Hey there, fellow travelers! We have so many posts about what to do while you’re traveling, but this post is about the things you need to do before you travel. This isn’t about the travel documents you need, or how to plan your trip, but a vacation checklist of those little things you need to before you leave. We have tips for keeping your house safe while traveling, and we even have work tips for those of us with full-time jobs.
#1 Call Your Bank & Credit Card
If you are traveling out of the country, make sure you call your bank and credit cards to let them know of your travel plans. If you forget to do this, you may land to find your transactions declined. For some banks, you can even set a travel alert online. However, if you use a small local credit union, you really need to make sure you do this because if you land in Europe on Saturday morning, you might not be able to reach anyone at the bank until Monday.
#2 Get an International Data Package for your Phone
Don’t be surprised by a huge cell phone bill when you get back home. Call your provider before you leave and discuss the options for your trip. Some international plans can cover you for the entire duration of your trip, others may go by a 24-hour window, which is great if you only plan to use your data for emergencies during the trip. I’ve had friends come home to a $700 phone bill after a week’s vacation; don’t let that happen to you!
#3 Pay Your Bills
Getting ready for a trip can be hectic, but don’t forget to pay all of your bills before you leave so you can avoid any late fees. If you travel a lot, online bill pay can be a lifesaver because you don’t have to wait for bills to come in the mail and you can pay them anytime. Not only can paying bills late hurt your credit score, you could come home to find your power shut off if you’ve forgotten to pay the bill while traveling.
#4 Cut Your Nails
This is one people don’t think about, but cut your fingernails and toenails before you leave because your nails will grow on vacation! If you forget nail clippers, you don’t want to be running around trying to find some during your travels, so having super short nails at the start of your trip will help.
Now, let’s add some things to your pre-trip checklist that will help keep your home safe while you travel.
Watch: How to Keep Your Home Safe While Traveling
#5 Hold Your Mail & Newspapers
Don’t let your mail pile up while you are gone. Let the Post Office know you are traveling, and they will hold your mail while you are gone. You can do this online, or fill out a form at your local post office. I recommend stopping it for the day before you leave, and having it all delivered a day or two after you return. This helps give you a buffer in case you are delayed getting home. Similarly, if you subscribe to newspapers, put your subscription on hold until you get back. A pile of newspapers outside is a green light for thieves.
#6 Set Timers on Your Lights
Set some timers on the lights in your home. You can buy them at a hardware store or online, and may even be able to do this with some home security apps on your phone. Set the timers for various times so that lights go on and off throughout the day, making it look like someone is home. Don’t just get a timer that comes on and off at the same time every day. Test them out before you leave to ensure they work and make sense. (i.e. don’t have one that comes on every day at 3am)
#7 Tell A Trusted Neighbor You’ll Be Gone
Letting a neighbor know you’ll be gone is a good safety measure. They can alert you to anything weird they might see at your house, and they can also grab any packages that get delivered while you are gone. In the winter, they might check that your pipes don’t freeze, or in the summer, they might be able to mow your lawn so it’s not obvious that you are gone.
#8 Set Your Home Alarm
If you travel often, a home alarm system is an excellent investment. Some systems have various levels of security; I recommend putting it at the highest setting while you are gone. Many systems now include cameras you can monitor online from your cell phone, and many will automatically contact the police when the alarm is tripped.
#9 Put Valuables in a Safety Deposit Box
If you have really valuable items, and worry that your home could get broken into while you’re gone, put them in a safety deposit box at your bank. This includes jewelry, cash, backup drives and expensive electronics that you’re not traveling with.
#10 Check Your Insurance Policy
Before you leave, make sure you review your home insurance policy, making sure that it’s up to date and will cover anything that might occur while you are gone. This can include a home robbery, or even frozen pipes that burst and damage your home. They can also add a travel policy to cover things like photography equipment while you are traveling.
#11 Consider a House-sitter
Some people feel better having someone stay at the house while they are gone, rather than leaving it empty. This can be friends or family, or you can hire a professional. You can have someone just drop by periodically, or have someone move in while you are gone. Whatever you are most comfortable with.
For those of you with full-time jobs, we have some work tips for how you can ensure a smooth transition from work to vacation and back to work again.
Watch: Work & Travel: Four Things to do Before Vacation
#12 Set Your Email & Voicemail Out of Office
Make sure you set up your out of office response in your email and voicemail Include the date you will be back, and who to contact in the case of something urgent. In most email systems, you can even schedule this ahead of time, so you don’t have to worry about this being the last thing you do before you leave for vacation.
#13 Assign Backups
Have your backup plan clearly agreed upon and written out. Don’t rely on just a verbal agreement. This is information you can include in your out of office email, or something you can send out to clients or stakeholders before you leave to let them know everything will be covered in your absence.
#14 Clear Your Calendar for Your First Day Back
You will need your first day back in the office to catch up on emails and messages. Don’t schedule any meetings this day unless absolutely necessary, so you can get caught up before diving back into new projects. Having the first day blocked out will also save you if there are any travel delays. If you miss a flight and have to spend an extra night somewhere, you won’t be scrambling to reschedule meetings on top of everything else going on.
#15 Schedule a Buffer Day
Even better than a clear calendar at work is taking an extra day after your trip to catch up. I know, most of us want to maximize our vacation time and spend it all at the destination, but having an extra vacation day once you are home can be a lifesaver. Think about the unpacking, laundry, grocery shopping and everything else you have to catch up on.
And one thing you should not do before you leave on vacation….
Don’t Announce Your Trip on Social Media
The best way to keep your home safe while you are gone is not to let the entire world know you are leaving. It’s tempting to share your excitement with everyone on social media, but if the wrong person knows you won’t be home for an extended period, they may see it as an invitation to rob you while you’re gone. Even if you think you’re just sharing with friends, it can be surprisingly easily for someone to find your address and your home. The best thing to do is to save your photos until you are back home from your trip and then share with social media.
These are the little things at home and at work that people tend to forget before traveling. What other things would you add to this pre-trip checklist? Let us know in the comments below! For more travel tips and advice, check out these blog posts and videos:
