Things to do the day before a vacation
Things to do the day before a vacation
Do you want your vacation to be stress free and the best vacation ever?
If you forget something you may have to deal with some problems or complications.
To avoid as many issues that could happen as possible, I recommend following this checklist.
Here is my checklist of things to do the day before a vacation.
Checklist of things to do the day before a vacation
For the airport
Things to do the day before you leave for a trip in regards to the airport.
Confirm your flight details
I don’t know about you, but I have had flights change times, both in advance, as well as last minute.
I always check the day before, and then again before I leave for the airport.
Could you imagine if you leave your beach-side resort and go to the airport to realize that you could have stayed at the beach another 6 hours!!!
There are often gate changes, and possibly terminal changes too, so don’t forget to check those details too.
If you have a long flight, check out how to stop boredom while on a long flight.
Passport
Need I say more… Passport!
Bring it.
I hope that you checked the expiry date when you first booked your trip.
I like to put my passport in a protector to make sure that it’s not going to get ripped, spilled on, or folded.
Of course, I also make sure that it’s not going to fall out of a pocket or get lost in the big part of my carry on bag or purse.
Looking for success tips for packing a convenience and organized carry on? Here is your answer: Ultimate Carry on Packing Tips
To me, making sure it’s protected and in a safe spot is extremely important, or I may not be going anywhere…
I like to make sure it’s easy to access when going through the airport too. This way I can find it at any moment that it’s needed.
Check in online
When you get that email 24 hours in advance to check in, go for it.
When you check in online you can often pass by the line ups where other people are booking seats, paying for luggage and checking in.
I get my digital boarding passes, and I always take a screenshot of my boarding passes too.
This way if I don’t have wifi or the wifi is not working well, I can still show my boarding pass.
Photocopy passport and documents
I always photocopy a copy of my important documents and details.
I leave a copy with family at home. Also, I take a copy of my passport with me in case it goes missing.
This way I can go to the Embassy or Consulate and show them the copy of my passport with my unique number on it.
It also has your photo so it could suffice as ID possibly…
Confirm hotel and travel info
I usually call my hotel the day before I leave on a trip and confirm my reservation. From my experience, I also confirm the type of room that they have written down is the kind that I requested.
Equally important, I confirm the transportation from the airport to the hotel or vice versa, if there is a shuttle or transportation arranged.
I write all of my travel details down in my travel planner so that I have them all written down in 1 place. This way if I am getting in a taxi, I have the hotel address readily available.
This has saved me before.
One time I lost my cell phone while travelling. I had everything stored digitally on it.
Luckily, I also had a piece of paper tucked away with my hotel and confirmation numbers.
As I had never been to that destination before, I didn’t know where I was going to well. Fortunately, the information on the paper saved me.
For your Home
Things to do the day before you leave your house to go on vacation.
Go through your fridge
I usually do this a few days before leaving for a trip.
I start making meals with the food that we have in the fridge to use it up so it won’t go bad.
If you’re really ambitious you could make some meals and freeze them for the day that you return. I usually don’t do this. lol.
This way you will have something to eat, and you don’t have to run to the grocery store when you first get back.
I usually just freeze the food as is, so it won’t go bad while I’m travelling.
You could also bring some food to a neighbour, friend or family member if the food won’t freeze well.
Care for pets and plants
Make sure you give your plants, flowers, and garden some love.
Water your plants, spray them or whatever else you do to help them grow.
Maybe you have someone coming by to feed the cat and water the plants.
Make sure you have shared with them any care details and where things are located.
Most importantly, make sure you give them the keys. Whether they are left with a neighbour or dropped of to the person, make sure that have access to your keys.
Perhaps you’re leaving your dog with a family member, don’t forget the food, dishes, leash, collar, medication, brush, and doggy bags.
You ma consider bringing their bed or favourite toy too.
Unplug before you leave on vacation
For safety, and to save money on electricity, unplug your devices and appliances.
Think lamps, toasters, toaster ovens, blenders, coffee makers, mixers, bread makers, etc.
Don’t forget to think about your electronic devices like your TV, stereo, computer, docking station, and any other electronics that won’t be needed.
Maybe you have your lights on a timed system where they will turn on and off automatically, make sure it is set up correctly. Test it out the day before.
Notify your home security company
Don’t forget to let your home security company know that you’re going to be away and for how long.
This way if there is an alert, they know that it’s not a false alarm.
Also, if you have people coming in to water plants and/or take care of your cat, make sure you give them the code to get into your house.
Also, I would recommend giving your trusted friend or family member the phone number to the security company in case they make a mistake with the security codes.
For when you arrive
Tell your bank before you leave on vacation
I have had experiences in the past where the bank did not authorize a transaction that I made because they thought that it was fraud.
Other times they flag your card, then you have to spend time during your vacation to call your bank, wait on hold, and verify that it’s you that was making the transactions.
That can be really annoying and inconvenient.
They are just trying to protect your account and your money, so it’s best to let them know before you leave on your trip.
Check the weather
I hope that you checked the average weather for your destination before.
The day before I leave on vacation, I check the 7 day forecast too.
There are a few reasons why I do this:
- to check if there any severe weather warnings like tornadoes, hurricanes, tropicals storms, etc.
- to check if there is a high or low change in the average temperature
- to check if there will be a lot of rain or storms
I check all these details to see if I should add any thing else to my luggage.
Some of the things that I may add to my luggage depending on what the 7 day forecast says are:
- raincoat
- hats
- sweater or cardigan
- pants
- hiking shoes
- shade umbrella
- socks
- extra of any items that I already packed
The weather really tells us what to wear to be comfortable and healthy, so I use it as a guide to be prepare the day before I leave on a vacation.
As we know they weather can change quickly, this is why I always check again the day before I leave on a vacation.
Charge devices
First of all, don’t forget to pack your chargers.
I usually use a checklist, or at least a sticky note to remind me to pack my charger.
I use it all night or day to fully charge my devices, so I don’t want to forget to pack the charger.
With that being said, make sure that the day before or night before that you leave for your vacation, you charge your phone.
If you wait to charge your phone until you arrive at your destination, there could be things happening that you don’t expect.
For example, the power is out, your shuttle breaks down, you need to use google maps to get to your accommodations… but you don’t have any battery left on your phone.
It’s better to prevent any possible problems and have a full battery. This ways you can use your phone if you need to.
To avoid any problems
Use a travel checklist
I always use a travel checklist!
As I remember things that I need for my trip or vacation, I write in on the list.
The day before I leave for my vacation, I double check the list.
Which things are not yet checked off? What are the last minute things that I need to pack?
Some of those last minute things may be:
- cell phone
- charger
- laptop or device
- tooth brush
- toiletries
- shoes
- passport
- wallet
- water bottle
- snacks
- medication
- medical devices
- purse
I use the travel planner and organizer that I created to make sure I don’t miss a thing the day before I leave on my travels.
I am sharing it here so you can get your copy too, in case you want to be just as stress-free and organized.
If you are a digital nomad or will be working while you’re travelling I have this Guide on How To Work Online While Travelling with helpful tips and a list of helpful supplies to pack.
Share your travel details with a trusted person or family
The day before you leave for vacation, or earlier, share your travel details with someone you trust.
Your hotel, tours, flights, and any other details, just so that someone knows where you are and where you will be.
Check in with them during your travels. Let them know of any changes.
If you’re more of a spontaneous traveller, message to let that person know where you will be and where you are.
Travel insurance and medical supplies
If you bought travel insurance, make sure that you pack the documents and contact numbers that you hopefully never need.
Especially if you have any medical conditions this is very important.
Check the dates of the medications that you have. Check if you need to order more medication before you leave.
Check the timing and consider the amount of time that you will be away. Maybe you need to pack some feminine products.
Do you have regular travel medication that you often pack?
Perhaps gravol, tylenol, probiotics, inhalers or anything else that you feel is important or necessary.
Go through your wallet
The day before you leave for vacation is a great time to go through your wallet.
You can take out any receipts and extra cards that you won’t need. Also, cards that are only valid only in your country if you’re travelling internationally can be taken out of your wallet.
Make sure that you have all the cards that you will need while travelling, at the airport and hotels.
Make sure you pack a credit card in case you need to pay for luggage, a hotel deposit, car rental or anything else.
Make payments to any bills
Check that all of your bills are paid up until the day that you return home.
Go through your online banking and your monthly expenses.
Sometimes it’s harder to send transfers from your bank while travelling, so it’s best to do it before.
Plus, who wants to sit around paying bills when you could be at the beach!
Make sure that you pay your bills that are due during your vacation time
Notify people
I already mentioned letting people that you trust know that you will be away.
This may be a trusted neighbour or friend or family member. The neighbour may keep an eye on your place while you’re away.
As I mentioned before, notify your security company of the dates that you will be away.
Let your bank know that you will be making international transactions from the destination that you will be at.
If you have a professional email account, maybe you want to set up the ‘away’ status or put a custom messages explaining that you won’t be returning email until your date of return.
Check your calendar or agenda. Do you have any appointments or meetings that you need to cancel or postpone?
Figure out your phone
I recommend using Airalo.
Airalo is an app that you can download.
Once it is downloaded you can search for your destination and pick the eSim card for that destination.
You can pick a country, continent or world wide area to use for your calling area.
You can avoid expensive texting, calling, roaming fees, and overages when you use Airalo.
This way you can easily search things on google maps, research places and keep in contact with friends and family too.
Check out this blog about Best Ways to Keep in Contact While Travelling.
For Fun
Confirm tours or tickets that you have
If you booked tours in advance, confirm that all is still good to go.
Don’t forget to pack the confirmation numbers or tickets.
If you haven’t booked any tours or excursions, you can always book them on Viator right here.
Research things to do
You can also research some of the best restaurants and other great things to do at your destination.
What are some of the top tourist attractions and must-do things at your destination?
And of course you can use Viator to check out things to do like excursions and tours.
Learn your way around
You can check on google maps to learn the way around your destination.
You can check out where some great restaurants are. If needed you can check the bus or subway stops near your hotel.
Check where your hotels are and the airport.
Here are some Tips To Not Get Lost While Travelling.
Book your tours
Are you looking to book some tours for your vacation? You can check out your options, and even book, right here with Viator.
Book your hotel in advance
If you haven’t booked your hotel you can use booking.com.
You can read reviews and check ratings.
Also, there is a map that show the location of the hotel and what’s nearby.
Book your rental car in advance
I recommend getting your car rental booked in advance.
It can be chaotic trying to rent a car at the airport.
Plus, you may not get what you want in the moment, it’s best to rent before your vacation.
I hope this checklist of things to do the day before a vacation helps you to have a wonderfully relaxing and fun vacation!
Do you do any of these? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks!
Besides being a travel blogger, I am also a travel writer, Amazon author and an English teacher. Check out my services here!
