Leaving for a vacation is indeed as much exciting as when you first planned it. However, in many cases, people become less aware of the most important things to do before travelling to their destinations. Thus the need for a great reminder.
It is true that the travel information (flight hour, airfare etc.) hotel accommodation and transportation on the trip are considered as the "holy trinity of travel preparation" according to Independent Traveler. Nevertheless, these are only a portion of the planning process you will have to deal with before finally getting on the road to your vacation.
In fact, there are 10 things presented on the said article which you should also be mindful of prior to leaving. However, we have shortened the list into 5 of the things you should never forget to do before travelling, such as the following:
Contact your house sitter
If you are going on a trip with your whole family, better secure your house and belongings before leaving your abode. Contact your local house sitter or someone trust worthy enough to look over for your house. This may also include taking care of your pet (if you have one) while you are away.
Make sure to keep all the essentials secured and safe as well as orient the house sitter of the things he/she must attend to. Informing your neighbors of your absence may also help in looking after your house. Nevertheless, be careful of who you trust your house with. Otherwise, you might be going home to nothing.
Manage your pending payments/bills
Another thing to be mindful of is your pending bills and payments. If you will be out for quite some time and you know that it may be intersecting with a set payment, then you may consider doing it in advanced as of Independent Traveler.
Payments can also be done online to keep you from the hassle of going to your post office or service provider's office to pay your bills. You may also ask your house sitter to do the favor unless you don't think they would and could do it.
Plan you trip wisely
Many people tend to do the planning as soon as they get in their vacation as the cliché goes "let's cross the bridge when we get there." However, this might cost you much time and money especially if you are not familiar with the area as well as the expenses.
Better yet, plan your trip including your first and last days on the place which will consist your travel time and preparation. Also plan your trip ahead of time in accordance to the weather condition on your target date and area. In such case, researching prior to leaving is utmost important.
You may also be adventurous and try out things and places which aren't on your list during your vacation. Nevertheless, be sure to keep on your time schedule as to not skip your flight back or at least plan for an extended vacation ahead of time.
Check for transportation routes or public transit
Another thing that you must not forget is to check for maps and public transportation for you to be more familiarized to your destination thus making it easier and faster to travel from one area to another. If you are renting a car, then learning the main and alternative routes and their traffic condition is essential. Whereas if you will be utilizing public transportation, be sure to know the stations, destinations and fare range.
Looking a lot like a tourist with a map on your face is a no-no in travelling for this will catch the attention of unsavory people. Thus, taking advantage of your ignorance of their place.
Manage you Cash
One of the most important thing to prepare is your pocket money. Travelling domestically is not really a problem as long as there will be available ATMs on your target location (researching is the key).
However, for those travelling abroad, be sure to have your money withdrawn and exchanged following the currency of the country you're visiting as soon as you arrived in the area or even before. If you have no enough time to have them changed in the destination, better yet look for the nearest money changing station in your area and do the honor before you travel.
Travelling is indeed fun especially if you planned it smoothly ahead of time. By checking on the aforementioned things, rest assured that you and your family/companions will be at ease during the whole trip. So before you leave for your destination, make sure to give yourself enough time to accomplish such tasks. For more travel tips and essentials, visit Travelers Today.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
