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You’ve found the perfect hotel, booked your airfare, and researched the best beaches and sightseeing tours in your destination. You’re all ready to set your inbox to “out of office” and finally go on your summer vacation!
Well, not so fast. Before you actually depart on that long awaited trip, there are a few extra things you should do before you leave for summer vacation to ensure you’re fully prepared. It might sound like a drag to double check your passport expiration date or ask a neighbor to water your plants, but it’s an important part of having a smooth vacation—and can be part of the fun. “Preparing for a trip should feel like part of the excitement, and with the right approach, it can,” says Jess Capello Mathews, tailor-made team leader at luxury travel agency Scott Dunn, “a little organization early on goes a long way.”
Here, we’ve rounded up a convenient checklist for travelers heading out on vacation this summer, according to travel specialists. These simple tasks are guaranteed to make your life easier before, during, and after your trip and help you feel totally relaxed while you’re gone. Because vacation is about decompressing and disconnecting from daily life—not about worrying what’s going on at home.
Read on for the five best things you should do before you leave for summer vacation.
Verify your travel documents
You wouldn’t want to be turned away at your boarding gate due to an expired passport. That’s why you want to verify all your travel documents well before you depart. “The first thing I always remind guests to check is passport validity,” Capello Mathews says. Next, don’t forget to confirm any visa requirements. “These vary significantly by destination, and last-minute surprises can quickly overshadow an otherwise seamless trip.” You can consult the US State Department’s travel advisories page, which gives a rundown of all the requirements by country in the “Learn About Your Destination” search tool. As an extra precaution, take photos of key documents like your passport, visas, driver’s license, and travel insurance, advises Laura Alvarez, a specialist at Otelle Travel. This can be a huge help if any document gets lost along the way.
