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The Ultimate Vacation Checklist

With winter roaring with its fierceness this season, many people are working on plans to take off work, hop on a flight and have a warm vacation to put the cold chill of winter behind and enjoy a little fun in the sun. If you are like most vacationers, you want to pack light, work within a set budget and have a ton of fun without worrying about those things you tend to worry about with work and life in general. Something that is important to consider, no matter where your vacation may be, is to make sure you take care of everything from scheduling flights and booking the vacation rental to packing for the trip and even taking steps to stay safe while out and about. For the best vacation ever, be sure to check out the ultimate vacation checklist, and put the worries behind while you head off into the sun for a little relaxation and whole lot of much needed time away from the winter chill.

Planning is Crucial!

Sure, calling in sick this weekend and hopping on a cheap flight to Las Vegas, Hawaii or even sunny San Francisco but rushing to take a vacation, not to mention lying to your boss to be able to do so, often ends in a sloppy vacation and mishaps along the way that cause things to be not so much after all.

To get your vacation off on the right food, here are a few things you should take care of no less than three to six months ahead of the time you want to leave.

  • Know what you can spend and no matter what, do not go over that amount.
  • Put in a request at work for time off during the dates you plan to vacation.
  • Check vacation rentals and hotels to find a great place to stay within your budget.
  • Check airline rates online and book your flight once you know you can have the time off from work to go.
  • Arrange for home security monitoring at home if you don’t already have it.
  • Schedule your pets to be boarded or to stay with friends or a relative while you are away.
  • Update all identification and get your passport ready if you plan to leave the country.

One Month

When you get a little closer to the planned vacation date, you’re going to need to take care of some other important details. At around a month before vacation, take care of these things:

  • Call a trusted relative, or ask a neighbor that you trust, to grab the mail from your mailbox. Thieves target homes that have mail piled up. If you don’t have someone you trust, go to the post office and place an order to stop delivery to the post office can hold your mail until you return from vacation.
  • Get all phone numbers and addresses for the vacation rental, airline and other important info together and give it to someone who is close to you. Be sure to include the date you leave and the date you will return.
  • If you are leaving the country, be sure to alert your bank so they won’t place a fraud alert on your bank cards when you try to use them.

One Week

The week before the vacation, besides being antsy with anticipation of getting away and destressing, there are a few things you need to take care of.

  • Fill any prescriptions you will need while away.
  • Pull up the weather forecast for the vacation city and be sure to plan your clothing and activities around the weather.
  • Make sure you can use your cell phone from the location you are traveling to and if you cannot, try to find one that will be usable, so you won’t be away with no way to contact anyone.
  • Get your clothing together and unless you plan to wear it between now and the day you leave, get it packed and ready to go.
  • If you have someone to drive you to the airport and pick you up when you return, that is great! If not, then you need to sit down and make a few calls to schedule a driver to pick you up and get you where you need to go.

One Day

The day before your vacation starts, you are going to most likely feel excited that you’ll be able to leave soon, and chances are, you’re going to miss something when it is time to go. So, before you start dancing around the living room, take a little time to run over some important last-minute details before you head off for fun in the sun.

  • Finish packing if you haven’t done so already. Chances are however, that you’ve had your bags packed for weeks and sitting by the door ready to head to the airport.
  • Make sure your household trash is at the curb (or down the trash chute) before you leave.
  • If the temperature is going to be in the arctic zone, be sure to set your thermostat to a suitable temperature to prevent your pipes from freezing while you’re away.
  • If possible, grab a timer and plug a lamp into it so you will have a light on in the evenings while you’re gone. Burglars notice when homes stay dark, and if a light comes on, it can help make them think someone is home.

Now you know the important steps to getting your vacation prepared with a checklist. Something you’ll want to consider while making your list is going to be what to pack. Here are a few tips on packing for the best vacation ever.

Clothing

  • Pack enough shirts for every day, and even if you’re going to a hot climate, pack at least one long sleeve shirt in case the evenings get a little chilly.
  • Underwear for every day
  • Pants and shorts for every day
  • Pajamas
  • Swimsuit/swimming trunks
  • Shoes: At least one pair of comfortable shoes for exploring the area, a nice pair of shoes for those late nights of dancing, and some comfortable sandals or flip flops for the many hours you’ll spend on the beach.

Also, be sure to pack sunscreen, sunglasses, cell phone and charger, electric converters if you’re heading overseas, rain jacket or umbrella, lip balm, personal hygiene items, shaving kit and toothbrush, roof rack on cars and other personal items that you may need while on vacation. Try to avoid taking flashy or expensive jewelry on vacation as it can be a huge temptation for thieves.

Before you even think about boarding the plane, or hopping in the car and driving off, check your luggage and your vacation rental confirmation to make sure everything is all set to go. Once you arrive, you can finally sit back and relax during your much-needed vacation time.

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