Booking flights, arranging transfers, checking the weather and packing accordingly — these are on everyone’s to do list before a trip. But the key to being truly well-prepared for your holiday may be some of these often-forgotten tasks.
We’ve compiled a list of five crucial pre-travel steps that go beyond remembering your passport and packing a first aid kit and medicines, ensuring a smooth trip and comfortable return.
1. Digital Prep: Download Offline Content
You remember to pack your phone, but what about preparing it for connectivity failure? Offline content is your best friend when you hit areas with no Wi-Fi, limited data, or simply want to save battery while sightseeing.
- Maps: Download essential areas on Google Maps or similar navigation apps. This lets you access routes and directions without any signal.
- Entertainment: Download movies, podcasts, music, and books from services like Netflix, Spotify, or Kindle. You’ll thank yourself during long flights, train rides, or unexpected delays.
- Documentation: Save digital copies of your passport, visa, booking confirmations, and medical insurance cards to your phone—preferably in a secure, password-protected folder that is accessible offline.
2. Home Sitch: Clean Out Perishables & Prep Your Return
A successful trip ends with a stress-free return. Avoid the dreadful “welcome home” smell and the scramble for food when jetlagged.
- Fridge and Pantry Audit: Go through your refrigerator and pantry, throwing away or using up any perishable food (dairy, fresh produce, leftovers). This prevents nasty odours, mould, and unwelcome science experiments while you’re gone.
- Prepare for Your Return: Do one load of laundry before you leave. Crucially, plan to have some easy, ready-to-eat meals waiting for you. This could be a frozen meal you prepared beforehand, a takeout order scheduled for arrival day, or even just stocking the pantry with simple ingredients (like pasta and sauce).
3. Home Security: Set Timers and Manage Mail
Deterring potential theft is about making your home look occupied and well-maintained.
- Set Timers for Lights: Use simple light timers or smart plugs for lamps in key areas (like the living room or hallway). Set them to turn on and off at staggered times, mimicking the randomness of human activity.
- Mail and Deliveries: Arrange for a neighbor to collect your mail, flyers, and parcels, or hold your mail with the postal service. A bulging mailbox is a clear sign that a house is empty.
4. Doctor Knows Best: Health Essentials
Before you jet off, ensure your body is ready for the change in environment and climate.
- Travel Vaccinations: See a doctor to find out if they recommend any particular vaccinations (like Yellow Fever or Typhoid) for your destination, especially if you are traveling to rural areas or developing countries.
- Flu and COVID Protection: Take your flu jab and ensure your COVID-19 boosters are up-to-date. This is essential, as crowded planes and airports are high-transmission zones.
- Discuss Concerns: Speak to your doctor about managing any pre-existing conditions while traveling, or discuss potential issues like jet lag mitigation or altitude sickness prevention.
5. Financial Firewall: Notify Your Bank and Pause Subscriptions
Your bank’s security system is designed to protect you, but it can quickly become an obstacle when you try to use your card in a foreign country.
- Notify Your Banks and Credit Card Companies: Contact your financial institutions with your travel dates and destinations. This prevents them from flagging your overseas transactions as fraudulent and freezing your cards, leaving you stranded without access to funds.
- Pause Unnecessary Subscriptions: Go through your monthly subscriptions (gym memberships, newspaper deliveries, meal kits). If you won’t be using a service for two weeks or more, pausing them can save you money and is one less item to worry about.
By adding these five steps to your usual pre-trip routine, you eliminate logistical and health anxieties, ensuring your focus remains solely on enjoying your well-deserved vacation. Safe travels!
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For personalised advice on travel health, consult with a doctor online, or book your necessary vaccinations in our DA clinics or with our Home-Based vaccination service.
