that gets it done without losing your job, savings or sanity.
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Step 1: discuss with your employer (6 months ahead)
Many companies offer unpaid leave to keep their best people. Frame it as a career break or personal investment, not a vacation. Ask for written confirmation with a clear return date, role guarantee and agreements on availability. Government employees often have a formal sabbatical right after 3-5 years of service.
Step 2: build a sabbatical fund
Aim for €15,000-€25,000 for 6 months (depending on region and comfort level). Stop saving for new things, drop subscriptions you won't use while travelling: gym, streaming services, family music plans. Saving €500-€1,000 per month adds up faster than you think. Renting out your home effectively doubles your saving rate.
Step 3: shape the route
First half slow (one country for 2 months), second half faster (4 countries in 3 months). Start expensive (New Zealand), end cheap (Vietnam) for budget control.
Popular sabbatical routes: Asian circle (Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Luang Prabang - Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City - Bali), Latin America (Medellin - Lima - Cusco - Buenos Aires), or Europe-to-Asia combo (3 months Portugal, 3 months Thailand).
Step 4: rent out your house
Subletting via Airbnb: €600-€1,500/month. Or rent to a friend or family member for stable income. Check your rental contract: some landlords prohibit subletting. Own your home? Inform your mortgage provider.
Step 5: cancel + pause
Phone subscription pause (free for up to 6 months with many providers). Gym membership pause. Insurance: keep healthcare, pause car insurance if your car stays parked (liability-only is about €30/year).
Step 6: travel insurance for long stays
Standard policies cover up to 60 days. Get an Allianz Long-Stay or AIG Globetrotter (approx. €20/month for 6 months). Require: unlimited medical cover and repatriation.
Step 7: visa research
Most Asian countries: 30-60 days visa-free for Dutch passport, extendable in-country or via a border run. Thailand: 30 days free, extendable to 60. Vietnam: 90-day e-visa.
Bali/Indonesia: 30 days Visa on Arrival, extendable to 60. Australia/New Zealand: working holiday visa (under 31) gives 12 months and work rights. Georgia: 365 days visa-free. Check the visa-free travel guide for current status.
Step 8: bank and money
Tell your bank you're travelling or they may block your card. Take a backup card from a different bank. Inform your municipality if you're away 4 or more months. A Wise or Revolut card saves on exchange rates and foreign ATM fees (most international ATMs charge €2-5 per withdrawal). Have at least 2 working payment cards on you.
Step 9: vaccinations
Book vaccinations at least 6 weeks before departure. For SE Asia: Hepatitis A+B, typhoid, tetanus. For Africa or South America: yellow fever (required in some countries), malaria pills. Budget €150-300 total at GGD or a Travel Clinic. Also see your dentist before you go.
Step 10: stay in touch
Get a worldwide eSIM (Airalo, Nomad) for data. Use WhatsApp for friends. Schedule one video call per week with family: keeps you connected without being exhausting. Document the journey with photos or video for your future self.
Sabbatical costs: what does it really cost?
A 6-month sabbatical doesn't have to be as expensive as you might think. The biggest savings come from region choice and renting out your home. Here's a realistic budget for three scenarios:
Regions compared: costs and visa
- Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Bali) Cheapest option, €30-60 per day all-in. Most countries visa-free 30-60 days, extendable. Tropical climate. Popular starting points: Bangkok or Hanoi.
- Latin America (Colombia, Peru, Mexico) Similar costs, great for learning Spanish. Colombia visa-free 90 days, Peru 183 days. More cultural contrast.
- Europe (Portugal, Georgia, Serbia) More expensive but no jetlag. Lisbon and Porto are popular digital nomad hubs. Georgia: 365 days visa-free, extremely low cost of living.
- Australia / New Zealand Expensive (€80-120/day) but working holiday visa (under 31) gives 12 months of work and residency rights.
Updated on 11 October 2026
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How much money do I need for a 3-month sabbatical trip?
Southeast Asia: €3,000-€5,000 total for 3 months (accommodation, food, transport, activities, flights excluded). Latin America: €3,500-€6,000. Western Europe or Australia: €6,000-€9,000. Long-stay monthly rentals (Airbnb, local Facebook groups) cut accommodation costs by 40-60% compared to nightly rates.
How do I negotiate a sabbatical with my employer?
Frame it as professional development or burnout prevention, not just a holiday. Propose a specific return date and a plan for handing over your work. Many Dutch employers offer unpaid leave of 2-6 months under the "sabbatical" arrangement. Government employees (Rijksoverheid) have formal sabbatical rights after 3-5 years of service. Present it in writing 3-6 months before your planned departure.
What are the best destinations for a working sabbatical?
Digital nomad hubs for budget sabbaticals: Chiang Mai (Thailand), Medellín (Colombia), Lisbon (Portugal), Tbilisi (Georgia) and Bali (Indonesia). All have fast internet, large expat communities, co-working spaces and daily costs well below European levels. Tbilisi and Chiang Mai are the cheapest options at €600-€1,000 per month all-in.
What is the best travel insurance for a long-term trip?
For trips over 60 days, standard travel insurance does not cover you. Look for long-stay or backpacker policies from World Nomads, SafetyWing or Globelink. SafetyWing is the most popular budget option for digital nomads: approximately €40 per month worldwide coverage. World Nomads offers better medical coverage at approximately €80-€100 per month.
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