The world is full of so many amazing adventures and exciting places just asking to be explored. Long-term travel is a very different experience to shorter breaks and therefore requires a little more planning, but you can’t let that put you off! Here are six stress-free tips for planning long-term travel.
Decide what your trip is about
It can be very overwhelming to plan such a long trip and easy to lose sight of exactly what you want to do. For example, are you backpacking, or interrailing? Are you going to work as you travel, and move on as you feel, or do you want a little more structure and to plan everything before you go? Consider whether you want to tick off tourist places, or visit destinations a little more off the beaten path. When you answer these questions your planning will be a little easier, as you will have a focus.
Do your research
Whenever you travel, research is important to know where to go and what to see, but with long-term travel, there is even more to research. Not only the places and activities but also tips from bloggers and travel writers about how to make the most of travelling long term, the insurance you need, and any other medical information. The more you know, the better prepared you can be and the less stress you will have.
Practice packing
The more prepared you are when it comes to packing, the less stressful it will be. Make sure you write a list of everything you need and check it several times. 1Cover’s Secret Traveller blog recommends having copies of all of your documents, just in case; whether you take hard photocopies or scan them and save them as PDFs, it’s always better to have backups.
Reuse clothes
Unlike a short trip, you don’t have the luxury of being able to pack an outfit for every day, so you need to be a little more strategic. Choose things that you can layer up, dress up or down and wear with a variety of other things. Lightweight items that can be hand washed and dried easily as needed will also serve you well while you travel.
Consider your budget
Long-term travel isn’t cheap and you’ll need to start saving in plenty of time. Make sure you budget enough to cover your accommodation, food, and travel as well as activities, excursions, gifts, and emergencies. This will require a long of planning, as you’ll need to make sure you have enough money when you go and that it will last the whole trip.
Get excited!
As soon as a trip becomes more stressful than exciting, you might as well not go. Although planning can be difficult at times, it’s important to also focus on the fun you are going to have, and the things you are excited to do. As much as planning is important, it is also useful to have some flexibility in your plans as this will help reduce your stress levels.
So, what are you waiting for? Get planning that epic long-term trip you have been thinking about for years! There is no time like the present and you won’t regret it – but be warned, it can be very addictive!
What are your top tips for stress-free travel planning?
