Vacation Checklist, Part One

It's summertime and the livin' is easy...that is until you get ready to head out of town and your "to do" list keeps growing longer and longer with things you need to do before your vacation!

I have a lovely client who is leaving soon for a two week European tour...in answering some pre-trip questions for her, I came across an excellent checklist of things to do before you leave on a trip. Many of these suggestions are tips I have shared here before, but I thought it might be helpful to include them all in one easy list.

Go here for a printable pdf file of this list so you can check things off as you do them.

Vacation Checklist, Part One

Things to do before you leave:

Forward your mail or arrange to have it collected by family, friends or neighbors. Alternatively, ask the post office to hold it.

Put a hold on newspaper & magazine deliveries. Or have a neighbor collect it. A full mailbox especially with bank statements and credit card bills can be a treasure trove for hackers and identity thieves (and suggests easy pickings for a home burglar). Pick up forms to hold or forward mail at any post office.

Don’t broadcast your travel plans on social networking websites.

Pay telephone, service provider accounts and bills before you go, so they will not be disconnected while you are away.

Ensure arrangements for your pets are in place.

Alert your credit card providers. Before you leave, let them know when, where and how long you'll be traveling. This helps fraud departments stop bogus charges if your plastic is used where you are not - and reduces the risk that your cards will be frozen due to "unusual activity" when you use them far from home.

Turn off any preset alarm clocks and all electrical appliances at the switch.

Alert the airline if you have any special food consideration – vegetarian etc.

Inform neighbors of your holiday dates.

Make sure your family & friends have copies of your travel itinerary and hotels you will be staying at, in case they need to contact you.

Some airlines will allow you to check-in online and select your seats before you travel. You can also register online to receive an email or mobile/cell text message if your flight is going to be delayed.

Leave your check book at home. You shouldn't need it if you have credit cards. Leave your bills and private papers at home too.

Carry a spare. In addition to your real wallet, carry a throwaway with a few dollars and maybe some old hotel key cards. If you're accosted, hand over the spare wallet while keeping the real McCoy. The thief may see money and plastic, and be off and running ... and so can you.

Avoid Cell Phone Bill Shock When Traveling Abroad

'Bill shock' is becoming increasingly common for international travelers, arriving home from their trip to a hefty cell phone bill that can be as much as the actual trip! Before leaving on your trip you can take steps to avoid returning home to an expensive phone bill:

Check international calling and text rates, disable data roaming and consider a prepaid service designed for international travelers.

An international cell phone and prepaid SIM card lets you stay connected and in touch with family and friends, and control your costs at the same time.

Security When Traveling Abroad

Monitor the media for any changes to security or safety in the regions you plan to visit. Your foreign affairs department will be able to provide you with the latest travel advice for your destination(s).

It is essential that you take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover all overseas medical costs for the duration of your travel. Your travel insurance should also cover any activities in which you plan to participate.

Make copies of your passport details, insurance policy, visas and credit card numbers. Carry one copy in a separate place to the originals and leave a copy with someone at home.

Consult your doctor regarding recommended vaccinations or other health precautions for your destination(s). Check that any medication you need to take is legal in the countries you plan to visit. It is a good idea to carry a prescription from your doctor for any medicines you take with you.

Weed out your wallet. Pickpockets love tourist destinations, so take only essential identifiers, like your driver's license and just two credit cards, one to carry, another to be locked in the hotel room safe in case your wallet is pilfered. Men, keep your wallet in a buttoned breast pocket or buttoned pants pocket. Women, wear a hand-bag with wide straps and locked clasps, diagonally across the chest and don't hang it over the door when you use a public bathroom.

Consider a temporary credit freeze. A freeze denies access to your credit history, so ID thieves can't open accounts in your name while you're away, but it doesn't stop you from using your credit card.

Use safer ATMs. Debit cards are best left at home, but if you need cash withdrawals ATMs in bank lobbies are less vulnerable to devices that robbers use to capture your card information. Bank lobbies generally have camera surveillance.

Be careful with hotel computers. Don't access financial data on hotel or other public computers or on public Wi-Fi networks. You never know what identity-stealing software is at work.

Beware of "front desk" fraudsters. A late-night phone call to your room from a "clerk" saying your credit card number is needed again may be a ruse by an ID thief. Ignore the request and call the front desk yourself.

Passport & Visas

Make sure your passport is valid for travel for all the countries you are visiting or transiting in.

Many countries require your passport to be valid during and beyond the length of your stay (usually a minimum of 6 months), so check what applies to your itinerary.

It is a good idea to carry two additional passport photos with you in case your passport is stolen or lost and you need a replacement passport while overseas.

Depending on your nationality you may need to obtain visas for the various countries you are visiting or transiting in. It is often essential that these are obtained prior to going overseas.