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Planning a long trip is always both exhilarating and challenging. It is exciting because of the anticipation of going miles and miles away from home and having a different experience you have never had in your entire life or in a very long time. It is challenging because it comes with hordes of uncertainties, and the planning itself may never be a bed of roses.
It goes without saying that for you to have a successful long trip away from home, then the preparation must be near perfect. Once you leave your house for the lands beyond yonder, a lot of variables come to play. Some of them may not be within your control, but if you take the time to plan and anticipate for their occurrence, you can come with the right mitigation measures and end up with a very successful trip.
In this piece, we take a more in-depth look at what it takes to plan and execute a successful long trip. Whether you have been going for long trips all your life or you are yet to venture into the very first one, you will find useful tips that will help you have a stress free trip so that you have all the peace of mind to enjoy what the worlds beyond your borders have to offer you.
The destination you decide to travel will have a significant impact on every aspect of your preparation. It is imperative for you to pick a definite destination so that you have the focus to proceed with the rest of planning. Most people are fond of talking about a vague destination without ever knowing exactly where they want to visit. Consequently, they end up with messed up plans which ultimately ends up ruining their travel experience.
For example, it is not just enough to say that you are taking a long trip to Africa or Europe. These are vast continents with numerous travel destinations you can visit. In as much as it is possible to visit every country in the continents, this may never grant you a great experience due to the plethora of variations that characterize the various travel destinations in such places.
It would be a good idea if you could just decide on specific locations you wish to travel to during your long trip. For instance, you can say that you will be visiting Kenya or Paris. This will bring a lot of focus into your mind, which is vital for planning for the rest of the trip.
Coming with a destination should not be a problem, but if you find it challenging, then there are a few approaches you can use to pick a place you will enjoy visiting. If there is a place you have always wanted to visit since your childhood if you get a chance as an adult to visit it, it will make a very nice destination for your long travel. If you are going to the trip as a family, you can choose collectively where you would like to visit. Additionally, if you are traveling as a couple, you can make a joint decision on where to visit, depending on your interests or reasons for travel.
Now that you have an idea about which part of the world you want to head to, it is time to know just when to make the trip and for how long you will be going away. Scheduling the tour should not only be about choosing a date when to leave and when to come back. There are specific considerations worth making and they include but not limited to the followings-:
At this point, you have an idea about where you are headed for your long trip, and you have also decided on whether you will be going during the high seasons or low season. The next step is to come up with an approximate cost of the travel and weigh it against your resource to know if you can afford or if you will have to raise additional funds to make the trip a success. Here are some of the costs you should have in mind when coming up with the estimates-:
Passport Validity & Renewal – Many countries require passports to be valid for several months after you return from your long trip, so even if you hold a technically valid passport, you might not be allowed to enter your destination country. So always consider to check the individual country’s passport validity requirements with your travel agent. Renew your passport well in advance as a difference of even a few days can affect your entry to your destination country.
The cost of air tickets – if you will be flying to another country, then your air tickets will be one of the significant expenses you will incur. Depending on your destination and the time of travel, you can estimate the amount to spend on airfares using the resources available on the internet. Though prices may fluctuate from time to time, you can find out from the airlines how much their tickets might cost around that time of the year.
Accommodation – whether you will be backpacking and sleeping in a tent or spending in posh hotels, you will have to spend some money on accommodation. The options here are many, depending on your destination of travel. Finding this cost, is, however, not difficult. All you have to do is some research on the internet, and you will have all the information you need.
Cost of visa and travel vaccination – These may not be so huge, but it is vital to include them when coming up with your budget.
Parks and fees – one of the reasons why people go for long trips are to experience the nature and culture of other places. This will involve visiting parks and other areas bearing the heritage of those regions, for which you will have to pay some fees before you are allowed entry. Again, based on where you are going, you can find out the charges of all the places you want to visit online then include them in your budgeting.
Ground transportation – will you be using public transportation, renting a car or using a taxi? Based on the level of comfort and convenience you desire, the cost of your ground transportation is also worth taking into account.
Miscellaneous – You will probably desire to buy some souvenirs, tip some people and just have some money to spend around. You should set aside an adequate amount of money to spend on your long trip. It is essential because it will affect the kind of comfort and convenience you will have during your trip.
Coming up with and adhering to a timeline is very important for the successful planning for a long trip. There are certain things you must secure in good time and which if you miss, you may miss the trip altogether. Here are some of the timelines worth having as you plan for the trip-:
At this stage, your long trip is beginning to take shape, and the next thing you need to find out is if you have enough resources or money to make the trip happen. There are various ways to finance a long trip, but for the majority of the people, such trips are funded from savings. Once you have plans of going for a long trip, you will desire to save every penny so that you don’t go on the trip with debts.
You may decide to set up a special account to save for the trip, but in addition to that, you can employ certain saving strategies to ensure that you will have enough when the time to take the trip finally arrives. Here are a few methods you can resort to if you desire to save a few more coins for the trip-:
By now, you should have a solid idea of all the documents you will need for the destination you are headed for. If you are not sure, simply ask the immigration department, and they will provide you with all the possible documents you must have for that trip.
However, some of the common documents you will need include-: Your passport, tourist visa, driving license or an international driving license, medical documents if you have an existing medical condition that will require attention while you are on the trip, credit cards, and proof of specific immunization such as yellow fever depending on your destination.
Pick your travel visa and pass by the travel clinic to ensure your immunization record is up to date with regards to the mandatory, required and the recommended vaccinations you need for your destinations. You may have to carry proof of immunization for certain diseases if it is a requirement in your destination country. For example, most countries in Africa will not allow you entry unless you can show proof of the yellow fever vaccine.
As you make preparations for the trip, you should also make preparations to take care of your health while on the trip. Falling ill during the trip will be discouraging, and since treatment can be so expensive in a foreign land, it is always a good idea to equip yourself with travel insurance.
In addition to covering your medical expenses, travel insurance will also offer you additional safety should encounter certain emergencies you never anticipated. For example, you will need the travel insurance when you break or lose your camera when your flight is canceled, and you need alternative accommodation or when you have to cut short your trip due to death in the family. It is a vital considering worth having in mind as you plan your long trip.
You must be very careful when packing for a long trip. You don’t want to carry a lot of weight that might make you pay for extra luggage at the airlines, and you also don’t want to carry few items that you miss some of the essentials you will require. Remember to carry clothes that will be in tandem with the weather at your destination and additional personal effects such as sunscreens and lotions. You should also think about the gadgets to carry along, especially a camera, a laptop and your smartphone unless you want to unplug completely and avoid technology during the trip.
Other than the preparations necessary to ensure you have a successful long trip, there are certain preparations you also need to make to ensure that everything is alright back at home. They include the followings:
With all the preparations made, wait for your traveling date, then go and have all the fun you can during the trip. Learn about new cultures, make new friends, try new foods, and accomplish the things which you so wanted to accomplish for the trip. Enjoy the fruits of your labor and the desires of your heart.