How to prepare for the practicalities of an extended holiday

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The anticipation and the excitement of looking forward to a trip is always a great feeling whether you are going on a short weekend break or a fortnight away. But, when you are heading off on an extended holiday, there is even more to look forward to. Taking an extended break and travelling for weeks or even months is an ideal opportunity to get even more enjoyment from your time away. However, to ensure your trip lives up to your expectations, it is wise to plan it as carefully as you can. If you love spontaneity and prefer just to wing it when you go away, you may want to make a plan for this trip to ensure you make the most of every moment of your journey; after all, it is not every day you get the chance to escape from ordinary life for months at a time. To help you make the most of this exciting opportunity and to keep any stressful situations at bay, you may want to consider some of the following points:

Check Your Documents

Whether you plan to stay in the same location throughout your trip or travel around, it is essential to check which travel documents you will need. Depending on where you are travelling, you may need to apply for a visa, or you may be allowed to travel without a visa but need to comply with restrictions on the length of your stay and when you can return to the country. Either way, it is wise to understand which pieces of documentation you will need as soon as possible to prevent a stressful rush to complete the paperwork when your travel date gets closer.

Don’t forget to double check the expiry date on your passport before you travel too. If you are visiting countries that require you to have at least six months left on your passport, it is helpful to think about this before you take your extended trip and ensure you have plenty of time left before your passport expires.

Make Arrangements for Your Responsibilities

While it is a great feeling to have the freedom to travel whenever and wherever you like, as an adult, it is usually necessary to balance your everyday responsibilities against your wanderlust. Unfortunately, this often means sorting out some practicalities before you can head off on your travels. This is not too much hassle to arrange for a regular holiday, but when you are planning a more extended trip, there is a bit more to think about. 

If you will be away for several weeks or even several months, you may be concerned about leaving your home for this amount of time. Leaving your home empty can be concerning both from a security point of view, but also financially. So, you may want to consider having a friend or relative house sit for you while you are away. Or you could even explore the idea of renting out your home as a short term let to make some money while you are away if that is something you are comfortable with. 

If you have pets, you will also need to arrange for them to be looked after while you are on your trip. Starting to make arrangements for pet care early is the best solution to ensure your pet is looked after well until you return back home. Knowing your pet is in safe hands will prevent you from worrying while you are away and enable you to enjoy your holiday knowing they are being taken care of by someone you trust.

Protect Yourself

Of course, staying safe and healthy is a major priority when you are travelling, especially if you are far from home. Thinking about the best ways to protect yourself while you are away is essential. The first thing you can do is stay up to date with all the latest travel advice issued by the government. Monitoring the foreign travel advice provided on the government website will help you to stay informed about any changes in advice that could impact your trip, such as health warnings.

Suppose you will need vaccinations to protect yourself while travelling or require malaria medication. In that case, it is best to get your appointments for these scheduled so that you allow yourself enough time to receive the doses needed before you travel. If you take regular medication for other conditions, you will also need to discuss your prescriptions with your doctor so that they can issue you enough medication for your trip. Don’t forget; some countries have different rules about which medications you can bring into the country, so it is essential to check this before travelling.

Researching the best travel insurance offers is also a wise idea when you are travelling for a more extended period. Finding the right level of insurance cover to match your needs will provide you with added peace of mind while away and allow you to relax and enjoy your trip.

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Final Thoughts for Planning the Perfect Long Break

Planning a longer holiday can feel overwhelming. You may feel stressed about preparing for a long trip and feel under pressure to make sure you make the most of this opportunity and do not let it go to waste. 

The best way to avoid any of the pitfalls that can scupper your trip, it is a good idea to start your planning as soon as you can. Getting the formal details, such as your documentation, sorted out early will enable you to focus your attention on the more exciting parts of your trip. With the paperwork out the way, you will be able to spend your time putting together your must-visit list of places to visit, plus things to see and do while you are there. With all the planning complete, you will be able to look forward to and count down the days until your exciting adventure, and then enjoy every second of it while you are there.

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This post was written with the Life According to Steph audience in mind