13 Things to do before leaving the house for a vacation.
*Turn down the thermostat in every room.
*Put lights on timers,( now you can do that with your phone ).
*Have someone check on your house (The insurance will not pay if you have water damage and the house was empty).
*Keep all the valuables that you bring with you in your carry-on luggage.
*Have a safe place in your house to hide the rest of your jewelry.
*Pack some clothes in your carry-on (just in case the plane is delayed or!!)
*Call your bank with the dates you are travelling.
*Pay off your bills.
*Have travel insurance with you.
*Unplug all your electronics.
*Make a checklist of what to bring…
*Charge your electronics and bring all your chargers/adapters with you ( usually the station for the electronics are always taken).
*Download movies and games on your tablet or phone.
*Add books to your reader.
*Don’t forget a couple of masks you might still need them.
1 Being perpetually prepared to travel means we are fairly prepared for anything or last moment trips. For all sorts of reasons, I suggest staying ahead with these tips that work for travel readiness, but for all sorts of emergencies.
2 I have a full drawer in my spare room, with everything I need for a trip. If by any chance we have to leave at the last minute, everything is there.
3 Fill prescriptions for a maximum period (we do 90 days). You can also bring a label from your prescription and have a refill on your trip. I laminated my prescription paper and put it in my passport envelope.
4 Double-check and make sure that you have all of the proper vaccinations. Also, ask the medical insurance provider, if your policy applies overseas for emergencies. If it doesn’t, and you want to add extra coverage
5 Keep toiletries in travel bags and refill from larger-sized (more eco-friendly) packaging. This allows you to see when repurchases are needed and avoids overstocking and waste. I also keep small samples from purchases at the drugstore (if you pay in the perfume department, they give you samples most of the time).
6 Keep a first aid kit ready to go after a trip and replenished it, so you are ready for the next trip and you don’t have to rush to buy what is missing.
7 Last time, in Republic Dominican I got bit by black flies and I needed Calamine Lotion, bug spray, and Cortisone ointment 1%. You may never think you needed it but guess again.
8 Be sure your electronics are charged and that your apps are up to date. Bringing an extension cord or a power strip can be a way to cheat and charge multiple devices off of one adapter. Some places don’t have many outlets. Also, I have an external charger just in case.
9 Download any books, or movies with Netflix you can download movies for a couple of months and you don’t need Wifi to watch them. My husband downloads games to pass the time.
10 For your phone make sure that roaming is not costing you a fortune.
11 I remove my Sim card before I leave on a trip and use only café or restaurant wifi. That way, I know I will not receive a huge phone bill when back home.
12 Registered online to your embassy, photocopy your passport and your credit cards ( one copy in your suitcase and the other at home ).
13 Follow travel issues when you are at home for information on your destination. Stay informed.
Little plastic bottles and containers, the right size for your carry-on.
My Pocket Juice Portable for my Phone/Tablet is useful if I don’t want to bring all my adapters in my carry-on. It is a bit heavy.
I bought this for the first time a prepaid card for my phone. It was cheap and if I don’t use it all I can reuse it on another trip.
Money
**Make sure your credit card will work in the country you’re visiting. Most banks have switched almost completely to the more secure chip/pin technology. AMEX is one of the cards that is not accepted at most places ( I found that out a long time ago).
**I always have local cash before I leave home and I go to an ATM in the country I am visiting, so much easier than carrying lots of money. You might need it for a taxi or the bus. Not every place takes credit cards, like trains or buses.
**I exchange my money in the bank before we leave. (The conversion centers in the airport or around the city are huge rip-offs.)
**Call your bank or credit card provider to tell them you will be outside your country. It is easier when you make a transaction.
**Republic Dominican requires travellers to pay to enter or leave the country. These fees are not included in the price of your airline ticket make sure you find out before you leave home and put that money just for that.
Luggage & Packing
*Pack an extra set of clothes in your carry-on bag just in case and some snacks. You never know what will happen.
*To check a bag or not to check a bag. Now, the most airline has their own set of guidelines as to how many bags can be checked or carried on for free, find out before you leave home.
*I keep with me a small purse and a medium tote for my extra clothes/cameras/headphone etc.
**Bring warm clothes, even if your destination is hot. I suggest a light long sleeve sweater and socks. I learn the hard way in one year.
Helping App
**Buy online tickets for places you know you will visit or see before you leave home. By buying in advance you’ll be able to skip the lines. We miss the train once because I forgot to buy my tickets. Arriving at the train station, they told us the train was full. The only one was at night. Oh, I got my lesson that time lol.
**I download apps before my travel.
**I like to use these apps on my phone while travelling.
https://www.rome2rio.com/ is very useful for travelling by plane, train, or bus. The app shows you the time and prices.
**Google travel app. This one gives you things to do where you are visiting. Places to see.
**GPSmycity app. A self-guided walk to sightseeing. Or you can print a map at home if you prefer.