You all remember the movie Home Alone. Kevin’s mother forgotten her eight-year-old son while she was on vacation. Thats bad!
While you are enjoying the happiness of going on vacation, do not you also stress? Pre-holiday stress can make you forget even the most obvious and important items.
So, to help you if you’re jetting off soon, we’ve put together this handy checklist to make sure you’ve got everything covered. Then all you need to worry about is whether to hit the beach or the sights when you arrive.
Check you have the essential documents for your trip
Whether this is entry visas or your driving licence, your boarding pass or hotel confirmation, get organised and put them all together in a plastic folder.
It’s also helpful to take a list of useful numbers, for example, emergency contact details if your mobile phone or debit or credit card is lost or stolen. Making a note of your passport number is also important in case you were suddenly to find yourself without it.
Car Maintenance
Making sure your car is safe to travel this winter is all about maintaining the normal functions of all of your car’s many moving parts. Make sure your fluids are doing what they’re supposed to do and that your car parts are functioning properly in the cold.
Sort out pet care
Don’t forget to organise care for the furry member of your family while you are away.
That way, you can sit back and relax while you’re away knowing that they are being looked after too.
Valuables, tech and entertainment
From the all-important phone and charger to your travel currency and camera, you’re going to want to save plenty of room in your hand luggage for these valuables and entertainment. Make sure you take an appropriate plug adaptor for your destination, and download some of your favourite films or TV shows to watch on the flight if you have a long journey. Picking up a phrase book or travel guide to the country you’re visiting will prove invaluable in helping you to find your way around and impress the locals with your lingo – or at least try.
These are the essentials you can’t forget in your hand luggage or suitcase:
1) Passport
It might sound simple but there is nothing that dampens your pre-holiday excitement quite like the realisation that you can’t find your passport or that it’s out of date. Checking your passport a couple of months in advance is something few of us would think about doing, yet it’s imperative you do – otherwise your holiday could be over before it’s even started.
2) Insurance documents
3) Boarding pass
4) Visa documents
5) Any other holiday documentation
6) Driving licence
7) Phone
8) Phone charger
9) Plug adaptors
10) Purse and travel money
11) Keys
12) Laptop or tablet
13) Charger for laptop
14) Headphones
15) Camera
16) Camera charger
17) Portable phone charger
18) Pen and notebook
19) Books or magazines
20) Phrase book or travel guide to country you’re visiting
Essentials Things You Need While Holiday
These essentials will help to make your journey more comfortable, and will also come in handy once you arrive. Save money (and single-use plastic) by taking your own refillable water bottle that you can fill up after passing through security, and don’t forget your sunglasses if you’re travelling somewhere hot.
21) Refillable water bottle
22) Glasses or contact lenses
23) Sunglasses
24) Tissues
25) Antibacterial hand gel
27) Any medication you need (plus prescription)
28) A sealable clear plastic bag for any toiletries
29) Hand cream (under 100ml)
30) Moisturiser (under 100ml)
31) Sleep kit for longer flights with eye mask and ear plugs
32) Travel pillow
If travelling with children
Keep little ones comfortable and entertained on your travels with snacks, toys and games. Don’t forget a spare change of clothes for the journey, as well as any nappies, wet wipes and medication you may need.
33) Change of clothes for the journey
34) Nappies/ underwear
35) Wet wipes
36) Snacks and enough baby food/ milk for the journey
37) Medication
38) Dummies or comforters
39) Toys, games or books
40) Clothes
41) Sun hat
42) Bucket and spade for beach entertainment
43) Specific toiletries for children such as sensitive shampoo
Hold Luggage
It goes without saying that you’re going to want to pack beachwear, swimwear and lots of sun cream if you’re going somewhere hot. Make sure you take enough sun cream and after sun to see you through at least the first few days, and pack bug repellent, antiseptic cream and a first aid kit to keep your family happy and healthy throughout your trip.
While you can pick up many toiletries and emergency supplies close to most resorts, taking your own will give you peace of mind that you have everything you need on hand, while saving valuable time to enjoy by the pool or on the beach. Fingers crossed everything will be perfect on your trip, but it’s important to prepare for all eventualities – from packing an umbrella for any sudden downpours to taking a small sewing kit for any clothing malfunctions.
44) First aid kit
45) Toothbrush
46) Toothpaste
47) Mouthwash
48) Dental floss
49) Face and body lotion
50) Cleanser
51) Deodorant
52) Perfume
53) Bug repellent
54) Antiseptic cream
55) Shampoo and conditioner
56) Hair styling products such as hairspray or gel
57) Hairbrush
58) Hair bobbles
59) Hairdryer
60) Hair straighteners or curlers
61) Makeup
62) Makeup remover
63) Sun cream
64) After sun
65) Razor
66) Umbrella
67) Beach umbrella
68) Spare plastic bags for laundry
69) Mini sewing kit
70) Underwear
71) Clothes
72) Sandals and trainers
73) Swimwear
74) Pyjamas
75) Handbag
76) Beach bag
77) Beach towel
78) Goggles or snorkelling mask
79) Jewellery and accessories
80) Belts
Baby/Toddler Bag
81) Diapers
82) Diaper disposal bags
83) Wipes
84) Snacks
85) Books or Magazines
86) Small toys
87) Bottle/cup with built-in straw (sucking will help pop their ears)
88) Benadryl and/or Tylenol
89) Toddler headphones
90) Tablet with downloaded movies/shows
Make your home secure
Nothing will snap you out of your post-holiday high like coming home to discover you’ve been broken into. Double and triple check doors and windows and make sure you cancel any milk or grocery deliveries. Ask a family member or a trusted neighbour to regularly check on the house and remove any mail from behind your front door. It may also be worth considering investing in light timers.
Remember that if you were to suffer a break-in while you were on holiday and you had not secured your home properly, your insurance could be deemed invalid – so taking the time to do this really is important.
Check them at home before you leave
91) Make sure all doors and windows are shut and locked
92) Make sure the garbage disposable is clear of food scraps
93) Take out last bag of trash to garbage can
94) Turn off lights and turn on timer for lights
95) Unplug electronics
96) Water house plants
97) Close blinds and curtains
98) Double-check bags/clothing for loose ammunition
99) Be sure your EDC is TSA compliant; pack into suitcase the forbidden items that you normally carry on your person (pocket knife, gun, etc.)
100) Double check that you have IDs and itinerary packed in carry-on bag
And now, you got everything that you must do and check before you go holiday or vacation. Please give us feedback that they are okay or we have to add more things in this post.
