What To Consider When Preparing For Extended Travel

Are you planning a trip that includes an extended amount of time away? Perhaps your job requires you to temporarily relocate, or you are taking a sabbatical and visiting another country for a few months. Regardless of the reason, there are a number of considerations to think through before embarking on extended travel.

Preparing for an extended travel itinerary requires a lot of planning – especially if you are planning for more than just yourself. If travelling with a partner or your family, a lot of detailed preparation needs to be done.

Firstly, you need to decide on the location that you would like to travel to, as well as the amount of time that you would like to travel for. You need to set a budget and draft a to-do list. These steps will make the months leading up to the trip smooth and stress-free. To help with the planning process, here are a few other important things to consider.

Finances

This is certainly no surprise but without finances a trip cannot take place. Before traveling long-term, you will need to consider how much will you need to not only book your accommodation and travel, but to make sure that you can live comfortably each day. Make sure you draw up a detailed and realistic budget that will factor in a few surprises. Knowing that you are financially prepared will make the entire trip less stressful.

Upon arrival in your new location, you need to consider how you will manage your cashflow. This will involve banking, bill payments and taxes. Are you traveling internationally? If so, it is important to let your bank know of the countries that you will be visiting. Most banks allow for international transactions and this can easily be set up by contacting your specified provider. If you don’t do so, they may freeze your account if they detect foreign transactions.

Belongings

When traveling, you don’t just leave behind your city, you also leave behind all of your belongings. Before you jet off for an extended period, you need to make sure that your valuables are kept safe, especially if you are looking to rent out your property while you are away. Using the likes of Airbnb has become an extremely popular means of making a bit of money while you spend time exploring other parts of the world, however it does come with some risks.

Many travelers who choose to rent out their property use self storage to keep their valuables safe. Self storage also allows you to declutter your home in preparation for welcoming those paying guests, or it may be as simple as not wanting someone else to sit in your favorite chair!

Storage King offers conveniently located and accessible facilities with optimal security through the likes of CCTV and alarmed units*. This means that you can focus on travelling while we look after your belongings.

Administrative logistics

Make sure that you do your research on the area that you will be traveling to. Find out whether you require a certain VISA upon entry or a specific pre-trip immunization. Also bear in mind that if you or any of your family members are on prescription medication, that you have an adequate supply for the duration of your trip. Another important document to add to your list is your travel insurance info as this will help reduce the stress should something unfortunate happen while you are out and about.

Handy tip: It is a good idea to make copies of all important information such as passports, credit cards and bank information in case of theft or loss and save them in the cloud.

Maintaining lifestyle

While children are adaptable beings, a routine can ensure a sense of security and provide a great learning opportunity. If you are taking your children out of their current education system, consider how you will supplement their education while traveling. Will you home school your child or enroll them into a local school in your new location? Maintaining other lifestyle habits, such as exercise regimes and healthy eating, can also reduce the stress that often accompanies travel. It also makes returning back to normal life much easier when you do eventually arrive back at home!

If you are in the process of planning for extended travel and need a secure space to leave your belongings, why not give us a call on 0800 0852 954 and chat to our friendly staff who are ready to assist with your needs.

*See store pages for access and security features