Daunting thought right? Spontaneous. World. Travel. Here’s the key… just decide that it’s possible. Focus on what you have to do to accomplish it, not how impossible it may seem. Thousands do, and no they aren’t all rich, read their blogs. What they have in common is that they made a decision that it was possible. Once you have decided it is possible, then you can set about doing the tasks that are required in your unique situation.
Family travel is like a time sensitive portal–a limited opportunity until kids grow up and move on. Before the hatch
closes, many parents dream of an epic family global mega-trip but can’t wrap their head around an equally epic mega-planning process. Ain’t nobody got time for that. We feel the same way. That’s why the more we travel, the less we plan. Not sure if it’s travel evolution or de-evolution, but it’s the slippery slope we’ve happily found ourselves on. We’re not alone. The rise of spontaneous travel with minimalist planning reflects how accessible every aspect of travel has become as long as you have two thumbs and occasional wifi.
In the end of April we decided rather spontaneously to explore the world for 15 months. We bought one way tickets to Costa Rica for June 9. Our full itinerary consisted of the first country we would visit and a one week condo rental. Even with minimal planning, here are 10 pre-trip to do’s I just can’t seem to get around.
A few months ahead (if you have that long)
1. Travel docs. Know country entrance and exit requirements or you may not get far. Is there proof-of-onward-travel or a visa requirement? How long is the visa process, weeks or months? Don’t rely on blogs for your research, go to governmental websites. Also double check the expiry dates on all passports.
2. Update Innoculations. Some shots cannot be left to the last minute. Yellow fever certificates are required to enter
certain countries, typhoid shots are suggested for others and often need time to be ordered in. Some shots like the Heps require multiple rounds with months in between. Get copies of all immunization forms, especially for kids who will be attending foreign schools. While you’re at it, get their annual check-ups done and get copies of those reports for schools.
3. Sort out your school options. We are using an online school from our home state which is amazing and totally free.
There are also online global schools. Find out your timelines for applications, some are short and sweet, others are more involved. If you plan to enrol kids abroad, take birth certificate school transcript, innoculation record, annual physical results, all the usual documentation. Some schools will only take originals, not copies.
A few weeks ahead
4. Sort out your travel health insurance options or riders. Again, this may take more than five minutes if you want to
research and find the right package for your needs. You also want to allow time for cards and coverage info to be mailed to you.
5. Order all the extra meds you need, extra contact lenses, birth control, items that may need to be ordered and
delivered. Update glasses/contact perscriptions if you have time, especially kids with changing perscriptions.
6. Update gadgets as necessary. Purchase what you will be using for the year, laptops, kindles, noise-cancelling
headphones, cell phones, tablets. Leave enough time to test items, return, or exchange. Hand signals and facial
expressions are a bit limiting when buying significant items in languages you don’t speak.
7. Camera check up. Now’s the time to upgrade your camera or buy a new lense, get an battery or a larger memory card. Again leave yourself a little time after new purchases to try things out and return them if they aren’t right.
A few days ahead
8. Trip shopping. With a monster list, we hit the mall and hit it hard. Stock up on all your picky-about items, every person has them. Mine are swimsuit bottoms, tampons, sunglasses that fit my Asian features. If you can’t find your international adapters, buy a couple more. These days each person needs a couple. After you’ve given your wallet plastics a good work out, notify all the cards you plan to use, about your travel plans.
9. Communication. One choice is to activate international cell packages with your carrier. Global plans are becoming more common. Global sim cards are also available or buying cheap phones with minutes in the countries where your phone won’t work. I won’t list detailed options that will be outdated by the time you finish this sentence, but thank goodness the options are increasing. Remind the grandparents how to access the travel blog or start one if you feel so inclined.
Night before
10. Like the committed procrastinators we are, we pack the night before. This works since we are minimalist packers. As long as the documents, gadgets, and cameras make it into the bag, we’re good to go.
Will the logistics of getting this trip off the ground sometimes feel overwhelming? Absolutely. Will it be worth it? Absolutely times a thousand. The most important planning piece to doing a megatrip with your family, is simply to get out of your house and into the world. The marvelous and magical details will unfold as you go. Grab your stack of passports, the hands of your lovelies, and jump. You will never regret you did.
