4 Essential Things to Take Care of Before Going on a Long Trip

Quick answer: Before going on a long trip, take care of four essential things: arrange a house sitter, place stop orders and pay ongoing services in advance, get all health and dental check-ups done, and research your destination and plan your activities. Tick these off and your time abroad will be far more rewarding.

Travel is one of the most rewarding things you can do in life. There’s nothing like leaving it all behind, including your comfort zone, and exploring the world for all it’s worth – even if you start with small trips to neighboring cities before calling yourself a global traveler.

There is something truly magical about traveling far and wide. On a prolonged trip abroad you’re not just leaving your comfort zone, you’re shattering its walls and challenging your limits to unlock your true potential. To make your long trip as worthwhile as possible, here are the essential things to take care of before you leave.

1. Make Sure You Have a House Sitter While You Are on a Long Trip

If you’re gone for the weekend, no biggie: water the plants and leave a light on in the living room. But if you’ll be away for an extended period, you’ll want someone checking on your house.

They’ll need to water the plants, but more importantly they should make their presence known to deter any potential burglars in the neighborhood.

If You Have a Pet

If you have a pet, there’s no question about it – you need someone to house-sit full time. Pets are not ornaments, and they can’t survive without proper care and attention, even in their own home. However long you plan to be away, make sure someone trustworthy is looking after Fido.

2. Place “Stop” Orders Where Needed and Settle Advance Payments

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Just because you’re away doesn’t mean the mail carrier will stop bringing your mail, or that the house cleaner will magically stop turning up every Monday morning. Let everyone know they can skip your house for a set period.

• Stop recurring services you won’t need while you’re away, such as mail delivery and cleaning.
• Keep essential services running, like landscaping – unless you want to come home to dried-up twigs where your front lawn used to be.
• Pay in advance for all ongoing services if you’ll be gone for a while.

3. Get All Health Check-Ups Out of the Way

What’s the most important prerequisite for an enjoyable trip abroad? Health. Your physical well-being can be the difference between an awesome trip and a miserable experience involving doctors who don’t speak your language and inflated medical bills. Before you go, get all your check-ups done – and, most importantly, finish any outstanding dental work.

Don’t Skip the Dentist

Visiting the dentist might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it’s essential. Book well ahead of your departure date, because dental procedures – from simple treatments to something like all on 4 dental implants – may need time to heal properly.

You don’t want to set off on the trip of a lifetime with even the slightest chance of cavities, gum disease or tooth decay – it would be a nightmare. And you don’t want to put your teeth in the hands of an unfamiliar dentist halfway across the globe.

4. Research the Destination and Plan All Activities

Photo by Katie Drazdauskaite on Unsplash

Now that you’re ready to set off, plan your trip down to the smallest details. You could try to wing it if you’re feeling adventurous, but you’ll soon find that a structured trip with a detailed itinerary is more rewarding and fun, because you make the most of your time.

Even more importantly, researching the flights, the destination and your plans helps you:

• Save money
• Stay safe on the road
• Fit into the local culture and way of life
• Simply have an awesome time

So don’t be Bear Grylls – be the nerdy traveler with an entire itinerary carefully laid out on their smartphone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do before going on a long trip?

Arrange a house sitter, put stop orders on recurring services and prepay ongoing ones, complete health and dental check-ups, and research and plan your trip.

Do I need a house sitter for a long trip?

For an extended trip, yes – someone should check on the house and deter burglars. If you have a pet, you need someone to house-sit full time.

Why go to the dentist before traveling?

Dental problems abroad can be a nightmare, and you don’t want an unfamiliar dentist far from home. Book early, as some procedures need time to heal.

Parting Words

Taking a long trip, alone or with a significant other, is one of the most exciting and rewarding things you can do. Before you go, cover your bases with these four essential chores – your abroad self will thank you for it.