Pre vacation check list...don't forget to????

Bill in Va · Post by **Bill in Va** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:54 pm

Yo vacation bound folks. I be an insurance agent who has seen a lot but not everything. Things to think about for your trip. Unless you have a house sitter then you should think about the following: turn off your ice maker water feed, turn off your washing machine water hoses. Stop your mail, you can do this on line. Newspaper should be stopped as well. I photo copy all my credit cards, drivers license, passport, health insurance cards and car insurance cards. Keep these on you or carry on. Most carriers coverage extends to the USVI'S so you may not need to purchase the extra insurance on your rental car or rental boat. Please call your agent and ask. I let my staff know where my car is at the airport or hotel. Hey anything can happen. We have at least one carry on that has all we need to function for a few days if they lose the checked baggage. Make sure you have your greeters phone mumber and a back up number as well. Yes ask them for a back up. That doesn't cover everything but gets you started...God bless..Bill

Joppa · Post by **Joppa** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 6:02 pm

Thanks Bill I would have never thought to turn off the water to the ice maker but a Very good idea.

I just saw my ticker...1 month 4 weeks 2 days????

Margy Z · Post by **Margy Z** » Sun Nov 22, 2009 6:12 pm

We also turn off our water softener so it doesn't recycle while we are gone...

- Margy

Marcia (Mrs. Pete) · Post by **Marcia (Mrs. Pete)** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:39 am

Call your credit card company before you leave to let them know you are traveling. It's a huge pain to have a grocery cart FILLED to the brim at Starfish Market only to check out and have your card denied. (It still may happen though, it has for us. Always bring cash with you, just in case.)

Good thread...keep the ideas coming.

jayseadee · Post by **jayseadee** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:42 am

In addition to necessities in the carry on's for a day or two, we also cross-pack the checked luggage.

PA Girl · Post by **PA Girl** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:10 pm

I like the back-up number suggestion, I wouldn't have thought of that.

Everyone in our group gets the master list - all flight information with airline contact numbers, all the on-island stuff (sans backup number until now!) vehicle rental, taxis, villa rental, villa phone number, etc.

Having the reservations # for USAir saved us big time once when a flight cancelled. I was able to get us rebooked on a direct flight before the announcement was made. Then I could call the STJ contacts and inform them we would be late.

For our own family, copies of the above plus copies of passports, DLs, insurance cards, medical contact numbers both at home and on-island.

We are cross packers after no-show-shoes, no size 14/15s on STJ trip of 2007.

Marcia (Mrs. Pete) · Post by **Marcia (Mrs. Pete)** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:11 pm

jayseadee wrote:In addition to necessities in the carry on's for a day or two, we also cross-pack the checked luggage.

Okay, now THAT'S smart. There have been moments of panic when MY bag is the last one on the carousel.

michigancouple · Post by **michigancouple** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:39 pm

Something that was suggested to me last trip that I did was to scan copies of the driver's license and passports and email it to myself. That way if you lose this info (or it is stolen) can go to any computer on island and open your email and print copies of your id.

IslandElle · Post by **IslandElle** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:38 pm

michigancouple wrote:Something that was suggested to me last trip that I did was to scan copies of the driver's license and passports and email it to myself. That way if you lose this info (or it is stolen) can go to any computer on island and open your email and print copies of your id.

We did that on our last trip too, in addition to taking copies, and it was nice knowing it was there in case we lost everything.

Chickadee · Post by **Chickadee** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:42 pm

I also scan eyeglass and medication prescriptions. Serves in case you need to get more, also should you have medical trouble, your medication list is handy.

If you are a parent of little ones and are going to a busy venue, take a cell phone picture of your kid every morning, then if they get lost you have a current photo showing what they're wearing. Also, you could consider pinning a plastic pouch (think something like an ID badge sleeve) to your kid with their name, your names, your cell #s so that you can be reached if they get lost.

At home, I also turn off the gas to my stove and fire place, water to the spigots if it might freeze while I'm gone, unplug the garage door opener, turn down the thermostat and water heater.

pipanale · Post by **pipanale** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 2:35 pm

I've taken a small USB drive with me. I encrypt it and it's got copies of all the passports, credit cards, health ins cards etc.

I always make sure to have a carry on with 1 extra day of clothes and, most importantly, the snorkel gear. I'd go naked before I didn't have my snorkel and mask.

hoosierdaddy · Post by **hoosierdaddy** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 4:43 pm

Its vacation time. I don't worry about a thing. Life is to short to worry about the things that happen that infrequent. Just my opinion.

joanybelle · Post by **joanybelle** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:16 pm

I email a copy of our itinery to a family member on both sides of our family (we both have elderly mothers), a key work person, and my best friend.

I pack a few kitchen trashbags and several ziplock bags no matter where I go. The trashbags are great for packing damp clothing for the return trip.

I also put phone chargers, camera chargers, ipod chargers, etc. in a gallon sized ziplock in my carry-on. It makes it less likely that one will be lost when the bag is opened during security checks or while digging for snacks on the plane.

And I ALWAYS take "emergency food" on the plane...crackers, almonds, lifesavers, energy bars...you never know when that 2 hour layover becomes 30 minutes due to flight delays, and you don't have a chance to stop at a food kiosk.

toni · Post by **toni** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:41 pm

I take pictures of any checked luggage- very very handy if it gets lost (from experience!).

Also I second calling the credit card company(I feel for you Mrs. Pete!)-ours seems to be quite on top of purchases outside our home area. I'll be traveling for work and they're calling my husband to see why all these charges are appearing.

If they can't get ahold of you to verify what's happening I'm guessing they'd shut the card down.

We also let a relative from both sides of the family know our schedules. We had a parent pass away once several years ago while we were on vacation and unfortunately they were the only one who had our information. Best to have more than one person know all the details.

loria · Post by **loria** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:53 pm

Marcia (Mrs. Pete) wrote:Call your credit card company before you leave to let them know you are traveling. It's a huge pain to have a grocery cart FILLED to the brim at Starfish Market only to check out and have your card denied. (It still may happen though, it has for us. Always bring cash with you, just in case.)

Good thread...keep the ideas coming.

I had that happen at 6 am in London when i had just arrived at heathrow (no local currency)--trying to buy a ticket to paddington--banks said they couldn't deal with it until 1pm London time......life sucked right about then.--

usvi-on-line

Login or Register with your Facebook account

Pre vacation check list...don't forget to????

Pre vacation check list...don't forget to????