Taking an extended holiday? 15 things you need to do before you leave

Got a huge trip coming up? Maybe a once-in-a-lifetime great escape? An extended European journey, or a two-month trans-Canadian motorhome trip? Exciting times, but there is heaps to do before you even head out the door. Leave home for a couple of weeks and the garden won’t suffer too much and the letter box probably won’t say “we’re away!”, but go away for more than a month and the prep work is on another level.

Here’s a checklist to help make sure you’re in shape for the adventure that awaits.

Download a translation app to your phone. Google Translate works well and you can snap images of menus and street signs and the app will translate text into English. Press the speaker button and whatever you say in English will be translated to any one of about 250 languages.

Did you know you can suspend your private health cover when you travel overseas? The health funds don’t advertise it, but a cancellation can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Terms and conditions vary from one provider to the next, but usually you need to be away for at least a month, membership must be totally paid up and you’ll need to show airline tickets for exiting and re-entering Australia. Also, you don’t lose any benefits. Be careful not to fall foul of the Medicare levy surcharge (MLS). If you do, the amount you save through the cancellation might be less than the MLS.

Ask a neighbour, a friend or relative to empty your mailbox and check on the property from time to time. If there are plants or a garden that need regular watering you might be better off with a house sitter, and there are several agencies that specialise in matching your needs with theirs such as House Sitters and Aussie House Sitters . If you want to take this approach, start planning a couple of months before you leave – great house sitters have busy schedules.

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Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months past your return date. Some countries require only three months but the full six months buys you peace of mind if you’re country hopping.

Schengen area rules allow Australian passport holders to remain in the area for 90 days in any 180-day period. If you need longer, Australia has visa-waiver agreements with several European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands that allow you to stay in their countries without affecting the time allowed in the Schengen zone. The rules are very specific and each country is different. To find out what you need to know, contact the consulates in Australia.

Unless you’re planning to use them while you’re away, press the pause button on gym memberships and any streaming services such as Netflix or Apple TV.

You might need to call a landline while you’re overseas , and for that you need an app such as Viber Out or Talk360 . Download the app, add some credit – and $10 is plenty – and you can dial any landline or mobile number in the world provided you have a data connection.

If you’re relying on the free travel insurance that comes with your credit card , be aware of the time limits.