With so many things to think about before you travel, you’ll likely forget something. But wise travelers have always managed to get ideas in order before leaving home.
You can also adopt this mentality just like any seasoned traveler does. Just make sure to get this list in check every time you go away for a holiday. This checklist hopes to minimize, if not eliminate, a such experience that often causes anxiety and disrupt the holiday excitement.
Table of Contents
Leave home secured
Don’t be overwhelmed with both excitement and anxiety as you travel. Also, make sure that the home you’ll leave behind is in order. Ensure that the gas supply is turned off, appliances unplugged (with few exceptions like the refrigerator), and doors, and windows securely locked. If you have pets, make a plan to look after their safety and welfare while you’re on the road.
Fully charge the phone and other gadgets
Without your usual electrical outlets to rely on, things can get unpredictable when you look for places to charge your phone. So make sure it is charged 100% before departing. As a contingency measure for extended hours on the road brings a power bank — be confident it is on hand-carried luggage when you fly.
Bring enough drinking water
Keep yourself hydrated during travel for the optimal experience. Since there’s a restriction on liquid as you pass by the airport’s security screens, have an adequate amount between home and the airport. Remember that dehydration can be life-threatening, and wine and spirits are not suitable substitutes. Hydration helps you prepare for the rigors of travel. And while we’re on the topic, make sure you watch what you eat before the trip.
Sort out credit cards and ATM withdrawal access
As part of their security measures, many banks require account holders to activate their ATMs for overseas withdrawal. This means that before you need to go to the ATM or use your Internet banking account to activate your ATM so you’ll be able to withdraw money from a machine in your destination
Bring the appropriate power adapter
Not all countries use the same power plug as you currently have. Check the type of power plug your destination country uses. In case you are crossing multiple territories that use a variety of caps, consider getting a travel adapter that caters to various types of plugs (plus USB charger) at less than $20.
Take photographs of travel documents
As a precaution, have your air ticket, passport copy, travel insurance, and other essential documents copied onto your mobile device for easier access (like writing down your passport number on immigration cards). It also comes in as a convenient resource when transacting with customer service or as a lifesaver if such pertinent documents get lost (God forbid).
Download offline maps
Map reading may be an excellent skill to have, but using folding maps is so old school, inconvenient, and even risky. Google Maps comes in handy to help your way towards your desired place. Your hotel. The train terminal. A tourist landmark. Or just any other location you need to find out.
Select your destination city and download an offline copy of Google Maps to allow offline access to routes, directions, and locations. Although there are also limitations (you won’t know the traffic situation or walking paths), this tool still helps a lot in giving you navigation guidance.
Check doors and windows
Ensure that doors have proper locks and windows closed to prevent intrusion or elements from ruining your indoors.
Arrange for pet care
Pet owners sometimes have this feeling of guilt and indecision when it comes to finding temporary shelter for their furry family members. If you have pets, you may arrange for a pet sitter or kennel stay using Trusted Housesitters or your trusted pet-loving neighbor.
Replace bedsheets
Tired and exhausted from your trip, you’ve been looking forward to jumping into bed. But if it’s been stale while you’re away and due for a wash, replacing pillowcases and bedsheets can be a tedious job. Do the task before your holiday trip instead.
Prepare smaller bills for tips
Make sure you have lower bills in your purse or pocket, so it’s easy to tip the bellboy, luggage porter, airport shuttle driver, or waitress at the diner. Doing so also avoids that awkward situation that makes these folks suspect you’re pretending to be a nice guy but ends up being a penny pincher.
Consider fumigation
Being away from your home for a while can also be an opportunity to get rid of an infestation of roaches, ticks, and other unwanted creatures lurking in the basement or remote corner of the house. Just make sure you have enough time to secure your kitchen utensils, foodstuff, and other safety measures.
Also, don’t forget to notify your building management/neighbors about your plan so they would pay attention and not be alarmed about the smoke coming from your premises.
Take out rubbish
The house must be clean when you leave for vacation, so get rid of the trash in your bins in the kitchen, bathroom, and other parts of the house. Otherwise, you’ll be greeted with an unpleasant odor inside the house once you arrive.
Check your laundry & dishwasher
Ensure that no wet clothes are inside the washer, or spin dryer waiting to be hung or folded. Similarly, the dishwasher should be free of kitchen and table utensils, which are supposed to be piled neatly in the racks by now.
Activate out-of-office email
Set an autoreply email for every sender informing him or her that you are on holiday. Without revealing much about your travel destination, you send a message to the sender that while you still receive messages — and reply to them during travel if you can — you may not be able to respond immediately.
Plan your arrival itinerary
Plan when you arrive at your destination. Map our travel plans out of the airport arrivals. Get familiar with the airport layout, and schedule of your onward intercity train, or bus ride from the airport to the city. Find out how much the fare costs, travel frequency, distance to your hotel, or Airbnb accommodation from the bus stop.
If you plan to withdraw cash or transact with a money exchange shop, check if these facilities are available at the airport. This and another arrival itinerary must be in place before your departure.
Download offline films, music, and podcast
If you are planning to binge-watch your favorite TV series or set of movies on Netflix or listen to music on Spotify, make sure you download copies of these streaming media for your offline consumption.
Share your itinerary with a relative or friend
Having someone know your whereabouts helps them track you faster — if something comes up back home, or if there is unrest, natural disaster, or emergencies taking place in your destination.
It’s not about making you feel less independent or less relaxed. It just makes others feel reassured, knowing where you are. Tools like TripIt comes in handy when it comes to sharing your travel information with family or close friends.
Check your destination’s weather
If you booked a flight to your destination months ago, there’s little to no idea about the weather. This time, about 24 hours from your trip, you should have a much better idea of what to expect.
If it’s sunny, then, by all means, bring that visor, shades, and a generous serving of sunblock. Otherwise, if it’s rainy, you can prepare alternative itineraries and Plan B for your journey.
Free up your wallet from unwanted clutter
You don’t have to bring things you don’t need for your holiday travel. Many such things might be found in your purse: extra credit cards, club membership, loyalty cards, and other items that you won’t need, but you’ll get in trouble if you lose them during your trip. Sift through your wallet and keep the unnecessary ones at home.
Clean up your refrigerator
Keep your refrigerator fresh and free from spoiled milk, expired food, and unwanted smell from stale leftover food. Empty your fridge (freeze dairy milk and whipped cream), and utilize what’s left.
For example, whisk yogurt into a salad, and create a fruit shake or frozen cubes of freshly cut fruit you can consume upon your return.
Confirm reservations
Another way of easing your mind from travel anxiety and unwanted disruption on the road is to confirm your travel plans (hotel or vacation rental booking, airport check-in, car hires, group tours, and so on).
Pay upcoming bills in advance
Consider arranging an advanced payment of bills in advance. This is helpful, especially if you’re going to be away for a relatively long time, and getting past the due date incurs a significant surcharge or cancellation of a subscription service.
Print boarding pass
To save time waiting in line, you can print your flight boarding pass or store it in your mobile phone app.
Turn off the water supply
Unless you have an automatic water sprayer for your plants, there’s no need to keep the tap on. To conserve water, turn it off while you’re away.
Download appropriate travel apps
Specific destinations feature useful apps you can use. This can be transit and subway maps, walking tours, or only getting good deals on last-minute hotel and flight offers in case there are changes in your travel plans.
Check luggage locks
Check if your luggage has padlocks that work correctly. Ensure that they are also TSA compliant.
Label luggage properly
Have your luggage appropriately labeled. Remove old stickers from your previous journey and have labels that correctly identify them as your property (name and email address).
Conclusion
Traveling is often both an exciting and anxiety-driven experience. Having done your assignment and checking out the list above helps ease the worries that sometimes accompany you.
