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