Are you planning a family vacation? While vacations are fun and often help you relax, regroup, and enjoy your family, it can often be stressful before your trip. With everything you need to do before you leave, you’ll probably need your vacation time just to relax. Whether you are going on a quick weekend getaway or an epic European vacation, here is a vacation checklist of some of the things that you may need to do before you go for a stress-free vacation, including things to pack.
Packing Your Bags: Travel Packing List
This is the most obvious but also the most stressful. I have the most difficult time figuring out exactly how much I need to bring on my vacation. It’s a delicate balance between packing everything you may possibly need and keeping your bags lightweight. You’ll need to decide how many bags to bring depending on your plans. For our packing lists, check out our full post.
Prepare Your Home When You Go On Vacation
You’ll want to ensure you have your mail held before you leave. I also generally tell a neighbor that I am going on vacation so that she can make sure that no packages are sitting outside our house while we are away. Even if you hold your mail, some items can show up.
Pet Care
If you have a pet, in addition to arranging pet care, you’ll want to ensure that all shots are up to date. This may involve getting a vet appointment, so do this early. Our kennel gets especially booked up during school vacations and holidays, so make that reservation early.
Verify All Plans For Your Family Vacation
I’ve heard nightmare stories of people who accidentally booked their flights for the wrong weekend or who forgot to book a hotel. Recently, the airlines also changed many of my flights. Before you leave, just re-verify your plans, ensuring everything is set exactly as you want it to be. If you are flying, now is an excellent time to ensure your seat assignments haven’t changed.
Get All Travel Documents Ready
Check passports, driver’s licenses, and other IDs now. Also, make sure that your credit cards haven’t expired or will not expire soon. I’ve known people who have tried to rent a car with an expired driver’s license and were turned away. It’s easy to miss – so it’s always better to check beforehand. Remember that you may need a Real ID to fly soon.
Prepare Your Phone For International Travel
Traveling out of the country? You’ll want to talk to your wireless provider to determine your coverage. You may choose to purchase an international plan. If your kids have phones, it’s also important to talk to them about your expectations for their phone usage outside the country.