Going on holiday is meant to be stress free but many of us end up more frazzled by the time it comes to going away because we have so much to do in the run up to that holiday. We have compiled a checklist below of some of the things you may need to be doing before you go away to try and assist you. Please feel free to print off and add your own to it.
This first section comes from What to Pack but it’s worth mentioning again.
| Organise Money – research exchange rates and buy currency (try and get some smaller change for tips) | □ | Passports in date? Also scan copies and save them to a draft email (same for all documents) – if they get lost you can access your email on holiday. | □ | E111 in date? | □ |
| Travel insurance bought and in date? | □ | Airport parking/ transport to airport or cruise ship booked? | □ | Picked up/ printed the tickets? | □ |
| Visa needed? | □ | Vaccination needed? | □ | Hire car booked? | □ |
The rest!
| Locked windows? | □ | TV set to record? | □ | Cancelled milk/ papers? | □ |
| Set your timers for your lights? | □ | Turn off un-necessary electrical devices and plug sockets. | □ | Going away in the winter? Ask a neighbour or family member to switch the heating on for you an hour before you are due home. | □ |
| Order toiletries to collect from Boots after customs (avoids restrictions and weight limits) | □ | Tell your mobile provider you are going away and turn off data roaming. | □ | Do you know your luggage allowance (don’t assume anything!)? | □ |
| Tell a trusted neighbour or family member you’re away and leave a spare key with them. | □ | Organised care for your pet? (don’t forget to leave your mobile number and vet’s number and any insurance policy details with the carer) | □ | Optional: change bedding so you have nice clean bedding to come home to. | □ |
| Ask the trusted neighbour or family member to get you some milk in for your return (and leave them some money!). | □ | Ironing complete? | □ | Can your post be seen on your doormat? If so, arrange collection whilst away. | □ |
| Lock all doors and don’t put ID tags on keys (i.e. ‘garden shed’) as you’re making it easier for burglars! | □ | Complete your luggage tags but never put your home address on (instead put ‘C/o’ and then a family member or friend’s address. | □ | Do you need to check in online? | □ |
| Have you booked your airport hotel? | □ | Have you booked your excursions(it’s often cheaper to pre-book). | □ | Let your bank know you’re going away as it could stop card payments on your account believing it to be a fraudulent spend. | □ |
| Who is looking after your plants? | □ | Don’t forget your medical prescriptio-ns. | □ | Do you need to order more contact lenses to take with you? | □ |
