Plan Ahead, Be Prepared

Preparing for Your Trip-A countdown to do list for extended trips. I will follow this checklist when planning a trip overseas.

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Prepare a budget plan for saving money, determine if the trip is feasible.
Research options to reduce your expenses (Could you share a rental car? Carpool? Consider different modes of transportation? Do you have some unused miles? Do you have relatives that live in the area that you are visiting?)
Request time off with your employer.


Four Months or More
Book your lodging.
Make your flight reservation.
Plan your itinerary.
Confirm that your passport is current if you're traveling abroad. If you needto renew it, normal processing time is estimated at six weeks. Apply forvisas. Children need a notarized birth certificate for international travel if theydon't have a passport yet.
Obtain an international drivers license if you are going to be driving in Germany by going to your local AAA office.
Start getting in shape if you're planning an adventure vacation.


Two Months

Arrange for pet boarding and/or a house sitter.
Begin compiling a list of everything you must take.
Compile a to do list of things that you would like to have done before you leave.


One Month

Make sure your pet is current with its shots if you are boarding it or takingit with you.
Buy any new clothes, shoes or accessories you'll need. Break in new shoesand make sure walking or climbing gear is comfortable.
Confirm that your health insurance is adequate and current.
Look into travel insurance. There are many low-cost policies availableto cover you for the unexpected.


Two Weeks

Tune up the car if you will be using your car.
Hire someone to mow the lawn and water the plants.
Ask a neighbor to check on things, pick up leaflets and collect unexpecteddeliveries if you haven't hired a house sitter. Give him or her a key, youralarm code and emergency contact numbers.
Set up pet care: provide detailed written instructions for the care and feedingof your animals including the number of the vet and the maximum you'll spend on hospital costs for each animal in case of an emergency.
Get prescriptions refilled.
Arrange travel to the airport (bus, limo, friend) if you aren't driving. This could also be done sooner.

One Week

Update luggage tags.
Request a vacation stop of the mail and newspaper.
Alert the alarm company, if you have one, of your pending absence.
Review your list of everything you must take--from clothes to diapers to contactlens cases--and begin assembling things in a staging area or spare room.Replenish your toiletries kit as needed.
Work on completing your To-Do List.
Pick up a good book (or two) for the plane.
Write a letter of instruction for your house sitter. Do a walk-through to makesure he or she knows where the remote is and how to use it, where householdsupplies are, emergency numbers, alarm code and so on.
Start packing if you haven't started already.

Three Days

Get cash or travelers' checks.

Two Days

Pay any bills that will come while you're gone.
Pare down your wallet to the bare minimum of cards.
Finish packing. Check the weather at your destination and add any climatespecificgarments.
Pack kids' carry-on backpacks with their help. Always put in a few surprisesnacks and new toys, and keep a backup supply in your own bag. Also include a change of clothes for the kids.


One Day

Set the autoreply message on your e-mail and update your voice message at work. Be sure to take the call-in number and password for your home answering machine so you can access it if necessary.
Purge the fridge of any perishables.
Take out the trash. Tidy up the house.
Water the plants.


Take off!

Order a shuttle to the airport.
Place lights on automatic timers. Close curtains and blinds. Take a finalwalk through the house.
Double-check that you have tickets, passports, money, driver's license,credit cards, frequent-flier cards, confirmation numbers, airline tickets andmedications.
Call the airport to make sure your flight is on time.
If you're not taking your car, leave it in the driveway so it looks likesomeone's home.
Don't forget the most important thing of all--have a great trip!