People love travelling. A one- to two-week escape can restore your vitality and give you a much-needed break to rest and restore your body and mind. What about a longer trip? Most people don’t do this, but it is life-changing and can profoundly affect your entire life.
Long vacations are extended trips with different logistical challenges that impact your routines. Remember, you only get one life, so it should be filled with experiences that fulfill your soul and quench your spirit. This is why an extended adventure should be on everyone’s planning table.
Everyone should take a trip like this at least once to get beyond the touristy locations and into the heart of the destinations they venture to. Use this as a guide to a memorable vacation and create lasting memories for the rest of your life.
Are you intrigued? Do you need help putting it all together? This is how you plan a long vacation.
Pick a Date for Departure
Long vacations can last a month, six months, or even longer, so you must factor in when you leave. During your travels, you will experience different calendar events and seasons.
Do you want to time your trip to a specific event at one of your destinations? Think Octoberfest in Germany, Dia De Los Muertos in Mexico, Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai, and La Tomatina in Buñoland Carnival in Rio. Beyond these major events, you may want to visit loved ones on their birthdays or anniversaries.
It all comes down to timing. Decide where and when you want to be, and then work your way back to a departure date that works for everyone.
Know When to Splurge and When to be Frugal
Your trip can get expensive if you don’t monitor it, but that doesn’t mean you should nickel and dime the entire venture. Spend money wisely but treat yourself to make the trip more enjoyable. This includes travel days, especially because they are hectic and uncomfortable.
When you reach your destination by plane, treat yourself to an airport limo service to comfortably arrive at your hotel, resort, or homestay. Having a professional driver get you safely to your destination without worrying about cabs or car rentals will make your first day much better.
Limo companies know how to treat travellers and can be a valuable resource with a selection of vehicles in their fleet. This is regardless of your group size or destination.
Prepare Your Home
Extended trips bring up many issues around your home because leaving it unattended for long requires planning. You will need to handle several tasks, including:
- Mail pick-up
- Bill payments
- Unplugging appliances
- Setting up light timers
- Emptying your fridge
- Pausing regular deliveries
- Handling pet care
- Turning off water
These and other items must be handled so you have peace of mind while gone. Consider having someone check your home once a week to ensure everything is okay while you are away, or even having a home sitter live there.
Don’t Overpack
An extended vacation means more clothing, but the opposite is true for several reasons.
First, it is tough to pack luggage everywhere. A long trip will involve using airplanes, trains, buses, and everything in between, so you want to avoid lugging around bulky items. Second, at all your destinations, there will be laundry services you can use. Third, you don’t need a bunch of different outfits because you will probably be in different locations, so what you wear will look brand new in each place.
Plan on two weeks of clothing, with a few special outfits for unique events. If necessary, you can buy underwear and socks cheaply on the road. However, everything else is a quick wash and dry, and you are good to go.
Book the Major Stops
A long vacation could be a home rental at a famous spot or an around-the-world tour. Regardless of your destinations, book the major places so everything is coordinated before you leave. When travelling long distances, the structure is key.
Between the hard bookings, leave yourself to see where the wind takes you. This is true for international travel to Europe, where you can jump to the must-see destinations and adjust your plans to stay somewhere longer. This will give you a sense of adventure while knowing you have roots in one of the major travel hubs.
Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash
