Travel Tips for Your Summer Vacation
June 28th, 2007 by Helen Sarkanova
Vacations bring the long awaited escape from everyday stress. To ensure a stress-free vacation, check off these before-you-go task to set your vacationing mind at peace:
1. Check batteries in smoke detectors
Replace the old batteries in all the smoke detectors and make sure that they are working properly. Also, turn off devices such as toasters, microwaves, TV sets, and computers. Not just a safety concern, you will also save energy.
2. Review your home insurance plan
Review your home insurance plan and update it to reflect current needs. Consider how your situation changed or what new property you acquired since purchasing your current insurance. Valuables such as jewelry or fine art are often insurable.
3. Check prescription medication
Ensure that the family has enough prescription medications for the entire period plus a few extra days. If traveling by air, remember to keep the prescriptions and refills in a plastic bag in your carry-on baggage. Have a sufficient supply of over-the-counter drugs to alleviate a headache or upset stomach. Also take sunscreens, repellents and after-sun lotion.
4. Inform your security system provider of the dates you depart and return
Make sure that your security provider knows that you will be away and that they have a number at which you could be reached in an emergency. Also, have a relative or a friend designated as an emergency contact in your hometown.
5. Have land line calls forwarded to your cell phone
Check if your coverage area extends to your destination. If so, your service providers may also forward your landline phone calls to your cell phone at no additional charge.
6. Don’t forget batteries and power adapters
Make sure you have all the connectors, batteries and power adapters for your camera, cell phone and other devices. You may end up paying more for batteries in hotels and resorts or not finding the type that you need. Remember that in some countries you may need a specific power adapter or voltage converters.
8. Pay bills
To avoid late fees, check what bills will be due while you are on vacation. A quick phone call to set up payments ahead of time can save you vacation worries and a post-vacation hassle.
9. Put mail on hold
You can easily arrange putting your mail and newspaper delivery on hold online. Otherwise, a pile of newspaper sitting on your front step or a stuffed mail box may send an unwanted signal that the house in empty.
10. Take care of home and garden
Another way how to avoid leaving your house with an abandoned look is to have the garden taken care of shortly before you go. With a nice exterior, your home will keep its lived-in feel. Last but not least, keep your regular housekeeping service on the job. It will keep your home fresh, and you will feel better coming back to a clean and tidy house.
