We have learned that a little planning can go a long way to ensure you go on your trip as stress-free as possible. Here are some tips that we have compiled over the years.
As soon as you book
If traveling internationally, check your passport expiration date. Keep in mind that different countries sometimes require that your passport not expire until many months after your trip. Sometimes you need at least 6 months on your passport. This is not a surprise you want to discover at the airport.
Line up a house-sitter, if needed. Do this as soon as possible, particularly if you are traveling during peak seasons.
If you have a garden that needs water, make sure someone (like your house-sitter) will be able to keep your plants happy and healthy!
If you have pets, line up a plan for them as soon as – over even before – you book your trip. Check out our tips on traveling for the pet parents among you.
1 - 2 weeks before you go
Put a hold on your mail delivery, which you can do in 1-2 minutes on the USPS website here.
Alert your credit card company and/or bank of your travel dates to avoid having a hold placed on your card. This is more important for international travel but is also helpful for domestic. Our credit card company has an easy form to fill out online.
Put a hold on your newspaper home delivery. Many newspapers offer an option to do this online very easily.
Consider letting a trusted neighbor know you will be out of town and how to reach you if anything unusual occurs at your home.
Finalize a packing list. This gives you plenty of time to think of things you need to add or shop for.
Meal plan to maximize use of food that will spoil while you are gone.
If you are an avid online shopper, make sure you don’t order any packages to arrive in your absence or ensure you have someone stopping up to move them inside while you are gone.
1 - 2 days before you go
If traveling abroad: photocopy your passport and share the copy with a trusted family member or friend. If you lose your passport, that copy will ensure you can access the pertinent information. We also tend to take an extra photocopy with us and stow it separately from our passports.
Share your travel itinerary with a close friend or family member so someone knows where you will be.
Pay any outstanding bills that may come due while you are gone.
Water houseplants.
If you are organized enough to pull it off (sometimes we are, sometimes we’re not!) try to fully clean your home before you go. Your future self returning home with luggage, dirty laundry, piled up mail, etc. will appreciate that at least the house is clean!
Use up food that will spoil, and clean your fridge of food you don’t want to come home to.
For the planner over-achievers: consider writing a grocery list of just the basics for when you return. If you are getting home late and have to work the next day, you really don’t want to be wondering whether you have cereal at home or need to swing by the store.
Last call! Right before leaving
Set A/C or heat on an appropriate temperature for your absence.
Unplug appliances and electronics to avoid any power surges and to avoid incurring the cost of wasted power that many electronics use when on standby.
Take the trash out. Its smell does not age well.
Take an extra 5 minutes to make sure all appliances are off (e.g., coffeemaker), all doors and windows are locked, instructions, money, and a house key are left for house-sitters, etc. I promise that if you rush, there is a high likelihood you will have a moment of panic that you forgot to do something, and it will nag you the entire trip. Like the one time we left our car at an airport parking garage and Dustin worried all week that he had not locked it (he had).