How To Prepare for Long Term Travel: A Before You Go Checklist
So you’ve decided you’re ready for long-term travel! Maybe you’re jetting off to explore Europe for a few months. Perhaps you are getting ready to study abroad in Chile or about to head to Thailand for some backpacking, a gap year or a work-abroad placement. Whatever the deal may be, there are some key things you need to do before you leave. Some of these may seem obvious but when you’re getting ready for a big trip it’s always nice to have a checklist, so here’s how to prepare yourself for long-term travel.
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TRAVEL BASICS
Transport: CHEAP FLIGHTS & BUSES
Transport: AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Accommodation: HOTEL DEALS & CHEAP HOSTELS
Things to Do: TOURS & ACTIVITIES
Getting Around: RENTAL CARS
Safety & Health: TRAVEL INSURANCE
Preparing for Long Term Travel: Make sure your passport is up to date.
This is definitely the most obvious step to getting ready for any big trip. However I still can’t stress how important this is. Check the expiry date on your passport and make sure it will not expire before you will be leaving the country you are going to. Your passport is your lifeline while abroad so make sure that when your passport is with you (in airports, traveling from one hostel to another, etc.) that it stays on your person. Invest in a money belt for security and peace of mind.
Get your visas in order.
I’m not talking about credit cards here. If you’re going somewhere for a long time chances are you are going to need a Visa of some sort or another. In fact, some countries may even require a Visa just to enter the country (depending on where you’re from). The Visa you need to get will depend on the type of traveling you will be doing. For example there are Visas for studying abroad, working abroad, and just visiting.
Buy Travel Insurance.
If you’re going away for a long time, travel insurance can be expensive. Buy it anyway. Trust me on this one. One time while backpacking through Thailand I got really bad food poisoning that led to an infection. I had to stay in a hospital on Koh Phi Phi overnight and I am so grateful I got travel insurance. That hospital visit would have been over $3000 CAD for me if I hadn’t purchased the insurance.
Insurance will allow you to visit the hospital or doctor’s office if you get sick or injured. You really never know what can happen while abroad and it’s not good to take any chances, especially when you could put the money from a doctor’s visit like that to future travels or fun activities on your travels. I used to get my travel insurance from a different company but now I get my travel insurance from World Nomads and I highly recommend them because they have great coverage and 24/7 emergency assistance.
Visit a travel clinic.
No one wants to get sick abroad. That’s why it’s super important to visit a travel clinic when you go abroad. You may need to get some injections or oral medications to take depending on where you go. Some places may be hot spots for malaria or other diseases and infections and it’s important to be protected against these. Plus you can also get medicine to prevent against travelers’ diarrhea which is super common. I know… Pretty exciting stuff.
How to Prepare Yourself for Long Term Travel: Do some research to stay safe.
Check out your home country’s embassy website to see if there are any travel warnings concerning the countries you will be traveling to. Do some more online research to see if there are any neighborhoods or areas that are considerably dangerous and should be avoided. Consider buying a Guidebook for the country you will be visiting. I personally really like Lonely Planet Guidebooks. Above all else use your common sense when abroad.
Unlock your cell phone.
Get your cell phone unlocked before you jet off on your big adventure. Getting your cell phone unlocked will allow you to purchase a new SIM card when you get to your destination. This means you will be able to text and call any new friends you make while abroad. You also won’t have to worry about keeping ‘Airplane Mode’ on all the time so you don’t acquire roaming fees.
It’s often much harder to unlock your cell phone while abroad than while you’re at home. You can get your cell unlocked at many cell repair shops or by calling your service provider. Just make sure you tell your service provider that you are wanting to get your phone unlocked because you are traveling abroad. If you don’t do this your service provider may think you are wanting to simply switch providers in your home country and, not wanting to lose your business, they may make you jump through some ridiculous hoops.
Tell your bank that you’re traveling.
I used to have to do this before every trip but now my bank automatically updates my location for me. I don’t know how they do it but they do. However, your bank may not do this so make sure that you check so you can notify them about your trip. It’s also a good idea to look into which bank machines you can use abroad (some will not work for your bank card). Make sure to check currency conversions and get a little cash changed before you go so that you don’t have to exchange it in the airport when you get there.
Stock up on personal medications.
I currently have some medications that I need to take daily to manage anxiety and asthma. Before every long-term trip I make sure to go to my doctor’s office and tell them I’m going to be traveling for X amount of time. This way I can renew my prescription for however many months I will be gone. When packing my medications I always make sure to put half of them in my checked baggage and half in my carry-on. That way if I get to my destination and lose one of my bags then I still have a hefty amount of meds I can use until I figure out how to get more whilst abroad.
Buy your flights.
Obviously, if you are going out of the country and not planning on taking a train or bus, then you are going to need to book your flights. I find that booking my flights early often saves me a ton of money. It’s always a good idea to check prices on different websites and compare them. Below are some of my favorite websites for finding cheap flights:
Related article: Affordable Transportation: How to Find Cheap Flights, Train Tickets & Bus Fares
Preparing for Long Term Travel: Book your rooms
No matter where you go you are going to have book a place to stay. If you’re planning on moving around the country a lot then your best bet will probably be to book hotels or hostels depending on your budget. Personally when I travel I prefer to book hostels because they’re a great way to meet fellow travelers from all over the world. If you will mostly be staying in the same place during your trip then it will probably be better to rent an apartment. Some of my favorite websites to book cheap rooms are the following:
- Agoda: Agoda is one of my favorite sites for hotels because it shows you hotels, inns, resorts, apartments you can rent, and more! They have filters you can select if you’re looking for something specific like a family-friendly or pet-friendly place too.
- Hostel World: If I’m looking for a really cheap place to stay (and a place where I can meet a ton of cool people) I use Hostel World.
Related article: Budget Travel: How to Find Cheap Accommodation
Pack smart!
Research what the weather will be like when you go abroad. When I first left for a semester in Chile I stupidly assumed that because it was in South America that it would be hot or at least warm most of the time. When I arrived I ended up having to purchase more sweaters and scarves since I arrived in Santiago’s winter season. I did get to enjoy hotter months as well but those first few days without the right clothing were so cold!
Also make sure that you don’t overpack. If you’re going somewhere for a long period of time you are probably going to end up going shopping and accumulating a lot of pretty clothes and souvenirs. A good way to budget some extra space is to place an object (like a rolled up sleeping bag or pillow) inside your backpack or suitcase and then pack everything else around it. When you’re done packing take the pillow or sleeping bag out and you will have extra room for souvenirs. I am such a souvenir sucker on long trips so I often end up rolling up an extra duffel bag into my backpack and bringing it with me. That way I have more room to take all my souvenirs and gifts home on the way back.
Get excited!
Traveling, especially for a long time, is super fun. Get yourself pumped up for your upcoming trip! Check out what other travelers and locals have to say about where you’re going. Go on Pinterest and make a board of ideas for your upcoming trip. You can use this to find out where the best restaurants, tours, sights and activities are. If you identify as a female then request to join the Girls Love Travel Facebook Group so you can ask other travelers where the best spots are or even just to make friends before you go! Something else I like to do before I go on a big trip is to make sure I have a travel journal that I can paste photos, ticket stubs and magazine clippings into while I’m there.
I sincerely hope this list helps you as you get ready to jet off on your big long-term adventure. I’m so excited that you’re getting out there and exploring what this wonderful world has to offer. If you have any other before-you-go tips, questions or want to share how this list may have helped you, please let me know in the comments!
Happy travels!
Other posts you might like:
- 15 Reasons to Learn a Foreign Language
- Travel Journal Ideas: 20 Things to Include in Your Travel Journal
- Surprise Trip Planning: How to Surprise Someone with a Trip
- Top Travel Apps to Download before Your Next Trip
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Great tips April! In relation to #5, it’s also a good idea to register with your home country’s government saying that you are abroad, if your home county offers that service. In case of a major widespread emergency (natural disaster, war, civil unrest) it may help you get assistance more easily. In the case of the Canadian government, they also occasionally send you emails about changes to Canadian laws that may affect you or about changes to services at the consulates/embassies in your area.
Such a great point! Thanks Jessica!
Great tips! I’m about to go abroad and I almost completely forgot to tell my bank where I’m going! EVERY TIME, lol. Good call on the meds as well. 🙂
That’s awesome Clazz! I’m really glad you saw this beforehand and am glad the list has already helped you. Happy travels!
Great and undoubtedly useful tips! Thanks for sharing <3
Carmelatte
Thanks so much Carmelatte! Glad you liked it!
Agree with every single one of these pointers, great post!!
Thanks so much!
These are great tips just for every day travel I feel. I got caught out on number one when I was living in Singapore and making many a short trip to the rest of Southeast Asia. It completely slipped my mind that some countries want your passport to be valid for 6months! Learned my lesson!
Yikes! I hope everything worked out okay!
I love these tips! even though we typically travel more short term they are perfectly valid even for shorter duration. Many people leave vaccinations and the visit to the clinic to the last minute and it’s such an important step!
That’s so true! I visited a MEC store before going to Thailand and was looking at mosquito nets. One girl there said to be sure to get all the vaccines because she hadn’t and she ended up getting super sick.
I WISH I had this list before I went abroad! These tips were so spot on. There were so many times where I would forget to let my bank know about my travels, and I would end up in the middle of a purchase with a declined card. The worst! Love love this post <3
Thanks Kerry! I’m glad you liked the list 🙂
These are great tips and some that people often forget. I know so many people who have not told their banks where they are traveling to and it has caused them issues. I now told mine that I am traveling “THE WORLD” to prevent any stops on my account.
Hahaha that’s the best way to tell your bank Chantell!
Thank you, this post is very helpful, and something EVERYONE should read before a long-term trip.
I learned some of this through trial and error, and some through having my first long-term trip be a study abroad where they gave us the info – I know a lot of people who travel for a while and don’t do some of this (especially checking the passport is valid for 6 months after return and the medical prep!)
Will be sharing 🙂
Thanks so much Joanna! I think we learned in similar ways. Glad you liked it!
This is a good checklist to prepare for a trip abroad. I try to have all these things in order every time I travel long term, which is often! Having an unlocked phone especially helps
Thanks! Yes the unlocked phone thing is so important if you want to stay connected to new friends you make abroad 🙂
Awesome tips! Takes me back to sailing around the world for half a year a few years back…there’s SO much to do before you leave!
That sounds so amazing! Sailing around the world, wow! I bet you had some extra pre-trip things to do for that trip!