Skip To Content
Blog Get a Quote
Search

The 9 best things to do before a big trip

Do you come back from vacation needing a vacation? You can avoid that feeling using these savvy travel tips for a better experience.

Have you ever come back from a vacation feeling like you needed a vacation? Or entered your house with a sense of dread after a trip? Or arrived at your vacation destination more stressed out than when you left home? These things are avoidable. Whether you’re going on vacation to do nothing, or you’re the kind of traveler who arrives with a military-grade itinerary, there are a few things you should do before you leave home to maximize your enjoyment of the trip before, during and after it happens. Here’s what to do.

Put fresh sheets on the bed

If you had the kind of trip that made you never want to come home, you’ll feel better about your return to normality if it involves soft, clean sheets. It’s like arriving to a hotel, but no one will make you check out at a particular time. By the same token, make sure your house if clean and tidy before you leave: once you get home from the hotel, “housekeeping” is you, so it’s best if you can put off cleaning for a few days once you’re back.

Buy breakfast foods or at least coffee

The only thing worse than waking up jetlagged and hungry is waking up jetlagged and hungry in a house with no food. If you’re going on a short trip, stock your fridge with breakfast foods for your return. If it’s a longer holiday, put some easily defrostable provisions in the freezer, and make sure you have coffee. Also, go through the fridge and freeze or toss out anything that will take on a life of its own while you’re gone. “What’s that smell?” should not be anyone’s first words after a vacation.

Put gas in your car

Did you fail to buy breakfast foods? At least you can drive to a diner. And if you’re going to arrive at work with an envy-inducing tan, you should probably be on time.

Haven Life: Life insurance that’s actually simple5 Star Ratings

Easy + Simple + Affordable

“I'm so happy I chose Haven Life for my policy needs. The entire process was quick, easy, stress-free and convenient. Their customer service is top-notch.” - Sandra

Learn more

Deal with your emails

Don’t “save it for the plane.” Planes are for watching movies, sleeping and entering into a vacation state of mind, none of which can be accomplished if you’re trying to balance a laptop on a retractable table while marveling at the slowness of inflight Wi-Fi.

Research where you’re going and make some plans

Don’t spend your trip on your phone, figuring out what places to see: spend it looking at those places. Obviously, you’ll make various choices once you’ve arrived, but you’ll be a more engaged traveler if you’ve already got some idea of what you want to do; you’ll also be a less cranky traveler if you have some ideas about where to eat. Just because you can use the internet everywhere, doesn’t mean you should.

Check your credit cards for foreign transaction fees

Foreign transaction fees can add up over the course of a trip, so it’s best to avoid them if you can. Also, if you don’t travel often, it’s worth letting your credit card companies know where you’ll be. If your big purchases are usually at Whole Foods Market© in Chicago, a large restaurant bill in Morocco may lead to a frozen credit card.

Ask for an early check-in

Your hotel or Airbnb© may say no, but it doesn’t take much to ask. Arriving after a long flight and being able to unpack or take a quick nap is a great start to a trip. If an early check-in isn’t possible, consider putting a change of clothes in your hand luggage, so you don’t have to rummage through your suitcase in the hotel lobby.

Take pictures of your passport and email them to yourself

Because sometimes bad things happen to good people. (Did we mention that we’re a life insurance agency?)

And finally … don’t do any of this the night before you leave

Travel can wear you out, even though it often involves a lot of sitting, so if you’ve been up until midnight the night before cleaning the stove, you’ll feel like you need a holiday before it’s even started. If you arrive at the airport rested, you’re already halfway to where you want to be, however far away it is.

Life insurance needs aren't one-size-fits-all.

Calculate your needs

Michael Davis is a freelance writer and editor who has covered everything from fashion and music to parenting, work, and finance. He has been a chef, restaurateur and record label owner. Opinions are his own. Sponsored by Haven Life Insurance Agency.

Whole Foods Market is a copyright of Whole Foods Market IP. L.P.

Airbnb is a copyright of Airbnb, Inc.

Default author headshot

About Michael Davis

Read more by Michael Davis

Our editorial policy

Haven Life is a customer-centric life insurance agency that’s backed and wholly owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). We believe navigating decisions about life insurance, your personal finances and overall wellness can be refreshingly simple.

Our editorial policy

Haven Life is a customer centric life insurance agency that’s backed and wholly owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). We believe navigating decisions about life insurance, your personal finances and overall wellness can be refreshingly simple.

Our content is created for educational purposes only. Haven Life does not endorse the companies, products, services or strategies discussed here, but we hope they can make your life a little less hard if they are a fit for your situation.

Haven Life is not authorized to give tax, legal or investment advice. This material is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for tax, legal, or investment advice. Individuals are encouraged to seed advice from their own tax or legal counsel.

Our disclosures

Haven Term is a Term Life Insurance Policy (DTC and ICC17DTC in certain states, including NC) issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), Springfield, MA 01111-0001 and offered exclusively through Haven Life Insurance Agency, LLC. In NY, Haven Term is DTC-NY 1017. In CA, Haven Term is DTC-CA 042017. Haven Term Simplified is a Simplified Issue Term Life Insurance Policy (ICC19PCM-SI 0819 in certain states, including NC) issued by the C.M. Life Insurance Company, Enfield, CT 06082. Policy and rider form numbers and features may vary by state and may not be available in all states. Our Agency license number in California is OK71922 and in Arkansas 100139527.

MassMutual is rated by A.M. Best Company as A++ (Superior; Top category of 15). The rating is as of Aril 1, 2020 and is subject to change. MassMutual has received different ratings from other rating agencies.

Haven Life Plus (Plus) is the marketing name for the Plus rider, which is included as part of the Haven Term policy and offers access to additional services and benefits at no cost or at a discount. The rider is not available in every state and is subject to change at any time. Neither Haven Life nor MassMutual are responsible for the provision of the benefits and services made accessible under the Plus Rider, which are provided by third party vendors (partners). For more information about Haven Life Plus, please visit: https://havenlife.com/plus

You might also like

Get our most-read stories, twice a month

.newsletter-msg-success, .newsletter-msg-error { display: none; }

What our customers are saying

Sign up for our newsletter

Get our most-read stories, twice a month

Thanks for signing up. See you in your inbox soon.