Great Vacations Require Great Planning

Start by selecting the type of vacation you want to take, and to what destination. Are you looking for a calm, relaxing time lounging on the beach? Or perhaps an exciting winter skiing vacation? Maybe your pleasure is a thrilling gambling junket to Vegas, or the islands? Once you have narrowed down the type of excursion fits your wishes, it's time to do some research. You will want to find the peak time of the year to go for your particular trip, along with the best prices on transportation and lodging. You can get the information you need from your travel agent, or you can locate everything yourself on the Internet. Then, depending on your decision, purchase any necessary airline tickets, schedule the cruise, rent a car, reserve the right hotel or campground space. Don't forget to arrange for transportation to and from the airport!

You'll want to make absolutely sure that you have everything at home properly attended to while you are away. You will need to find someone to take care of things for you including your pets, your house plants, your yard, getting the mail, bringing in the newspaper (a pile of uncollected newspapers in the driveway is like a sign for burglars), and, if the vacation is long enough, caring for the lawn. You may wish to hire a house or pet sitter – they are becoming more common and thus easier and less expensive to hire. Otherwise, you will have to arrange to have your pet boarded, the mail held at the Post Office and deliveries like the newspaper and bottled water temporarily stopped. Make sure that you supply your house sitter with a key, and, if necessary, the alarm code to the house (when you get back home, you'll need to change the alarm code). Prepare adequate instructions for taking care of your pets and your plants. Also, make a list of emergency phone numbers the caretaker might need such as, the veterinarian, police department, fire department, the alarm company, and also where you will be staying at different times during your vacation.

Be realistic about your vacation time. Don't overload your schedule. See how long it will actually take to get from event to event or from place to place. What is the best way to get there? How long will you stay? Don't forget that there will be delays caused by weather, transportation problems, and so forth.

Shortly before you depart from home, make sure that you have your prescriptions refilled – and carry the doctor's prescription along with you for airport verification. Pay any bills that will come due during your absence. Shop for things you will need to take with you, and stage them all in one area. Give yourself plenty of time to pack your luggage. Advise your alarm company and police department of the time you will be gone. Put lights, and maybe a small radio on timers – so it looks and sounds like someone is home. Throw out anything in the refrigerator that might spoil and taint the other foods. Make sure to have the tickets, credit cards, traveler's checks, cash, foreign currency, reservation confirmations, and traveling documents you will need packed in one place – for easy locating when you need them.

The last thing, before you depart on your well deserved vacation, turn off all of your electrical appliances and unplug televisions and computers. An electrical spike in your absence can make for a very upsetting return home. Depending on the season, raise or lower the heat or air conditioning temperature setting. Take out the garbage. You may also want to shut off the water to your washing machine, and perhaps even the outside faucets (depending on your situation and the time of year).

Now check with the airline to confirm your flight is on schedule. Lock up the house and car. Hop into your transportation and get ready to have an awesome vacation knowing that you have everything you need, and that everything at home has been taken care of.

Bon Voyage!