Travel Tips: 7 Things to Do Before You Leave Home

Going on vacation? Don't load the car or board that plane before making sure you've taken care of some basic details. 'Pack Your Bags!' author Marlys K. Arnold offers some important (yet often overlooked) things to do before you leave home.

Kansas City, MO (PRWEB) July 27, 2006 -- You've waited all year, and now it's time. You're leaving for an exciting vacation in an exotic location. But don't load the car or board that plane before making sure you've taken care of some basic details. While paying bills or washing dishes may not seem like part of your vacation plans, not doing these things can make your life miserable when you return. So here are some important (yet often overlooked) things to do before you leave home.

1. Label luggage both inside and outside -- use your business address instead of your home, so potential thieves won't know where you live. Attach this tag securely, so it won't fall off in transit.

2. Check your health care coverage for out-of-town trips, and be sure to take your membership card with you.

3. Pay any bills that are due while you're gone or within a week after your return.

4. Ask someone you trust to watch over your house: pick up mail and packages (don't just stop your mail), water plants, care for pets (leave your Vet's number), etc. Give them a set of keys and your alarm codes, if necessary. Also make sure they know what to do if the alarm goes off.

5. Put your lights and a radio on random auto-timers. Turn off or unplug appliances, such as your TV or computer, which could be damaged in a power outage. Back up your computer and store the disks in a safety deposit box.

6. Be sure to dump all leftovers and leave as little food in the refrigerator/freezer as possible (in case the power goes out). Wash all dishes, or at least rinse them and set them on the counter. Make sure there's no standing water in any pans.

7. If you're flying, line up someone to take you to the airport and pick you up. Always call or go online to confirm your flight.

If you follow these simple steps before you go, you can avoid stress -- both during your trip and when you come home.

(These tips are adapted from 'Pack Your Bags!' by Marlys K. Arnold (2006). Used with permission.)

About Pack Your Bags!: This interactive book on CD-ROM is filled with tips and real-world examples to help travelers prepare, no matter the destination or occasion. It includes articles, along with audio and video tips, on various aspects of travel: planning a travel wardrobe, creating a packing checklist, (with video demos of a master packing method), selecting quality and practical luggage, staying safe and healthy on the road, traveling with kids, and more. To view the Table of Contents, or take a tour of the CD-ROM online, visit: http://www.imagespecialist.com/packyourbags

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