How to Prep for a Vacation So Nothing Goes Wrong

While every traveller looks forward to getting away from it all during the summer or Christmas holidays, leaving home can have its own set of challenges. Planning a holiday may be as simple as booking a flight and making hotel reservations but enjoying a stress-free holiday depends on how well you prepare before the vacation. From finding sitters for pets to making sure your work responsibilities are taken care of, here are some practical tips on preparing for time away on a holiday.

1. Get Your Work in Order

This is the first step in preparing for a vacation for someone who is employed full-time or part-time as work will go on as per usual even when you are a thousand miles away. After getting the necessary permissions from time away from work, one needs to inform colleagues and subordinates on how to handle clients, cases and other responsibilities that typically fall on your desk when you are unavailable. A colleague or co-worker must be aware of your log-in information as well as where important files, folders and case studies are located in your computer as well as in a physical sense if they are stored in your work desk or cupboards. Setting up an automated email and answering machine message for your work email address and telephone number is also a must so those who are contacting you know you are on leave.

2. Pay the Bills

Coming home to a stack of unpaid bills can take the wind out of anyone's sails but can be especially stressful for those returning from a relaxing vacation. Take care of all the utility bills and other payments that must be made well before the departure date to eliminate the risk of coming home to no electricity or no internet access. If you can set up a way to pay the bills online, it will expedite this process considerably as one can even make payments during layovers in airports or other downtimes during the getaway. Make sure your line of credit is also clear and that you have made the required payments to keep the credit and debit cards operational during your travels.

3. Find Sitters

If you are leaving any pets, children or relatives behind at home, it is important to make sure their routines are not disrupted while you are on vacation. Pet hotels and sitters must be secured in advance after visiting the venues (in the case of pet hotels) or interviewing potential candidates to find the perfect fit for your furry friend. If any family members are not joining you on your trip, taking the time to prepare some meals that can be kept frozen for a long period can be a great way to make mealtime more convenient for them. If nurses and caregivers are going to visiting your home, it is wise to give them a time frame in which to perform their duties and a fixed time when you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

4. Be Contactable

Although it is tempting to disappear from the face of the earth, at least for a little while, during a holiday experience, it is simply not feasible in this modern-day and age. Those with children, partners, elderly parents and pets also can't afford to be out of reach of loved ones for too long so set up a time of day to check-in with those left behind is important. Those based at Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara or any other Livingstone hotel with internet access, for example, can connect with family via Skype or Zoom. If a daily call is too intrusive, then a weekly call will suffice but make sure your family and close friends are aware of your flight details, hotel address, contact numbers and travel itinerary all the same. This is crucial in case you fall sick or experience some kind of mishap or crisis during the holiday.