I have been making lists of things to do before I leave on an extended vacation. besides the ususal items such as stopping the mail and paper, what are some other things to do? What have you forgotten that you would do next time?

Make sure at least 2 people have your itinerary with contact #s, one preferrably a next-door neighbor. It is also good to have a key to your abode left with a trusted friend or neighbor.

Look ahead to what bills will come due...write out checks and leave with a trusted person with instructions when they should be mailed.<BR><BR>If going out of the country, ie. Europe, call the banks for your credit card and ATM and let them know your dates, else they might think your cards are being used fraudulently. Also, be sure you have a 4 digit PIN as six digits won't work in Europe.

keep a copy of your passport on you and in each piece of luggage.

Make 2 copies of important stuff one to keep on you ,one for the suitcase or partner.Then empty your wallet of all the stuff that has no meaning in Europe-do make a conversion cheat sheet for yourself,although the Euro is so much easier make!Also just take just the necessary keys you need to get back into the house/car.Leave the keychain behind.Lightens the load and one less thing to worry about losing!

Feed the cat.

Don't forget to have any prescriptions that you have refilled. If no one is staying in your home while you are away, put a light or two on a timer (preferably upstairs and downstairs), and do the same with a radio or tv, so it at least gives the appearance to burglars that you are home.

Not me, but my ballet teacher -- I swear I am not making this up -- forgot her passport. Through some snafu, the airlines did not ask for it when checking her ticket to London. She was in mid-air before she discovered her mistake.<BR><BR>The airlines, because they should have checked before she boarded, flew her from Heathrow to New York and put her up in a hotel while her mother on the west coast fed-exed the passport, then put her on the next flight, all the way back to London.

Turn off the lights, be sure you didn't leave any candles burning,that the toilet isn't running, that there are no doors unlocked or windows.<BR>You have your ticket? passport? travel companion? <BR>Your ready to go!

Twice, I have left behind my best map and/or guidebook, having not packed them in advance because I was using it up until the last day for planning.

1. Always take twice as many prescription drugs with you as needed. Leave one set in luggage and carry the other one with you. <BR>2. Get prescriptions written by doctor in the event you become ill and they need to know what drugs you take.<BR>3. Take a spare set of glasses/contacts. On two trips one of the family has lost a set.<BR>4. Leave any jewelry you don't want lost or stolen at home. <BR>5. Copy all your documents ie. passport, plane tickets,confirmations, itinerary, phone numbers of hotels, emergency numbers, etc, and email them to yourself. If you lose everything, you can retrieve it easily.<BR>6. Use a company like webshots.com to send email postcards of the sites you will visit. You can organize them before you leave and arrange for them to be sent while gone. <BR>Enjoy your trip!

I tend to be overly organized and planned. I double check everything. But last summer when we left for just over 5 months, I forgot to remove a head of lettuce from the vegetable drawer in the refrigerator. Although I have someone checking the house from time to time, the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator was not on the list. Has anyone ever seen an almost 6 month old head of lettuce???

If you have had a new key made to give to a neighbour or friend make sure the key works. We left friends a key so they could feed our fish, take in our mail and water the plants. We came home to dead fish and wilted plants. Check the key.

Pick up the comb on the bathroom vanity and put it in your purse. Don't assume you've already packed it in your other stuff.

Check to see if you packed matching pairs of shoes. I unpacked in Milan and saw I had packed black pumps with different sized heels! I had the choice of walking tilted or wearing walking shoes for dress until I bought new pumps.

Make copies of your tickets and passport. Keep one copy separate from your passport while you travel, and leave the other at home with a friend or family member.<BR><BR>Also, record your credit card numbers. If you lose your card you can call your company and you'll have the number of your card handy. <BR><BR>Copy down/keep a record of your traveller's cheques in case they are lost or stolen.<BR><BR>Bring a list of addresses of folks you'd like to mail a post card or letter to.<BR><BR>Arrange for someone to pick up your mail if you will be gone for any length of time. On that note, cancel any weekly newspaper so it won't pile up on your door step.<BR><BR>

Make copies of your tickets and passport. Keep one copy separate from your passport while you travel, and leave the other at home with a friend or family member.<BR><BR>Also, record your credit card numbers. If you lose your card you can call your company and you'll have the number of your card handy. <BR><BR>Copy down/keep a record of your traveller's cheques in case they are lost or stolen.<BR><BR>Bring a list of addresses of folks you'd like to mail a post card or letter to.<BR><BR>

Pack or carry a fannypack or a backpack. Nothing better than being hands-free while on vacation.

If you have access to a printer that will run labels, print a label for each person you'll send a postcard -- very easy to do if you keep an electronic address book. Eliminates the risk of losing a paper address book, takes up almost no space, and as you peel off labels you always keep track of who still needs a message.

I second keeping a copy of tickets, passport, travelers check numbers and credit card info at home.<BR><BR>However, be sure to copy somewhere separately from you credit cards (to take with you) the collect phone numbers for the credit card companies. It'll save the hassle of trying to figure them out if you lose your card (it's on the back of the card).<BR><BR>Don't forget your guide books. I did that once. Won't do it again!