Ways To Prepare For A Long-Term Family Trip
It happens all the time. Mom and Dad wake up one day and decide they want to show their children the world. More and more families are packing up everything and hitting the road. Life as a traveling family is much different than anything most people can imagine. Traveling with the whole family is adventurous, and every day brings a new experience or memory.
Though the element of fun and adventure may be exciting, it is important to properly prepare for the family’s absence and sustainability while on the road. Simply tossing a few things in a bag will not be sufficient for an extended journey such as this. Take a moment to read over a few helpful ways to prepare the family and their belongings for a long-term, traveling adventure.
Getting started on the process of planning
Do not skimp on research. The family will need to be prepared legally to travel if the plans consist of traveling through several different countries. Visas have to be in order, and finances are even more essential with a family on the road.
Money buys safety and comfort. It is not an option to run out of funds in the middle of the trip, especially when there are children involved. Also, if an individual plans to travel the Inca Trail, for example, there is a six month (or more) waiting period for clearance. People cannot simply show up and expect to enjoy the experience.
Minimize the expenses being pulled from home
There is no reason to pay rent or an energy bill when there is no one occupying a home. A long journey means the family will have to minimize their living supplies and let go of a few possessions. Once sorting has finished, make sure to pack everything properly to avoid any pest problems upon return. Sort the family’s belongings out in three stages: keep, donate, trash. However, there is no reason to fret. Even if you do come back to a house infested with pests (God forbid!), you can get rid of the problem easily. You can simply get in touch with exterminators in Illinois (or wherever you may live) and have the professionals bring your house back to its original health.
Make arrangements for the health and safety
Before leaving for any long-term trip, it is important to take the proper health precautions for every member of the group. It may be best for every member of the family to visit a travel doctor prior to the trip.
A visit to the travel doctor will assure that everyone has the proper immunizations for the areas in which they have planned to travel. Also, it helps to slather the brain with knowledge of regional, natural remedies just in case of an emergency.
Prepare the bank for some strange charges
It is not the best idea to carry large sums of cash while traveling abroad. There is definitely a need for a cash stash, but bank cards are safer and more easily controlled if stolen.
Before leaving the country, it is crucial that the family bank be notified of the intent to travel. Many banks have theft precautions that will flag charges that are out of the ordinary realm of the cardholder’s spending habits, so it is best to protect against an account freeze.