Traveling checklist and prep are huge every time we take a trip. Every year since 2013, my husband and I have made a trip back to Wisconsin from Idaho to see our kids and visit family. This year will be no different. Each trip requires a checklist and prep situation. We always take our pup Sarge with us (insert internal link) so we have to pack his essentials as well.
I create a list for each of us as follows:
Sue
- Jeans
- T-shirts
- Socks
- Undergarments
- Sweatshirt
- Make-up bag
- brush/comb
- toothbrush/paste/mouthwash/floss
- Deodorant
- Vitamins
- Headache pills
- Cell charger
Husband
- Jeans
- T-shirts
- Socks
- Undergarments
- Sweatshirt
- toothbrush/paste/mouthwash/floss
- Deodorant
- Vitamins
- Cell charger
Sarge
- Dry dog food
- Food/water dishes
- Water bottle
- Poop bags
- Plastic grocery bags
- garbage bags
- paper towel/cleaning wipes
- Nausea pills
- Clean blankets
- Pet bed
Each of us has a list and I check them off as they are packed and then we do a read through to ensure we didn’t forget anything. Sarge gets sick in the car if we go around too many curves or up/down too many hills or mountains so that is why the plastic grocery bags and nausea pills – for cleaning up.
Leaving the House
There is always stuff that needs to be done before leaving for an extended period of time. We check that the heat or air won’t be running super high the entire time, I usually clean the bathrooms and kitchen as best I can the day before, and pick-up everywhere else.
Mail has to be put on hold at the post office – which can be done online and blinds have to be pulled to a certain place. Double checking to ensure all windows and doors are locked. We check that each of us has a house key and car key so that we are prepared for the drive.
Traveling Checklist, Prep and Packing the Car
Now that we have used our traveling checklist and prep list, the car is now packed the night before as much as it can be. Sarge gets quite worked up in the morning if we are both in and out of the house loading the car. So the night before seems to work better. He can get his nausea pill early in the morning, take a walk to do some business and pretty much jump in the car to go.
My husband usually packs the car because he is quite efficient at it. I just set my stuff by the door and he loads it all. Of course, his efficient packing of the car gets messed up along the drive especially when we stop at hotels.
This year I am hoping to keep that issue to a minimum. Sarge will have a bag to take into the hotel room that is prepacked specifically for that purpose. I plan to have a bag of my own packed for that purpose as well. That will leave my suitcase untouched and in place in the back of the car.
Traveling Checklist, Prep and Paying Bills Ahead of Time
The traveling check list and prep includes listing out any bills that need to be paid before we leave and what may need to be paid. I try very hard to pay bills ahead of time. It makes for a nicer trip when there are some bills you don’t have to worry about.
Specifically related to the house, like the electric, water, and gas bills, and then some that are not specifically to keep the house running. Those would include the cable bill and internet bill.
Why pay bills ahead of time? One reason is to ensure that the house is in good shape while we are gone. Other reasons would include more money for the trip, money to spend at destination, and emergency money.