Start looking for special deals and other discounts for which you may qualify.
Do some research on the area you’ll be visiting and on the way you’ll be getting there. This is especially important to start your research early if you are planning foreign travel.
Check the valid dates on your passport if you are planning on leaving the country.
Take care of medical and dental checkups and vaccinations if necessary.
After consulting your physician, consider starting an exercise program to prepare your body for the extra exertion you’ll experience while travelling.
Make reservations.
Three Weeks Ahead
Watch the weather, so you’ll know what to expect and can pack accordingly.
Check with your credit card company for available spending amount; ask your bank for an increase if needed. Don’t forget about the deposits that will be charged and leave some room on the card for emergencies.
Check the valid dates on your credit card to make sure they will remain valid while you’re travelling.
Notify the Credit Card Company that you’ll be travelling, so they will expect charges from your destination.
Check your ATM and debit card for both daily and total limits.
Remember your PIN numbers or get new ones issued for all your credit, debit, ATM and phone cards.
Purchase automatic light timers to switch on and off in the evening.
Check your driver’s license to make sure it will remain valid while you’re travelling
Check cameras, purchase new batteries if necessary, and film.
Make an arrangement with a neighbour, friend or relative to check your home periodically.
If a friend or neighbour cannot collect your mail, make arrangements for it to be held at the Post Office.
Arrange for lawn care or snow removal. Ignoring these areas will make your house stand out in the neighbourhood and announce to everyone that you are gone.
Arrange for someone to start your car during very cold or very hot weather.
Arrange boarding for your pets.
Start breaking in the shoes you’ll be taking with you on your trip.
Add some yoghurt to your diet to strengthen your digestive system. This is especially important if your plans include travel to foreign countries where you will be exposed to elements that are hostile to your digestive system.
Two Weeks Ahead
Reconfirm all your reservations.
Get traveller’s checks from the bank.
Make arrangements to purchase some foreign currency if you are travelling abroad.
Check your insurance for expiration dates and coverage for your automobile, home and the valuables that you’ll take with you, as well as those you’ll leave at home.
If travelling by car, get the car checked and have the oil changed. Don’t wait until the last minute, it may take time to get an appointment and parts may need to be ordered. You also want some time to drive around town and make sure that whatever they fixed stays fixed.
Put your valuables and jewellery in a safety deposit box.
If you don’t have, or can’t get access to a safety deposit box, you still want to hinder a hurried burglar by hiding valuable items in your house.
One Week Ahead
Reduce the amount of fresh items you buy at the grocery store, such as milk, fruit and other perishables you’ll need to throw out before you leave.
Get out the suitcase and start your packing.
Be sure your luggage is marked with identification on the inside and out.
Start adjusting your sleeping and eating habits closer to your destination’s time zone to help avoid jetlag.
Make at least two lists of credit card numbers and travellers check serial numbers.
Make several copies of your passport. Leave one list at home and keep the other with you in case you lose your passport. Do not keep the copies on your person, rather keep a copy in your suitcase and/or give your travelling companion a copy.
Notify the local police and security system company to immediately consider any alarms as real. Leave with them the names of anyone responsible to watch over your house.
Check prescriptions for necessary refills; bring a list with the drug’s generic name listed since the brand names available can differ in other areas.
Pick up all your items from the dry cleaners.
One Day Before
Pay bills that will come due while you are away.
Walk around with your packed luggage to evaluate your comfort with the weight of the luggage.
Move houseplants away from direct sunlight, water thoroughly and wrap pots with plastic. Most plants can then live without further watering for two weeks.
Empty the refrigerator of items that might spoil.
Cancel or hold your newspaper delivery.
Fill the car with petrol before you pack the car. Check the fluid levels and tyre pressure, since your tyre pressure will affect the ride and your car's petrol consumption.
You might want to turn your refrigerator to its lowest setting.
Set automatic light and radio timers. Check the bulbs to see if they will last for your entire trip.
Things To Do The Day You Leave
Turn water heater down to the lowest setting
Turn your air conditioner up in summer. You want to reduce your bills, but you may have to keep the house from getting too hot to protect your pets and electronics.
Turn your heat down or off in spring or fall. Be sure to leave the house warm enough in the winter. You may want to reduce your bills, but you may need to keep the house from getting too cold to protect your pets and water pipes.
Leave shades or drapes as you normally do.
Plug a cheap radio into a timer so you can have some noise in the house during part of the day.
Lock all doors and windows including basement & garage.
Unplug electronic items, such as, your computer to protect them if you have a storm while you’re gone. Remember to unhook your phone line from the modem. Unfortunately, you may have to leave it all hooked up if your computer is your only answering machine. Make sure your surge protectors are properly installed.
Pack the car inside the garage, with the door down, so people driving by won’t find out you’re leaving.
Disconnect the garage door. Unplug it if you can, don’t pull the fuse for the garage door until you verify the fuse isn’t hooked up to something that needs to stay on, such as, your refrigerator or maybe a freezer in the garage.
Ask about any other groups or conventions that have booked the Hotel at the same time since any large group could effect your stay.
If you plan on taking advantage of some of the Hotel’s services such as shuttles, babysitting, free meals or recreational facilities, make sure those services will be available when you will need them.
If you are reserving a special room, make sure you know just what special really means. Is your "ocean view" room right on the beach, looking down on the ocean or can you just barely see the ocean if you look closely between several other buildings on a clear day.
Check the Hotel’s check-in and checkout time.
Make sure you get the Hotel’s complete address and take it with you to get local directions.
There can be charges, fees and extra taxes for everything. In some cases, the government’s percentage of your Hotel bill can be very high, so you’ll want to make sure you have budgeted for these items. Ask about any other extra charges if you think they will apply.
The name of the person who’ll be staying at the Hotel.
The number of guests staying in the room.
The identity/passport number of the guest staying in the room.
The residential status of the guest staying in the room.
The residential address of the guest staying in the room.
Credit card type, number and expiration date of the card to be billed.
The name of the location where you want to reserve a room.
Date and time you’ll be checking in and checking out.
The type of room you want to reserve, such as standard, business, suite, etc.
Any special requests, such as smoking/nonsmoking.
Any discounts or coupons that you are planning to apply to the stay.
How will I get to the Hotel?
If you are flying in, find out where you are to meet the Hotel’s shuttle. Do they have a fixed meeting place or do you need to call someone once you arrive.
If they use a shuttle, find out how often it runs and its hours of operation.
If you are driving, get directions with the complete address and local phone number. Directions can be accessed on our site under Traveller Tools > Maps & Directions.
What type of research should I do before I travel?
Do some research, learn as much as you can about your destination.
Check to see what type of weather the area has so you can plan accordingly.
Check to see what type of paperwork and documentation you will need to travel.
Check your own medical coverage to see what type of coverage you’ll have when away from home. Consider purchasing trip insurance.
If you plan on driving, get your car ready and investigate the local road conditions, laws and other driving requirements.
Do some research about the costs of local items so you can set your budget. Don't forget to budget for taxes and tipping. Many governments charge high taxes for travel related services.
Check the dates of local major holidays or festivals, since services may be limited on those dates.
How can I protect my health when I travel?
If you have any food allergies, learn the names of those foods in the languages used in the countries you’ll be visiting. This way you’ll be better equipped to stay on the look out for them.
Find out what types of vaccinations you will need to enter the country, there may also be medications you’ll need to take before, during and even after your trip. Get you vaccinations done early in case you have a reaction and need some recovery time.
You should consider a dental appointment if you haven’t had a check up in a while.
Be careful what you eat and drink.
Carry complete health information with you on your trip.
Consider joining Medic Alert or IAMAT, the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers.
Yes, using your credit card can be more valuable than using cash, so use it when you can.
You’ll probably be able to get a better exchange rate than changing money to spend yourself.
You’ll be in a stronger position; the credit card company can often charge back disputed charges.
Many times your credit card will offer an extra guarantee or warranty when you purchase items with your card, but you’ll want to read the fine print for exceptions.
You won’t have to risk your safety by carrying and displaying large amounts of cash.
If you lose your card, most credit cards have a low maximum liability limit if you quickly report the card as lost.
Make an arrangement with a neighbor, friend or relative to check your home periodically.
If a friend or neighbor cannot collect your mail, make arrangements for it to be held at the Post Office.
Arrange for lawn care or snow removal. Ignoring these areas will make your house stand out in the neighborhood and announce to everyone that you are gone.
Arrange for someone to start your car during very cold or very hot weather.
Purchase automatic light timers for lights and a radio. Plug a cheap radio into a timer so you can have some noise in the house during part of the day.
Check your insurance for expiration dates and coverage for your automobile, home and the valuables that you’ll take with you, as well as those you’ll leave at home.
Put your valuables and jewelry in a safety deposit box. If you don’t have, or can’t get access to a safety deposit box, you still want to hinder a hurried burglar by hiding valuable items in your house.
Notify the local police and security system company to immediately consider any alarms as real. Leave with them the names of anyone responsible to watch over your house.
Move houseplants away from direct sunlight, water thoroughly and wrap pots with plastic. Most plants can then live without further watering for two weeks.
Empty the refrigerator of items that might spoil.
Cancel or hold your newspaper delivery.
You might want to turn your refrigerator to its lowest setting.
Turn water heater down to the lowest setting.
Turn your air conditioner up in summer. You want to reduce your bills, but you may have to keep the house from getting too hot to protect your pets and electronics.
Turn your heat down or off in spring or fall. Be sure to leave the house warm enough in the winter. You may want to reduce your bills, but you may need to keep the house from getting too cold to protect your pets and water pipes.
Leave shades or drapes as you normally do.
Lock all doors and windows including basement & garage.
Unplug electronic items, such as, your computer to protect them if you have a storm while you’re gone. Remember to unhook your phone line from the modem. Unfortunately, you may have to leave it all hooked up if your computer is your only answering machine. Make sure your surge protectors are properly installed.
Pack the car inside the garage, with the door down, so people driving by won’t find out you’re leaving.
Disconnect the garage door. Unplug it if you can, don’t pull the fuse for the garage door until you verify the fuse isn’t hooked up to something that needs to stay on, such as, your refrigerator or maybe a freezer in the garage.
What information should I leave with my house sitter?
Plan to leave your house sitter with the following information:-
A complete trip itinerary with a list of where you’ll be staying with address and phone number.
A security system lesson if applicable, keys to the doors and mailbox.
Leave them a copy of your passport so they could fax it to you in case you lose your copy.
Plant care and watering instructions.
Pet care instructions.
Have your house sitter stop by at random times.
Make sure they put out your trash, you don’t want to be the only house without garbage on garbage day. See if they can share some of their trash with you if you won’t have any to put out while you’re gone.
The same one you usually do. You don’t want to announce to the world that you won’t return their call immediately because the house will be empty and unguarded for a while. Most answering machines have the ability to update you on your messages if you call in and use a special code to retrieve those messages. The answering machine’s manual should have instructions on how to retrieve your messages with an incoming call. If your answering machine doesn’t have this feature, and you are worried about a delay in receiving important messages, consider buying a new answering machine with this feature.
