Make Life Easier Before The Big Trip
You’ve been saving, thinking and planning for a few years, and now you’re ready to take off for the trip of a lifetime. But between the idea and the reality, a few things will need your full attention before you pack your knapsack and treck off into the wild blue yonder.
Firstly, make sure that you are fully vaccinated for all the countries you plan to visit – no point in coming back with more than you went with! Your General Practitioner will be able to help you – just leave plenty of time for your jabs, well before your departure date.
Essential Paperwork
It sounds obvious, but check your Passport is in date and will remain in date for the duration of your travels. Think about insurance – hopefully you won’t need it, but its there for a reason, and it’s not just about losing your phone/camera or money either. If you fall ill abroad, or worse, have an accident, things can get complicated if you are travelling on your own. Knowing you can contact your insurer to assist you when you might need some support can resolve issues quickly and ensure that you have speedy access to the right treatment.
Take Care of Your Belongings
Additional insurance might be needed on the home front too – if you own your own place, you might be renting out, in which case, think about any items that you want kept in good order. If you’d rather not entrust your precious music system, college paintings or china collections to friends or relatives, but aren’t quite ready to let them go, then consider using one of the many storage systems now available. Many have interior units, so your anything that goes in will keep dry. You can book out all sizes of storage space and it saves coming home to find that 50% of personal belongings have been involved in accidents. You might find that travelling light suits you… at the end of your trip you could find yourself selling off your belonging to cover your next trip! Visit self storage London for some ideas of what’s on offer.
Pack Lightly
And whatever you’ve packed – take is all out, and repack it. Start by cutting down on clothing – you don’t need 18 pairs of socks. Four pairs are plenty, and you can always use some soap! Packing lightly does take some practice, so why not have a few dummy runs before the big day, so you’ll know exactly how much you have to carry around. Luggage weight really does matter if you’re travelling in hot or high altitude countries, particularly if you are using a rucksack. You’re going to need your energy, and every kilo counts – so keep the shoes to a minimum, since they always seem to be the heaviest items. What are often marketed as “holiday essentials” are often anything but essential! Lots of toiletries, scent, aftershave, hair tong/mini irons will not see the light of day, so don’t be tempted to pack them for those “just in case” situations. Buy only what you need, as you need it.
If you’re an avid reader, invest in one of the new electronic libraries, or give your books away as you finish them. Be prepared, but don’t try to cover every eventuality, its not possible. And it’s good to remember that travelling encourages generosity, so you’ll find that people are usually happy to provide a helping hand if you are missing a vital bit of holiday kit!
