10 Peace of Mind Travel Preps

One of the great things about summer is getting away from it all. No matter if you rail around Europe, take a road trip to your favorite getaway or even enjoy your own stomping grounds for a ‘staycation’.

While travel always has its share of ups and downs – which can be half the fun – it’s less than enjoyable to be far from home when you realize you forgot to bring an important item or take care of something before you left home.

As we head into August, here are 10 tips to remember – and give you peace of mind – before heading out to destinations unknown:

• Medications – If you take any medications or essential over-the-counter products, make sure to have an ample supply with you. Also, make a list of the name and dosage of each prescription, and the physician’s name and contact information. Having these details handy could be a great help in case of an emergency. If you’re smartphone savvy, consider shooting photos of each prescription container to have complete specifics at your fingertips.

• Documents – Make copies of important documents – credit cards, insurance cards, driver’s license and passports – then leave them in a safe place at home and carry in a separate place while traveling. Copies of those documents could come in handy if you’re separated from the originals.

• Utilities – Make sure to have your home or apartment secured – no leaking pipes or broken locks. If you’re able, ask a friend or family member to check in on your place while you’re away. If your hot water heater or air conditioner malfunction while you’re gone, it could be very unpleasant to discover and costly to repair the damage when you get home.

• Deliveries – Ask a neighbor or family member to check your front porch for packages, magazines and newspapers. Unclaimed mail is a sure sign you’re gone for an extended period of time. Consider having your mail held at the post office, as an alternative.

• Security – Although it seems like it might waste electricity, leave lights on in rooms that are visible from different angles of your place – so it looks like you might be home. Invest in timers so that some lamps come on and off at different times. You could also leave a television or radio on so that a potential intruder might hear ‘noise’. If you have a home alarm, contact the monitoring company and let them know when you’ll be away. Give them alternate phone numbers of friends and family who will be in the area while you’re gone so someone can respond immediately.

• Vehicles – Automobiles sitting in the driveway – unmoved for a period of time – can show potential thieves that you’re not at home. Ask a neighbor or friend to move your car to one side of your driveway or the other some days, and maybe park it on the street at other times. Thieves look for patterns – if they see things are moving around, they might not suspect that you’re gone.

• Tune-Up – If you’re driving, even if it’s just a short distance to your destination, make sure to have your car checked out by a professional – tires, air conditioning, oil and fluids. A little precaution could save you from a setback while out on the road.

• Nutrition – While busy seeing the sights, staying properly nourished and hydrated is vital. Often you’ll be in a different time zone and not following your regular schedule. Bring along portable packaged snacks – nutritional bars, dried fruit and nuts – so that you can nibble whenever you’re hungry. Have bottles of water with you, as public drinking fountains and free water are not as available as they once were.

• Meals – No matter if you’re traveling by train, plane or automobile, consider carrying a small cooler with you. Often foods in terminals and on public transportation can be scarce, not so healthy and overpriced. Prepare small sandwiches with healthy ingredients, whole wheat bread and condiments that won’t spoil quickly. Remember bottled water, juice or canned drinks.

• Cleanliness – No matter how nice a hotel is, the number of people using the facilities can make it difficult to keep absolutely clean and sanitary. Remember to bring water-safe shoes for the shower and pool area. Bed spreads and blankets are generally not washed after each guest, so if you’re able to bring your own, that might be a good idea. Especially if you are sensitive to specific allergens. Put soiled clothes in plastic shopping bags or even trash liners so they don’t come in contact with clean clothes in your luggage.

If these tips helped you get ready for a future trip, or might help someone else who is planning to get away, please consider sharing them.