travel before work

The great thing is that I convinced one of my work colleagues to come with me, which has two benefits. She has now been introduced to Danielle's work for the first time and we will have a chance to bond over the event! I can't wait!

18. Create a standard packing list

If you are travelling regularly, save yourself the pain of wondering "have I forgotten something?" Every time you travel. I learnt this the hard way, and have about 20 packets of travel sickness pills in my medication box as a result. Because every time I travelled I would forget them and end up buying yet another box at the airport kiosk. (For about twice the price that I can get them at my local pharmacy). Create your list on your computer and print it out every time you go away, or print it once, laminate it and check the items off with a dry-erase marker. I promise you, this is a game changer and will mean that packing your bag to go away becomes super quick and hassle-free!* 

* Since writing this post, I've upgraded my travel checklist! I now have it in Trello. In fact, I have one checklist for travelling for work and another for personal trips.

19. Take a creature comfort from home

Candice popped back in to let me know that she likes to take a creature comfort from home when she travels for work. Especially if she will be away for a while. Candice suggested that your favourite pillow might be a good option, provided that you have room in your suitcase.

I think this is a fantastic idea. In fact, I've actually been packing my essential oil diffuser with me as my creature comfort. I love setting my diffuser up in the hotel room and diffusing oils to help me sleep, or to ground me after a hard day at the office.

20. Pack a set of clothes in your carry on

This tip only really applies if you are travelling a long distance (like, overseas), or have multiple stopovers as there is more chance of your checked luggage being lost or delayed. Got a meeting first thing the morning after flying? Imagine how embarrassed you would be if you had to rock up in your casual travelling clothes. Bags don't go missing or get hugely delayed too often. But you can guarantee it will always happen when you have somewhere important to be. Isn't that Murphy's Law?

If you pack some spare clothes, you can at least look semi-respectable for that meeting or event! (This may seem a little over-prepared, but if you are reading this, I am guessing you are probably a preparer. Being too prepared has never bitten anyone on the bum. Girl Guide's Honour)

21. Pack as light as possible, then lighter again

While we were on the cruise, Hubs and I spent quite a bit of time in the art gallery and even purchased some art to take home. This meant that we also got to know the ship’s Art Director, Ajay, who had been on the ship for the past seven months! My gosh, I couldn’t even imagine it! With this in mind I figured that Ajay was probably a master at travelling for work. I asked him to share his best tip. Ajay told me that it is all about packing light. He then offered these follow up pearls of wisdom:

• Make sure all of your books are loaded onto your phone or tablet, so that you don’t have to carry physical books.
• Roll everything – you can fit heaps more in. You'll just need to iron when you arrive at your destination. 
• Stuff your socks and underwear into your shoes. You should be able to fit at least 4 pairs of socks in each shoe! 
• If you are going away for a while, pack your socks and underwear into a plastic bag so that you can tip them directly into a drawer in your hotel room.

Have fun when travelling for work!

One thing I have learned about travelling for work is that I always hate it less when I let my hair down a little. Grumbling because you don't like travelling for business will not bring anything good upon you. So, save your complaining and work out how you can enjoy the situation that you are in. Whether that includes going out for dinner with your colleagues, hiring a cheesy movie from the in-room entertainment system, reading a trashy novel, splurging on a massage, or simply just choosing to smile instead of grimace, give it a go and be grateful that you have an opportunity that others would beg for. 

I hope you have enjoyed this huge post about travel tips for work! Have a great work trip and let me know in the comments if you have any other great travel tips!

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About the Author

Bec McFarland is an experienced HR practitioner, manager, career coach and the creator of Pop Your Career. She delights in sharing practical, straight to the point career advice, spending time with her family and eating Mexican food.

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How to travel for work and not be exhausted

If you love to travel but need to work, there are a lot of great options. Traveling for work has always been a popular option for many. Work travel has become easier than ever with mobile devices, 4G internet access just about everywhere you go, and more companies allowing their employees to work on the go.

Whether your job inherently requires travel or you’re trying to expand your opportunities with the option of working remotely, traveling for work can get exhausting, stressful, and downright frustrating. Luckily, there are a number of tips and steps you can take to make your life a little easier when you hit the road for work.

Stay in touch

One of the hardest things to do when you travel for work is keeping a good work-life balance. Make sure you’re working toward this balance by keeping in touch with those back home. If you’re leaving your family to head across the country or the world for work, plan some time into each day to call, write, text, or Skype with your loved ones. This keeps you connected in a more real sense, and helps stave off the loneliness and depression that can creep up on you when you’re away from home all the time.

When you’re visiting somewhere new, make sure you plan some time in your schedule to check out the biggest attractions in the area. Who wants to come back home from Paris and say they didn’t get a chance to see the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower? While you may not have time in your schedule to visit everything you want to see, taking an hour or two to enjoy the cities you visit allows you to rejuvenate yourself and enjoy the time you are away from home.

You have a packed schedule and meetings back to back. You’ve decided that your best option is to just get some rest on the plane, and you’ll catch a nap here and there when you can. With this plan, you’re going to quickly run out of steam, and you may start suffering from severe sleep deprivation. Instead of going out for a night on the town after back-to-back meetings, consider heading back to the hotel room for a little R&R.

Getting a good night’s sleep before you head out for your business travel is important as well. Try to put aside the stress and planning that inherently come with business travel and go to bed early so you’re well rested for what comes.

Plan for the unexpected

Let’s be honest here—you’re not always going to have a flawless trip. The most important of all work travel tips is to make sure that you have a backup plan. Many people who travel for work even have a backup plan for their backup plan. Know what you’re going to do if your flight gets delayed or even canceled. How are you going to get from the airport to your hotel if there’s a taxi driver strike? How can you deal with the hotel losing your reservation?

While you don’t have to have a specific plan for any and all possibilities, knowing what you can and should do for major delays can help keep you calm and collected if disaster strikes. Along with this, make sure you plan a little extra time into your schedule to accommodate these mini catastrophes.

When you’re running from meeting to meeting and then grabbing the redeye to the next city, eating well isn’t likely on the top of your priorities list. However, if you want to maximize your energy, feel great, and not get worn out while you’re traveling, eating well is one of the most important things you can do. When you grab fast food on your way out of town or stop at the gas station for a candy bar, you’re not giving your body the proper energy sources it needs to stay healthy.

While you can’t necessarily eat a high-quality meal every time, choosing smarter options on the go doesn’t have to be difficult. Grab an apple or an orange instead of a candy bar. Order the salad instead of the burger and fries. Choose water, not soda, for your drink. These little changes make a huge difference in how you feel during and after your trip.

There is nothing worse than trying to cart around heavy bags from the car to the airport, then from the airport to your hotel, and everywhere in between. You don’t need three formal outfits, five business casual getups, and a few options for late nights when you’re going on a one-day business trip. Choosing the right items to pack isn’t always an easy task, but remember that you can grab a new outfit at a local store just about anywhere you go if what you brought simply doesn’t cut it.

On top of the fact that carrying around a ton of luggage is completely exhausting, think about the cost benefit of packing light. Airlines around the world charge huge fees for checked luggage. If you’re able to effectively pack everything you’ll need in a carry-on, you’ll end up saving yourself a lot of money. While this isn’t always possible, when you’re considering how to travel for work, keeping your luggage to a minimum is important.

Keep up on medications

If you’re on medications for any reason, make sure that you keep up on your medication routine while you’re traveling. Skipping your medications can be disastrous to your health. If you know that you’re going to run out of a medication while you’re gone, talk to your doctor about getting a refill a few days early or sending the prescription to the city where you’re going. Some medications are more dangerous to skip than others, so it’s also a good idea to talk to your doctor about emergency options if you run out while you’re gone.

Exercise on the go

Make an effort to get in a workout on every work trip you take. Not only does this help keep you fit, but it also boosts your immune system, your energy, and your mood. Most hotels today offer a small gym or free access to a local gym. Take advantage of this. Even if you’re only on the treadmill for 20 minutes, you’ll feel better throughout the day. If you don’t have access to a gym, take a walk before your meetings to get your blood pumping and your energy up.

It’s far too tempting to become sedentary when you travel for work, simply because you’re tired or busy. As strange as it may sound, when you add a workout to your day, you’ll feel less tired in the long run.

Travel together

One of the biggest downfalls of traveling for work is that you’re alone a lot of the time. While some people enjoy this, for the most part, it can quickly start to wear on your psyche. When you don’t have companionship, you are much more likely to become angry or depressed. Consider finding a travel buddy to help beat off the travel blues.

Depending on your job, you may be able to have a colleague or even an assistant travel with you. Find out if your travel policies allow you to bring a spouse along once in a while. If none of these are options, head online. There are tons of resources out there to connect business travelers with others in the same situation. Just keep in mind that you need to be careful when seeking out a travel buddy online, and don’t post any personal information to public websites.

Track your journey

If you really want to make the most of your experiences, keep a record of where you go and what you do. Whether this is an online blog that you update with fun facts about the cities you visit, a deep and personal journal accounting for everything you do while you’re gone, or a picture reel of the things you see, having a record is a great way to keep yourself excited about your travel. It’s also a great way to share your experiences with your loved ones.

With these work travel tips, you don’t have to dread the next time your boss asks you to fill in for him at a meeting in Hong Kong . Get excited about your travel and have a great time exploring the world.

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How to Travel With a Full-Time Job: 6 Creative Ways

By: Author Vanessa M.W.

Posted on Last updated: March 12, 2024

I’ve been living and working abroad since 2013 and I can confirm there are MULTIPLE WAYS to travel with a full-tome job. No, you don’t need to give up your career. Yes, people will actually pay you!

The pandemic truly made us re-evaluate our priorities and I’m 100% here to help. If you’re dreaming of a more flexible work environment that will allow you to travel while working full-time, I have 5 creative ways to make that happen for you.

In this article, I’m going to discuss:

• Choosing the right travel/work balance for you
• 6 ways to travel while working full-time
• My favorite apps to make working while traveling easier
• Important tax considerations when you’re on the road
• Ways to get sh*t done at work while away from your normal set-up

If you think this path is right for you and you want to pick my brain about your specific circumstances, book a one-time 45-minute private coaching session with me.

Is Traveling with a Full-Time Job Right for You?

Not everyone is meant to be on the road 24/7 so you’ll want to figure out what’s the right path for you and your work style. There are a few important questions to consider

• Will I be traveling alone? Or do I have a partner or family members to consider?
• What countries can I currently work in easily? Do I need a work visa?
• What’s my budget for traveling while working full-time? Can I make less in exchange for greater flexibility?
• What are my career goals? Is there a specific timeline I need to be conscious of?

After evaluating these questions, your strategy should become clearer about what sort of circumstances are right for you when it comes to blending your career-travel ambitions.

For example, when it comes to traveling while working full-time, I have a partner I need to consider – but no children – so it’s easy to take off whenever I want to for up to a month without feeling guilty.

For anything longer than a month, I would need to have a conversation with my partners to ensure we’re on the same page.

However, backpacking for a year while being a digital nomad is not really conducive to my professional or personal aspirations.

I don’t want to be apart from my family that long and this becomes a tax nightmare for me.

You’ll need to decide what type of travel you want to do while working full-time (long-term backpacking vs shorter trips) before moving on to my 5 recommended ways.

6 Creative Ways to Travel while Working Full-Time

If you want to work full-time and travel easily in your spare time, here are your best options! I’ve done nearly every single method so you can trust me when I say – it’s totally doable.

1. Transition Your 9-5 Abroad (Indefinite)

No one ever tells us this in America, but if you’re a skilled person, you can take your career overseas!

Whether you’re a teacher or a Product Manager (like me!), there are international companies who are eager to bring you to their offices abroad!

Currently, I work for a global travel tech company as a product manager. I started working for them in London (in 2017) and I was able to negotiate a transfer to their Germany offices in 2020. I’ve been in Germany ever since.

You don’t need to abandon your career ambitions to move abroad if you’re a competitive person. Visa, Facebook, and all the other international companies have global locations that you can transfer to with enough effort.

Read my article about finding a job abroad here.

Once you’re outside of America, travel becomes naturally easier. As I’m writing this blog post, I’m currently waiting in the Berlin Brandenburg business lounge on my way to Rome.

I’m taking my laptop and I’ll be remotely working from Italy for the next week!

When I was living and working in Beijing, I was able to take off to Hong Kong and the Philippines without much money or planning.

Frequent travel while working full-time is much easier once you get out of the United States; trust me.

As Americans, we have an additional tax reporting responsibility when we work abroad, but don’t let that deter you.

You need to understand that it’s really just a reporting responsibility and only under extreme circumstances will you be double taxed.

Read my article about American expat tax requirements here.

2. Negotiate a Remote Contract (1+ year)

If you’re lucky enough to negotiate a remote contract, congratulations! You’ve truly secured a golden ticket that most people would kill for!!

I was able to negotiate a German remote contract in Aug 2021 and that’s how I have so much flexibility.

So what is a remote contract?

Essentially, a remote contract specifically removes any location-dependent clauses from your work contract. However, remote contracts will likely include a country-specific reference because they need to abide by some sort of legal framework.

With a remote contract, you can easily travel while working full-time because there’s no expectation for you to come into a specific office. You only need to get the work done wherever you are in the world.

For example, my remote contract is specifically a German contract. This means I pay tax to the German government and I get to enjoy the social security and healthcare benefits of living in the European Union.

If you’re able to negotiate a remote contract and want to move outside of the country that your contract specifically references, you’ll need to consider how that will affect your tax liability and immigration status.

A good rule of thumb is: if you’ve been in a country longer than 3 months, you should start exploring if that country expects you to pay tax locally and if you’re in violation of your tourist visa.

Some countries and regions (like the UK) have super generous tourist visa allowances, but tourist visas are not work visas so tread carefully.

Furthermore, if you’re paying taxes in the United States, but haven’t been in the country for more than 35 days, you might be entitled to a massive tax refund since you’re not technically a full-time resident.

Set up a consultation with my trusted tax partner – My Expat Taxes – to find out more about tax and reporting responsibilities as a remote US worker.

3. Volunteer Abroad (2-6 months)

If you’re just starting your career or are less concerned about bringing your 9-5 abroad, you should seriously consider volunteering abroad.

There are a variety of websites that match volunteers with hosts in different countries to do a ‘work-exchange.’ In a ‘work-exchange,’ you’d exchange your labor and skills for food, room, and board.

A few things that you can do when volunteering abroad include:

• Organic Farming (WOOFing)
• Working at the front desk of a hostel
• Becoming an Au Pair (in the EU or America)
• Work as a camp counselor (I did this in Morocco!)
• and so much more!

There are endless opportunities if you want to volunteer abroad, but you’ll need to bring some savings with you as you won’t be paid for this work.

My favorite websites are:

• workaway.info
• Worldpackers.com

It’s also important to know that since this is a volunteer opportunity, you’ll need to be extra careful with your tourist visa allowance because there are always time limitations. You cannot get a work visa through a volunteer opportunity.

I‘ve lived abroad for many years and love helping others find work abroad and figure out their “Move Abroad Plan.” Check out my class below to get you started ASAP!

4. Become a Digital Nomad (1 month-2 years)

Becoming a digital nomad can be super exciting!…. but it can be tiring toward the end lol.

Moving from place to place every 30 days to make sure you’re not in violation of your tourist visa gets to you after the 2nd year, but I would still encourage everyone to do this if they have the opportunity.

So what’s the difference between being a digital nomad and having a remote contract?

Not much actually. I think the real difference between the two classifications is probably how stable the income is. A remote worker still has a traditional 9-5 whereas a digital nomad is often an entrepreneur or freelancer.

As a digital nomad, you have two options when it comes to creating a home base.

First, you can choose to bounce across countries every 1-2 months to ensure you can take advantage of all the financial benefits that come with not being tied down to a single location.

Your second option is to take advantage of a digital nomad visa in a foreign country, which will allow you to establish your tax residency there for 1 to 2 years.

There are benefits with both options; it just depends on how comfortable you are with uncertainty and constant movement.

If you choose option 1, not only are you going to need to find clients and establish a consistent cash flow, but you’ll also need to change countries every few months. This might feel overwhelming to some people; I know it was overwhelming for me.

Read this article about easy countries to move to for Americans to start your digital nomad research.

5. Short-Term Contract (2-6 months)

Contract work is often a great way to gain international experience and travel while maintaining a 9 to 5.

Essentially this means that your company sends you to a different country for a brief amount of time to complete a specific project.

These temporary contracts will likely send you abroad for 2-6 months and your company will provide you with an ‘Expat Package.’

This means that they will pay for everything; which includes housing, flights, a food stipend, and more!

I was sent on a short-term contract to Turkey for less than 2 months and it was a wild experience!

I was able to work as an emergency aid worker and was given a company apartment with a spending stipend. I saved every penny of my paycheck!

If you’re interested in doing a short-term contract, it’s important that you focus on getting the best package possible because you are uprooting your entire life to pursue this opportunity.

For example, these are the things that I would absolutely require if I was going to a new country on a short-term contract.

• My accommodation to be found and paid for in full
• Private health insurance and international medical facilities
• A food and living stipend for everyday costs
• My flights to and from paid for

Obviously, if you are volunteering to work on a short-term contract these things are not going to be guaranteed. However, any company that is reputable will likely provide all if not the majority of the following things in addition to your normal salary.

6. Travel Scholarship (3 months -2 years)

Did you know that there are travel scholarships that will pay for you to study and volunteer abroad for a certain amount of time? These are often called paid travel opportunities.

My favorite way of discovering paid travel opportunities is through my friend’s website packslight.com.

Gabby is an absolute master when it comes to applying and finding paid travel opportunities that will get you across the world at no additional cost to you.

What you’ll need to do is send in an application for the various opportunities.

Then, someone will contact you as a finalist or if you are successful in the application you can expect the company to organize and pay for your travel abroad.

My Favorite Digital Nomad Apps for Employees on the Go!

When you’re traveling and working abroad, there are certain apps that will make your life more bearable as you jet-set across the world!

Here are my favorite apps and websites for digital nomads:

Express VPN

If you’re ever wondering how you’re going to watch your favorite American Netflix shows while you’re abroad, then look no further than Express VPN !

They will help you keep in contact with all of your country’s pop culture references no matter where you are in the world.

TransferWise

Because I have multiple clients that are international and have outstanding student loans to pay, I need to send money in different currencies back and forth across the world.

The most affordable way to do that is via TransferWise . You can load all sorts of currencies into your account and then exchange them into different currencies for a fraction of the cost that your bank will charge you.

If you’re interested in setting up a coaching business, look no further than Teachable .

Teachable is an online platform that helps me keep in contact with my customers all over the world and they make taking payments easy with the Stripe integration.

Whenever I’m looking for freelancers, I always start on Upwork.

Upwork allows me to hire people from all over the world and their payment protection plan gives me the confidence I need about the quality of work my freelancers will perform.

I believe in Upwork so much, that I’ve been using it for the last eight years.

When I first moved abroad, I don’t think I truly understood how much emotional stress the move was going to cause me.

That’s why I really enjoy using online therapy services, like BetterHelp , because no matter where I am in the world I can always stay with the therapist I trust and I can do my sessions in my native language.

Opening a bank account as a foreigner abroad is incredibly difficult. I’m so grateful that N26 allows me to spend local money in Europe despite having an American passport.

The flexibility of N26 made it possible for me to sign an apartment lease and to start my life in Germany properly.

Important Tax Considerations for Traveling while Working

Something I wish someone would’ve told me before I moved abroad was the fact that there is no way to avoid taxes, no matter where you are in the world.

Even if you have a company registered outside of the country you’re living in currently.

If you are American or a green card holder, you are expected to report and file taxes every single year no matter where you are in the world.

But reporting and Filene doesn’t necessarily mean paying additional taxes to the United States if you don’t currently live there.

If you stay out of the US for at least 330 days in a full calendar year, you will potentially not need to pay taxes to the United States government.

However, it is likely that you are a tax resident in another country and will owe taxes there instead.

If you are a digital nomad from the United States, and you don’t take up residency in any one country then you could potentially receive a large tax refund from the US government come tax season.

Use Form 2555 to claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion.

For more specific information on what forms to file and how to file correctly, head on over to my trusted partner My Expat Taxes .

My Expat Taxes is a wonderful resource and software to ensure you get the maximum refund possible while still remaining budget-friendly.

Ways to Get Sh*t Done while Working and Traveling

It’s definitely not easy to stay focused while traveling and working full-time. Somehow corporate meetings just aren’t as interesting as cenote dives and adventures across the ocean. [LOL]

Here are a few ways I stay focused while working full-time and traveling.

First, be sure you have a good set-up in your new home to do your work. There’s nothing worse than trying to get work done in an awkward sitting position or just on your bed.

Next, some countries are not known for their strong Wi-Fi signal, be sure to inquire before you arrive with your Airbnb host that the Wi-Fi is suitable to conduct meetings and streaming.

Third, check to see if there are any low-cost co-working stations in the city that you’re traveling in.

They often have day passes or short-term agreements so people just like you can come in and work in a normal environment every so often.

Finally, make sure to adjust your work calendar based on the different time zones that you’ll be traveling through.

This is an automatic feature but you have to enable it in order for your meetings to be expressed correctly.

Now You’re Ready to Start Traveling while Working Full-Time

I hope you found this article to be helpful in giving you ideas regarding how to balance a full work schedule with your ambitions to travel.

There are so many opportunities to travel and work full-time, you just need to find the right option for you.

If you want my direct support and feedback on your specific circumstances, schedule a private coaching session with me here.

If you’re interested in learning more about working while traveling abroad, read these additional articles that might be of some help:

• This is how you can find a job in another country
• Here I go into more detail about how to find affordable travel opportunities
• Consider doing a master’s abroad, because you can also work while you study
• Here’s information about how I was able to put it into the tech industry in London

If you want additional support in your move abroad, consider taking my Move Abroad Master Class for everything you might need to know regarding your international relocation.

Thanks so much for reading this post and I hope to see you on Instagram!

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10 questions to ask when traveling for work

1. which expenses are covered and which are not, 2. can i make my own reservations, 3. what documents and receipts should i keep.

• What type of receipts will you need to request?
• Do receipts need to include your company’s details?
• What other requirements do receipts need to comply with? For example, meal-related receipts may need to specify the meal was for one person only.

4. What is the procedure to request a reimbursement of travel expenses?

Download your travel expense claim form template now

5. i have a question about the travel policy. who can i contact, 6. what should i do in case of an emergency, 7. how much can i spend on food, 8. can i extend my trip, 9. can i book first class or a room upgrade, 10. can my spouse travel with me, are you in charge of your company’s travel policy.

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How to Prepare for Working & Moving Abroad

by Jennifer Lachs September 20, 2021

• Before You Go

So you’ve decided to work abroad and are now in the planning stages of your big move. Congratulations! Working and living abroad is always an enriching experience and you have a lot to look forward to. But, before you book your plane ticket and pack your bags, there are quite a few things you’ll need to prepare for before you can head out on your adventure.

Hallelujah! Your moving and working abroad checklist

It can be really overwhelming to think about everything you need to prepare for at home and in your new destination before you can make the move. To make the process easier, use this “moving and working abroad checklist” that we’ve put together for you. 

It all starts by making your work abroad checklist for pre-trip prep.

1. Find the right work abroad program

If you haven’t lined up a job yet, the most important task is finding the right work abroad program for you. There are opportunities in so many different fields. You could get a working holiday visa, teach abroad, become an au pair, work on farms, or apply for more traditional jobs. Allow yourself enough time for this process, so you can find the perfect fit and complete all your applications. 

[ Get matched with work abroad programs ]

2. research your destination.

This might go without saying, but before moving to work abroad , take some time to research your destination. This research will help you every step of the way, as being well informed will help you to be more relaxed during the rest of the process. Find out about the culture, customs of your future home and learn some interesting facts.

Good old travel guidebooks are a great start to get an overview. You could also talk to people you know who have spent time in your chosen country, as the first-hand experience is absolutely invaluable. 

3. Save up a “Buffer Fund” for when you arrive

One of the best parts of moving abroad to work is that you’re essentially getting paid to travel. However, this doesn’t mean you don’t need to save up before your move. It’s important to save up a “Buffer Fund” to help you out during the first few months. 

There are always costs involved with moving abroad. In addition to travel costs, you’ll likely need to pay for at least one month’s rent and a security deposit upfront. You might also have to buy a few things that your new house is lacking in, such as furniture.In many jobs, you may also have to wait a month or more for your first paycheck to arrive. Therefore, make sure you find out when you’ll get paid and save up enough to bridge the gap. Of course, there are always ways to be savvy with the money you do have, to make it stretch further. 

[You can fundraise for your trip with FundMyTravel !]

Early birds get the worm, the same goes for working abroad.

4. Look for housing

This might not be relevant to everyone, as some work abroad programs offer housing as part of the package. But if you have to find your own accommodation, make sure you’ve got at least a few nights booked in a hotel when you arrive so that you can take your time to go apartment hunting. 

5. Make a bucket list

While everyone has different reasons for wanting to move and work abroad, travel is usually a major one. You’ll be wanting to explore your new home country and city as much as possible and it can be really helpful to make a list of all the places you want to visit, the food you want to try and the activities you’d like to experience. That way, you’ll avoid leaving everything to the end of your stay and then scrambling to find the time to sightsee. 

6. Take care of business at home

Unfortunately, moving abroad isn’t quite as straightforward as packing your flip flops and jumping on a plane. Besides preparing for your new destination, you’ll also need to take care of business in your home country.

Make sure you understand the bureaucratic processes involved in moving. Do you need to de-register? Should you notify your embassy (some countries recommend this)? Do you need to notify your bank or insurance company? Depending on whether you’re subletting or giving up your house or apartment, make sure you take care of utility bills. Do you need to store or sell your car and cancel or downgrade your car insurance?

[ Working Holiday Visas: Are you Qualified? ] 

Also, don’t forget about those pesky smaller costs, like subscriptions and gym memberships. These can be easily cancelled, but you can easily find yourself in trouble if, for example, you close your bank account without cancelling direct deposits and standing orders first. You should also arrange to reroute your mail to family or friends or use a mail forwarding service to take care of this for you. 

7. Storage or selling

This comes down to how much stuff you own and whether you’re keeping your property or planning to take everything with you. A move abroad is a great time to go through all your belongings and downsize. Decluttering is incredibly freeing and you’ll be thankful to have fewer things to worry about. Long-term storage is available in nearly all cities and is quite affordable. 

While this office might be impractical, it’s definitely cool.

You might think that packing is one of the last tasks you’d need to worry about, but a lack of preparation can easily lead to a lot of headaches and panic packing before your big move. Make sure you plan what you want to take with you, how much luggage you will travel with and consider mailing a box or two of your things in advance so you don’t have to worry about checking multiple suitcases. The general rule when packing for any trip, no matter whether long-term or for a weekend, is to lay out everything you want to bring and then halve it. If you’re not moving to an extremely remote corner of the planet, you can probably buy almost anything you need, or forgot, in your new home. One exception to this rule is prescription medicines. 

9. Prepare for culture shock

No matter how well prepared you are before your trip, moving to a foreign country always means experiencing a bit of a culture shock. After the initial excitement has worn off, you’ll likely start feeling how different everything is and maybe even get a little homesick .

It’s completely normal and you shouldn’t feel bad about it or let this discourage you. Many people change their minds and move home because they’re not prepared for this. But, as long as you know this is just part of the process, you can get through it and enjoy your adventure again.

Try to keep exploring and enjoy yourself as much as possible. Go on weekend trips, meet other expats at meetups and tick items off your bucket list. 

[ WATCH THIS: How to Work Abroad: Words of Encouragement ]

10. learn a bit of the language.

If you move to a country where you don’t speak the language, it’s a great idea to get a headstart before you leave home. Try to at least learn the basics and consider taking a crash course to make you feel more comfortable when you arrive. Speaking a bit of the language already is another great way to prevent culture shock. 

11. Get your paperwork sorted

Every move abroad comes with a lot of paperwork to tackle. Make sure you research visas, work permits, taxes and insurance early on, as it can take a while to get everything approved and set up. 

If you love an office with views, you’ll love the views you get working abroad.

12. Banking

Banking is another one of those pesky tasks that you’ll have to add to your list. Make sure you know whether you’ll be able to use your bank cards at the cash machines abroad. Understand the fees involved and consider getting a debit or credit card with zero foreign transaction fees. It’s also a good idea to have at least one backup card just in case yours gets lost or stolen, or if the banks abroad don’t accept it. 

13. Get a medical check up

It’s always a good idea to get a medical checkup before you leave home, especially if you’re moving to a country where healthcare is expensive. You should also stock up on prescriptions for any medication, contraception or contact lenses you need, as there is no guarantee you’ll be able to get them abroad. Go to a doctor well before your move so you have plenty of time to get any medications and vaccinations that might be necessary. 

[ Why Work Abroad? 9 Legit Reasons ]

14. get international health insurance.

While we’re already on the topic of health, make sure you research the health insurance requirements of your destination before you go. For example, some countries offer free healthcare for people on working holidays. Other countries are more complicated, so you might be better off getting international health insurance for expats. This is not the same as travel insurance, which is also recommended, to cover you for delayed flights, lost luggage, etc. 

15. Start building a network

Reach out to people you might know in your new destination. Do a shoutout on social media to see whether any of your friends know people who live there. It’s always nice to arrive in a new place and already know someone who could show you around. 

You should also join local online communities. Facebook groups and meetup groups are the easiest way to meet other expats and locals before you go. If you have a hobby, research local groups that share your passion, which can join on arrival. 

16. Make a list and check it twice

Now that you’ve nearly reached the end of this list, it’s a great idea to actually write down all the tasks you need to complete before you can move abroad. You can use these steps as the main topics and then add all the mini-tasks that are involved. Having a moving and working abroad checklist is a great way to keep on top of everything and make sure you don’t forget any important tasks. It’ll also help you remain calm as the big day moves closer. 

[ Download this checklist we've already created for you 😉 ]

Create your space and fill it with all your travel memories!

17. Throw a party

Now to the more fun tasks. You should have already informed all your friends and family, and now it’s time to get together and throw yourself a little leaving party. It doesn’t have to be a big affair. But your close friends and family will appreciate spending as much time with you as possible before you move. Prepare yourself for being asked the same questions over and over. A nice idea could be to put up a map of your new home country with some fun facts so that your loved ones feel included.

Bonus idea: A get-together is a perfect time to collect or update everyone’s address so you can send them a postcard. It might sound old-fashioned in the days of email and Facebook, but people really appreciate little gestures like this. 

18. Get excited!

Last, but not least, get excited about your upcoming adventure! While you’re caught up in all the preparation and checking things off this working abroad checklist, it can easily feel more like a chore than an adventure. It’s so easy to get lost in all the hustle and bustle of preparing a move abroad, that you might end up super stressed and anxious. Remember to take a step back, remind yourself why you’re embarking on this new adventure and get excited. You could read novels that take place in your new home country or city, and watch movies or documentaries to get you excited.

[Download our FREE eBook for even more tips & tales from first time workers abroad]

Check every box.

You’ve reached the end of your working abroad checklist. Awesome! Though there are a lot of things to prepare for and think about before moving and working abroad, we hope this detailed list will help you enjoy the process. 

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Routine is key to healthy sleep habits, but shift work, holidays and overseas travel can turn that upside down

Are you one of those people who wakes up automatically — just before your alarm goes off?

Many humans like routine, and if you are a person who works regular hours, you might find you open your eyes in time to stop the alarm off just before it rudely wakes you.

How does the brain know it's time to wake up? It's all about the body clock.

Sleep and respiratory physiologist Peter Catcheside from Flinders University said when an individual's 24-hour body clock (otherwise known as the circadian clock) lines up with their sleep system, it has a good sense of what time it is.

"By the end of the night, close to our normal waking time, it’s already run through the sleep processes that it needs to run through during the night, so it's naturally coming towards waking up," he said.

"So it's really that body clock sensation of time of day which is helping us to wake up at the right time of day." 

The body clock likes routine

Health experts say getting a good night's sleep is important for our health and wellbeing, and sticking to routines for going to sleep and waking up at about the same time is the best way to maintain that.

But if you are among the increasing numbers of shift workers starting at different hours of the day or night, a new parent, travelling overseas or on holiday hoping to catch up on lost sleep, routine is likely to be out the window.

People with changing sleep patterns are likely to have irregular light exposure and disrupted exercise and meal routines, all of which affect their body clock and have negative health effects, according to the Sleep Health Foundation .

A disrupted body clock can lead to jet-lag, insomnia or shift work disorder, and play a role in chronic diseases and mental health problems, Professor Catcheside said.

"When we don't get enough good quality sleep and when our body clocks are out of phase with our normal daily schedules our brains don't function and the rest of our body is on the wrong time to function at its optimal," he said.

'Holiday mode' changes routines

Sleep experts say despite the obvious benefits of holidays, a change in habits can create ongoing problems including insomnia.

Director of the centre for sleep science at the University of Western Australia, Jennifer Walsh, said many people started holidays in "sleep debt", so their bodies try to make up for lost sleep.

But going into "holiday mode" where you sleep in or go to bed earlier than usual can change regular patterns.

"It can cause problems with our sleep down the track, so some people will go into a pattern where they don't sleep well and that might perpetuate and turn into insomnia, that's the biggest risk," she said.

More alcohol, caffeine and food while catching up with family and friends during festive or cultural holidays can also exacerbate things, Dr Walsh said.

Shift work sleep routine

About 10 to 15 per cent of shift workers may suffer from "shift work sleep disorder" characterised by insomnia-like symptoms, excessive sleepiness and fatigue.

That is a significant proportion of people working outside nine to five, which in Australia equals about 16 to 20 per cent or about 1.6 million employees, associate professor in the department of health sciences at Macquarie University, Christopher Gordon, said.

People with sleep disorders and shift workers can benefit from what's called a "shift work sleep routine" to maximise their potential for shut eye, Dr Gordon said.

"[It involves] going to bed at the same time, trying to wake at the same time, reducing things like caffeine and alcohol before you try to go to sleep [as well as] heavy meals, and really trying to get that routine established," he said.

"There's other things you can do with your environment such as making the room very dark and if you can't do that, possibly wearing an eye mask and using ear plugs can also help."

'Nudging' the body clock

In the hope of addressing some of these body clock problems, Professor Catcheside and a team of researchers at Flinders University are investigating personalised sleep regimes.

"We want to solve one of the biggest ongoing problems in sleep medicine, by devising a practical way to reliably track and treat people with a body-clock timing problem," Professor Catcheside said.

Doctors and psychologists are largely using guesswork unless they have data based on the individual's body clock, Professor Catcheside said.

The team is developing technology for a personalised tracker which would measure the daily core body temperature, a key marker of when the body clock is most sensitive to being influenced by light.

"That would be new technology that could automate the process of tracking when the body is timed each day, giving information back to users about when is a good time to try and go to sleep and when to get up, and also when is the best time to get blue light exposure," Professor Catcheside said. 

The good news is that initial results show that light exposure at the right time should help "nudge" a person's body clock in the right direction.

"The timing of therapy is critical because the body clock is most sensitive to blue-enriched light for only a few hours a day and can be advanced or delayed depending on light exposure timing," he said.

• X (formerly Twitter)

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Missing workers in Key Bridge collapse presumed dead, search called off: Live updates

BALTIMORE − The U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday evening it was calling off the search-and-rescue mission for the six construction workers that went missing when a cargo ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early in the morning, sending it collapsing into the frigid Patapsco River and shutting down a critical artery for East Coast shipping .

Officials said water temperatures around 46 to 48 degrees, poor visibility and changing currents played a role in the decision after a dogged attempt to find the workers.

“Based on the length of time that we’ve gone on this search, the extensive search efforts that we’ve put into it, the water temperature, at this point we do not believe that we’re going to find any of these individuals still alive,'' Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon N. Gilreath said in a news conference. "So this evening at about 7:30 we are going to suspend the active search-and-rescue efforts.’’

The focus of the operation would switch to recovery and restart at 6 a.m. Wednesday, officials said.

Around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday a Singapore-flagged vessel named Dali struck the Key Bridge as it was leaving the Port of Baltimore, causing the span to collapse in seconds. Officials said the crew warned of a power issue and sent out a "mayday" before the collision. Footage of the incident shows the cargo ship smash into one of the columns before the bridge snapped, hit the water and partially fell on the ship, where a burst of flames and smoke could be seen rising into the night sky.

Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time of impact and plunged into the river, which was cold enough to cause hypothermia. There were multiple contractors on the bridge who were repairing potholes, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said. So far two people have been rescued. One was unharmed and the other remains in "very serious condition," he said.

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, said at an afternoon news conference the agency will lead the investigation, but she would not provide information on fatalities or injuries from the incident, leaving that to local authorities.

A senior U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly told USA TODAY the ship apparently lost power a few minutes before striking the bridge. A federal report has confirmed that version of events , saying the crew lost its ability to control the vessel.

Developments:

∎  Brawner Builders, the employer of the six missing workers, told media outlets including the Baltimore Sun that they're presumed dead.

∎ The University of Maryland Medical Center's trauma center treated one patient from the collapse who has been discharged, Michael Schwartzberg, the medical center's spokesperson, said in an email. Schwartzberg declined to say more about the person's injuries, citing patient privacy concerns.

∎ Dr. David Efron, the center’s chief of trauma, said falling from the bridge − with clearance of more 185 feet − into 48-degree water would present life-threatening risks. Being submerged for more than an hour in water at that temperature is “almost invariably going to not be survivable.”

∎  The National Transportation Safety Board is scheduled to hold a news conference about its investigation into the incident Tuesday afternoon.

∎ Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott issued a state of emergency to better mobilize resources and work quickly to "address this crisis," he said in a post on X . The governor of Maryland issued a state of emergency earlier Tuesday.

Crew lost control as propulsion deserted ship, report says

The Dali lost propulsion leaving port and its crew lost control of the ship, prompting the crew to alert Maryland officials of a possible collision, an unclassified Department of Homeland Security report revealed Tuesday.

An official who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed to USA TODAY that the DHS cybersecurity agency is working with federal, state and local officials "to understand the potential impacts of this morning’s collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge."

This was not the Dali's first harsh encounter with a pier, and that time its leadership was determined to be at fault. It's too early to know what caused Tuesday's accident.

The cargo ship that  struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge  collided with a shipping dock in Belgium in 2016. That incident occurred as the Dali was leaving port in Antwerp and hit a loading pier made of stone, causing damage to the ship’s stern, according to the VesselFinder.com website, which tracks ships across the world. An investigation determined a mistake made by the ship’s master and pilot was to blame.

No one was injured in that crash, although the ship required repair and a full inspection before being returned to service. The pier – or berth – was also seriously damaged and had to be closed.

− Josh Meyer, Emily Le Coz and Claire Thornton

Two Guatemalan workers among six missing

Two Guatemalan nationals are among the six workers who were on the bridge when it was struck early Tuesday, the Guatemalan Foreign Ministry said. Their ages are 26 and 35, respectively, and their families have been notified, the ministry said in a statement, which also noted the other missing workers are from Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador. 

"We will continue requesting information from the authorities and information about search and rescue efforts to find the missing Guatemalans," the statement said.

− Eduardo Cuevas

What did the most recent inspection report say about the bridge?

Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge was listed in overall fair condition in 2021, the most recent inspection report in the Federal Highway Administration’s  National Bridge Inventory  at the time of its  collapse early Tuesday morning . 

However, the database noted that, “Bank protection is in need of minor repairs. River control devices and embankment protection have a little minor damage. Banks and/or channel have minor amounts of drift.” 

Other structural elements showed  “some minor deterioration”  but were otherwise listed in satisfactory condition.

− Cecilia Garzella and Yoonserk Pyun

'We're with you': Biden says federal government will rebuild bridge

President Joe Biden said he intends for the federal government to cover the entire cost to rebuild the Key Bridge, and he committed not to leave “until this job gets done.”

“We're with you. We're going to stay with you as long as it takes,” Biden said Tuesday afternoon from the White House Roosevelt Room.

Biden said he spoke with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and other local and state officials about the bridge’s collapse, and said he would visit the site in the future. “I told them we're going to send all the federal resources they need as we respond to this emergency − I mean all the federal resources. And we're going to rebuild that port together.”

Biden said eight people remain unaccounted for, but the figure might change. Two people were rescued. "Everything so far indicates that his was a terrible accident,” Biden said, adding there’s no reason to believe it was intentional.

“Our prayers are with everyone involved in this terrible accident and all the families, especially those waiting for news of their loved ones right now,” Biden said. “I know every minute in that circumstance feels like a lifetime.”

Biden said the ongoing rescue operation remains the top priority but relayed that he told Moore he has directed his team to “move heaven and earth to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge as soon as humanly possible."

− Joey Garrison

Crewman reports all on board Dali are safe

This past weekend, Andrew Middleton took the ship's captain and a crewman shopping at a nearby Walmart. Since 9/11, international crews have to be escorted by a vetted person through most port areas, and Middleton said it's fairly common for crews like the Dali's to request assistance from the Apostleship of the Sea Baltimore Stella Maris International Seafarers' Center, where he is the director. The group is part of the Catholic Church's Archdiocese of Baltimore.

"They were by all appearances in good spirits," Middleton said, and they chatted in his van about the ship's planned 28-day voyage around the Horn of Africa to Sri Lanka. Middleton said crews usually buy personal toiletries and snacks before long trips.

Middleton woke up Tuesday morning to the shocking news the ship hit the bridge, and he immediately messaged one of the crewmen via WhatsApp. "My question to him was, 'Is everyone OK?' And the answer was, 'Yes sir, everyone is safe,'" Middleton told USA TODAY.

The crew is still aboard the ship while authorities assess the situation. Middleton said he's prepared to send them any supplies they need if they're stuck aboard for an extended period. And he said he's making plans to help them once they're freed and returned to shore. He said he expects the Dali will be towed back into the harbor and docked for a damage assessment. Middleton added that he worries both about the missing workers from the bridge and also the port workers who may be temporarily unemployed if the harbor gets shut down.

"Obviously, this incident has a large impact on the port community,'' he said. "If this extends a long period of time, we're going to have longshoreman and stevedores who are not working, tugboat crews who are not working. It has the potential, if it becomes a drawn-out event, to affect many lives."

− Trevor Hughes

Commuter finds sight of damaged bridge 'devastating to watch'

Charlotte Robinson's commute from her home in Delaware to her accounting job in Washington, D.C., took a detour Tuesday morning, when driving over the Francis Scott Key Bridge wasn't an option. In the past she figured that route was safe, but the bridge's collapse sparked difficult discussions with her colleagues who commute.

"It was devastating to watch,'' Robinson said of the crumpled bridge after it was hit by a 985-foot-long cargo ship. "And you have to ask yourself, if that was me, what would my plan be? How would I try to survive this, if I was trapped, if my car went into the water?”

Robinson said she often sees ships passing under the bridge during her morning commute; in the evenings, when she’s on her way home, there are usually fewer boats. Tuesday, she said, “You could see all these boats, just lined up because they had no place to go.”

Another common sight during her commute was construction workers both on the bridge and below it, sometimes hanging over the water in harnesses. Her thoughts turned to those workers as she watched the news Tuesday in her office. "I almost couldn't breathe watching the news," she said.

− Phaedra Trethan

'It's devastating to the city'

Greg Trenchard, 43, awoke Tuesday to a flurry of text messages and missed calls from his out of state relatives checking in on him after hearing about the Key Bridge collapse.

“I’ve driven over it 100 times and now to see that it’s gone is pretty crazy,” he said Tuesday.

Trenchard, an auditor, said he then tried to make his way to Fort Armistead Park, where he’d come many times before to take photos of the bridge at sunrise and sunset. But the normally quick drive took nearly 40 minutes due to the traffic detours, and a police roadblock next to Royal Farms, a convenience store, about a mile and half from the park stopped him from getting any closer to the scene.

“It’s a blow,” he said of the collapse. “It’s devastating to the city, it’s devastating to port traffic and everything they’re trying to do to revitalize the shipping industry in Maryland and keep that going.”

– N'dea Yancey-Bragg

Air, land and water search underway

Multiple local, state and federal agencies are coordinating the massive search, which spans a vast section of the river – both above and below the surface of the water – and the ship itself, Wallace said. Divers, helicopters and sonar technology were being used and had located several vehicles submerged in the river, which is about 50-feet-deep where the bridge collapsed.

"This water is current influenced, so right now we think the tide is coming back in," he said.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency and said he is working with an interagency team to "quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration."

"This is an unthinkable tragedy," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said at a news conference.

Expert says river current makes search more difficult

Jim Bellingham, the executive director for the Johns Hopkins Institute for Assured Autonomy and expert in marine robotics lives in nearby Fells Point, and talked to USA TODAY about some of the challenges faced by rescuers.

“Nothing is staying put in the ocean,” he said. “Everything is moving” in the Patapsco River, a tidal estuary, which presents just one difficulty for rescue efforts. Rescuers would have to determine the speed and direction of the current to figure out where to search – toward Baltimore Harbor, or out toward the Chesapeake Bay.

Bellingham said it’s likely any workers who may have been on the bridge would have been wearing reflective vests and even flotation devices that would improve visibility in the dark river. They might also have flares, and are more easily spotted by rescue helicopters.

Rescuers are using sonar, lights, cameras and robotic machinery as well as human divers, but Bellingham said divers would face their own risks, as the wreckage might not be stable.

The longer the search goes on, the less likely rescuers are to find survivors, given the temperature of the water, and the likelihood of people being trapped with little to no air. But Baltimore, with many Navy and Coast Guard facilities and military contractors nearby, might be as well prepared to deal with the disaster as any place.

“Their job is to rescue people,” Bellingham said. “They want to believe they can do that, and there’s a tendency not to want to give up.”

– Phaedra Trethan

Cargo ship was headed for Sri Lanka

The container vessel was chartered by the major shipping company Maersk and was carrying its cargo, according to a statement from the company. When it crashed into the bridge, no Maersk crew and personnel were onboard the vessel, which is operated by charter vessel company Synergy Group and owned by Singapore-based Grace Ocean Pte.

The Dali was slated to arrive April 22 in Sri Lanka, according to MarineTraffic, a global ship tracking service.

"We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected," Maersk said in a statement. "We are closely following the investigations conducted by authorities and Synergy, and we will do our utmost to keep our customers informed."

Synergy Marine Corp said the Dali collided with one of the pillars of the bridge and that all its crew members, including two pilots, have been accounted for and there were no reports of any injuries.

U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Erin Palmer said at a news conference Tuesday that the agencies remain focused on search-and-rescue. She did not comment on the crew of the ship or provide additional details about the collision.

All vessel traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore was suspended until further notice, but the port is still open for truck transports, Wiedefeld said. Traffic, meanwhile, is being diverted from the area around the Key Bridge.

Baltimore port closed to ships 'until further notice'

Shortly after the bridge collapse, the Port of Baltimore suspended vessel traffic “until further notice,” according to its website.

“This does not mean the Port of Baltimore is shut down. We are still processing trucks inside of our terminals,” the statement said.

But Bloomberg reported that the port “looks to be out of commission indefinitely.”

At least 40 ships are now more or less trapped inside the port, according to Reuters. At least 30 other ships planned to arrive there.

“They will likely have to reroute shipping to other ports on the East Coast,” said Kevin Linderman, a professor and supply chain expert at Pennsylvania State University. “However, this will put additional demand on these ports, and shippers may not be able to access US markets” as efficiently, he said.

“One critical question is, can the other ports handle the products that were destined to Baltimore?”

– Daniel de Visé

'A lot of tears' for families

Baltimore residents turned out to support those affected by the tragedy. Dozens of people gathered at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church of Turner Station during an emotional prayer vigil Tuesday evening.Faith leaders and city officials including Mayor Brandon Scott prayed for the families of those missing after the bridge collapse and the first responders working at the scene.“We can only imagine what is going through their minds and through their hearts and through their bodies. None of us want to experience that,” Scott said Tuesday. “We have to lift them up, support them not just today, not just tomorrow but for the foreseeable future.”Father Ako Walker, priest at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, said a prayer in Spanish to show solidarity with the six people who are still missing after the collapse. Following the vigil, Walker told reporters he has been providing support to family members whose loved ones are missing.“It’s difficult for them,” he said. “You know, you can see the pain etched on their faces. There’s a lot of tears.”

Will the Baltimore bridge collapse impact cruises?

Baltimore is a destination for several major cruise lines. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, the industry’s leading trade group, published itineraries in the 2024 calendar year include a dozen ships making 115 stops in Baltimore.

Royal Caribbean and Carnival have April sailings that could be impacted by the bridge collapse, according to their websites. 

Carnival told USA TODAY it was premature to comment on impacts to future sailings.

American Cruise Lines has roundtrip sailings from Baltimore scheduled in May, according to its website. The cruise line told USA TODAY their schedules remain unaffected but will make adjustments if needed to future cruises.

Norwegian Cruise Line doesn’t appear to have any Baltimore sailings until September.

– Eve Chen and Nathan Diller

Will the port shutdown affect consumer goods, prices?

Several big firms have distribution warehouses near the port, including Amazon and FedEx, one analyst noted in a tweet on X.  

Even so, some analysts predict only a minimal impact on the movement of goods up and down the East Coast from the bridge collapse.

Baltimore’s port holds just 4% of all East Coast trade volume, according to S&P Global. New York’s port, by contrast, does 38% of that business.

Yet, the port offers the deepest harbor in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, is closer to the Midwest than any other East Coast port, and is within an overnight drive of one-third of the US population, according to the port website .

The port boasts five public and 12 private terminals. In 2023, it ranked first in the nation in handling automobiles and light trucks. 

“For the American consumer, the biggest impact will be felt in terms of imported motor vehicles,” said Jason Miller, a business professor at Michigan State University. If sales remain strong, he said, “we could see inventories drop on the lots of dealers that sell imported vehicles until alternative arrangements can be made. This could increase motor vehicle prices for some makes and models.”

Alternate routes around collapsed Baltimore bridge

The Maryland Transportation Authority was suggesting drivers take Interstate 95 or Interstate 895 as alternatives to the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge along Interstate 695.

“I-695 Outer Loop closed at MD 10 (exit 2) and Inner Loop closed at MD 157/Peninsula Exp (exit 43),” MDTA said in a post on X.

Drivers could take several other, longer routes around Baltimore, but I-95 (Fort McHenry Tunnel) and I-895 (Baltimore Harbor Tunnel) are the most direct alternatives across the water.

There are few exceptions.

MDTA notes, vehicles carrying hazardous materials, including more than 10 pounds of propane, are not allowed in the tunnels. Additionally, vehicles more than 13-feet and 6-inches high or 8-feet wide may not use the 1-895 Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. Vehicles more than 14-feet and 6-inches high or 11-feet wide may not use the I-95 Fort McHenry Tunnel.

Those vehicles should use the western portion of I-695 instead.

How cold is the Patapsco River?

The Patapsco River is about 50 feet deep where the ship hit the bridge, officials said during a press conference Tuesday morning. Part of the 39-mile river helps form the Baltimore Harbor, just northwest of the bridge collapse, and it flows out to the Chesapeake Bay.

A buoy in the Patapsco River indicated the water temperature Tuesday morning was currently about 47 degrees, while the air is around 41 degrees, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Whereas hypothermia is thought to occur at very cold temperatures, it can occur in waters below 70 degrees, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

Key Bridge collapse draws comparisons to Florida's Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse

In 1980, a Florida bridge also collapsed after a ship collided with it, leading to the deaths of 35 motorists and bus passengers.

A 1,200-foot chunk of the Sunshine Skyway bridge – which connects St. Petersburg and Bradenton – collapsed after the massive Summit Venture freighter slammed into one of its central support piers.

When the section of the bridge fell into Tampa Bay, it took a truck, seven cars and a Greyhound bus with it.

The Herald-Tribune, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported the crash happened during an intense thunderstorm , with winds reaching 80 mph and heavy rain. At the time, visibility was near-zero, according to local historians who made a documentary film about the collapse.

After the collapse, the freighter remained stuck beneath the bridge, with part of the roadway on top of its bow. Photos from the time also show how one motorist was able to skip his car to a stop just inches away from where the bridge fell into the water.

-Claire Thornton

How vital is the Francis Scott Key Bridge?

The Francis Scott Key Bridge, named for the author of the "Star Spangled Banner," is a 1.6-mile, 4-lane bridge that crosses over the Patapsco River, according to the MDTA. It opened in 1977.

The port’s private and public terminals handled 847,158 autos and light trucks in 2023, the most of any U.S. port. The port also handles farm and construction machinery, sugar, gypsum and coal, according to a Maryland government website.

The span is the outermost of three major Patapsco River crossings at Baltimore Harbor, according to the American Civil Engineering Society. The steel-arched bridge, with a total length of 8,636 feet, was the second-longest continuous-truss bridge span in the world when it was built and remains the second longest in the United States and third in the world, according to the society .

Contributing: Reuters; Tom Vanden Brook, Eduardo Cuevas , USA TODAY

Baltimore bridge collapse: What happened and what do we know about the ship?

WHAT HAPPENED IN BALTIMORE?

Why did the bridge collapse, are there any casualties, what do we know about the ship that was involved, what do we know about the bridge that collapsed.

HOW WILL THE BRIDGE COLLAPSE IMPACT THE BALTIMORE PORT?

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Writing by Lisa Shumaker; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Stephen Coates

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Thomson Reuters

Lisa's journalism career spans two decades, and she currently serves as the Americas Day Editor for the Global News Desk. She played a pivotal role in tracking the COVID pandemic and leading initiatives in speed, headline writing and multimedia. She has worked closely with the finance and company news teams on major stories, such as the departures of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and significant developments at Apple, Alphabet, Facebook and Tesla. Her dedication and hard work have been recognized with the 2010 Desk Editor of the Year award and a Journalist of the Year nomination in 2020. Lisa is passionate about visual and long-form storytelling. She holds a degree in both psychology and journalism from Penn State University.

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How the Key Bridge Collapsed in Baltimore: Maps and Photos

By Weiyi Cai ,  Agnes Chang ,  Lauren Leatherby ,  Lazaro Gamio ,  Leanne Abraham and Scott Reinhard

On Tuesday, a major bridge in Baltimore collapsed into the water seconds after it was struck by a cargo ship, sending vehicles on the bridge into the river below. The ship lost power and issued a mayday call shortly before it hit the bridge.

The ship, a 948-foot-long cargo vessel called Dali, was about a half hour into its journey toward Colombo, Sri Lanka, when it hit a main pillar of the bridge. All crew members are safe, according to the ship’s owners.

Follow our live coverage .

A mayday call from the ship gave officials enough time to stop traffic at both ends of the bridge. The waters where the bridge collapsed are about 50 feet deep. By Tuesday morning, six construction workers who had been fixing potholes on the bridge remained missing as divers and other emergency workers on boats and helicopters continued to search for them. Two others had been rescued, and one was in the hospital.

Francis Scott

Patapsco River

The ship left the Port

of Baltimore around

1 a.m. on Tuesday.

Where impact occurred

Direction of the ship

The ship hit the

bridge at 1:28 a.m.

The ship hit the bridge at 1:28 a.m.

Where impact

Source: Spire Global

The New York Times; satellite image by Google Earth

The lights of the ship flickered on and off as it lost power in the minutes before the ship changed bearing and hit the bridge.

Ship approached from

the Port of Baltimore

Road repair crews

Ship changed heading

as it neared pillar

Ship hit pillar

Southern and central spans

of bridge began to collapse within

seconds of impact

Northern span began to

collapse seconds later

Within 30 seconds of impact,

the central part of bridge had

entirely collapsed.

Source: StreamTime Live via YouTube

Timestamps are from StreamTime Live video.

The New York Times

The Francis Scott Key Bridge was opened in 1977 and carried more than 12.4 million vehicles last year. The bridge was one of the three major ways to cross the Patapsco River and formed part of Baltimore’s beltway.

The Port of Baltimore is a major trade hub that handled a record amount of foreign cargo last year. It is an especially important destination — the nation’s largest by volume last year — for deliveries of cars and light trucks.

Ship impact

To Chesapeake Bay

Sources: Maryland Port Administration, OpenStreetMap, MarineTraffic

Note: Ship positions are as of 2:46 p.m. Eastern time.

Overall, Baltimore was the 17th biggest port in the United States in 2021, ranked by total tons, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The bridge collapse brought marine traffic there to a standstill, with seven cargo or tanker ships stranded in the harbor as of Tuesday afternoon.

Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency for Maryland and said that his office was in close communication with Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. transportation secretary. The White House issued a statement saying that President Biden had been briefed on the collapse.

Erin Schaff/The New York Times

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