Email address for travelling: what is it, and should you take it with you on a trip or while backpacking?
What is a travel e-mail address?
- A travel e-mail address is a temporary e-mail address is an additional or anonymous email address that you create for a specific period or purpose – for example, during your trip or backpacking adventure. Think of: Julieontheroad@provider.com or james.backpack@gmail.com.
What can you use a temporary email address for when traveling or backpacking?
- For contacting hostels, volunteer projects or travel buddies, without flooding your personal inbox.
- For signing up for wifi, tours or forums without sharing your main address (spam alert!).
- For emergencies: a trusted contact address for family or friends.
- For work or volunteering on the road, so that private and work remain separate.
- Many email address providers have options for auto-forwarding, with that function you can organize incoming mail traffic and still have some of the benefits of a temporary mail address
When do you take a temporary email address with you when traveling or backpacking?
- When you are traveling for a longer period of time and want to remain reachable without sharing your permanent mail address.
- To be able to separate your travel life from your 'normal' life so you can properly detach from your everyday life
- When you plan to sign up for many local services or platforms.
- When you are traveling for work or volunteer projects.
Where can you create a temporary e-mail address?
- This is possible with all e-mail providers.
- Or use temporary email services. These are useful for one-time verifications and short trips, but less so for long-term contact.
