How Not to Be a 🧺Case Before Your Next Trip
It's not just about watching pack-with-me videos and running to TJ Max ten times before you fly. (But let's not pretend you still won't do those things.)
As I write this, I’m in full-on prep mode, getting ready for an upcoming work trip. It’s a pretty major one that’s multifaceted. This means I’ve spent the past few weeks (actually months) getting things lined up for the various phases of my trip.
And if we’re being cryptic, let’s just say I can’t quite share the details here yet.
But they’re coming.
Promise. 🤓
In the meantime, I’m sharing tips and links that will help you prepare for your next trip - whether it’s a weekend getaway or a six-month sail🛳️ around the world. (Which I’m not doing, but thought I’d throw you off for a split second.)
Six Things to Do Before Your Next Trip
(To make sure your trip and return are a-okay.👌🏻)
Do a house audit well in advance of your trip. This means doing a walk through to look for possible trouble makers when you’re away. And make sure to do it before the day of your trip, not ten minutes before you leave for the airport when you’re a nutjob, barking orders to your loved ones and checking to see that you have your passport. (47 times) I’m talking maybe a few days in advance. An audit means determining what food you need to eat/throw out, identifying areas that need tidying up (nobody likes coming home to a mess), getting light timers set and ready to go, and arranging for necessary services to be taken care of when you’re gone. (Biggest tip off you’re not home? An overgrown lawn or snow piled up in the driveway.) While you’re on the safety train, ask your favorite neighbor to keep an eye on the joint.
Walk around the outside of your home like you’re the Hamburglar, or as if you’re locked out and are trying to break in yourself. I mean, if you can easily get in, what’s stopping the pros? Where are the easy-ins? (A revealing and smart thing to do regardless of travel plans.)
Stop your mail. Nothing says “they’re not home” like a mailbox that’s bursting at the seems. Also, check your Amazon or other subscriptions to make sure scheduled deliveries are paused so they’re not sitting on your front stoop, rain-soaked when you get home. Or worse, not there at all because the Hamburglar got them.
Create a staging area to drop items for your trip as you think of them. This “trip drop zone” is where you dump the stuff you’re taking on the trip but aren’t yet ready to pack. That way, you’re not scrambling at the last minute, looking for XYZ or making mad dashes to TJ Maxx for essentials you actually have. This hypothetically also helps with overpacking because you can get view of everything before you pack it, and weed things out you know you’re not going to wear. (I say hypothetically because I always do this, yet still travel with the heaviest suitcase on the planet.🤷🏻♀️)
Get your itinerary in order and take care of incidentals at home. Then share your travel info with a trusted friend. Also, if you’re leaving the country for awhile, you might want to let you bank or cc company know. Get some cash to take and maybe even order foreign currency from your bank. I always used to wait until I arrived at my destination to get cash, but then last year’s power outage in Spain and Portugal happened, and I heard about people not being able to use credit cards and in a total pickle. So now I try to keep some available at all times.
Finally, along the lines of itineries and sharing, let’s talk social media. If you’re traveling with your family and post shots of the whole gang leaving on Easter Sunday (and it’s Easter Sunday), why not just tell the world your house is empty and open for business? Maybe post your address too? That’s my sassy reminder to maybe wait a few days so your posts aren’t in real-time. This way online ill-intentioned lurkers won’t catch wind of your grand voyages and decide to case your house. Similarly, if you’re traveling solo, maybe think twice before posting your exact location and timing. Best to be a bit mysterious.
I just realized there are so many more tips I could share… but let’s start with those. If you like this little tip feature, let me know. I can talk for hours on the topic of trip prep and what-not.
I’m going to jump off the tip bandwagon now because I’ve got actual work to do before I get back to my packing.
So let’s get to the links…
Ten Ways to get deals flying from smaller airports.
Here’s how to get by with less as you travel.
Fascinating idea… the airport divorce?
Not exactly travel-related, but this could help you feel better when traveling.
Looking for convenience and elegance on your next trip?
Warning: the next link may increase the weight of your suitcase with lots of shoes, and the perfect compliment to those shoes is a pair of these cozy sweats.
Add this to your outerwear wish list for fall travel or errand running.
Speaking of wardrobe updates,
some trends for fall travel that work well anywhere.
This travel video holds the ticket to preventing overpacking.
These babies are keeping me organized, and could help you, too.
Lots more links and tips on the way, but for now… I’ve got to get back to prepping.
Let me know if you like this travel content. And, let me know if you’ve got any trips on the horizon…
For now, I’m signing off.
Will be back again next week with more on my mystery tour.
Stay tuned.
Abbey
