I have a checklist that is about 2 pages long, after I cross off things I wont need or adjust the number based on how long I will be traveling, I just check each item off as I pack. Everything from clothes (warm and cold), toiletries, cameras, battery pack, phone chargers and electrical converters etc., emergency medical stuff like neosporin or band-aids etc, medications, credit cards and copies of all my cards and documents, cash, passport, hold mail, contact phone company etc. When we leave a hotel after we pack our bags we both go through and check all the rooms under the bed, the shower etc. I take a few pictures of the room to prove no damage was done. If we rent a car the night before we leave I clean it and clean it out and pull all out personal belongings to pack. If we rent a car I always take pictures or a video of the entire car before and after.
You mention staying where you can safely walk, and places you have stayed that were not safe for walking. How do you know if you are booking in a safe area or not?
You have to do a lot of research to figure that out. We try to get the address and then find crime maps to overlay. If it's anywhere near a high-crime area, we look elsewhere.
Before we leave a destination we try to work our refrigerator down to no contents. We’re never successful, but it does make for some interesting meals. We also try to revisit our most favourite restaurants. I’m sure you will agree that some are more memorable than others. We may buy some small food or drink items that are not available at home. Provided that we can pack/carry them. The “no checked luggage” approach makes that difficult. We also run down our list of things we hoped to see or accomplish. Maybe do one last thing we didn’t get to. And lastly, we try to leave our temporary home in the same condition that we found it. We’re not hard on a place, but if we broke something we will try to replace it. Fortunately that has never happened. Leave no footprint is a good policy!
Before leaving home I stop the mail and confirm travel plans. I also download movies, shows and an audiobook so I have distractions while flying. At a destination, I confirm airport transfers and departures. I also set out my clothing and arrange my carry on bag. I check the room and bathroom and my husband checks as well.
Before every trip, i register the trip with STEP. A few days before, we load our e-readers with free library download books and magazines. Last thing I do is take a photo of the cook top showing all burners are off. A bit OCD but better than wondering if I turned them off as we are taxiing for takeoff.
I have a checklist that is about 2 pages long, after I cross off things I wont need or adjust the number based on how long I will be traveling, I just check each item off as I pack. Everything from clothes (warm and cold), toiletries, cameras, battery pack, phone chargers and electrical converters etc., emergency medical stuff like neosporin or band-aids etc, medications, credit cards and copies of all my cards and documents, cash, passport, hold mail, contact phone company etc. When we leave a hotel after we pack our bags we both go through and check all the rooms under the bed, the shower etc. I take a few pictures of the room to prove no damage was done. If we rent a car the night before we leave I clean it and clean it out and pull all out personal belongings to pack. If we rent a car I always take pictures or a video of the entire car before and after.
You mention staying where you can safely walk, and places you have stayed that were not safe for walking. How do you know if you are booking in a safe area or not?
You have to do a lot of research to figure that out. We try to get the address and then find crime maps to overlay. If it's anywhere near a high-crime area, we look elsewhere.
Before we leave a destination we try to work our refrigerator down to no contents. We’re never successful, but it does make for some interesting meals. We also try to revisit our most favourite restaurants. I’m sure you will agree that some are more memorable than others. We may buy some small food or drink items that are not available at home. Provided that we can pack/carry them. The “no checked luggage” approach makes that difficult. We also run down our list of things we hoped to see or accomplish. Maybe do one last thing we didn’t get to. And lastly, we try to leave our temporary home in the same condition that we found it. We’re not hard on a place, but if we broke something we will try to replace it. Fortunately that has never happened. Leave no footprint is a good policy!
Before leaving home I stop the mail and confirm travel plans. I also download movies, shows and an audiobook so I have distractions while flying. At a destination, I confirm airport transfers and departures. I also set out my clothing and arrange my carry on bag. I check the room and bathroom and my husband checks as well.
Before every trip, i register the trip with STEP. A few days before, we load our e-readers with free library download books and magazines. Last thing I do is take a photo of the cook top showing all burners are off. A bit OCD but better than wondering if I turned them off as we are taxiing for takeoff.