Hearts1003

My lovely, wonderful, helpful forum peeps what do I need to take and what do I need to do before I leave?!

I want to ask those who I know what they're doing. I've read and read but I wanted to ask those most knowledgeable.

tuscanlifeedit

I have an incredibly, stupidly detailed list of things to do before leaving home. It's on another computer, but I could post it if you like. Are you really talking about the stuff that needs to be done in order to leave home? I assume all your reservations are made, and you've already researched your destinations. Am I correct in assuming so?

ileen

I can use similar help too. The experienced ones can give tips to help others.
Thanks in advance.

anyegr

Are you asking about things that need to be done to secure your home while you are away? There are differences between houses and apartments. I know I've seen a list here on Fodors that was clearly meant for people living in single-family houses. Half the list was useless for me since I live in an apartment. There are also some differences in needed preparations between a one-week trip and a four-week trip and a three-month trip.

I know people in houses have mentioned turning off the water. Sounds ridiculous for someone in an apartment, since my downstairs neighbours would notice a waterleak very quickly.

For a longer trip you need to make certain your post is taken care of and your bills will be paid on time. If you get a daily newspaper it would be a good idea to stop delivery while you are away unless someone picks it up for you.

If you have lots of flowers in pots they need watering. If you have someone you trust living close it may be a good idea to have them take care of both the flowers and the post. Oh, have them check that the fridge and freezer haven't died, too. The stink from a dead fridge in summer is not fun to come home to. Believe me, I know.

If you live in a house it may be a good idea to have some lamps on timers, although that may be more important in winter than summer.

Can't think of any more tips right now.

bilboburgler

passport, credit/debit card, address of any places you are staying in, favorite guide, tiny torch, any tickets, medicine, emergency telephone number and telephone.

I struggle to think of anything else, I normally take a bicycle but not everyone travels with one.

tarquin

Scan and email to yourself the face page of your passport.

Stop the milk/newspaper deliveries.

cornelius01

Be sure to alert credit card that you will be in Europe and notify your bank where you have your ATM or debit cards also. I print out our itinerary and phone numbers where we can be reached and give copies to our children. Stop your mail until you get back and most of all do not forget your passport.

texasbookworm

Don't forget to pack all chargers and plug adaptors needed for any and every electronic device you carry--camera, phone, computer, etc. etc!

And the other stuff above!

crckwc1

Take the phone numbers from the back of your credit cards, both US and collect from Europe. You'll need those if you lose your card(s). Also, if you haven't memorized the account number on your cards, don't write down the entire number, but take only the last four digits. That should be enough should you need to telephone them.

Also, if you're travelling with your spouse, one of you take 1 or 2 cards, the other take 1 or 2 different cards. That way, if one of you loses his cards, the other has cards to use.

annhig

I have a packing list [in fact one for each family member and one generic one] that i just print off for every trip and then amend as necessary.

you could expand that to a checklist to incorporate all the above.

or muddle through like the rest of us!

Hearts1003

tuscanlifeedit I'd love the checklist! Yes, I have reservations and researched away.

Checklists away!

Hearts1003

Thank you all!

flpab

Get some euro. My atm card and my husbands is not giving us cash. I had this problem last trip but my one trusted card and husband's atm has ALWAYS given us money until this trip. To make things even worse the grocery wouldn't take my credit card. I think the cashier did not understand it was not a chip and pin. I used it earlier today at E. Dehillerin and it worked fine. I loved that store. But am down to a hundred euro...

annhig

Get some euro. My atm card and my husbands is not giving us cash. >>

alternatively keep some from last time. [i know that this doesn't work on a first trip]. we normally have some left over and i now make an effort to keep at least €50 so that we aren't scratting about to find an ATM first thing we arrive.

i also save euro coins in an old 35mm film cannister [remember those?] so i've got change for luggage trolleys, coffees, etc.

crckwc1

Many electrical devices (curling iron, hair dryer, etc.) have dual voltage so all you need are adapter plugs (different ones for different countries). However, if you're taking a device without dual voltage, then you'll need a converter as well as the plugs.

What else? Small notebook and pen/pencil although you can always buy those when you arrive. Not necessary, but often useful, is a battery operated clip-on reading light, along with a book, puzzle, etc.

Hearts1003

You guys are goooood! Wrote chargers down and checked all my electrical devices. They all will work! Thank you!

Ackislander

Two months before: make sure your passport and drivers license will be valid until you get home. If you are driving in Italy, go to AAA and get an international driving license. You won't need it unless you are stopped by the police or have an accident. This is a good time to make sure your credit card won't expire while you are gone.

Start breaking in any new shoes you plan to wear.

One month before: Make a clothing checklist for the trip. List all the days and all the clothes and make a wardroble plan for each day so you don't wear the same thing every day and know when you will have to do laundry because the blue shirt won't do a third wearing. Try on the clothes. Buy anything you will need and don't own yet.

Two weeks before, make sure you have enough of your prescription medications to make it until you are home. Buy travel toiletries etc.

One week before: notify your bank and credit card company when and where you will be traveling.

I photograph or scan our passports, drivers licenses, credit cards, health insurance card and ATM cards before we leave. I print one copy for each of our suitcases and keep one on my computer and one in the camera. If I weren't taking a computer, I would email a copy to myself.

Do a dry run packing. Will everything fit? Does it need cleaning or mending? Can you lift the suitcase?

The day before you leave: order taxi to airport or confirm travel arrangements if someone is dropping you off. Check 10 day weather forecast at the places you will be going. Do final packing, adjusting for weather at destinations.

The day you leave: Take all the keys off your keychain except the ones you need to get back into your house and to drive to the airport. Take everything out of your wallet except what you will need on the trip. Turn off your hot water heater. Turn the air conditioning up to 75 or the heat down to 50, depending on the season. Throw out everything in the refrigerator that won't last until you get home. Unplug all your small appliances, check the burners on your stove, lock the windows and back door. Travel worry free.

ljv53

Wow these are super tips, my question, we arrive in Gatwick on a Thursday,and sail out of Mayflower Terminal ,Southampton on Saturday, may12th@ 4:30pm... HELP, how do we get to the port. Should we book a National Express bus online? The NEsite says it will take 3hrs and about 18 pounds each. A limo about 100 pounds. Suggestions.

annhig

where are you going to be between arriving on the thursday [10th?] and Saturday 12th? London?

you don't have to go there. why not try Chichester, or Portsmouth? lots to do and a lot easier [and cheaper] to get to the cruise port afterwards.

Southam

Time for one more? Take a washcloth/facecloth/whatever you call it. Now, stop laughing -- many European hotels do not provide this accessory that North Americans expect automatically accompanies the towels. Neatest way is to stuff it in a ZipLock plastic bag so it can be packed when still wet.