Everyone needs a vacation this summer. Below are our favorite tips to help you out before you leave on your Delta vacation to help you avoid the, “did I do this, did I turn that off?” feeling:
1. Make your house look lived in by stopping the mail and newspapers, or have a friend or neighbor pick them up, set lights on a timer, and turn on a clock radio. Also, make arrangements for someone to mow the grass in summer, or make tire tracks in the driveway and shovel the walks in winter.
2. Notify a friend or neighbor that you’ll be away, and leave a vacation itinerary with them. They can also check your house periodically to ensure everything is okay.
3. Notify the security system company to immediately consider any alarms as real. Leave them the names of anyone responsible to watch over your house.
4. If you’ll be traveling out of the country, make two copies of your passport and bring along a spare. Also, give a copy to a friend or neighbor at home in case your copy is lost or stolen.
5. Empty out the refrigerator of food that may spoil and take out the garbage.
6. Pay any bills that will come due while you’re on vacation.
7. Unplug appliances (like the toaster) and other electronics such as your computer to protect them from an electrical storm while you’re away. Check surge protectors to insure they are working properly. It’s also a good idea to turn off the water to prevent any water damage that could occur.
Do you have a pre-trip checklist? Let us know if you have any tips to add to our list!
Sean
Delta Vacations
July 24th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Another good reason to unplug appliances and devices: it reduces your electric bill. I also unplug my home Internet Wi-Fi and phone sets. i also turn down my home water heater to “vacation mode” just before I head out.
Among the other things I have on my list:
- Toiletries. If I am taking a big trip, about a week before I leave i double-check what I am planning to bring to be sure I have enough. For those who take any prescription medication, it’s a good idea to check those as well.
- Clothes. Especially when traveling on business, I want to be sure that suits and ties are clean (and that my suits are pressed as well). When possible, I try to get all that done at least 2 days before I leave. I start checking local weather forecasts about 72 hours before departure, when they become more reliable for the arrival timeframe.
- Entertainment. I love Delta’s in-seat entertainment offerings, but not every plane (or airline) has this. Plus, if jet lag hits, you can’t always rely on something interesting being on TV. So I make sure my MP3 player has the music I want, and I get my DVDs ready as well. Ditto for any books I’m bringing.
- Electronic paraphernalia. Laptop? Check. Mobile? Check. MP3 device? Check. Ahh, but what about the power cords for all these? I’ve bought extra power supplies for my laptop, mobile, and MP3. I keep the extra laptop “brick” and mobile charger in my carry-on travel bag. And I have a small plastic bag that I call my “bag of tricks” with the extra cords for my MP3 player and a few other electronics. I pack those the night before departure.
- Passport and travel credentials. I have a travel wallet that I make sure is in my carry-on travel bag the night before I leave.
July 27th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Great ideas! Kudos and thanks to you both.