Heading for the open road? Preparing for long-term travel

Anyone who has planned a trip understands that there are always things to take care of in advance of a trip. Long-term travel, however, is a whole different animal. When preparing to travel for an extended period of time, there are many other considerations, which we’ll discuss here.

Budget

Long-term travel can be costly, so it’s important to be realistic. Take into consideration your travel costs, lodging, food, souvenirs, incidentals, insurance, etc. Pro tip: When choosing your destination(s) consider choosing a destination in which the currency exchange works in your favour for the most budget-friendly vacation.

Decide what to do about your job

Unless you are retired, self-employed, or have the ability to take an extended leave of absence (or work remotely!) you’re going to have some decisions to make about what to do about your job to facilitate your adventure. You may have to take the plunge and quit, but that’s not necessarily the case. Talk to your boss and see if something can be worked out (such as a work-from-home arrangement). Maybe there’s a sabbatical program of which you can take advantage! You won’t know unless you ask.

Set yourself up financially

It’s a harsh reality of long-term travel: You’re going to have to save for it! It’s going to make your adventure that much sweeter if you can travel with a minimum of debt and as much disposable cash as possible. So, save your pennies, reduce your debt, and tie up as many loose ends as you can before your departure.

Get in the right head space

This may sound silly, but there is a certain amount of emotional preparation that goes into a long-term trip. If you are travelling to a far-away locale, how will you prepare for the culture shock? How will you handle not having some of the creature comforts you are accustomed to having? How will you stay in touch with family back home? All of these things are real considerations and you need to be sure you are as emotionally ready as possible. Depression can be really tough.

Take care of yourself

Nothing puts a damper on travel like falling sick. Although you can’t prevent getting sick altogether, it’s important to ensure you are as healthy as possible before you leave. Make appointments with your family physician and your dentist before you go to ensure there are no pressing issues, and get any vaccinations you’ll need (which will depend on your destination). Be sure you have enough of any medications you will require for your trip or additional prescriptions you may need.

Prepare your home

Since you will be gone for an extended period of time, there’s some things you’re going to need to take care of. Arrange to have your bills automatically paid, stop your newspaper delivery and have your mail service halted until you get back. Finally, have your home cleaned! It sounds odd to have your home cleaned when you aren’t going to be there, but companies like www.kingofmaids.com offer services that are very helpful before long-term travel. Having your home professionally cleaned before an extended trip means you will be welcomed home by a clean, tidy home when you return! That’s a small luxury but it will be a big thing when you return from weeks or months on the road.

There you have it: A few of the things you can do to prepare for an extended trip, many of which you may not have considered if you’ve never ventured out on a longer trip.