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*Collaborative post*
Jetting off to far-flung places (or even just heading to the coast for the day) might feel like a pipe dream at the moment, but all the lovely places are still out there, and we won’t be banished forever.
If you’re yearning to get away on a trip, instead of letting that desire build into frustration use it to fuel some active planning so you’re ready for the off as soon as we’re allowed.
Keep Your House in Order
Keep up with insurances and maintenance so you know everything is right for future times away from home. Planning a good long trip is really something to look forward to, so double check your home insurance coverers your buildings and possessions while you’re away.
Plan how you’ll leave things to make sure they’re safe. You can consider which are your most valuable possessions and investigate using self storage space to secure them next time you’re away. There are many different sizes of storage unit so you won’t pay more than you need to.
Plan also which neighbours you’ll ask to keep an eye on your place. It helps to have people in mind rather than scrambling at the last minute. The same goes for pets. Make sure all their vaccinations are kept up to date if you put them in boarding, or bear in mind who you’ll ask to look after them if they stay at home.
Another thing to consider is security within the home. If you’ve always meant to invest in some timers for the lights, so they come on at night while you’re away, now is a good time to finally get round to it.
And on the subject of security, now is also a good time to bone up on how to avoid the little clues potential burglars pick up on to find out when you’re not at home. Those clues include having an appointments calendar where it can be seen through a window and clearly show the times you won’t be home. Put yours where it can’t be seen from outside.
Packing and Wardrobes
It doesn’t hurt to have a practice pack once you have a destination in mind. Research the climate if you’re not sure what to expect and review your planned activities so you don’t take things you won’t need. Sounds daft, but you’d be surprised. And keeping ‘just in case’ items out of your suitcase really helps to keep your luggage weight down.
Go through your wardrobe and that of other family members if you’re the one who packs for everybody else. Does everyone already have all they need, or could you do with replacing or renewing some holiday wear? We can’t go physical shopping for clothes right now, but we can browse online stores and keep up with what’s available.
Passports and Airports
It’s hard to imagine busy airports and the sky filled with jets again, having got used to seeing skies without contrails criss-crossing the blue. They will return though, given the changes in travel that are likely to continue for a while, it’s even more important to keep up with airport and import regulations for foreign destinations.
While different countries have always had some restrictions about what you can and can’t take in with you, those could possibly be even more restrictive once travel resumes. So even if you’re visiting a familiar place, it’s worth double checking to make sure you don’t get caught out if regulations have changed since your last trip.
Daydreams are good, but planning and plotting, researching and preparing are the ways to make them come true and help you see some light at the end of the tunnel.
