by FM Sherman

Created on: December 28, 2010

A vacation is essential for relieving stress and helping us recharge our batteries.  We can return to our normal lives revived and refreshed.  By taking care of these basic things before you leave on vacation, you can have even more peace of mind during your trip, and can relax and enjoy your special time.

Pay your Bills

Make sure credit card bills are paid or set to pay automatically to prevent embarrassing transaction denials.  Also pay cable and utility bills as well so things are not shut off in your absence.  Most bills can be set to be paid automatically from your credit cards or checking account.

Advise Credit Card Companies of Travel Plans

If you are traveling abroad or don't travel frequently, it may be a good idea to contact your card issuer's customer service and let them know you are traveling and to where.  Some card companies have very good security practices, to protect their account holders and these may cause them to decline transactions that suddenly appear from a foreign country.

Mail

Your local post office can place a vacation hold on your mail and hold it until your return.  You may also want to make arrangements with neighbors to pick it up and also sign for any packages.  Thieves look for mail piled up and also UPS notices too.

Security

Make sure your home is secure.  Lock all windows and doors and look into alarm systems or other loss prevention.  Advise neighbors, friends or even the local police department of your travel plans.

Itinerary

Make sure someone back home has your itinerary and schedule and knows where you are.

Passports

Ensure you have a valid passport for any travel that will take you outside the USA.  Its always good to bring it, even if you are not planning to leave the country, you sometimes never know.  Also, make sure the passport has at least six months left before it expires.  Many countries will not admit people whose passports expire within six months.  Make several copies of your passport.  Leave one at home with friends or family, this can be very helpful if you loose your passport or if something happens to you.  When traveling, keep a copy of the passport in a separate place than the passport.  If your passport is lost or stolen, this copy of the data page can expedite the replacement process for you.

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