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Travel requires careful planning and preparation, especially if you are going to an overseas destination. Whether your planning to visit Disneyland or a distant land , these vacation planning tips will ensure your travel goes smoothly.
Three months before departure
- If traveling to a foreign country, apply for passport. Start monitoring US State Department travel warnings through the department's Web site at travel.state.gov/travel--warnings.html.
- Make arrangements for the care of your house with a neighbor, relative or house sitter.
- Review your health insurance to find out if your policy covers medical expenses incurred abroad. If not, you may consider purchasing additional insurance for the duration of the trip.
- Make pet-care arrangements with a sitter, friend or kennel.
One to two months before departure
- Purchase any special items, such as clothing, to suit the climate of your destination and any special activities you have planned.
- If traveling to a country where certain diseases, such as malaria, are a problem, get the required vaccinations.
- Purchase identification stating any medical problems, such as allergies and diabetes, to wear during travel.
- Gather information on how to contact the American Embassy, local law enforcement, airlines or a hospital at the place where you're going.
- Request that the postal service stop your mail delivery while you're away.
- Stock up on prescription medications you'll need for the trip.
- Notify neighbors or a close relative of your plans and leave a forwarding phone number.
- Buy travelers checks, if needed.
- Make a copy of all of your credit cards and safely secure them.
- If you plan on leaving a child behind, leave a signed emergency-treatment consent form with the caregiver.
- Check to see if your accommodations have amenities such as an iron, hair dryer, shampoo and clock radio, so that you'll know what to pack.
Day before or day of departure
- Water plants.
- Empty coffee machine of water.
- Leave a bounce-back e-mail at work, and private e-mail if you choose, alerting senders to your absence.
- Clean out the refrigerator of perishables.
- Empty the garbage.
- Disconnect electrical appliances from electrical outlets. If you keep a fish pond or ornamental fish in the house make special arrangements for a back up generator in case of power failure.
- Check exchange rates on the Internet if traveling overseas.
- Check the weather, if possible, to anticipate landing weather and if you should have an umbrella or cool-weather clothing handy.
Source - Travel Tips 2: VisaTravels .com
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