The pandemic might not be over, but thankfully travel is back! If you’re planning on some adventures this year and a little out of practice, here are five ways to get prepared. 

Get your house in order

I know, I know. You’re ready for some fun, and house cleaning just isn’t it. But it is bound to be the last thing you want to do when you return. If you’re going to be out of the house for a number of weeks, then it makes sense to have things in order before you leave to avoid any nasty surprises when you get home. Clear out the fridge and any perishable foods, empty and disinfect all waste bins. Take the time now to give the house a good clean so you can just relax when you get home. Put on clean sheets ready for that ‘first night back in your own bed’ feeling when you return. 

Sort out your finances

Most of us don’t have the luxury of living without a budget, so sorting out your money before you leave to travel is important. Determine before you leave how much you have and what you can spend each day. This will help keep you on track so your trip doesn’t derail your financial plans. And if you’re going to away for more than a few days, be sure you have auto payment set up on all your bills so you won’t have to think about it while you’re on your travels. 

Get work organized

If you’re leaving work for any length of time you’ll want to make sure any loose ends have been tied up. Don’t forget the things like taking time to tidy your desk and setting up an auto-reply to your email directing people to who to contact while you’re away. Make sure you catch up on all of your emails before signing out for your trip means you’ll have less to return to when you’re back. The ultimate goal is to help you to ease back into things more smoothly so the stress level doesn’t skyrocket after a relaxing vacation. 

Make arrangements for pets

If you can’t take your fur babies with you, you’ll need to find someone to take good care of them during your trip. Don’t leave this until the last minute as kennels and catteries will likely fill up during peak vacation seasons, especially now that travel is resuming after the COVID restrictions of the past two years. Another great option is using local pet sitters who can either come to your home or use their own. Just make sure they’re insured and experienced so you have peace of mind. We know people who use an app called Rover to help them find local pet sitters and they’ve sent them photos of their pets to ease their minds.

If you are traveling in the RV and taking your pets with you, be sure to check out our tips for RV travel with pets. Hands down the most valuable piece of safety gear we’ve purchased for our pup is the temperature monitor to provide peace of mind when we’re out sightseeing.

Plan for security and other essentials

You don’t want people driving by to know that your home is vacant. Put newspaper subscriptions and other deliveries on hold so that nothing is sitting on your doorstep for a while. If you’re going to be away for weeks or months, you’ll want to plan for mail. One option is called physical address, a virtual mailbox where you can read scans of your personal postal mail. This is better than simply putting it on hold because you won’t miss anything important. If you use a Ring doorbell or any other CCTV cameras that run on batteries, be sure to charge or change them before you leave so you can check in on your home while you’re away. 

Watch our video on planning for extended and long-term RV travel.