After you answered the most important question namely “Are we going to do it?” with a resounding “Yes!” the next most important question is how do we select the perfect location for yourself and your child/children. After that question is answered you “only” need to deal with the many details of planning your sabbatical.
Here is what we learned during our sabbatical and since to give you an idea how to start this important and fun process.
Picking a location alternatively seemed like the most fun or the most daunting part of the planning process. In the end, it turned out to be fairly simple after we applied a few basic rules and avoided the pitfall of second guessing our decisions once they were made.
Here is how we went about it:
Step 1: Find the right country
Once all that is settled you can start with the actual travel logistics, such as booking flights and other transportation and work on all the nitty gritty details, such as getting visa, the necessary vaccinations, and address issues such as what to do with your mail at home, how to park your phone, etc.
A really important part of your sabbatical planning process and in our experience crucial for its success is to start early to prepare your child for the changes to come. Find some info on this page about preparing your child for the sabbatical.
As you get closer you will want to start thinking about what to take and just as importantly what not to take on your trip. Advice on you packing list as well as a downloadable list can be found here.
Here are some words of advice about traveling based on our experience in the hopes that they help you avoid some pitfalls.