Full-Time Travel Destinations: How We Choose Where to Go Next

By Joel Hartz

13 Practical Factors We Use to Pick Full‑Time Travel Destinations

Over the last five years we’ve learned a lot about picking great full-time travel destinations, and in this post I’ll walk you through the exact factors that guide our decisions. If you’re planning your own adventure — whether part-time or full-time — these are the practical things we actually think about before booking the next trip.

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Table of Contents

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Why a simple checklist matters

Picking full-time travel destinations can feel overwhelming because so many variables matter. Instead of chasing the “most instagrammable” spot, we choose based on a handful of repeatable criteria that balance cost, comfort, work needs, and lifestyle. Writing your priorities down makes planning easier and helps you avoid surprises.

two people sitting on a couch smiling
Joel and Michelle, the Wandering Hartz

Main factors we use when choosing a destination

1. Budget (the big one)

Budget shapes everything: cost of living, accommodation quality, food prices, local transport, and even how far you’re willing to travel. We always ask: does this destination fit our monthly number? That includes one-off costs like long flights, overnight stopovers, and the “cost of time” — how many travel hours are we sacrificing to get there?

“Budget is probably the biggest one for us.”

2. Weather and seasonality

We follow the sun. I am sensitive to low light and we dislike endless rainy days, so weather plays a big role. Consider not only temperature but humidity, rainy season timing, and how the season will affect outdoor activities and your comfort when slow traveling for months at a time.

3. Local transportation & walkability

How easy is it to get around? Good rideshare options, reliable public transit, or walkable neighborhoods make life simple and cheap. We prefer places where exploring by foot is pleasant — it makes daily life and work breaks better.

4. City size and stimulation

Do we want a small, chill town or a medium city with nightlife and variety? Our choice depends on what we just left: after a quiet month we might want something more stimulating, and vice versa. Medium-sized “second cities” often offer the best balance.

5. Noise levels and sleep quality

Both of us are sensitive to noise, and constant construction, loud bars, or party boats can ruin a stay. If you need quiet for work or rest, prioritize neighborhoods and accommodations known for lower noise.

6. Grocery access & food availability

We cook a lot, so grocery variety matters. If you follow a special diet or simply need staples (like Greek yogurt or granola for me), make sure local shops carry those items. A modern supermarket vs. limited local market can change how long we stay somewhere.

7. Outdoor activities and scenery

Do you need mountains, the beach, or both? Lately we’ve prioritized being near water — it influences our daily happiness and available weekend activities like snorkeling, hiking, or boat trips.

8. Culture, festivals & local vibe

Local culture shapes a stay. Historic neighborhoods, festivals, concerts, and a friendly nomad scene can turn a good destination into a repeatable favorite. We often return to places where we’ve met friends and feel rooted in the local rhythm.

9. Reliable internet

Solid internet is non-negotiable for us. We upload large video files, use multiple apps for work and travel, and need streaming for downtime. If internet is unreliable, it becomes a major friction point.

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10. Food & dining scene

Great local food is a huge perk — it was a major reason we came to Southeast Asia. If the cuisine is varied and affordable, we’ll happily stay longer. If variety is limited, we may shorten our stay.

11. Community & friends

Traveling full-time is social as well as adventurous. Being near a nomad hub or friends makes it easier to get a break from each other, meet new people, and form a travel community. That matters a lot when you’re not only with each other 24/7 but also work together.

12. Convenience & everyday life

Simple conveniences — local banking, ATMs, clothing shopping, and language accessibility — reduce friction. We often return to “pocket places” where we already know the lay of the land for an easy reset between new destinations.

13. Bonus factor: Wine

Yes, wine made the list. We love local wines and wine tours, and having good wine available influences choices more than we expected. Portugal and Bulgaria are examples of places we love for the wine scene. In some regions, finding a decent bottle is harder, which we factor into stays.

two people sitting on a couch talking to the camera
Joel and Michelle, the Wandering Hartz

How we use these factors in practice

We rank destinations loosely by these priorities before booking. If a place checks most of our top boxes — budget, internet, walkability, and weather — it moves to “consider.” If it’s missing a major box (like terrible internet for long-term work), we skip it or plan a short trial stay.

Key takeaways

  • Write down your personal priorities before choosing a destination.
  • Budget and internet often determine how long you can comfortably stay.
  • Think beyond photos: noise, groceries, and local community matter daily.
  • Rotate between new places and familiar “pocket places” to manage travel fatigue.
  • Don’t forget the fun extras — culture, festivals, and yes, wine — they make a place memorable.

FAQ — Common questions about picking full-time travel destinations

How long should I plan to stay in a destination?

We often aim for 1–3 months of slow travel depending on visas, the cost of living, and how much variety the place offers. If food type or internet is limited, a shorter stay (like a month) can make sense.

What if the internet is patchy but everything else is great?

For creators and remote workers, internet reliability is crucial. Consider coworking spaces, local SIM alternatives, or moving to a nearby city with better connectivity.

How do you find community as a nomad?

Join local meetups, digital nomad Facebook groups, coworking spaces, or return to known nomad hubs where friends gather. Traveling with a small travel tribe can also help bridge gaps in community.

Should food variety affect how long I stay?

Yes. If you love the local cuisine, you’ll likely stay longer. If variety is limited and you’ll crave home foods, plan shorter stays or choose places with better grocery options.

Final thoughts

Choosing full-time travel destinations gets much easier when you turn a wishlist into clear, practical criteria. Create a personal checklist, be honest about what you need to work and live comfortably, and leave room for pleasant surprises—several of our favorite places weren’t on the original list. Happy wandering, and keep your core priorities in mind: budget, weather, reliable internet, and the small pleasures that make life abroad feel abundant.

This article was adapted from the video Full-Time Travel Secrets: The Key Factors We Consider When Picking our Next Destination

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