by Jayme Radomski | Jun 11, 2024 | Money & Paper Management, Organizing, Travel, Wardrobe
Planning a family trip can be exciting but requires careful organization to ensure everything runs smoothly. Here are some ways to organize for a successful family trip this summer:
Budget Planning: Set a realistic budget for the trip, including accommodation, food, activities, and souvenirs.
Cash and Cards: Carry a mix of cash and credit/debit cards. Inform your bank of travel plans to avoid card blocks.
Expense Tracking: Use an app or a simple notebook to track daily expenses and stay within budget.
Passports and IDs: Ensure all passports and IDs are up-to-date and valid for the duration of the trip.
Tickets and Reservations: Book flights, trains, or other transportation. Confirm hotel or rental accommodations and print or save digital copies of all reservations.
Travel Insurance: Purchase travel insurance that covers health, cancellations, and emergencies.
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Daily Schedule: Plan a loose itinerary with activities and sightseeing for each day. Include a mix of structured activities and free time.
Tickets and Reservations: Pre-book tickets for popular attractions, tours, and events to avoid long lines and sold-out situations.
Local Research: Research local restaurants, parks, and other points of interest suitable for families.
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Clothing: Pack appropriate clothing for the weather and planned activities. Include swimwear, casual wear, and a few dressier options if needed.
Essentials: Toiletries, medications, first-aid supplies, and any special items like glasses or contact lenses.
Entertainment and Comfort Items: Bring books, toys, games, and electronics to keep children entertained during travel and downtime.
Car Rentals and Public Transport: Arrange for car rentals if necessary and research local public transportation options.
GPS and Maps: Ensure your phone’s GPS is functional, and consider downloading offline maps. Bring physical maps as a backup.
Parking and Directions: Look up parking options at your destination and note directions to key places.
Medical Needs: Pack any necessary prescription medications and basic first aid supplies. Check if vaccinations are needed.
Safety Precautions: Make sure everyone is aware of basic safety rules for traveling, such as staying together and not talking to strangers.
Emergency Contacts: Keep a list of emergency contacts, including local emergency numbers and contact information for your country’s embassy.
Home Security: Arrange for a neighbor or friend to check on your home, collect mail, and water plants.
Utilities: Set lights on timers, and adjust thermostats for energy efficiency.
Pets: Make arrangements for pet care, through a pet sitter, kennel, or a friend.
By organizing these aspects in advance, you’ll ensure a more enjoyable and stress-free family trip. Plan ahead so your family travel is more relaxing.
by Jayme Radomski | Mar 12, 2024 | Travel
In addition to packing and making travel arrangements, preparing your home is also an important part of travel. Preparing your house for an extended vacation is crucial to ensure its security, safety, and proper maintenance while you’re away. Here is a checklist to help you prepare:
Lock all doors and windows securely.
Consider installing deadbolts or additional locks for added security.
Check for any weak points in locks or windows and repair them.
Put a hold on your mail and newspaper delivery or arrange for a neighbor to collect them.
Cancel any regular deliveries you receive.
Install timers on lights inside and outside your home to give the appearance that someone is there.
Set timers to mimic your usual patterns of turning lights on and off.
Unplug non-essential appliances and electronic devices to prevent any potential electrical hazards.
This also helps save energy while you’re away.
Adjust your thermostat to a suitable temperature to save energy but ensure it’s not too extreme to protect items like plants, pets, and certain electronic devices.
Alternatively, consider investing in a programmable thermostat that you can control remotely.
Turn water heater temperature down.
If you have pets, arrange for a pet sitter, boarding, or a trusted friend or family member to take care of them.
Ensure they have enough food, water, and any necessary medication.
If you have a security system, inform the company of your vacation plans.
Provide them with emergency contact information.
Store valuables such as jewelry, important documents, and small electronics in a safe deposit box or a secure location within your home.
Arrange for someone to mow your lawn or shovel snow if needed to maintain the appearance of an occupied home.
Shut off the main water supply to prevent any potential leaks or flooding while you’re away.
Check for any potential hazards such as gas leaks, faulty electrical wiring, or plumbing issues and address them before leaving.
Inform trusted neighbors about your vacation plans. They can keep an eye on your property and notify you of any suspicious activity.
Police departments may offer courtesy visits to check on your property.
Backup important files and data from your computer and store them securely.
If you’re traveling internationally, notify your credit card companies to prevent any potential issues with transactions.
Leave emergency contact information with a trusted friend or neighbor in case they need to reach you.
By following this checklist, you can leave your home with peace of mind, knowing that you’ve taken necessary precautions to keep it safe and secure during your extended vacation.
by Jayme | Feb 4, 2021 | Organizing, Travel
Being organized will make a family road trip an amazing and memorable experience. When everyone knows the route, schedule, activities, and food, the trip will go as smoothly as it can. Here are some ideas to help get organized for the family road trip.
Map out the Route in Advance
Map out your route to help plan your trip. Understand where there may be traffic jams, construction, and road closures so you can plan for detours. Print your map, even if you are using GPS there may be areas without service. The kids might also enjoy a copy of the map to follow along. Plan for frequent stops to swap drivers and get some exercise. Consider worksheets, stories, and games that are themed around the geographic location you are traveling through. It will add value to the travel experience.
Schedule Car Activities
Have a schedule for activities in the car, stops along the way, and arrival time. A schedule will help ease anxiety and limit the “Are we there yet?” questions. Break the schedule into one- or two-hour segments for making stops, meals, and changing activities. Have a variety of activities for the kids to complete amongst themselves, independently, and as a family to make the time go by. Ongoing activities and competitions such as a license plate game, road trip treasure hunt, and bingo allow for some friendly competition. Independent activities can include simple crafts, coloring books, activity sheets, and reading for nice, quiet time.
Plan Snacks and Meals
Create a plan for snacks and meals for the trip. Healthy food options that are well thought out will keep energy up and appetites satisfied. Kids like to eat often, so allow them choices for healthy snacks every hour or so. Schedule in special treats too so they have something to look forward to. Fresh veggies, fruit, veggie chips, granola bars, finger sandwiches, and cheese and crackers, are great choices to help you avoid expensive stops for unhealthy fast food. A road trip meal plan will also keep the captain’s and co captain’s energy levels maximized. A little preparation before the trip will keep everyone nourished.
Organize Car Ahead of Time
Organize the car at the start of the trip. Have a place for food, activities, personal items, and emergency items that may be needed while in transit. Overnight items can be packed a little deeper in the vehicle. We suggest having items needed for any overnight stops on the way packed in a separate bag or area for easy access.
When the trip involves daily travel to new locations and lodging, consider separate bags of clothing for each stop to reduce the need to completely unpack and repack. Have the kid’s activities and materials organized for each child to prevent panic and frustration as they will know where everything is. Have your personal items organized too such as cash, water, snacks, sunglasses, umbrellas, and maps. You will want to have extra water, plastic bags, wet wipes, medication, and emergency contacts available. For the return trip, keep the same level of organization to reduce stress and keep the vehicle tidy.
Have fun planning your next family road trip. The more organized the plan is, the more enjoyable the experience will be.
