Preparing for a trip can be a full time job. You have to find the perfect city or beach location you want to visit, make sure you can afford it, buy the tickets for your flight, or make sure other travel arrangements are prepared, book your hotel or AirBnB room, plan out the things you will do when you get there and make sure that you don’t forget your camera so you can take those pictures that will last a lifetime. If you are traveling with family, you can multiply all of this times the number of people in your family.
But although these direct trip related details are each important there is a list of things you need to do as well to make sure that your trip goes the way you would like and that things are fine when you return home. Here is a list of those things that you need to do before you leave.
Your Home
You need to have good friends or family in place to keep an eye on your house, condo or apartment for you. Doing these removes a major potential concern. Thieves are always looking for homes that do not have people coming in and out of them regularly and they might target your home in your absence. So get someone to come by in the evenings and put the lights on, check around the property and even spend some time in the house so it looks occupied.
If you have not done so already, now is the time to invest in a good home alarm system. Get one that connects directly to the police and the alarm service when activated. The good systems will have both alarms and lights to deter intruders and will work both in your home and your yard.
Also invest in some motion lights and cameras that turn on if there is movement on your property. Motion lights will deter thieves because they do not want to be seen or have attention drawn to themselves. There are camera apps now that can alert your smartphone no matter where you are in the world if someone is in your home.
Your Vehicle
If you are driving to your vacation, make sure that you get it inspected before you leave. A sight inspection alone is not enough nor is your having a newer vehicle enough either. Many problems happen to newer vehicles that are under warranty and most problems cannot be seen until they become a breakdown. You do not want to be stranded in some place far away from your home with potentially no access to mechanics you trust. So take your car in for a once over and make sure the fluid levels, belts and battery are checked.
You
Are you going on a vacation that will entail hiking, lots of exercise type of activities or that will be generally hectic? If this is the case, you should get a check-up before you leave. This common-sense precaution can save you lots of headaches and potentially keep you out of a hospital in a strange city when you travel. So bite the bullet and go see your local doctor and get a full check-up before you leave.
These three important areas of focus can allow you to have a worry-free vacation. Do them before you leave and don’t forget to have a great time!
