6 Services To Plan Before A Long Travel Journey

Most of us are pretty adept at planning for a long vacation when we want to. That’s because we learn the more we go. Perhaps we have a trusted neighbor we leave our dog with, or we use scheduled light switchers to help the home look occupied. But when we leave the household for long periods at a time, perhaps for months, it’s worth planning a little more.

Of course, you don’t just have to think about the household you’re leaving behind and any pets you can’t take with you, but also the conveniences you would take for granted elsewhere. This is especially important if you’re passing from place to place or are going off the grid for a short time.

In this post, we intend to suggest a few helpful services to use in advance, so you don’t have to worry about everything being taken care of in advance. With that in mind, please consider some of the following advice:

Investigate Luggage Storage Solutions

Sometimes you have a gap between checking out of your accommodation and your flight or train home. You might not want to lug all your bags around with you during that time, especially if they are heavy or bulky, and particularly if you have a long sightseeing trip planned. 

This is why the recommendation of using luggage storage options can be a very good idea for making your final hours of a trip much more relaxing. Many cities have services where you can securely store your suitcases for a few hours or a whole day, and this frees you up to enjoy one last activity or a nice meal without being burdened by heavy bags.

You’ll want to find a service that’s easy to access, such as Port Authority luggage storage. Just make sure they have clear pick-up times, so you know where to be and when. If you don’t have to book perfect accommodation everywhere you go but can still keep your bags safe, that saves a huge amount of worry.

Long-Term Static Storage

You may have your house secured, the neighbors looking out for you, and the light strategy we mentioned in the intro working for you, but the truth is, any unoccupied home can be a target for thieves. If you have valuables and sentimental items in there, as most homes do, you may want to keep this even safer.

A long-term static storage unit could be a perfect solution for all the things that you cannot take with you or leave in your home. You could store furniture, clothing, personal items, and just about anything else that you want to keep safe while you are away. This is especially helpful if you are renting out your home, as some choose to do, and it’s a good way to downsize a bit without having to get rid of your things permanently.

We’d recommend finding a unit that is climate-controlled, which is a bit more expensive, but can help protect things like electronics, books, or any wooden furniture from damage. Giving yourself peace of mind that your belongings are secure and waiting for your return is quite priceless when you’ll be away for some time.

Gardening Maintenance Services

Nature will do what nature does, which means your garden can quickly get out of control when you’re gone for a while. A well-kept lawn can start to look like a jungle and flowerbeds can become overgrown with weeds if they are not tended to, which shows others that the house might not be as active as it should be, which is unfortunately what thieves look for.

Hiring a gardening maintenance service is a good way to keep everything looking neat and tidy while you are away. This helps your home maintain a nice appearance and look tended to, and these services can do everything from mowing the lawn to watering plants and trimming hedges. It’s a simple service that can save you a ton of work upon your return, and you can pay for that work to come fortnightly or so just to keep things in check, and pay them in advance to do that.

Friendly Neighborly Favors

Having a good relationship with your neighbors is always going to help you in these moments. If you have someone you really trust, you could ask them to do small things for you, like collecting your mail, putting out your bins, or keeping an eye on your property. You could even ask them to park on your driveway the entire time so your house looks like it has people coming and going.

This gives you an extra layer of security. It’s also a good idea to bring them a small gift before you leave as a thank you for their help. This keeps the relationship friendly and ensures they are happy to assist you. Of course, when you’re back, you may render the same service for them, which is always nice.

Set Up Bill Payments In Advance

One of the most important things you can do before a long trip is to make sure all your bills are set to be paid automatically, and to an account or card you leave untouched so you know it will always be ready for payment, and prevents you from missing a payment and incurring late fees or other penalties. 

If you set up automatic payments for things like your rent or mortgage, utility bills, and any subscriptions you have, you won’t have anyone knocking on your door. Most banks offer online services that make this a very easy task to complete.

Get A Pet Sitting Or Boarding Service

If you have a pet, it is a huge part of your family, and you want to make sure they are well cared for while you’re away. You could have a friend or family member watch them, but sometimes that isn’t a good option for a long period of time. A good alternative is to use a professional pet sitting or boarding service, which can give you peace of mind. 

A pet sitter can come to your home, which is nice because it keeps your pet in a familiar environment. But if you’re going for a while, sometimes the bet will be better off at a boarding facility like professional dog kennels, as it provides a supervised environment with healthy opportunities for socializing with other animals. You’ll want to find a service with excellent reviews and a good reputation to ensure your pet is happy and healthy while you are traveling the world.

Pause Or Redirect Mail & Subscriptions

The last thing you want is for a pile of mail to build up outside your front door, a clear sign that no one is home. You might consider contacting the postal service to either hold your mail or redirect it to a trusted friend or family member. This not only keeps your home looking occupied but also prevents any important mail from being lost or stolen. You could always ask that neighbor coming to water your plants to take your mail, too.

With this advice, you’ll be certain to plan the best services for a long journey.