Vacation mode is something you can not click into until you are in the car driving or on the plane because ahead of the vacation are things you should be doing before you sign off to vacay.
Yes, right now it’s more domestic travel than international, but I’ve got to share things to do 1 day before you travel every time!
What things to do 1 day before you travel or leave for vacation?
Vacation is such a special time, and right before you leave it’s the fiercest, most time-sucking item you will work for 24 hours before you leave!
It’s true, you need to be calm, cool, collected, and very organized.
The way to that calm path is using these tips for things to do 1 day before you travel for work or vacation, and I bet many of you do some of these already!
In fact, for some, it’s just part of the vacation formula that you’ve used, but so many others have not!
Travel during the Pandemic Might Have helped travelers out a bit
There’s nothing good about this pandemic, but if you have been burned by vacation plans, you may have learned an expensive lesson.
When it comes to vacation, pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic follow these tips for things to do 1 day before you travel for work or vacay no matter where you are going or when!
These items have always been a part of my pro-travel life, but now they are more important than ever.
Weekend Getaways to Weeks of Vacation: Before Vacation Mode
Vacation mode still exists for many.
If you have not left or traveled domestically, but are getting ready to, well remember that vacation mode feels amazing!
Even if you are not traveling much now, you’ll still want to bookmark this page and come back to it when you get back to vacation, travel, quick getaways.
Vacation mode is a form of Zen in my mind, there’s just nothing like it, but first I have to check all the things you should do the day before vacation mode.
The best part of this little list is that whether you are heading out on a mini weekend getaway or extended vacation and everything in between, this helpful list of things to do 1 day before you travel applies to every type of travel both business and personal!
No. 1 ~ Cha-Ching Avoid Credit Card Flagging
First on my list of things to do 1 day before you travel is ultra important for any and everyone traveling.
Well, life is good and you are going and so are your credit cards, and what about cash?
First, use your credit card app to let the credit card company know you are traveling so that your account is not flagged.
Yes, this is a thing and if you share a Credit card with a partner/spouse/child, and they are in one state and you are in another it might trigger a flag of use (been there, done that!)
So, on the app, there is usually a place to notify them that you are going out of town, use it!
Also, you’ll want to have some cash on hand, not hundreds of dollars, but some for quick purchases and restaurants that don’t take credit.
We ran into issues in the Outer Banks when a local bakery had a nasty sign up that said, “if it’s not cash, don’t even ask about credit, we are not taking it, as we are not paying fees for you to eat!”
So, not only did we never go back, but we knew most eateries are cashless during this pandemic!
No. 2 ~ Confirmed That Reservation and Email It To Yourself
Have you read the multiple stories of your previously confirmed lodging getting undone suddenly?
Oh, it keeps happening, and the pandemic has just pushed this almost out of boundaries!
So all I am going to suggest is to CONFIRM your lodging reservations before you depart, it is very important!.
I’m not going to speak positively or negatively about Airbnb or VRBO, or any hotel brand, but the stories are out there to read.
No. 3 ~ Vaccine + Passport Copies
I am not going to muddy the waters, but I will just keep it straight up and easy.
For those who are vaccinated, you’ll need to have a copy of that vaccine passport with you.
Whether you choose to photo it and keep it on your phone or have the copy with you, many places (restaurants, etc) need proof of it before they will let you in!
Now I am going to say what I think about this extra piece of paper or photo that I have to carry around.
Yes I am vaccinated and I have my booster, but what is really agitating me is this!
Why, can’t the government just attach this information to your license, and when they scan it, they will know if you are vaccinated.
I’d love to know why not only are they demanding (the government) everyone get vaccinated but then making it a whole other chore to carry this thing around.
If I am not traveling internationally, why do I need to carry anything besides my license or have a photo-ready? Can’t you bear some of this burden? It’s just one more thing to carry around and worry about losing.
Conversely, it’s one more photo to have to worry about.
No. 4 ~ Hey Sunshine Or Rain?
Hot? Cold? In between?
Yep, this is my number 4 of 5 things to do 1 day before you travel because it’s helpful and free!
What is the weather going to be like?
One of my favorite apps, with notifications, is WeatherBug!
Not only might this app help you pack, but it will allow you a better idea of what you are headed into for weather.
Since our weather is not following its old self (more rain, less rain, more sun, less sun) due to global warming it’s nice to know what you are headed into.
I call this advanced preparedness.
You can get this ahead of time and look up to 14 days ahead, which I love!
Go Old School Print It
As much as I’d like to tell you I want to save trees, I go old school when it comes to flying.
Why?
Well, number 5 of 5 things you should do the day before you leave for vacation helps you when the app can’t.
Yep, there have been times when my SW app and Delta app just won’t open.
I need access to my ticket, so I take the printed copy with me but the airport can do this as well, just have it on your things-to-do list for the next day!
Being totally transparent, I hate doing this because it is paper I can lose and don’t want to tote, but I’ve been in a few bad spots when I needed my app to work and it wouldn’t causing me a boarding nightmare.
Want To Travel but Don’t Know Where To Go?
If you want to use my list of things you should do the day before you leave for vacation, but you don’t know where to travel to, I can give you a few simple ideas.
- Hiking out West
- Sightseeing in Colorado
- Fun in New Mexico
- Mexico but not Cancun
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Lousiana
That’s just a dusting of what’s on my website, just go to the TRAVEL page and you will uncover 100’s of fun destinations!
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