For those of you who are getting out there and considering long-term travel, extended travel, or even being a global wanderer, you’ll need to know our big 11 do’s and don’ts of long term travel storage tips to consider because you’ve got to keep what you own somewhere right?
What we’ve found over the years is that when you vacate your premise for long bouts of time, you’ll need to trim down what you take with you and what you keep.
So today, as pro travelers, we are sharing a bit more about the do’s and don’ts of long term travel storage, in our extended travel storage guide to help you prepare for those epic journeys you want to embark upon.
Now that we can all travel again, these tips will be extremely useful in helping you get ready to travel and take those extended trips you have been waiting for.
Why Use Tips From An Extended Travel Storage Guide?
Unlike moving to a different state, you are already probably aware that extended travel (a.k.a. long term travel) means you’ll return at some point to your living quarters (same state) and you’ll want to have familiar items so it feels like home.
Our extended travel storage guide will help you sift through the stuff you need to store, versus take with you, and share what to do with all of the rest.
When you are planning long-term travel you don’t want anything falling through the cracks, nor do you want to lose items that are very important to your life, so that’s where traveling long-term and storage come into play!
What Scenarios in Life Create Long-Term Travel?
You might be scratching your head wondering exactly how much long-term travel occurs, and you would be surprised.
But instead of straight-up statistical numbers about the reasoning for long-term travel and storage, we are simply going to share the reasons WHY people consider long-term travel storage, and then you’ll have a better understanding of why storage of your belongings (and the other tips we have for them) makes really good sense and why we have made this extended travel storage guide.
- there are people who travel for work and have to visit multiple places over a period of time
- some people travel for education where they are gone for 6-8 months at a time or longer
- people partake in extended travel for the joy of wanderlust
- others travel to spend time with their families (birth of a new child and helping for months)
- some people travel for mental health to get out of the “same old, same old”
Do You Know The #1 Stressor of Long-Term Travel?
Long term travel storage that is adequate and the right storage is the answer.
The truth is, nobody wants to be away for a long time without making appropriate provisions for their valuable belongings, with 40% of Americans paying for storage units.
Don’t you deserve peace of mind when going on a long trip?
Now that we have shared the why’s of traveling long-term and storage we are going to what we know about how to store your personal items with a few simple suggestions below.
#1 DO Sort Through Your Stuff + Be Choosy With What You Keep
This is not easy but you will need to decide which items to store.
While you will pack well for long-term travel you will not be taking everything you own along!
It’s true that no matter how much you love things in your home, they actually can turn into a headache, especially because of a storage issue.
Sorting tips and facts:
- the more items you have the higher the storage cost (bigger storage unit)
- Storage units are priced on size
- donate things to charity
- have a yard sale or sell online (Facebook, Nextdoor, etc.)
- Use the money from anything you sold towards the storage
#2 Do Choose Efficient Practical Storage For Your Long Term Travel Storage
All we are saying in this portion of our extended travel storage guide is to choose the most suitable storage facility based on the following factors:
- the convenience of location
- climate-control features
- cost (is it monthly? Weekly? what is the contract like)
- space
- containers included
- access to the storage facility
- security of the facility (is it guarded? not guarded)
For this extended travel storage guide tip we are suggesting that you make sure of all of the above and make certain that your belongings will be secure and in excellent condition when you return from your long-term travel!
#3 Do Use Cross Country Movers With Storage For Transfers + Long-Term Travel
This is our Pro-Tip and Caveat For Our Extended Travel Storage Guide + Work ↓↓
Traveling and long-term storage go together for some people who are traveling for business.
If you have ever been asked to transfer to another state, and take on a bigger job (a promotion just not where you live), your company will have you temporarily relocate.
You’ll need to consider traveling long-term and storage concepts for your current living space as you know that ultimately your long-term travel will end up being permanent travel because the pay is higher and the job is better.
So, your ideal situation is knowing you’ll need to relocate and move a long distance.
In this situation, you’ll want to choose a cross-country moving company that offers secure storage solutions and not simply a local storage unit as it won’t be a useful concept when you need to clear out and move!
The last thing you want to worry about when you are away for long periods is the security of your belongings. Therefore, it helps to choose the most suitable from the onset to allay any fears you may have.
#4 Do Choose The Proper Storage Bags For Traveling Long-Term and Storage of Personal Items
There’s no doubt about it, the choice of storage bags used to pack your personal belongings matters and if you take nothing else away from our extended travel storage guide, make this the key point you remember!
If you choose the wrong bags while traveling long-term and store your personal belongings in them, you may longer have those items.
- Opt for vented plastic bags or breathable bulk bags
- Using breathable plastic bags disallows moisture, humidity, and condensation to build up
- Vacuum-sealed bags are excellent mildew-resistant options for stored clothes and other fabric
Plastic bags are usually used because they are known to protect the contents of the items they store.
However, there is a downside to plastic bags which is that when the external environment changes from warm to cool or vice versa, the chances of moisture build-up become high.
Remember that even though plastic bags repel water, they are not properly ventilated, causing internal moisture accumulation.
Undoubtedly, moisture, humidity, and condensation are unfriendly to the storage process.
Therefore, a better option would be ventilated poly bags, also known as vented plastic bags; they allow air to circulate within, drying out any moisture in the process.
Don’t forget to consider breathable bulk bags, which are created with inner poly liners helping to reduce moisture build-up in the long term.
Last, we love vacuum-sealed bags because they are excellent mildew-resistant options for stored clothes and other fabrics.
You will be glad to use these options for your storage, especially when you have long-term travel ahead of you, and they are not expensive options which makes it a bearable travel expense!
The 7 Don’ts Of Our Extredned Travel Storage Guide
Here are 7 things you do not want to place in storage
- passports (which you will have on your anyway)
- birth certificates
- marriage licenses
- car titles
- valuable heirloom jewelry + valuable jewelry (engagement rings etc.)
- personal data (USBs, paperwork, etc)
- social security cards
These items should be stored in the fireproof safe deposit box, not in a storage vessel.
You’ve Now Got The Extended Travel Storage Guide Of The 11 Do’s and Don’ts of Long-Term Travel Storage
Keeping your things safe and secure should not be difficult, even if you’re going away for a long time.
The tips discussed here should help you store your belongings and protect them from damage for as long as you need!
We hope you use our traveling long-term and storage guide to successfully prepare for your travel and that you find it useful!~Dana XO
Dana Vento: Award-Winning Travel Writer & Seasoned Explorer
Join me on a journey through the world’s wonders. From compelling stories at Niagara Falls to accolades in writing and Instagram photography, my global adventures are rich with experience. Each article offers a slice of life—from cruising the seas to exploring vibrant Aruba—turning every trip into an award-worthy adventure. Here’s to a life of exploration and unforgettable stories
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