- Contact the Kennel or House Sitter-Once you have a travel date, your first move should be to contact your pet kennel or house sitter to guarantee availability. You may even want to take care of this before booking.
- Take Care of Stop Orders and Advance Payments– These may include postal mail, newspapers, house cleaners and the like. If you want particular services to continue (such as landscaping), consider paying in advance if this is not your usual arrangement.
- Manage Your Cash Flow-If you’re traveling domestically, be sure to hit your own bank before leaving for your trip; that way you won’t arrive short on cash and have to immediately search for an ATM. If you’re traveling overseas, the most economical option is to visit an ATM as soon as you arrive in your destination and make a withdrawal in the local currency. Call your bank or credit card company and let them know about your travel plans. Most banks and credit card companies keep track of spending patterns and may interpret an unexpected overseas purchase as credit card fraud. Your account could be locked if you use your card in another country without notifying your bank.
- Check the Weather– The weather is the single factor most likely to affect your trip positively or negatively, and one of the things many people most take for granted. There are always exceptions to prevailing weather patterns, especially during transitional seasons. A weather forecast can guide your packing strategy, and failure to check the weather can result in unprepared, unhappy and very soggy travelers.
- Make Copies of your Passport-Better safe than sorry, and making a copy of your passport is good for two reasons: If you lose your passport, at least you have a copy, some accommodations may require a copy.
- Give a Copy of Your Itinerary to Someone at Home-In the event of an emergency, it is wise to have someone at home know your whereabouts. This also puts your family’s minds at ease knowing what parts of the world you are in.
- Have a great vacation!