Too often, people wait until the last minute to get things done before their summer vacation only to run into some major problems and roadblocks. Nothing is more frustrating than being mentally ready for your vacation only to realize you completely forgot to book the kennel for your dog and attempting to find last-minute solutions to things that could have already been prepared… talk about needing a vacation! Once you’ve gotten the best rate from Holiday Systems ratings and your flight and hotel are booked, the last thing you want to do is run around doing errands the day before. Instead, take some time a few months before your vacation to make sure everything is in check.
- Confirm Your Travel Plans
Be sure to confirm your flight, hotel, and itinerary and print out any confirmations you have. One of the worst things that can happen is that you get to your destination to find that you’re not actually booked at the hotel you thought you were at. - Prepare Any Documents
It’s important to prepare any documents you may need, such as passports and visas. You should also make a copy of each and put them in your luggage as well, just in case it gets lost or something happens to your luggage tag. - Make Home and Pet Arrangements
If you need a home sitter or need to board a pet, it’s important to make arrangements way ahead of time to ensure you’re not scrambling last minute. Be sure to have a backup plan if your house or pet sitter is unavailable last minute. Give a trusted neighbor your emergency contact information just in case something was to happen to your home while you’re gone. - Look Into Travel Insurance
Depending on where you’re traveling to and for how long, you may want to consider travel insurance. There are many affordable options out there and all different types. - Arrange Travel
If you’re driving, make sure to tune up your car to ensure that it’s in tip-top condition and if you’re flying, arrange for transportation to the airport. Again, try and recruit a backup in case your original plan falls through. - Make a List
Make a list of travel necessities ahead of time and slowly add to the list as you think of things you might need. This is the best way to make sure that you don’t forget anything for your trip.
Once you’ve done all you can to prepare for your trip, you can spend the final days before your vacation relaxing and getting things done that have to wait until a few days prior such as cleaning the house. Check out Holiday Systems ratings to see what tips and tricks others recommend as well.
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Samantha Wideman is part of a team of writers and specializes in writing about current news events.