Checklist to check before you go on a vacation
For most people, a vacation means a period when you can be away from your 9-to-5 job and routine life. It’s a means to break the rut and explore new locations and cultures and spend some quality time with friends and family. It goes without saying that when you are preparing for a vacation, then you can get really excited and pumped. However, before you set off, there are a couple of things that you need to take care of. These are:
Contact Your Credit Card Provider
If you are traveling to a foreign country, then it’s a good idea to inform your credit card provider in advance lest they decide to block your credit card after noticing transactions in a different country. You should also check with them if your card incurs foreign transaction fee which can be a lot (2% to 4% of each transaction amount). If that’s the case, then maybe you can get another card that’s more suited to travelers and doesn’t charge foreign transfer fee or any other similar fee.
Check Your Insurance Policy
If you are going away for several days, then you may want to check your insurance plan once again. Essentially, you want to confirm that you have property and casualty insurance so that if something happens to your property or assets like your car, then you are protected from the financial damage. If you have doubts, then you can also contact your insurance provider directly.
Clean up Your Place
It doesn’t matter where you are going on vacation, it’s pivotal that you clean up your home before you pack and leave. There are many reasons why that’s a good idea. For instance, when you come back after spending a long vacation at a beautiful location, you want your place to look inviting and appealing. Also, if you leave without taking care of laundry, leftover food, etc. then you may get welcomed by a smelly apartment and a swarm of flies, neither of which you want.
Make Arrangements for Your Pet
If you have a pet, then you can’t possibly leave him or her for days unattended. So, one of the most important travel arrangements that you need to make on-time is finding a pet sitter who can take care of your beloved friend. Ideally, it should be someone who you personally know as it’s easier to trust them compared to people you find online or through local agencies. At any rate, make sure that you provide all the details to the person including the diet, walking time, medication (if the pet is taking any), etc.
Get Travel Insurance
Travel insurance can save you from unnecessary trouble and prevent wastage of money when you are away from home. In fact, there is a slew of reasons why you need to get it before you leave:
- Trip cancellation coverage that allows you to get reimbursement for valid cancellation reasons like someone in your family falling sick, and problems like house flooding, etc.
- Health cover in case you get sick when traveling. You can get medical assistance, transportation, etc. with your plan and get fighting fit without worrying about legal red tape and paperwork.
- Lost baggage cover that reimburses you if you lose your baggage at the airport or the hotel.
As you can see, investing in travel insurance is totally worth it. However, before you do buy a plan, you may want to learn the basics of travel insurance so that you know exactly what you are signing up for.
Unplug
There is no reason to keep electronic and electric devices in your home operational if you are going to be away for many days. So, right before you take off, you should switch off/unplug all the devices including the Wi-Fi, fans, lights, computers and laptops, etc. Of course, there are a few exceptions, such as the fridge which you want to stay on all this while.
A Well-Planned Vacation is a Happy Vacation!
You could be at any of the world’s best places to visit, but if you are there without making certain arrangements back at home, then you may end up spending all your time in worry. So, it’s only wise to plan and prepare in advance. No one wants a bad vacation.
