vacation "to do list" anyone?

[bunny213]

Does anyone out there have a list of things to do - before you leave for vacation? I would love to have a good list of things that should be done before we leave for Disney...one that I can keep on my computer and print each time...without having to make a new list each time. You know - things like stop paper, stop mail...empty refrig....set sprinklers......I'm always so afraid that I'll forget something and then worry about it all the time we're gone for two weeks. Thanks for any suggestions you may have!!!
Barb in Texas

 

[etwinchester]

Sorry I don't have any but wanted to subscribe to this thread incase someone does. We normally don't get to go away for that long, but our next trip to WDW will be for 2 weeks so I'd love to have a list as well.

 

[disneydreamerinny]

I know if you do a yahoo search for "lists" it will bring up a bunch.
There is a site that has a vacation packing list, and a things to do before you go list. I have printed it in the past but did not save it to favorites..

 

[jrjac]

Does anyone out there have a list of things to do - before you leave for vacation? I would love to have a good list of things that should be done before we leave for Disney...one that I can keep on my computer and print each time...without having to make a new list each time. You know - things like stop paper, stop mail...empty refrig....set sprinklers......I'm always so afraid that I'll forget something and then worry about it all the time we're gone for two weeks. Thanks for any suggestions you may have!!!
Barb in Texas

You seem to have the biggies down already. Do you have any pets? Need to make arrangements for them. Also how about plants, inside & out? The code and access number to check your phone messages while away? My biggie is clean the house before we leave-and I mean clean! All laundry must be done-furniture moved for a good ol' fashion room cleaning-hey, I even wash windows beofre we go. All that we come home to is 2 coffee cups, a milk glass and a couple of cereal bowls inthe dishwasher-rinsed in very hot water first, of course. heehee Seriously, some people tell me that this never dawned on them to do. yet once back from vacation, it is always a let down-last thing we want to come home to is a pile of laundry and a dirty house! And FEBREEZE! FEBREEZE! It is amazing how good your home will smell after being away! Anyone else do a good ol' fashioned cleaning before they go on vacation?

 

[jrjac]

One more thing-Barbara, you sound like me-worrry, worry, worry about what you should have done-Did I...?? aghh! You will apprecaite this one-I unplug all small appliances-coffee pots, radios, computer, and son. Hey, i may be crazy but I have learned to sleep well away from home by doing these little things!

 

[jrjac]

ok, you got me on a roll here! heehee

Prescription meds-if they need to be refilled soon after you get back, get them filled a bit early before you leave.

Emergency phone number-does someone have a way to reach you in case of emergency? Good idea to also give to a neighbor you can trust.

Avoid late fees-Are there any bills, esp. credit cards, that will be due while you are away? pay them before you leave.

Rental movies? Rental games? Library books? Anything that may be due while you are away. Return them all now to avoid late fees/charges.

I apologize in advance because I will probably post more before the night's end. heehee

 

[lovemygoofy]

1.Refill needed meds
2.Stop mail
3.Have laundry done
4.Empty the frig (hate food growing things while I'm gone)
5.Pay any bills due while away on vacation
6.Make sure to have money in the car or somewhere store to pay for the airport parking lot (I always leave about a $100 locked in the glove box because I never have any cash when I come home)
7. Double check that you have all the little things that will cost an arm and leg while on vacation (sunscreen, film, batteries, extra memory card, something to read)
8.Unplug your electrical appliances. ( Honestly in case of freak lighting storm it doesn't blow your stuff up. This happened to people I know)
9. Someone to take care of your plants and animals if not boarding them.
10. If going away during the school year get the children's assignments ahead of time.
11. Make sure one or two people know how to contact you and you bring their contact information.
12. Bringing a child's friend? Make sure you have a notorized letter from his/her parent with a copy of insurance card.
13. Taking vacation from work, be sure to set up an out of office email with a emergency contact while you are away.


I can't think of any more right now but I'm sure I'll add to it.

 

[kandeebunny]

We turn off our water when we leave...not through the water company but at the shut off coming in to the house...God forbid a pipe bursts while we are gone theres a limited amount of water in the pipes. Turn off hot water heater as well.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Here's my list:

1. Let the post office know to hold mail
2. Get either of our parents to pick up paychecks and deposit them
3. Make sure all bills are set to be paid while we're gone (everything's paid online, so I can set the date when it's due rather than paying everything early.
4. Clean out the fridge
5. Unplug everything
6. Make sure DH shut all the windows
7. Leave the extra house keys in the glove box of the car (parents already have them)
8. Clean like a madwoman
9. Double check to make sure DH actually packed enough clothes

My dad will call at least twice a day for a few days before we go to remind me of all this, and more. So my odds of forgetting stuff are almost nil.

Jen

 

[ncbyrne]

You seem to have the biggies down already. Do you have any pets? Need to make arrangements for them. Also how about plants, inside & out? The code and access number to check your phone messages while away? My biggie is clean the house before we leave-and I mean clean! All laundry must be done-furniture moved for a good ol' fashion room cleaning-hey, I even wash windows beofre we go. All that we come home to is 2 coffee cups, a milk glass and a couple of cereal bowls inthe dishwasher-rinsed in very hot water first, of course. heehee Seriously, some people tell me that this never dawned on them to do. yet once back from vacation, it is always a let down-last thing we want to come home to is a pile of laundry and a dirty house! And FEBREEZE! FEBREEZE! It is amazing how good your home will smell after being away! Anyone else do a good ol' fashioned cleaning before they go on vacation?

Yes, our house gets a "spring" cleaning, before our vacation, no matter what time of year it is! My mother taught me to do this and it's a lesson well learned and greatly appreciated!

 

[we3disneygo]

my house must be clean before we leave-- ive always been that way....it's so nice to come home to a nice clean house

 

[umaangel00]

Here is my list (all that I can remember anyways LOL)

1. Make arrangements for someone to come and check on cats.
2. Make arrangements for inlaws to watch our dog
3. put in mail stop
4. put in newspaper stop.
5. make sure all bills are paid.
6. make final arrangements for vacation
7. reconfirm all arrangements for vacation
8. check everything to make sure all is packed.
9. clean house.

 

[ChrisLei]

before leaving on vacation. There is nothing more depressing than coming home from an exhausting fun filled vacation to have to clean! I love coming in and only having to do laundry. That you can throw in and go back to reminicing your favorite part of the trip with family.

 

[kizmac]

Keep the ideas coming guys! I need to get motivated with a list of to do's. I am a total procrastinator. I always have big plans to clean and pack and do all these things early on, but I always wait to the day before we leave. I usally am up all night packing and when we leave the house looks like a whirlwind went through it. I am determined to do better this trip!

 

[disneysteve]

I also turn the water heater down to the "Vacation" setting and lower or raise the thermostat (depending on season).

 

[mookie]

Also, if you have cats, one other thing I do is "cat-proof" the house. There are a few rooms (DD in particular!) that our cat likes to investigate in if he has too much time on his hands. With being gone that long...we could come home with a lot of DD favorite stuffed animals having no eyeballs!!!

Also, don't forget outdoor plants. We once went away for a long weekend, and I forgot to have our neighbor water all of my flower boxes. When I came home, everything was near dead.

I too, love a clean house when I come home. Although I don't always get to do a thorough cleaning before I leave, it's good to just do the laundry and at least have everything picked up so your home is "clutterless" when you get home!

Good luck!

 

[Taja]

Great thread! I don't have time to "spring clean" before a trip, but definitely try to to do the basics so it doesn't look too awful when I return!

I'm newly solo at home, so I'm having to remember to do things that I haven't had to do for a number of years!

The other thing I've done is to purchase security items for sliding doors/windows so they can't be opened from outside. When this house was built in the late 1970s, many people around here didn't even lock the doors to their homes! Not to mention leaving their keys in their unlocked vehicles! Security was not a major issue!

I have a long weekend trip coming up August 19 - 23, so I'm starting this list now!

 

[wendym]

Email your Scottish friends to confirm you are on your way!!! I just leave it all to my mother - I never have the time to get it all done anyway, and spring cleaning - what is that!
Wendy
PS On to day 7 of the trip report - you will get it soon honest!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Empty the trash and the coffee maker (filter and thermos)! It's nasty to come home to a fuzzy filter full of coffee grounds!

www.mousesavers.com has a pretty good list of things to pack/take care of
before leaving


Don't forget the plane tickets/e-ticket confirmations (and all other confirmation numbers) / e-printed boarding passes

I have to leave an elaborate note for the dogsitter, but I've made up a form that I've stored. Even if you're having family members care for your pets, it might be good to do this: vet numbers, medicine schedules, plant watering, emergency vet locations/numbers, directions for giving treats, location of food, leashes, etc. the number of where you'll be, cell phone numbers (Having all this info in one central location is appreciated, even if your petsitter knows some of these things already)

 

[Tara]

If you have children in daycare, be sure to let daycare know they won't be there.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but check that all the windows are locked, set your lights on a timer if you have one, or ask a friend to check on your house every once in a while.

And this one I learned from Car Talk of all places -- turn one ice tray upside down in your freezer. This way if you have a power outage that is long enough to have the ice melt, you'll know, even if the power comes back on and refreezes everything! Crazy, but since I heard this one (it was a "puzzler" years ago), I've always done it before going out of town!