“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” ― Lao Tzu

Traveling the world can be one of the most exciting, and yet terrifying things you will ever do. It’s not only a huge leap for your personal growth, but also a time to reflect on who you are, where you’re going and what you want in the future.

It is also a time where you’ll be away from loved ones for an extended period of time. This can be stressful and uncomfortable for both you and those closest to you. By staying connected and sharing your amazing moments with your mother, father or partner, you’ll be sure to keep up close relationships. Here are three ways you can easily stay connected.

Start a travel blog

Without a doubt, the easiest and most productive way to document your journey is by keeping an online travel diary. It is amazing how many people will be genuinely interested in your journey across the world.

Not only can regular visitors to your blog learn from your experiences, but your family and friends also have a quick and easy way to check out what you’re up to. You could go even further and start a vlog – or video log – but this can be expensive and often involves pricey equipment.

Send back gifts

Nothing shows how much you care about someone more than a gift. While it might not be the cheapest way to connect with people, it shows that you’re thinking about them on your travels. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive either – a small souvenir, a weird candy bar, anything!

With the great accessibility to the internet, no matter where you are, you can send home to your loved ones custom postcards. Choose one of the many pictures you’ve taken on your journey as the main image. From there you can write up your message, download your postcard, and send it to family and friends via email. Cheaper and quicker than a regular postcard, it’s a great way to stay connected while on the go.

Hunt down free wifi zones

First of all, try to keep international calls over your cellular network to a minimum. Keeping in touch with regular calls is expensive and can result in some very costly bills. The last thing you want is to be cut-off, only to find yourself in a situation where you really need to contact someone. Text messaging can be a little cheaper, but again, if you haven’t got a deal with your network provider, keep it to a minimum.

Fortunately, with the advent of wifi calling, paired with the ever growing array of free wifi zones, keeping in touch with family and friends abroad has become so much easier. The best way to contact home then is by searching for hostels which offer free wifi. This is standard in the majority, but it is always better to research beforehand.

Failing that, many cafes will also offer free wifi; Starbucks is everywhere nowadays and will generally offer this, but you don’t want to spend your journey across the world in a café you regularly frequent back home. Stay safe, keep it cheap and phone home via services such as Skype or Facebook.