More and more people are leaving for long periods abroad, whether for a vacation in slow travel mode or to work from home during the winter. Unlike a short stay, going away for a long time means  being well prepared . We don’t pack our bags in 24 hours, we take the time to plan what we will need for several weeks. Here are the things  to do before traveling for a long period .

The best way to make sure you don’t forget anything when you’re about to leave for a long trip is to make a list of things to bring and things to do to ensure that on the day of departure, all the boxes are checked!

Your list will change depending on destination and duration, but this one will help you think about the essentials before you go.

Going on a trip: health

• Check that you are up to date with your vaccines and, if not, renew them. Check the list of diseases present in the country visited against which you must be protected on the Canadian government website . Don’t do it at the last minute! You must make an appointment with a travel clinic or with your doctor. Certain doses of vaccines or medication must also be taken several days or even weeks before departure.
• You should also remember to renew your prescriptions before leaving for the duration of your stay. Don’t find yourself in a bad way and running out of medicine once you get there! Depending on the destination, it might be difficult to find your prescriptions at the corner pharmacy.
• Prepare an emergency kit with a few basic medications that can be used in the event of a minor injury: ibuprofen, dressings, analgesic cream, anti-allergen pills, diarrhea pills, etc.
• Do a follow-up/preventive check-up with your doctor and/or your dentist if your situation recommends it or for the sake of conscience, to check that all is well.
• Are you well covered by your travel insurance ? Take the time to take a look at your contract and validate that you are well covered according to the activities you will practice and above all, according to the duration of your trip. If the insurance jargon is not clear to you, take the time to call an agent to confirm whether your needs are included in your coverage.
• Have an accident card ready to carry with you at all times. You will find essential information about you: blood group, person to contact in case of emergency, known allergies, etc. If you are traveling with a friend, co-worker, or family member, give them this information that might be useful.

What to put in your suitcase

It is generally recommended to leave with clothes for 10 to 12 days, then it will be necessary to wash which is rarely a problem at destination. If you are going to a sunny destination, remember to bring everything you cannot find there (or which will be more expensive). Sunscreen, hat, sandals, swimsuits, shorts, tank tops, and snorkeling mask if you plan to do so. For colder destinations, avoid overloading your suitcase with large, thick clothes. Instead, think of the layering system by bringing one or two warm sweaters, and several sweaters to put under them. A single coat should suffice unless you’re going on a big expedition. For shoes, limit yourself to 3 pairs: a cleaner one for the evenings,

With frequent loss of luggage, add a geolocation device to your hold suitcase.

Preparing the house for departure

• Ask a relative to come by from time to time to inspect your house and water the plants.
• You can give this person information about your insurance company in case of unforeseen events, it is he who could make the link with him in an emergency.
• Any signs that let thieves know you’ve been away for a long time are never good. So try to have your driveway cleared, to have the circulars collected, the mail that accumulates…
• Take your passport and check that it is valid for 6 months or more!

Activate the travel alert on your credit card to prevent it from being blocked once abroad.

• If you are abroad for work, download a VPN that will allow you to connect to wireless Internet networks without danger. (It also allows you to watch your favorite Quebec channels even on the other side of the world!)
• Provide your itinerary to a loved one or your accommodation details.
• If you are in the same country for a long time, buy a local SIM card allowing you to be reached at all times on your cell phone.