Before leaving - have I forgotten anything?
 

I have listed my preparations so we can walk out of the door ready to go in the wee hours of the morning. Please look over my list and see if I've forgotten anything. (No pets or kids to deal with.)

*Put newspaper and mail on vacation hold
*Called the credit cards to give vacation dates/locations
*Set outside security lights and a couple of lamps on timers
*Washed dirty clothes and dishes
*Put water heater on vacation setting
*Reprogrammed thermostat for vacation days
*Printed out airport discount parking coupon
*Printed out boarding passes
*Packed, then removed overpacking items :-D
*Printed lodging confirmations
*Printed rental car confirmation
*Placed all liquids in luggage to be checked (in zippered baggies)
*Place travel scissors & sewing kit in luggage to be checked
*Packed special travel music CDs for auto player
*Verified trusted neighbor has house key in case of emergency, gave copy of itinerary with contact numbers
*Have cash & credit cards, and phone card - no cell service in Yellowstone
*Packed solid snacks, camera, extra memory card, important papers, guide books, reading, etc., in carryon.

Thanks!

[Hopefully this list will be beneficial to others, too. :)]

Pitch anything in the refrigerator that might be nasty upon return?

Thanks!! Wouldn't want to overlook THAT one!! :-D

Turn off water to washing machine - just in case a hose gives out.

a copy of your itinerary with someone

a copy of front/back of credit cards and 800 number to call in case you lose them, unless you already have that somewhere you can access easily.

turn down your sheet and leave a chocolate on your pillow so it will still feel like vacation when you jump into bed upon your return !

have fun! take notes for us !

What great ideas, thanks! This is becoming a great resource for us all. Especially love the turned down bed and chocolates - you are my kind of traveller, escargot!

I am bringing my notebook for trip notes with the handy dandy pockets for receipts, etc.

Great list!

Pack warm clothes as there is a cold front moving through the area. You'll get to see the first snow of the season while you're in Yellowstone!

We have the layers and our lightweight gore-tex, should be ready. Also have the map and directions to the Jackson Albertson's and KMart so we can stock up when we get there before heading into the parks. Sooooo excited about the snow!!!! :-D

One important reminder BayouGal, have a fun and relaxing trip. Enjoy every precious moment!! Oh, and take out any last minute garbage, lol.

Unplug all TV's, computers, phones( w/ electric call display) in case there is a thunderstorm or something that causes power outage so that when power comes back on you do not get a "power surge" that causes permanent damage.

Turn down setting on fridge

Pack address/phone # book

Give close relatives contact numbers

If winter, ask neighbors to park one of their cars in your driveway or "make snow tracks" so it looks like somebody is home

Yes, LoveItaly, that's the most important, isn't it?! (and the garbage, too. LoL)

Wow, those things are important and I hope I wouldn't have forgotten, but glad you mentioned it so I can add it to my list. I'm in the deep south, so snow here is only wishful thinking. :)

After Neo's experience in Vegas...be sure you and DH to have a picture of each other.

And even though you printed out boarding passes, be sure to have record locator # just in case you need to go back to ressies.

Carry singles and change for purchases in airport and/or vending machines en route.

Hope this helps...
Debi

Here's a few more:

* Charge camera batteries
* download pics so you have an empty memory card (assuming you have a digital camera)
* get the weather forecast
* set your VCR to record your favorite TV shows

Great list!

Have a great time!! We want a trip report when you get back.

Bayougirl: D'oh! I shd have known from your screen name! I am a little out of it today! Now, tell me...do you really want some snow?? LOL

Have a great trip!

Dang girl! You've been busy! Now go on vacation and relax... :D

Stick a few return address labels in billfold. They are useful on airline baggage id tags.

Put one on a blank sheet of paper on top of everything in your suitcase in case you get separated from it.

Call newspaper and tell them you have cancelled your trip. Have a neighbor pick up your paper instead. In our area, it is safe to notify post office to hold mail, but notifying newspaper it tatamount to telling the world that no one is home and there have been many break-ins that police trace directly to that notification.

Then...get on the airplane and relax after all this pre-trip prep. :-)

It's hard work to travel, huh?! I always say I need a vacation to recover from the vacation! ;-)

Don't I wish!!! :))

Thanks for all the great ideas . . . Fodorites, as always, we are leaving no stone unturned!

((I))need any driving directions? There are so many good map sites available.. Of course, if you're just staying around a certain area, maybe you don't need any..

((*)) Hey, if you happen to see any real cowboys with them thar Wranglers and some attitude, take a subtle phone picture for dear lonely Jetset,lol

((Y)) go crazy in the Wild West.. maybe buy some sounvenir chaps, then on our next gtg, we'll round up some Harleys and have some laughs, J.

BayouGal, I learned my lesson the hard way. We had emptied the under the kitchen sink wastepaper basket. Unbeknown to me my DH tossed a cantaloupe into it afterwards (the night before we were leaving for two months in Italy). Many days later a good friend who had a key to our house popped in to check on things. The smell of the rotten cantaloupe almost overwhelmed him! He left us a very long note on the kitchen counter..LOL. It was not a pleasant situation..but certainly a lesson learned.

DON"T forget your binoculars

this is a great list bayougal and others. thank you - i plan to print it.

I'd recommend each of you take an old drivers license or other photo ID (passport, security pass for a government building, ...) which you keep in your carry-on or elsewhere as a spare in case your wallet/purse is stolen or lost, or your photo ID falls out of your pocket walking through the airport. Both my wife and I have needed our backup photo ID.

Hi BayouGal.

Don't leave your garbage for pick up unless you have someone to put away your recepticles (garbage cans). If they are left out, it's a sure sign no one is home. I can always tell when certain people on my block are away. They never stop the newspaper and always leave the cans out.

Have a great trip!

Does your police station have a "dark house" report to fill out. If so, that's something we do for extended trips.

For working stiffs, set the "Out of Office" message on e-mail and voice mail.

Raise the bar on the ice maker so it won't make ice while you're gone --- we have had the pump break and a resulting flood!

Don't forget to come back! :)>-

and most of all dear Bayou~ bring some Depends.. you never know when ya gotta go:) xo, J.

Let's sit awhile and chew the fat . . . . . . . oops, gettin' into character a little early. Got me the cutest denim snapped shirt today, too! ;-)

Awww, y'all, this thread is gonna make me miss everyone even more!!! :'(

Thank you all for the well wishes and all the great ideas for those pre-travel necessities!

BayouGal/Annie Oakley
<i>When you call me that, smile!</i>&lt;):)

Check 16 times to make sure you have tickets.

Turn off water to house unless heating system requires it be left on.

Pack fanny pack and new white sneakers so you can look like a tourist.

Reassure my mother 15 times we will not die while on our vacation.

(And we also program our pets to get sick while we are gone)

Turn off the power strip to your computer equipment.
Turn of the cable tv converter.

Pack battery rechargers for cell phone and digital cameras as well as IPod recharger.

Turn off water to the house. We learned the hard way when, after a wonderful 6 days in New Orleans, we came home to a flood due to a slow leak in a faulty faucet. Brand new home and all hardwood floors had to be replaced.

And when you get to Jackson, go to the bar on the town square (can't remember the name) with the saddle bar stools for a drink and instant immersion in western culture....Yee Haa! :)) Have a GREAT time!!

I think you forgot the most important thing...


ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't wanna stay home :)

Dont forget to pack your copy of “Top Gun,” hahah!

Have a great and safe trip BayouGal!!!!!

:)

BayouGal - now you can write a white paper on travel prep tips!! Add one more - we carry disposable travel bed sheets. They are great and economical. No chance of bringing home bed bugs. We get them at www.buysleepsafe.com
safe travels!

There are so many good suggestions, I'm printing them out and making a list on my computer for future use. Make sure you write down the model/serial #s to your TVs, computers, etc. at home &amp; put in a safe place, just in case you come home and find some things missing... not trying to put a damper on your trip, but sometimes it happens. Also, write down important numbers of things you take (for ins. purposes) camera, lap top, etc. in case of loss. I think someone suggested write down the credit card ph. # and card # in case of loss. Buy a cloth neck band at walmart that holds credit cards and extra cash, then wear it around your neck and you won't have to worry about loss or theft. They are made for passports, but work great for cash &amp; CCs. Pack any prescription meds in carry-on. Take camera cards somewhere and have the pix put on a CD if your cards get full and you need to delete some. If you are like me, a week long trip results in over a thousand pictures. Don't be shy about asking people to take pix of the 2 of you together. Take pix of entrance signs, other informative signs of every where you stop. I take pix when we go into an area and when we leave, that way the time shows up on the computer when I download the pix and tells me the day &amp; how long you were there &amp; makes it easier for writing trip reports or scrapbooking, if you are into that. I'm the worst at doing trip repts, but I love to read others. I want to go to YS, so will love reading yours. I finally got my San Fran report done, but haven't posted it yet. Since we went in Aug. '06, I didn't know if anyone would be interested in reading it now. I always take some postage stamps &amp; small return address labels. Nothing more frustrating than to write a post card then forgetting all the next day to find a place that sells stamps. Print labels before you go of people you want to send cards to, then just stick them on! Check 10 day weather right before you go. Don't forget neck strap for your camera, as well as computer cords if you take a laptop. I think someone mentioned cell phone &amp; camera battery chargers. Pack a cloth, foldable duffle bag of some kind that folds down small. Great for clothes (esp. dirty clothes) on the trip home... with the soft sides you won't have to worry about anything breaking, then you have room in your big luggage for souvenirs and those chaps someone suggested you get. Have a great time!

Topping this list for fall travelers, including me. :)