Your Pre-Travel Checklist

Things to Take Care of BEFORE You Leave For Vacation

Congrats, you’re going on vacation and you’re super excited about planning your trip. Keep riding that high by using this pre-travel checklist. You’ll address a major stressor that is often overlooked: preparing to leave for vacation. As much as we all want to just pack our bags and be magically transported to the destination, we all know there’s more to it than that. As a travel advisor, I want to provide as much value as possible for every aspect of your trip, even the un-fun things. When you take the time to plan ahead, you will help alleviate most of the stress and frustration during travel. Here is our list of actionable items and tasks pre-travel, broken down by how far in advance you need to tackle them.

JUST AFTER BOOKING YOUR TRIP

• Check expiration dates on documents (Do you need to renew your passport? It is recommended that the expiration date is at least 6 months POST your return date).

• Do you need any vaccinations or immunizations? Check dates on things like tetanus and get any boosters prior to traveling.

• Check your luggage – is it in good working order? Is it time to replace it? Do you have proper luggage tags with easy-to-recognize markers on it?

• Start creating your packing list – do you need any new wardrobe items or travel accessories?

• Work on your trip budget and ensure your emergency fund is built up.

• Review itinerary from your advisor, along with any reservations that need to be secured.

1-2 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR TRIP

• Secure all your travel documents, keeping them in one place, ready to travel

• Hire a lawn care service/snow removal service

• Set up ‘hold mail’ with postal service

• Arrange for a pet and/or child sitter

• Arrange for transportation to/from airport

• Order travel versions or a new set of chargers and/or boosters for your devices

• Download any travel apps

• Refill any prescriptions

• Make copies of your travel documents and store in safe place

• Reach out to someone to be your emergency contact- give them a spare key, a basic itinerary, possibly a letter of “next of kin” in case of extreme circumstances

• Notify your bank and/or credit cards of your travel – the dates and locations of where you’re traveling

• Contact your alarm company – let them know when you’re traveling

• Get any cash, currency exchange if necessary

• Add international calling/data plan to your phone plan, if necessary

• Ask a neighbor to tend to your garbage bins and/or collect your mail, and collect any deliveries (if you did not put a hold on it)

1-2 DAYS BEFORE YOU DEPART – Pre-Travel Checklist

• Put outdoor lights, and a few indoor ones, on a timer

• Reprogram your thermostat so it runs less while you’re away

• Unplug small appliances, make sure things like coffee pots, curling irons, etc. are unplugged

• Make sure all doors and windows are shut and locked

• Check your phone! Keep any contact information in one place – your travel advisor, your emergency contact, hotel, car service, babysitter, etc. Do you have any/all phone numbers and emails?

DAY OF TRAVEL

• Clean out fridge/pantry, getting rid of anything that may go bad while you’re away from home

• Take out garbage

• Close blinds/curtains

• Turn down thermostat

• Make sure everything is unplugged and/or turned off (oven, faucets, lights, small appliances)

• Take a picture of the inside and outside of your luggage and carry-ons

• Take a picture of where you are keeping your keys while you travel – then you will know where to find them when you return

We wish you happy and stress-free travels! By using this pre-travel checklist, you’ll have a much better chance of handling unforeseen circumstances more efficiently. If you have any questions about this or any other vacation planning, please feel free to contact us with any questions.