Online Travel Guide – 13 Step To Do List in Preparing for Travel
Going on vacation can be stressful and hectic. There are so many things to do. You need to first research and find a destination and then make reservations, but besides that there are a lot of things to take care of, pack and do to leaving.
Leaving things to the last minute is often a mistake, as you can forget 
important tasks and this can really put a gray cloud on your vacation because you will worry, fret and regret about things forgotten and left undone.
13 Step To-Do List to Prepare for Travel
1. Make sure to suspend any newspaper delivery as a bunch of papers on your porch alerts people that you are not home, and can make your home vulnerable to crime.
2. If you are going to be gone for more than a week, then it is a good idea to have the post office hold your mail. Your identity is vulnerable to thieves via credit card and other bill statements that will be sitting unattended in your mail box, and like the newspaper, a full mailbox alerts people that you are away.
3. Make a list of everything you need to pack and take with you, especially legal documents, such as passports.
4. Make sure to apply for a passport early on to make sure that you get it in time for travel.
5. If you are traveling abroad, or to Mexico, it is important to learn a little about where you are going, and any alerts that may prevent problems, such as the fact that it is not advisable to drink tap water in Mexico, as it makes Americans sick.
6. If you have have lawn care to consider, make sure you have automatic sprinklers or ask a friend to come over and water for you.
7. It is a good idea to have timers for your house lights so the house does not sit dark for long periods of time and again, does not alert people that you are not home.
8. If you are taking kids along it is a good idea to make sure you take with you some activities for them to use on the plane, train or car trip. Kids do get bored easily and just sitting in travel for long periods of time can get them restless and annoyed.
9. It is a good idea to research the place you are traveling to prior to going. Look for activities, restaurants and other important aspects of the destination so you are not scrambling while you are there.
10. Check the weather where you are going and make sure to pack accordingly.
11. Buy travelers checks in advance and consider taking only the credit cards you will really need, there is no reason to drag along all the plastic and risk it being lost or stolen.
12. Unplug all the electronics in your house that use electricity even when they are off. Things like home theaters, computers and other items actually have a stand-by mode that uses electricity, and only are deaactivated when the power is unplugged from the wall.
13. Make sure there are no signs that you are gone, which can make you vulnerable to robbery. As mentioned above the mail and newspapers are a good tips, but there maybe other signs that you are away. If you are close with a neighbor it is a good idea to ask them to keep an eye out.
