Start preparing your long-term travel pack before you hit the road or hop on the plane so that you don’t run out of necessities during your trip.
So you've decided to leave your home behind and see the world. You’ll need to make preparations. Just like you wouldn’t go on a hike with no supplies, you’ll need a toolbox of tips and tricks to survive your time away from home. Whether you're traveling for a month or a year, you'll want to consult these eight tips to keep your travels turbulence-free.
Stock up on the long-term travel essentials
Start preparing your long-term travel pack before you hit the road or hop on the plane so that you don't run out of necessities during your trip. You might also want to include some critical items that will keep you safe and comfortable during your travels.
Long-term travel essentials include:
- Expandable suitcase
- Packing cubes in different sizes
- Outlet converter (for overseas trips)
- Passport and copies
- A digital mailbox from providers like iPostal1
A digital mailbox sends you notifications and pictures of your mail while you’re away. You can choose to have mail forwarded to you or opt to pick it up when you return home. A digital mailbox is suitable for ensuring your correspondence doesn’t slip through the cracks while you’re jet-setting.
Other great-to-have items include a camera, an international phone and phone plan, and a valid e-mail address that you can access from anywhere in the world.
Create an itinerary
Before you go anywhere, you need to create an itinerary for your trip, especially if it’s longer than a few weeks. Without an itinerary, you’ll be parachuting into a new city with no clue of what it has to offer, and you might miss out on something you wanted to see. The more time you spend planning now, the more time you can spend exploring later on.
For example, if you’re planning a long-term European excursion, it's better to book museum tours and reservations beforehand. Without a reservation, they might be fully booked when you get there, and you’ll have to find something else to do.
Similarly, you'll want to book hotel rooms and tickets in advance if you’re hopping from country to country. If you don’t, you could end up paying through the nose for a room or even sleeping in the airport.
Make a budget
Whether you’re a digital nomad or taking a break from work, your money probably isn’t infinite. You can make the most out of a fixed budget by tracking your spending and planning.
For example, if you know you will eat out a lot, plan how much you're willing to spend for each meal. If you don't keep track of how much you’re spending on local delicacies, you might see your funds wither quicker than you expected.
After planning your ideal budget, create a tracking sheet to ensure you stick to your restrictions.
Take time off from work
The most effective way to travel long-term without restrictions is to take time off from work. If you work while travelling, you might find yourself in front of one of the seven wonders stressing about your upcoming deadlines. By taking time off for travel, you’ll have the freedom to enjoy what you see.
You can also ask if your job will let you work remotely for a while so that you can still earn a living during your trip.
If you work remotely while travelling, you’ll have a larger budget, but you’ll also be sacrificing valuable sightseeing time, so choose wisely.
Research the region
What you bring depends on where you’re going. For instance, you wouldn't pack shorts and tank tops to go to Iceland. Research the weather in places you plan to visit so you aren’t blindsided by blizzards or heat waves.
Not only will this help you pack, but it can tell you what to expect from the people and culture while you're there.
Remember that you're a visitor, not a native. It's best to brush up on standard greetings and manners so you don’t accidentally offend anyone.
Make a doctor's appointment
After all of the planning for a long trip, it would be devastating to have it ruined by a head cold. Make an appointment with your doctor before you depart to ensure you're in good enough health to travel.
While you’re there, you can also brush up on your immunizations since some countries require them for entry.
For example, some areas require malaria prevention treatment before traveling. You don't want to get to your gate and miss your flight because you didn't take the necessary medicines beforehand.
You’ll also want to stock up on any daily medications. That way, you don't have to worry about running out during your travels or having to get a script filled while you're away.
Look into travel credit cards and newsletters
If your credit is good enough for another card, you might want to consider a travel card.
Typically, you receive a hefty portion of travel miles with most travel cards when you sign up. They’ll also give miles on restaurants and gas purchases. You can use these miles to fund your initial start or trips once you get going.
Travel newsletters will keep you in the know about airfare, vacation rental, hotel booking, and car rental deals. The extra intel certainly won’t hurt, and it might even save you a pretty penny.
Keep in touch with people back home
Safety is critical when traveling long-term. Yes, exploring new places is thrilling, but losing yourself in the excitement can make you vulnerable.
It's a good idea to keep in touch with your loved ones back home so they can keep track of your movements. If you don't, how will anyone know if you're in trouble?
That’s not to say you have to text your mom every five minutes. Instead, just send an update when you plan to travel to a new place or check out a new area.
A final word
Whether you're an experienced traveler or find yourself longing for an extended vacation, it never hurts to follow some free advice for the long-term tourist. You deserve to enjoy your trip to the fullest, so have fun, and don’t forget to send postcards.
