Holiday Travel Checklist: How To Prepare Yourself And Your Home

If you’re one of the many families across the country planning to travel this holiday season, you’re not alone. According to the Bureau of Travel Statistics, Americans took about 15 billion trips between Dec. 18, 2020, and Jan. 3, 2021, many of which were shorter trips of 50 to 500 miles.

As the season gets closer, you may be starting to finalize your holiday travel plans and think about how to prepare yourself, your family and your home for your departure. From making sure you packed all your essentials to helping ensure your home is safe while you’re gone, this checklist will help you keep all your tasks organized before leaving home.

This post is sponsored by Ring, a Patch Brand Partner. All prices and savings listed in this post are as of publication and could change. Patch may earn a commission on products purchased.

Make A Packing List Of All Essentials

When it comes to packing, it’s easy to forget essentials, especially if you’re in a rush. This is why it’s important to create a list of must-have items beforehand. When creating a packing list, remember to list your passport and/or driver’s license, appliances, devices, chargers and other crucial items to carry with you. If you take medications, plan in advance how much you’ll need for your trip.

If you’re flying, it’s advisable to pack these essentials in your carry-on bag in case your checked item gets lost in transit. Lost luggage can and does happen, and Transportation.gov reports that depending on the airline, an item may not be considered “lost” until five to 14 days after the flight.

Once you’re ready to pack, check off all the items as you go to ensure you’re not missing anything important.

Check The Forecast

You’ll want to be prepared for any inclement weather before you get to your destination, so be sure to check the forecast in the days leading up to your travel date and pack appropriately. Items to pack may include an umbrella, warm clothing, sunscreen or a raincoat, depending on your destination.

Weather apps can give you a rough idea of the weather conditions for a specific period in the near future. However, it’s important to not go by the outside temperature alone. For example, if you’re going to a beach destination during hurricane season or up north where blizzards are common, you’ll want to check for potential storm activity to be prepared.

Pause Your Mail

Newspapers, circulars and bills can clog up your mailbox while you’re on vacation, making it difficult to ensure important mail will still be there when you get back from your holiday travels. A stuffed mailbox may give potential thieves a chance to recognize your home is vacant. The United States Postal Service (USPS) will pause any mail from going to your address for up to 30 days. Visit your local post office or the USPS website to sign up. If you’re going to be gone longer than 30 days, you may consider forwarding your mail to the address where you’ll be staying.

Let A Trusted Neighbor Know You’re Away

It’s wise to let a trusted neighbor or friend know you’re traveling and your home will be vacant for the holidays. This person can look after your home, including any pets or plants that need tending to. You may even ask them if you can use their contact information in case of emergencies during your travels.

Buy These Helpful Travel Products Before You Leave

Packing Cubes

A messy suitcase can keep you from finding what you need once you reach your destination. Packing cubes are an easy way to keep your essentials organized. Bagail’s six-piece set of packing cubes comes in three different sizes to store items for your trip. These cubes can fit neatly into various sizes of suitcases, carry-ons, travel bags, backpacks and duffle bags. The packing cubes also come with handles so they can be carried separately.

Travel Organizers

It’s handy to keep an organizational system while traveling so you can easily access your essentials. Travel organizers are a great way to keep everything close by. For example, a document organizer can hold your important papers such as a passport, bus tickets or vaccine cards. Dot&Dot has a tech organizer that allows you to fit bundled cords, chargers, devices and extra batteries. Its padded cover helps protect your electronics while keeping your cords tangle-free.

Travel Bottles

Whether you’re traveling by airplane or car, small travel bottles are a great way to store your liquid products including shampoos, makeup and sunscreen. These bottles from Oursunshine abide by TSA regulations and are food-safe and BPA-free, making them an easy way to bring along condiments or other liquids on your trip.

Luggage Tags

Luggage can easily be lost or accidentally taken without a proper label. Choose brightly colored tags such as these leather ones from Travelambo. These sturdy luggage tags have a privacy flap that protects your personal information while differentiating your bag from others.

Help Protect What You Love With A Home Security System

A Ring Alarm Home Security System has all the pieces you need to help provide peace of mind while you’re home or away. No matter the size of your home, Ring has a security system that’s right for your space.

Each kit includes a Base Station, Keypad, Range Extender and at least one Contact Sensor and Motion Detector, and you can add more sensors and security devices at any time if your needs change. For example, you can place a Ring Alarm Smoke & CO Listener (sold separately) near each of your existing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to trigger the Alarm when they sound their sirens. If you are subscribed to Ring Protect Pro and have professional monitoring, a signal will be sent requesting the fire department. With the Flood & Freeze Sensor (also sold separately), place the device on the floor or under a sink, refrigerator or hot water heater. You’ll receive alerts when water or low temperatures are detected.

Whether you’d like to monitor your home while visiting family over the holidays or you just want to feel more secure while you’re cozy at home, Ring Alarm is a great option. The Ring App allows you to sync all compatible Ring devices and receive real-time notifications, helping keep you connected to home from anywhere. And you can personalize your notification preferences so you only receive the alerts you care about.

Get the most out of your Ring Alarm when you subscribe to Ring Protect Pro and enroll in24/7 professional monitoring, a service that helps give you around-the-clock protection for when an emergency arises in your home. In addition to receiving notifications when any of your security sensors or Smoke & CO Listeners is triggered, your alarm will also alert the Ring Monitoring Center who will call you to see if you need emergency assistance and request help if necessary.

Installing Ring Alarm is simple, and no additional tools are required. However, if you would like extra help, you can check to see if professional installation is available in your area.

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