As summer comes to a close, you may be thinking about this year’s winter getaway. Even if you’re next holiday isn’t for a while, you can still get excited about vacation plans! Making early plans can be the most rewarding travel decision, so this year it’s all about thinking ahead:
Be money-wise. If you’re traveling overseas, even if it’s just a quick Caribbean getaway, you’ll probably have to trade in your good old American dollars for local currency. Arriving in a foreign destination without any useable funds can be scary, especially since many destinations, unlike the United States, accept cash much more readily than they accept credit. For this reason, you may want to consider having your currency exchanged while you’re still at home. Having immediate access to local currency will be beneficial for miscellaneous expenses, perhaps even minutes after you step off your plane or cruise boat—especially if you need to grab a soda, tip the guy who carries your bags, or for taxi fare. Your bank might charge you a little extra to get the money exchanged, but it could beat the expensive ATM fees you get slammed with overseas.
Why stress over souvenirs? Don’t fight the suitcase zipper! If your bag doesn’t close comfortably, it’s best to remove items or find a bigger bag. Not only will over-stuffed suitcases wrinkle your clothes and make unpacking disorganized, but you probably won’t feel comfortable bringing extra items back home with you. Suitcases with straps will hold your clothes and personal items in place, even if the suitcase has a lot of extra space. With these, on your way back home you’ll have the extra space ready for even bulky, misshapen souvenirs, dirty laundry bags, and as many new shoes as will fit!
The luxury of time. Maybe the trick to true vacation luxury is all about secluded suites and lavish amenities. But for a free taste of the VIP treatment, just remember to book early. While flights are still months away (and possibly on sale), choose a convenient time at which you’d like to depart. Be realistic. You know that figuring in travel and wait time can add hours to your schedule, so don’t try to be a hero at the gate by 6 AM if early morning isn’t your thing. Noon will do just fine, thank you.
To choose which seats you and your family will occupy on the flight, visit websites like SeatGuru.com and find out which ones have the most leg room, etc. Another part of giving yourself the luxury of time is compensating for any time zone differences. Getting the appropriate amount of sleep the night before and planning on plane ride naps will keep you grog-free on your getaway.
Chores on holiday? No one wants to participate in the dirty work while on vacation, so find out beforehand how easy (or difficult) it is to do laundry where you’re staying. Don’t stress about finding a Laundromat at the last minute. Instead, call ahead to find out where you can find one, or know whether or not your hotel has machines. You may even consider travel size detergent meant to wash your clothes in the sink—a great, cheap alternative to washing small or delicate items without a machine.
Leaving it all behind… Lastly, feel good about your pets and your home while you’re away. Prepare housekeeping matters the whole week beforehand. Do you need to cancel the mail or newspaper? Inform a friend that you will be out? It doesn’t hurt to have someone check on your house, especially if you will be gone for a long time. As for your cage and tank-dwelling friends, offering to transport small pets to a neighbor’s house can make pet-sitting an easy sell. But if you need someone to come by for other matters, like watering the plants, tending to the swimming pool, etc., make it easy for your house-sitter by providing explicit, written instructions and the phone numbers of other people in town you can trust.