Traveling can be quite demanding, especially if you have more than one person to plan for. But it doesn’t have to be stressful or complicated, if you plan ahead and provide for those people, pets, and actions that you have control over.

• Give your employer at least 30 days’ notice, so he/she can sign off an approval for your vacation leave.
  
• Notify the post office and newspaper service with exact departure and return dates so they can stop your incoming deliveries. (Especially if you live in an area where piled up newspapers might signal an invitation to your empty home.)

Step Two: Budgeting and Payment Methods

• Decide in advance what monies you will allocate for travel, food, lodging, shopping, and emergencies. (Be sure to have some emergency funds.)
  
• Since traveler’s checks and cash are universally recognized, with credit cards and ATM cards following the pack, decide which methods you will use while traveling, keeping in mind it’s best to have at least two different forms of payment available. Purchase traveler’s checks from a bank, and record the numbers on the slip included. Make a copy of the slip/record and leave that copy at home. Set aside a credit card (preferably one with your frequent flyer mileage plan), keeping in mind that some places abroad won’t accept ATM cards. For cash, if necessary, exchange US dollars to Euros or Euros to US dollars (or any other conversion) before you go—wherever the rate of exchange is lowest. (When you travel, keep cash in a hide-away money belt and/or in a front pocket, not in a strappy purse—which can be clipped—and not in a back pocket wallet—which pick-pocketers target most.)

Step Three: Travel Arrangements

• Reserve and pay for plane, train, cruise ship and/or automobile as well as hotel/motel dates and tickets as far in advance as possible.
• Apply for a visa/passport in advance (at least six weeks, in many cases).
• Research, arrange and pay for tour package(s).

Step Four: Arranging for Children and/or Pets

• Plan a separate checklist if you will be taking children or pets with you. Each will need papers (proof of age, proof of vaccination, medical and/or veterinary records, special needs notices—such as medical alerts, allergies, etc.--), and each will need accommodations that are “pet-friendly” and/or “kid-friendly” (pets need places to exercise and not a lot of stairs to climb in a motel, for instance). In addition, kids and pets need different things packed for them.
  
• If the kids and/or animals will not accompany you on vacation, you will need to make reservations and arrangements in advance for kennels, house-sitters, or even family caretakers. Kennels also, for instance, require an application completion and the papers mentioned above.

Step Five: Make House Maintenance Arrangements

• If you need plants cared for, you’ll need to arrange in advance for a reliable, trustworthy caretaker. If you live in a rural northern area where temperatures drop in winter, you’ll need someone to check that pipes don’t freeze and pilot lights on stoves and water heaters stay lit.

Step Six: Insurance and Health Preparation

• Check and purchase, if applicable, car rental, flight, and medical travel insurance. Get the necessary/required shots if going to a country that necessitates it. Ask your primary care physician for prescription doubles and for Doctor certificates for any medications/narcotics you will be asked to supply proof of need for.

Step Seven: Communications Alternatives

• Get or set aside your phone card, a calling card, and or email addresses you can use to check-in with or have as emergency tools (if you don’t, for instance, have coins for a pay phone or if there are no pay phones in a remote location)
• Also, be sure to make and leave a copy of your travel plans/itinerary with family members, friends, or caretakers, and tell someone where you keep all life documents—wills, insurance policies, mortgage/estate papers, etc.

Step Eight: Packing Documents and Informational/Useful Items

• Travel tickets and itineraries.
• Cash (homeland denominations and converted), credit cards, traveler’s checks
• Phone cards, address book, phone book/list, stamps
• Passports, birth certificates, marriage certificate, driver’s license, and visa.
• Duplicate set of house, car, mailbox, and safe box keys.

Step Nine: Packing Health Care and Prevention Items

• Prescription and OTC (over the counter—aspirin, pain killers, etc.) medication, first aid kit, small sewing kit, thermometer, matches
• Contact lenses and saline solution, eye drops, eyeglasses, magnifiers, sunglasses

Step Ten: Packing Recreational Items and Incidentals

• Cameras, film, toys, stuffed animals, games, books, magazines, writing tool
• Voltage adapters, laptops, alarm clock, audio player, cell phone/charger, batteries.
• Ear plugs, candy, and gum

Step Eleven: Packing Body Care, Hygiene and Beauty Products

• Toothbrush, tooth paste, gargle, floss, tooth picks
• Hair brush, comb, rollers, gel, shampoo, conditioner
• Soap, moisturizer, lip balm, sun screen
• Razor, shaving cream, after-shave lotion
• Deodorant, powder, cologne/perfume
• Cosmetics, jewelry, purses, contraceptives, tampons/pads, towelettes, tissue packets, toilet paper

Step Twelve: Packing Clothing

• Shoes, sneakers, heels, boots, socks, extra socks, nylons
• Underwear, bras, lingerie, diapers
• Pants, jeans, shorts, exercise clothes, slacks, t-shirts, blouses, dresses, dress shirts, suits, belts, and ties
• Where applicable: swimsuits, sandals, sweaters, overcoats, parkas, mittens, gloves, thermals, windbreakers, umbrellas, raincoats, hats, rain hats
• Pajamas, robes, gowns, slippers
• Also where applicable: baby blanket, extra towel, water, and snacks.

Plan, prepare, and pack, doing as much as is necessary in advance and as little as possible one day at a time, to reduce the complexities and lesson the stress, and to make travel the joy that it is meant to be!