| The trick to successful and stress-free travel is | | | | wallet. Think about it. Those are the first things a |
| planning ahead. Challenging, though it might seem, | | | | thief will take -- if you keep your list with the |
| your goal is to think of every possible contingency | | | | credit cards and traveler's checks, it doesn't help |
| that might come up, and take action before it | | | | much when they are stolen. You are better off |
| happens. What will you do if your luggage is lost? | | | | sticking it in your shoe (as long as your feet don't |
| If you get sick? If you forget your blue pumps? | | | | sweat a lot!)Finally, be sure to have a POINT OF |
| Being PROACTIVE will reduce the possibility of a | | | | CONTACT at home -- someone who knows |
| serious crisis occurring during your trip.BUDGETING | | | | where you are and how to reach you. Make sure |
| FOR YOUR TRIPTravel doesn't have to break the | | | | to give this person any information that could be |
| bank -- not if you are willing to plan ahead for | | | | important in the event of an emergency -- the |
| your vacation spending. Decide first how much | | | | phone number and address where you are |
| you can AFFORD, then make your travel plans. | | | | staying, the code to your alarm system, your |
| Start searching early for travel deals -- talk to | | | | doctor's name, etc. It will ease your mind to know |
| your travel agent, look for internet specials, and | | | | that you can be contacted if something goes |
| check with travel clubs (like AAA) for discounts. | | | | wrong at home -- and that you have someone |
| You can find some great bargains in package | | | | who can act on your behalf if something goes |
| deals that combine hotel and airfare at a | | | | awry on your end.KEEPING YOUR HOUSE |
| discounted rate.If vacations tend to get you in | | | | SAFENothing can ruin a fabulous vacation more |
| trouble on your credit cards, consider starting a | | | | than worrying about your home while you are |
| savings account just for travel -- where you put | | | | gone. But a few simple precautions can help ease |
| away a small amount each month toward your | | | | your mind and keep your domicile safe. Before |
| next trip. You should also plan to use traveler's | | | | you leave, let the police or a very trusted |
| checks instead of credit cards to stay within your | | | | neighbor know you will be gone -- especially if you |
| budget. It's amazing how easy it is to go | | | | are planning a lengthy trip. Nothing says "not |
| overboard when start handing out the plastic! And | | | | home" more than a pile of newspapers in your |
| be sure to keep track of how much you actually | | | | driveway or magazines pouring out of your |
| spend -- as compared to your budget -- | | | | mailbox -- so stop your mail and newspaper |
| throughout the trip. You might keep a small pad | | | | delivery or have neighbor collect them. Investing in |
| of paper with you for recording expenses and | | | | timers for your lights, radios, etc, -- and setting |
| tallying up your total for each day.If you can't | | | | them to go on and off at random times during |
| seem to make it happen on your budget, consider | | | | the day - will make your home look lived in and |
| COMPROMISING on lower priority expenses in | | | | keep burglars away. And if you still aren't |
| exchange for the higher priority ones. When my | | | | comfortable abandoning your home, hire a |
| husband and I travel, we are always willing to | | | | housesitter.INSURE YOUR TRIPOne thing that |
| stay in a budget hotel so we can afford to eat | | | | very few people remember to do before leaving |
| out and attend cultural events. We decided that | | | | home is review their insurance policies. This is |
| expensive hotels are wasted on us because we | | | | particularly important if you are travelling |
| spend very little time in our room, and we would | | | | overseas. First, make sure that you have the |
| rather spend our money elsewhere. Where are | | | | proper personal liability coverage. This is meant to |
| you willing to trade off?PACKING MADE | | | | insure the loss or theft of your personal |
| EASYHave you ever been away from home and | | | | possessions, injury (to yourself or someone else), |
| suddenly realized that you forgot your toothbrush, | | | | your legal defense (other countries don't operate |
| your shoes, or your bathing suit? Having to rush | | | | like the US -- remember that kid in Singapore |
| around replacing items that you left behind not | | | | who was caned?), and the repatriation of your |
| only wastes time and money, it also reduces your | | | | remains should you die overseas (not a nice |
| enjoyment of the trip. And sometimes, you might | | | | thought, but it does happen). Check with your |
| forget an item that isn't so easily replaced -- like | | | | insurance carriers -- your homeowner's policy may |
| your checkbook or the report you were | | | | include coverage for your possessions while away |
| supposed to present at tomorrow's meeting. But | | | | from home, and your credit card company |
| you can save yourself a lot of heartache by | | | | probably offers inexpensive life insurance.If you |
| taking the guesswork out of packing.Start by | | | | plan to operate a vehicle while on your trip, check |
| developing PACKING LISTS for both short-term | | | | to see what your automobile insurance covers. If |
| travel (from one to three days) and longer trips. | | | | you are in an accident in a rented car, what is |
| You can even create different lists for different | | | | paid for? Are you covered if you are in an |
| kinds of travel -- camping, business, foreign travel, | | | | accident overseas? Are there any hidden costs |
| trips to the beach, cold-weather travel, etc. Try | | | | that you will be expected to pay? You should also |
| to include any and all generic items that you might | | | | familiarize yourself with your MEDICAL insurance. |
| need -- clothes, toiletries, alarm clock, night light, | | | | What actions does your insurance company |
| whatever you like to take with you. Then use | | | | require if you become ill or injured while out of |
| these lists as memory-joggers as you are packing | | | | state? Out of the country?If you are taking a |
| for each trip. You can also cut down on the time | | | | package tour or an expensive trip, if you will be |
| you spend preparing for travel by keeping a | | | | visiting a dangerous or unpredictable parts of the |
| "pre-packed" toiletry bag with duplicates of the | | | | world, or if you have a personal or medical |
| items you use in your home. Fill your kit with | | | | situation that might disrupt your travels, you |
| samples of shampoo, soap, lotion, cosmetics, | | | | should also consider trip cancellation and |
| toothpaste, and shaving cream -- even miniature | | | | interruption insurance. This type of coverage can |
| toothbrushes and razors. These travel-sized items | | | | protect you in case of bad weather (ie: a cruise |
| take up less room in your suitcase, and you will | | | | cancelled because of a hurricane), illness, family |
| be less likely to leave something important | | | | emergency, and even the default or bankruptcy |
| behind.And don't forget your important documents | | | | of your travel suppliers. But remember that |
| - especially if you are travelling overseas. You | | | | certain situations -- like pre-existing medical |
| should plan to bring proof of citizenship, an official | | | | conditions, terrorism, hijacking, and war -- can void |
| government photo identification (driver's license or | | | | your trip cancellation coverage. Make sure that |
| military ID is fine), a state-issued birth certificate | | | | you clearly understand all of the terms, |
| with a raised seal, and a passport. Remember | | | | requirements, and EXCLUSIONS before you |
| that children and infants are also required to have | | | | purchase your insurance. Does it only cover |
| a state-issued birth certificate for travel.LESS IS | | | | situations when someone in your party gets sick, |
| MOREIf you can get away with it, try not to | | | | or if someone at home gets sick as well? When |
| check your luggage. I purchased a very roomy | | | | does your coverage start and end? Does "medical |
| pullman carry on that will accommodate up to a | | | | evacuation" mean that you are evacuated to the |
| week's worth of clothes -- that way, I never | | | | nearest medical facility or back home? You might |
| have to be concerned about losing my bags. If | | | | want to contact the insurance company yourself, |
| you pack "mix-and-match" outfits and plan to do | | | | as many travel agents may not understand all the |
| some washing along the way, you don't need 15 | | | | terms of your policy. Don't assume that anything |
| different outfits for a one-week trip. And if you | | | | is covered until you check it out for |
| have to check a piece, be sure to keep those | | | | yourself.SCHEDULING AS A SCIENCESome of the |
| items you couldn't live without in your carry on -- | | | | biggest frustrations people face when travelling |
| toiletries, a change of clothes, clean underwear, | | | | are disruptions to their SCHEDULE -- flight delays, |
| medications, maps, travel confirmations, and any | | | | traffic jams, getting lost, long lines, you name it. |
| materials you might need for an upcoming | | | | But you can take a number of precautions to |
| business meeting. But try to take no more than | | | | make sure you are able to stick to your itinerary |
| one medium-sized and one carry on bag per | | | | while travelling. Don't wait until you arrive at your |
| person. Remember, you can always remedy | | | | destination to learn the lay of the land. Take the |
| underpacking, but not OVERPACKING! However | | | | time to research your trip before leaving -- |
| heavy your suitcase is when you start out, it will | | | | develop at least a cursory knowledge of the |
| be twice as heavy when you come home.If you | | | | routes, directions, tourist attractions, |
| plan to do any shopping while on your trip, you | | | | transportation systems, and weather. Look at |
| may decide to bring along an extra bag for | | | | your options and pick a few major sights that |
| carrying your purchases home. Put your filled | | | | you really want to see while on your trip -- just |
| suitcase inside a slightly larger empty one -- or, | | | | remember that you can't do everything! Then |
| get a collapsible tote that will take up very little | | | | make as many advance reservations as possible |
| space in your bag. But the easiest option (although | | | | once your itinerary is set, remembering to build |
| perhaps not the cheapest) is to have each store | | | | the travel time from sight to sight into your |
| ship your treasures directly to your home. This is | | | | itinerary. Be sure to confirm any appointments |
| an especially good policy if you are bringing home | | | | and reservations before leaving -- and then |
| anything large or bulky on a plane, as the airlines | | | | reconfirm everything when you arrive. There is |
| often charge extra for oversized parcels. And | | | | no such thing as double-checking too much!We've |
| each bag you have to lug around limits your | | | | talked a lot about physical preparations for your |
| transportation options. Heavy suitcases mean | | | | vacation -- but preparing yourself mentally is just |
| cabs and porters and inconvenience and fatigue -- | | | | as important. Determine ahead of time what your |
| while a light suitcase equals travel | | | | EXPECTATIONS are for your trip. What must |
| freedom.PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR | | | | happen to make this a successful trip? Which |
| BELONGINGSWhile no one wants to be paranoid | | | | activities or sights you it would disappoint you to |
| about their safety when travelling, it's a good idea | | | | miss? Which activities or sights you it wouldn't |
| to err on the side of caution when planning your | | | | bother you to miss? And what problems that you |
| trip. So let's start with your "stuff" -- list the | | | | have had on other trips that you would like to |
| contents of each piece of luggage and keep your | | | | avoid this time? Try to admit to yourself that |
| list close at hand anytime your bags are out of | | | | things may not go perfectly throughout the entire |
| your sight. This will save you a great deal of | | | | trip. Be FLEXIBLE and have other options ready |
| frustration if your bags are lost and you have to | | | | (reading, other activities) if your schedule gets off |
| file a claim or replace your belongings. And don't | | | | track. Understand that you can not control every |
| forget to mark your luggage for easy retrieval -- | | | | (or any!) aspect of travel. The more willing you |
| all those black pullmans are starting to look alike, | | | | are to accept difficulties and delays, the less |
| and it's easy for someone else to pick up your | | | | disruptive they will be if they do occur. Happy |
| bag.While you are making lists, create a WRITTEN | | | | travels!Ramona Creel is a Professional Organizer |
| RECORD of your credit card numbers, traveler's | | | | and the founder of -- offering "a world of |
| checks, medical insurance, emergency phone | | | | organizing solutions!" Visit for organizing products, |
| numbers, and other important information to take | | | | free tips, a speakers bureau -- and even get a |
| with you when you travel. And always keep this | | | | referral for a Professional Organizer near you. And |
| information hidden away someplace secure -- a | | | | if you are interested in becoming a Professional |
| hotel safe deposit box is a good choice -- where | | | | Organizer, we have all the tools you need to |
| you can easily access it if you need it. Do not -- I | | | | succeed. |
| repeat do not -- keep this record in your purse or | | | | |