Getting Ready For That Family Vacation
Life can get crazy on the day you leave for vacation. Being under the gun to catch the flight and the flurry of last-minute details can make for a stressful day of departure. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way. A little advance planning can make the day you leave for vacation one of smooth sailing.
The day of departure is always hectic. I remember well the day that my family left for a big road trip. My husband and were under our usual self-imposed deadline of 5:30 am. Our goal was to load the car, then load the kids, and get out of town. Of course, nothing ever goes as planned. One daughter woke up, then the other, and chaos ensued before we were loaded and out. Two hours later we discovered that the carefully packed snack bag was sitting on the driveway.
I’ve learned a lot about travel organization since then. Here are my best tips on how to get ready for a family vacation.
Two weeks before departure
Explore Got Parking for airport parking reservations. It is never a good idea to take whatever you can find when you get to the airport. Parking lots can and do fill up, and you are almost always guaranteed to pay a higher price there than you will by scouting things out ahead of time.
This is also a good time to make a planning list. Sit down and think of everything that needs to be done before leaving for vacation, from packing to sorting out any travel visas, documents or taxes you might need to have in place before you go – for example, if you are visiting the region of Quintana Roo in Mexico, you’ll need to pay your Visitax. Put the list in a convenient place so you can jot down anything that may come to mind later. Check tasks off as they are completed. This will help ensure that nothing important falls through the cracks, and brings peace of mind.
One week before leaving
This is when you want to notify your credit card companies and the bank of your vacation destination and travel dates. No one wants to have a credit or debit card canceled when on vacation. Notifying the companies before leaving home will prevent this from happening.
At one week out it is time to put the mail on hold, confirm pet reservations, if boarding, and make arrangements for lawn care. If taking a road trip, this is the time to check the oil and fluid levels in the car. Also, take a look at the tires to make sure that the vehicle is in top shape for the road.
Create a packing list for the car and suitcase to refer to later on.
Two days before departure
Print out maps and hotel and flight information, and place them in a travel folder. Maps may seem redundant in these days of GPS, but it is better to be safe than sorry. You never know if your cell phone and GPS service will be available when traveling in unfamiliar territory.
Preloading the car helps make life much easier for road trips. Put your travel folder in a large tote bag along with snacks that won’t melt and add any books that you plan to read while on the trip. Other items to include are extra phone chargers, a notebook and pen, and vet records for the dog. A small flashlight, lightweight blanket, and small toys for the kids can also be preloaded in the car. Put anything that you might want to reach easily in the back seat. Everything else can go in the trunk.
Double-check medications and arrange to pick up anything that might need to be refilled. Prepack suitcases and finish packing the night before leaving.
Departure day
Place everything that remains to be loaded in the car next to the back door. Include everything from toiletries to a small cooler (if taking a road trip) and suitcases in this area and load the car from this point. Double-check that any items needed for the kids are there. It will be easier to tell at a glance if anything is in danger of being left behind if it is all in one place.
Take a few moments to double-check the packing and suitcase lists. Now you can close the door and lock up knowing that everything is done and the family is ready for vacation
