Yes!! All booked for an extended vacation? Well if you’re anything like me, you’ve spent your time researching where to stay, what to eat, see and pack. You’ve got it all covered but what about all the other boring stuff? Things like not being greeted a month later by stinky fish leftover from your last meal?
There’s a bunch of things I like to do before going away for a while, some might seem like common sense, but you have no idea how many times I’ve forgotten the simplest things (hello garbage!).
Check List
Δ Call cable/phone company and see if they will let you stop your services for the duration you’re away (hey might as well save a few $$ !!)
Δ Call your bank/credit card company and inform them that you will be travelling and not to freeze your cards (Urgh! So annoying! Anyone miss out on some sweet shopping deals because this happened?)
Δ Pre pay any bills that might be due while you’re travelling. Last thing you need is to remember to log on to do bank transfers. If you log on it’s to update Twitter and Facebook!
Δ Do not buy any groceries the week before departure. You’ll be suprised by the recipes you churn out with all the random stuff in your fridge (never thought you’d make latkes did you!!). Remember to toss out any leftovers or perishables items in your fridge before you leave!
ΔIf you have mail delivered to your door step, try to have them hold the mail for you. Helps keeps potential burglars away!
Δ Try to do as much of your laundry prior to leaving. You will be coming back with a tonne of dirty clothes from the travels, you don’t need another mountain to add to the pile. But do ensure that you don’t forget to dry a load of wet laundry!
Δ Throw out every single bag of trash in the house ( yes even that one in the study with just a piece of paper… you might have forgotten that you rolled up a tiny piece of smoked salmon from your lunch the other day). Being greeted by a foul smell after a long journey is not my idea of a warm welcome!
Δ Stack all the last minute dishes (I don’t know about you, but we seem to use a lot of glasses!!) you used and turn the dishwasher on, you can empty it on your return
Δ Unplug any unessential electronics. This is mainly a habit from living in countries with electricity fluctuations (anyone else greeted by a fried laptop?!!) but it does make sense. Atleast this way you always catch a random lamp you forgot to turn of
Δ Change your bedroom linen. I love knowing that I’m coming back to clean linen. Though if I’m going away for more than two weeks, I usually rip the sheets and covers off and leave the bed without any linen (too much dust in the city). I make the bed on my return. Fresh sheets! mmm..
Δ I like to leave a set of keys with a friend/concierge/neighbour. It’s comforting to know that incase you THINK you forgot to turn the stove off before heading out, you can always call your pal and they can look into it. (Sure beats coming back yourself and missing your flight!)
Δ Ensure you lock all windows and doors
Δ Ensure you leave atleast 20 mins before you have to head out to do the last minute check ups mentioned above!
What about you? Have anything else to add to the list? I’d love to hear back!
