You have a million things to do before you leave for a trip, so it's very easy to let some important to-dos slip through the cracks. Read through our list of things people often forget to do before bidding adieu to their homes to make sure you're ready for your next travel adventure!
You definitely don't want to be responsible for any late fees.
Think foreign currency from your last trip, extra credit cards, or reward cards that only apply in your country of residence.
Be sure to have copies of your passport and credit cards with you in case you lose them on your trip. You can always have paper copies or scanned copies in your email — whatever you feel comfortable with.
Be sure to check your work calendar to see what commitments you have made while you are gone. Reschedule them before you leave. Check what other nonwork appointments you have in store for you, and cancel or postpone them.
You don't want strangers knowing that you're away with the pile of newspapers at your door, so be sure to go to the USPS website to request to hold your mail. You also don't want a mailbox that overstuffed when you're back from your vacation.
Let your bank or credit card provider know that you're going to be out of town so they should expect to see some international charges.
Remember to turn everything off, or better yet, unplug them, to conserve energy and money.
Remember to create an automated email response or even a personalized voicemail to let people who are trying to get in touch with you know that you're out of town.
Include things like money, prescriptions, itinerary, confirmation numbers, emergency contact numbers, chargers, passport, tickets, and more.
Don't blow your budget at the airport by forgetting to buy these items beforehand.
Clean out perishables from the fridge so you're not in for a nasty surprise when you get back. Take out your trash as well so your apartment will smell fresh and clean.
We often don't think about washing our sheets before we leave, but there's nothing more inviting than a fresh bed after we get back from our weary travels.
We often forget our chargers when we're on a trip, which causes us to buy some from the area we're visiting. Remember to pack your chargers before you leave and to also fully charge your electronics so you won't run out of batteries before you arrive at your hotel.
Be sure to put your liquid items, such as cosmetics, into plastic baggies so they won't get confiscated by customs.