How to Prepare for Lengthy International Travel

First, we'd better clarify what we mean by lengthy travel. We're talking at least six weeks, up to several years of travel. These tips can save you time, hassle, and a truck load of money. If you're considering a wide array of destinations, some places offering the most bang for your buck are Argentina, Thailand, Berlin, parts of China… Less travel friendly places are Africa, the Middle East, parts of South America, Mexico City and Mexican border areas. If your trip is a "mini-retirement" you can choose yourself check out VirtualTourist.com , EscapeArtist.com, or Outside.away.com. Decide what you want to do about your home. If you're leaving for six weeks, you might simply wish to have someone check on it now and then. If you're leaving for more than six months you may wish to try to rent out your home while you're gone, especially if you've got a hefty mortgage. Place your automobiles into storage or in your garage. Put fuel stabilizer into the gas tanks, disconnect the negative leads from batteries to prevent drain, and possibly put the vehicles on jack stands to prevent tire and shock damage. You may also wish to cancel auto insurance if your trip involves many months or a year or two. Check your current health insurance for extended coverage for overseas travel. If it doesn't cover you, you may need to purchase an international health plan for your journey. Get all required immunizations and vaccinations for your target region. Ask your doctors for extended prescriptions for regular medications you must take. Set up an account with GoToMyPC or a similar service to access your email wherever you are. Prepare extra copies of your travel documents and trip itinerary and leave them with relatives or friends so they'll know how to locate you if necessary. Also bring with you backup photocopies of all important documents: health insurance, passport/visa, credit cards, debit cards, etc. and/or become a member of LifeLock. Pack lightly but wisely, checking weather patterns at your desired destination. Overpacking is a huge temptation. Pack only about one week's worth of clothing and few toiletries unless you're going somewhere so isolated that necessities won't be available. It's much easier to pack the absolute minimum and allocate $100-300 for purchases after you arrive. Bring a small cable bike lock for securing luggage while in hostels or in transit. Bring an electronic dictionary for target language, and when you arrive at your new area, secure a map/travel guide, and the phone numbers of important local institutions such as hospital, police station, etc. and don't wander recklessly in a foreign place alone. Orient yourself to landmarks, food, language, customs, and cultural peculiarities. Have your home post office hold your mail. Or if you know you will receive mail that will demand a response, ask a totally trustworthy neighbor or relative to pick up your mail and open it to check for important issues. Give them power of attorney and pay them something to be your "secretary" while you're away. They can pass on important info to you by email. Unless you know all the facts, do not rent an apartment in another country sight unseen. There are nightmare stories of folks signing short-term apartment leases only to learn that the place is nothing like it was portrayed. When you arrive, the staff of local hostels usually know the area well enough to give you good advice regarding where and how to find a nice apartment at the best rate. When you arrive, you can also check out local papers for apartments or even check Craigslist. Don't pay for more than one month's rent until you've stayed in the apartment for a few days. One guy prepaid for several months only to discover that the city's busiest bus stop was on the other side of his bedroom wall. Purchase an unlocked cell phone with an SIM card that can be recharged with simple prepaid cards. Walk the local area and note all the locations that may be of importance to you in the weeks and months to come. Happy traveling!