Last minute things to do before trip?

[StephMK]

So I have enjoyed studying all the packing lists & things to do once we get there but does anyone have a list of things they need to take care of before they go?

We leave on Wed. after the kids get out of school so I'm in last minute, trying to get everything done mode. Here's what I've got so far -

-bought sunscreen, water shoes, snacks for flight & drink packets for water
-paid bills online that will come up while we're gone
-stopped paper
-held mail
-printed tickets, ressies, etc.

Still need -

-check in flight online
-finish packing
-get DS a haircut
-color my hair
-take dogs to kennel
-ask neighbor to bring in trash cans - we will miss pick up for 2 weeks


What other things do you typically take care of before you go? Wondering what I will forget & remember about 1/2 into our flight!

 

[infrequent traveller]

I always unplug everything in the house that I can before we walk out the door.

 

[tchrrx]

I didn't even think about paying bills online! Thanks for mentioning that. We leave early tomorrow morning, and I'll have DH check tonight and make payments as needed.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Here is my list, copied from my Word document. I print it out every time we go away.

WEEKEND PRIOR:
Set timer on living room and bedroom lamps.
Reconfirm cat sitting with *****.
Pack as much as possible.
Clean out litter box and add kitty litter.
Leave contact info and kitty treats out for *****.
Do as much laundry as possible.
Pedicure if cruising.
Withdraw cash from vacation account.
Get lots of small bills for tips.

2 DAYS PRIOR:
Charge portable DVD players.
Charge cell phones.
Charge Nintendo DSs.
Charge PSPs.
Charge i-Pods.
Charge camera and camcorder batteries.
Pack all chargers.

1 DAY PRIOR:
Check in online for flight.
Manicure if cruising.
Bring in garage door opener from truck.

THAT DAY:
Empty all trash.
Put trash to curb if it’s not too far off.
Set thermostat.
Run dishwasher.
Wash out coffeemaker.
Back minivan into driveway and load.
Lock big garage door to vacation setting.
Set bucket to collect mail.

We gave up our mailbox on the front porch and installed a mail slot in our garage door so we don't have to stop our mail while we're away. We just put a bucket or laundry basket under the slot so it doesn't get wet if we have heavy rains. Learned that the hard way.

 

[Theosus]

I always unplug everything in the house that I can before we walk out the door.

+1 on that! I have this whole routine I do. I clear every room in the house one by one. Make sure anything electrical is off/unplugged like irons, etc. Unplug tvs, except for the cable box, so it will record our shows. Turn off water to washer, flip breakers on major appliances (oven, microwave, dishwasher) turn a/c up. I live in the southeast. Lightning kicks our butt. Summer thunderstorms are about as bad as Florida.
I also back up my pc to the portable drive and hide the backup. I even pull the hard drive out of the pc and hide it too. It takes like two minutes... And I'm secure in the fact if some ***** breaks in and steals my stuff, he's got a dead pc.
I put some ice cubes in a bowl in the freezer. If you get home and the cubes Are now a frozen bowl-shaped lump, you know the power was out long enough that your food has gone bad.
My wife might think I'm OCD about checking all this before I leave, but when you come home from vacation and someone peed right before leaving and forgot to flush... You'll check everything twice too.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

+1 on that! I have this whole routine I do. I clear every room in the house one by one. Make sure anything electrical is off/unplugged like irons, etc. Unplug tvs, except for the cable box, so it will record our shows. Turn off water to washer, flip breakers on major appliances (oven, microwave, dishwasher) turn a/c up. I live in the southeast. Lightning kicks our butt. Summer thunderstorms are about as bad as Florida.
I also back up my pc to the portable drive and hide the backup. I even pull the hard drive out of the pc and hide it too. It takes like two minutes... And I'm secure in the fact if some ***** breaks in and steals my stuff, he's got a dead pc.
I put some ice cubes in a bowl in the freezer. If you get home and the cubes Are now a frozen bowl-shaped lump, you know the power was out long enough that your food has gone bad.My wife might think I'm OCD about checking all this before I leave, but when you come home from vacation and someone peed right before leaving and forgot to flush... You'll check everything twice too.

Great idea!

Another tip: if you stop for fast food on the way to the airport, make sure the kids don't leave their cups in the car. Yes, they really are made of paper and won't last 7 days.

 

[DaniB]

I put some ice cubes in a bowl in the freezer. If you get home and the cubes Are now a frozen bowl-shaped lump, you know the power was out long enough that your food has gone bad.

I love this tip!

 

[gonesaleing]

Theosus - you are my kindda guy. Great tips that I will definitely add to my to-do list next time we go away.

I also turn down the ringer on my land line phone. If someone calls, I don't want people hearing it ring off the hook. It's a dead giveaway that no one is home.

 

[DaniB]

Another good one! Keep them coming folks. I'm adding these to my Disney Planner!

 

[jjsmom]

I must second the motion about shutting off water to washer. Inlaws had a horrible experience with that and repair guy said problem could have been avoided if they'd shut off the water while vacationing...

We throw the breaker on the HWH. It only takes about 1/2 hour to heat up when we get home.

I also put a little laundry bleach in the toilets so the water doesnt become stagnant and those ugly mildew rings don't form.

I absolutely make sure the frig door is closed tight. Went away for a weekend trip once, came home, and the frig had a little crack and had run for most of the time we were gone. YIKES.

Oh, and eat or throw out the leftovers and drink or dump the milk. No one wants to come home to science experiments.

 

[Lumiere Lover]

You may all think I am crazy, but I clean my way out of the house. That way, when I return it is to a clean house.

Also, we always unplug our garage door opener.

You should take two ice cubes and put them in a zip lock baggie, and freeze them. When you get home, if you still have two ice cubes, you are okay. However, if they melted into one ice cube, you had a power outage for so long that they melted and re-froze, which means you food in the fridge/freezer should be thrown away.

Have a great trip!

 

[3mickeymom]

front and back of my Disney tickets in case they are lost. We buy ours from Undercover Tourist before we go. I also bring our auto insurance card, even though I don't ever remember being asked for it when we rent a car.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Turn the A/C off. If you have a programmable thermostat just set the temp high so it won't come on. And on the day you are suppose to come home set it to the temp you want your house to be when you arrive home.

Put a lamp on a timer so it looks like someone is home.

Mow the grass before you go.

Turn off the main water valve in the house. Prevents accidents inside and also prevents kids from turning on your outside faucet and leaving it run while you are gone. This happened to a neighbor of ours when I was a kid.

 

[mommy2_3]

i always clean my house before we go. make sure trash is taken out and everything! i turn off my a/c and then the day before we come home i have my mom come in and turn it to whatever i want it to be. she also checks my mail and leaves it on our entertainment center.

i also unplug everything and lock our gates. make sure all the kids toys are in the garage (at least all their small ones lol) along with our pool ladder and we cover our pool.

 

[Meetmeinmontauk]

Unplug everything
Clean the house
Take all trash out
Make sure bills are paid
Put a hold on my mail

 

[HeidiGW]

haven't read through the thread all the way, but if you haven't already...DON'T get your son's haircut. Do it at the MK barbershop! It will be great fun. They do a wonderful job at reasonable prices!

 

[msp2mco]

I don't think anyone has mentioned watering the plants. If we are gone for more than I few days, I ask a neighbor to water the plants inside and out.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I don't think anyone has mentioned watering the plants. If we are gone for more than I few days, I ask a neighbor to water the plants inside and out.

My neighbor that cat sits for us does it, and I do hers when I cat sit for her.

 

[gonesaleing]

I always clean my house thoroughly before I leave on vacation. Coming home from vacation is depressing enough.

I strip all the beds, remove mattress cover and leave the bed uncovered we are away. This helps to keep bedding fresh and prolongs the life of your mattress.

 

[bfamily5]

One tip that I picked up a few years ago and is circulating on the boards is to call your credit/ debit card company/bank to let them know you are travelling and where you will be . Most companies/ banks have fraud prevention plans in place and will cancel your card if they notice "unusual activity"