If you’ve recently decided to embark on your travelling journey, you’re probably in the process of organising the destinations you’d like to explore and also considering your travel and accommodation options. There are lots of things to think about before you set off, especially if you’re planning on travelling for a significant period of time. The last thing you need is complications while you’re away that might make it difficult to continue the journey onwards.
Amongst all the travel preparations, you may be feeling anxious or sad about leaving family and friends behind. These emotional stresses can make preparing for long-haul travel even harder, which is why we’ve put together the ultimate guide to getting organised for long-haul travel.
Finances and Savings
Hopefully you’re in a position where you’ve decided to travel, but have plenty of time to save money to spend whilst you’re there. Perhaps you already have money saved, in which case you may not need to put any additional savings aside. Though if you’d like to feel financially prepared for your trip, we recommend saving early.
If you’re travelling alone, it’s wise to dedicate a proportion of your monthly wage to travel savings, and choose an amount that’s small enough to be consistent with. But first, in order to know how much money will be sufficient to save, you must calculate your travel expenses. Here are some expenses that you may not have considered:
- Airport transfers such as taxis, private transfers, and shuttle buses
- Luggage storage before checking into accommodation
- Travel vaccinations – commonly these can include vaccinations against hepatitis and cholera
- Travel insurance, which may need to be updated or renewed depending on your travelling history
- Small daily purchases such as coffee, water and convenience items
While these considerations are important, you should first prioritise working out a rough average for how much you’d like to spend each day of your travels. Of course, some days will naturally be more expensive than others, such as days when you pay for excursions. Though similarly, there will certainly be other days where costs will be much lower, perhaps on a rest day.
Working out roughly how much you’d like to spend every day will allow for days where costs may be higher and lower too. Once you’ve identified your daily expenses, you can then calculate an average per month or longer. It’s necessary when budgeting for your long-haul travel to build in a financial buffer to cover unexpected costs that are harder to plan for.
Make A Rough Itinerary
Planning activities and destinations for your journey can be tricky and time-consuming when you’re planning for months and up to a year. It’s also unrealistic, as other factors may influence your proposed plans, such as weather forecasts and unprecedented illnesses. Additionally, when you create a plan for every second of every day that you’re travelling, you may begin to feel stressed when trying to stick to timings and your schedule.
Despite this, making a rough itinerary is important. If you’re someone who’s spontaneous and loves to go with the flow, you may decide to travel without a plan entirely, though having a general idea of the places you’d like to visit can ensure that you make the most of your time away – after all, travelling gets harder as we age and have more responsibilities.
Being prepared doesn’t have to mean filling every day with destinations and activities. Instead, choose a few different places that can be a priority to see, and browse what activities and hotspots are available. If these excursions don’t require booking in advance, you don’t need to plan when to do them until you arrive; that way you have flexibility if plans get disrupted and need to change.
Consider Your Employment Status
Some travellers are lucky enough to have flexible professions that allow them to work adjustable hours throughout the week or work entirely remotely – from anywhere in the world! In these professions, you may not need to consider your employment circumstances, as you can easily pick up work along your travels.
For many others, working while travelling is not quite as easy, and sometimes it’s impossible. It might be the case that you’ve decided to travel to take a break from your professional life. In which case, preparing for your return may not be necessary, though you must consider how you will make money after your travels are over.
For individuals who are looking to travel on a brief career break, with every intention to return to their professional careers once they return, it’s important to consider whether or not your employer will support your career break or brief time off work. Many companies now offer employees the opportunity to take time off work to travel, but these instances may only be eligible in specific circumstances. If you’re unsure, it’s best to arrange a meeting with your employer or manager to discuss the options available to you.
Pack Wisely
It can be difficult to know what to pack for a long-duration trip, especially when you have fluid plans. Most experienced travellers recommend limiting yourself to two bags, one that can comfortably fit in overhead storage and one that can sit underneath your seat and stay with you for the journey. This way, you have enough room to fit in your travel essentials without feeling dragged and slowed down by everything you’ve brought with you.
Remember, packing for long-haul flights isn’t always the same as shorter-duration flights. A common tactic being adopted by younger travellers is to carry skin-care items in their under-seat cabin. They will often pack essentials like moisturiser and face primer to protect their skin from becoming dehydrated during the flight. Particularly if you’re travelling to a country with warmer temperatures and higher humidity, it’s helpful to prepare your skin for these conditions. This can help you enjoy your daily activities without having to worry about skin irritation or discomfort.
Some other ways to pack wisely include choosing lightweight and quick-dry clothing items to maximise available space in your bags, as well as making it easier to carry.
Darcy Fowler has dedicated a lot of time to travelling around countries in Europe and Asia. She is determined to provide interesting and insightful content with the hope of inspiring others to broaden their horizons. Darcy has a big ambition to establish herself in the world of home travel blogging.
