It’s time! The spontaneous adventurer in you is ready to be unleashed.
In the daily hustle and bustle of your life, you find yourself longing for an escape. You’re beyond ready to quit that job you’ve hated for years, wave goodbye to your friends and family and leave your comfortable home and life behind for a world of unknowns and global adventures.
You’re more than ready for all the world might throw at you, but as a lone and inexperienced traveller, where will your journey begin?
In this blog, we provide some of our top tips to prepare you for your global adventures, so you can focus on freedom and fun knowing you’ve got all the practical aspects covered.
Striking a balance between structure and spontaneity
Whilst your heart may be set on a journey fuelled by spontaneity, it definitely pays to do your research before you jet off. The last thing you want is to end up in an unsafe place with little knowledge of the local area. Therefore, we recommend that you research the countries you plan to visit and the safest areas to stay within them, endeavour to understand the customs and cultures, learn of any travel requirements that may differ between countries, and have a rough itinerary in mind, although still allowing time for unexpected adventures and detours along the way.
Securing Vital Travel Documents
One of the most important things to consider when travelling is your travel documents. As you will know, without a valid passport or in many countries, a visa, you will not be allowed to enter another country, or even leave the one you’re currently in. Different countries have differing requirements when it comes to the amount of time left on your passport, and as a result, you may not even be able to travel in the first place if it does not match their specific requirements, so always check beforehand! When it comes to a visa, it is imperative that you have obtained one in advance of your travels, as it can often take months to go through the full process to get one. Travel insurance is also incredibly important to get prior to any travel, in order to ensure you have cover for any medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost belongings or unforeseen situations that may arise. Our last tip when it comes to your various travel documents is to make copies of everything! It is highly recommended to not only have a digital copy but also a physical one just to be on the safe side.
Create a Realistic Budget
While quitting your job gets you one step closer to your dream adventure, you need to ensure beforehand that you have sufficient funds for the duration of your trip. Take into consideration accommodation, transport, food, activities, and adventures. It is also important to factor in additional funds in case of any unexpected situations. It is always worth doing your research and making an effort to look around at alternative accommodation options aside from the standard hotel, such as hostels, guesthouses and Airbnb’s to make your budget stretch further.
Staying Connected and Secure
Keeping those close to you in the loop while you are away is something that’s definitely worth thinking about. Take the time to research and choose a reliable mobile phone plan or sim card that offers international roaming or data packages, and install helpful travel apps for navigation, communication, and translation; this may even be a tracking app for your family members at home! Ensure the safety of your digital devices by using secure passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and using a virtual private network (VPN) for secure browsing on public Wi-Fi networks.
Focus on Packing Light
You don’t need to pack everything, but the kitchen sink for your travels; the essentials will do just fine! It is important to focus on the essential and most versatile clothing options that can be adapted for different climates. Make sure you don’t forget practical items such as universal adapters, a reusable water bottle, a first aid kit and a portable charger to keep your devices ready to go. Less is definitely more when you’re travelling!
Preserving Home Comforts
When you leave on your travels, the last thing you want is to worry about what will happen to your treasured belongings. Prior to leaving you will need to consider all the things you are leaving behind and what will happen when you get back. The best way to ensure you are worry-free when it comes to your belongings is to put them into storage. At Beehive Storage we offer a variety of flexible storage options for all your needs, where you can store your belongings for either a short-term or long-term period. There are no deposits, and all units are clean, dry and have 24/7 CCTV at each facility to ensure your belongings are well cared for in your absence.
So, what are you waiting for? Buy that ticket, book that hotel, pack that bag, put your belongings in storage and jet off on the adventure of a lifetime!