This has been a growing concern for me as well haha. But I think if I soaked them before i left for a week-long vacation, it wouldn't be much of a problem.

Anything over a week, I was thinking of getting a friend or family member come and water them by just running water through the bark every 3 days. I don't trust they'd know how to soak them properly.

Cntry, it looks like you water from above the plants, like with a misting device. Is that enough moisture for the roots in pots, and do you have any problem with fungus on wet leaves? The few days I used a mister in the greenhouse seemed to trigger a leaf fungus, so I'm a little nervous about that.

No fungus on them at all. I also water them like everyone else does once every 7 to 10 days, the misting system just helps its very fine spray. Its on a timer so if I need to be out for some reason its a way to give them water till I get back and can do it.

Going away is such a big problem for me too with all the orchids. lol
The longest I can be gone is two weeks, and this only happens in the early spring or fall.
I don't go anywhere during the winter and during the summer I cannot imagine leaving my orchids on their own.

Kind of inconvenient sometimes, but lots of short weekend trips make up for me I guess.

When I was gone for two weeks, I watered everything really good the night before ( I know a lot of work), then moved all the plants away from the window and had the blinder down so the apartment doesn't get heated so much during the day time.

When I returned, everything was fine except for a few that looked a bit tired. of course I had to soak them all real good.

Most of my regular houseplants dried up crisp. It was horrible sight. oh, well...