Travel · 5 min
Long holidays, study abroad, months of backpacking. Leaving the place empty wastes rent; renting it out means clearing your stuff. Self storage solves both — if you plan before you board.
Long travel creates a silent housing problem. You have three paths, and all hit your belongings:
Keep the lease empty — paying months for an empty home. Expensive and pointless.
Rent it short-term (Airbnb) — becomes income, but you must remove personal and valuable belongings.
Give up the place — saves everything, but what about the furniture and a lifetime of stuff?
In the last two cases, self storage is the missing piece: it holds what doesn't travel with you, securely, for the exact length of the trip.
The math shifts with duration. For a 1-3 month trip, it might be worth storing only essentials (documents, electronics, valuables) in a small unit and closing up the house. For 6 months or more — study abroad, project, sabbatical — it often pays to give up the place and store everything, saving months of rent.
Use the [calculator](/en/calculator/) to size it. And if the trip might turn permanent (you're 'testing living abroad'), read about [moving abroad](/en/blog/mudanca-internacional/) before deciding what to keep and what to let go.
Unlike storing near home, here you won't be able to drop by to check. So security matters more:
Choose an operator with 24/7 surveillance and alarm. Use your own steel padlock beyond the unit lock. Photograph the contents before closing (insurance record). Consider the operator's insurance for valuables — you'll be far away to handle any surprise.
Long-stored items need different care than 'storing for a week':
Appliances clean and completely dry (fridge door ajar prevents mould). Furniture with breathable covers, not sealed plastic. Clothing in vacuum bags with silica gel. No perishables, obviously — nor that perfume or product that leaks in heat.
The right supplies at [/en/packing-supplies/](/en/packing-supplies/).
The classic mistake is leaving it to the last week. Book the unit ahead (operators peak at month-end), organise moving your belongings calmly, and leave the PIN/contract with someone you trust — in case you need to handle something remotely.
Not sure which operator to pick near home? [Ask our concierge](/en/contact/) with your city and travel length and we'll find the best options with a solid security track record.