If you were to ask anyone what they wished they had more time for in their lives, chances are traveling would be at the top of the list.
It would be a dream come true for most to be able to get away from the stresses of everyday life more frequently.
So, when you’re presented with the opportunity to get away for weeks or months at a time, naturally, you’re going to take full advantage.
But before you pack your bags and venture off, you must keep in mind that long-term travel takes far more planning and preparation than getting away for just a few days.
If you want to ensure that your experience is as stress free as possible, you’ll want to ensure you’ve done some of the things listed below.
Money
You’re going to be away from home and probably your regular income source for several weeks or months.
How will you support yourself while you’re gone?
The last thing you want is to run out of cash half way through your trip.
You’ll either be stuck in a foreign place with nothing to do or you’ll have to cut your vacation short.
Securing as much money as you can before you go is the most practical solution.
Analyze your savings to determine how much you have on hand.
Then, consider how much you’ll get from your employer (i.e. do you have paid vacation days you can cash in to continue receiving money while you’re away?).
If you don’t have enough money to survive and enjoy your trip, you’ll need to consider ways to make money before or during your vacation.
There’s no shortage of side gigs you can take on to add to your travel budget.
You can even earn money while on your trip by housesitting or completing skill-based tasks online.
Home
While you’re away, your residence is usually left unattended.
Without proper planning, you could be setting yourself up for a disaster upon your return.
Anything from dead plants and abandoned pets to stolen packages and utility shutoffs at the extreme end of things.
Not to mention more serious circumstances like thefts or natural disasters – yikes.
Before traveling long-term, you’ll definitely want to make sure that your home is secure.
Ask someone you trust to check the mail, water plants, and care for your pets.
If that’s not an option, you have other choices.
You can get a P.O. Box and change address online so your mail is secure. Or you could ask the post office to put a vacation hold on your mail.
You can find a kennel to send your pets to while you’re away, although this is fairly expensive so you’ll need a much larger budget for this.
You could also hire a house sitter to take care of daily activities and your pets. This would be the more economical way to go.
Finally, pay your bills in advance or at the very least set your bills to autopay so nothing is shut off unexpectedly.
If you have a home security system, let your security provider know that you’ll be away, and be mindful of how many people you give the security code to.
You should also lock all entry points and tend to your lawn to reduce your property’s vulnerabilities to thieves.
Health
Last but not least, when preparing to travel long-term, make sure your health is in top shape.
You’re going to be far away from your doctors. You’re also exposing yourself to different environments, cultures, and time zones that can have an impact on your well-being.
As you don’t want to be on vacation and get sick, it’s best to take some simple precautions in advance.
Visit your doctor and other medical specialists for screenings, physicals, and exams to make sure you don’t have any underlying conditions you may be unaware of like high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
While neither should prevent you from traveling, you’ll want to be aware so you can make adjustments to your food choices while abroad.
Update immunizations and ask for any necessary prescriptions to be filled before your departure, so you have your medication with you on your trip.
Finally, be sure to pack vitamins, supplements, and first aid supplies.
It’s no secret that more people dream of living the nomadic lifestyle.
While that may not be possible for you just yet, taking a long-term trip can offer a small taste.