Preparing for Extended Periods of Travel

It’s fun to enjoy extended periods of travel, distant countries, sightseeing historical places, and eating in Irish pubs, French cafés, and Italian pasticcerias.  The benefits of culture, history, determination, and foreign language are immeasurable.

But once you’ve made the decision to go, how do you prepare for extended periods of travel?

Street performer or Extended Period Traveler – They tend to have the same stare

A standard suggestion for travelers is to travel light, so how do we pack when we’re going to be gone for a while?

After taking my last several trips that lasted for more than a month each, I’ve come up with the following suggestions: they tend to have the same stare

1. Ensure that medications are current and that you’ll have a supply sufficient for the time you’ll be away or until you have arranged to buy them oversees.
2. Make sure that dental and doctor appointments are up to date, and if any immunizations will be needed before your departure.
3. Insure that online bill paying is set up and working properly before you go. You’ll also want to have some way to check your credit card and checkbook balances while you’re away.
4. Plan that you’ll need to have your hair done during your time away. Manicures, pedicures, haircuts, and color treatments will not last if you’re going on extended periods of travel.
5. Even if you’re traveling in the summer, be prepared for cooler weather, just in case. Pack a long sleeve shirt or two, a scarf, and a light jacket.  We’ve found mid-weight jackets from REI are the perfect weight, wash well, and are thin enough to wear under a rain jacket.
6. You’ve probably heard it before, but it bears repeating: Pack light and check one bag per person.  This makes it so much easier during the travel and it’s cheaper.  For the allowable two carry-ons, I bring a backpack for my tablet or computer and my RFID purse.
7. For clothing, my rule of thumb is the same for extended periods of travel as any length of trip:
   1. Coordinate outfits so that they can mixed-and-matched with multiple pieces of clothing.
   2. Pack clothing items that don’t wrinkle. I also take a white Chico’s blouse because it packs well, washes well, and is dressier than a pullover top or t-shirt.
   3. Pack clothing that can be hand-washed in a sink and hung to dry overnight.
   4. For shoes, wear your heaviest pair on the plane (usually athletic or hiking shoes), and pack comfortable flats for dressier occasions
   5. Don’t purchase clothing before the trip unless you’re going on a cruise. That way, if you run out of room in the suitcase because you’ve purchased too many souvenirs, you can leave clothing or shoes behind.
   6. Women and girls, pack a scarf for chilly nights and for entering churches in Italy (bare-shouldered, sleeveless tops or dresses are not allowed).
8. Leave an itinerary with family members to let them know approximate dates and where you’re going.
9. Make plans and reservations, but don’t over-schedule. Sometimes travel plans change because of unforeseen flight delays or other events, and that can domino into costly schedule changes down the line.
10. If your provider does not have cell phone service in the country/ies you’re visiting, plan to obtain another phone you’re visiting or use a SIM card for your current phone. However, we recently found out that even a SIM card is not always reliable.
11. Besides phone service, oversees internet is not necessarily that good, either. For a secured internet service, check with your carrier about their data plan or purchase secured internet at your hotel.
12. Take something to occupy your mind during the plane rides or if the weather isn’t the best for being outdoors. We have found that, even after the most enjoyable and inspiring days of sightseeing, it’s nice to have time to unwind.  When traveling for longer periods of time, we don’t have to feel like we always need to be on the run to go somewhere.