Things to do before you leave

Bill in Va · Post by **Bill in Va** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 8:21 pm

Ok..You leave in a couple of days have you done the following. Call the airline and check your flight. If you have a house sitter you get to read a head, if not then...Stop the mail/newspaper, you can do it on line. Call your credit card company and tell them you are going to the Vi's. Have their number in case you lose the card. Take a second card from another company in case you loose the first one. Remember they will shut it down if you call and say you lost it. Check with your car/boat insurance company and see if the coverage extends down to STT/STJ. Some credit card companies have physical damage coverage but double check. Photo copy your passport and leave the copy with someone back home. Not Jorge! Turn off your ice maker water supply and washer/humidifier supply as well. Unless you want to record stuff while you are gone, unplug all tv's/stereo stuff and computers.They need a vacation too...Have all rental car/villa numbers in two places. Take health insurance cards. Land at Cyril King airport and turn your body onto island time...its the insurance guy in me...God bless...Bill

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 8:42 pm

Bill! Dude! Chill! You need a vacation, how about some time on a little island in the Caribbean Sea? I know a great little bar there where they can guarantee a dose of island time!

Have a great time Bill!

brenda · Post by **brenda** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 9:15 pm

Normally, I am very organized before we go to STJ. This time it is a little different. I unexpectedly had to go to West Virginia because my Mom was ill. I am returning to Michigan tomorrow and we leave Friday. My husband said , "You will have to hit the ground running when you get home". Bills, banking, last minute things to be done. My Mom is in stable condition, so we are going. If I had to (I don't), I would pack the clothes dirty and worry about it later. I have a house/cat sitter lined up and I am in desperate need of some island therapy even if it will be bittersweet in light of the recent events.

Bill, can you elaborate about stopping mail or changing the address it is to be delivered to on-line? I need to get my Mom's mail changed to a different address. Thus far, I am told by a family member that only someone with Durable Power Of Attorney can do this which I have. Maybe there is an easier way to go about it? I plan on calling the post office tomorrow. Thanks.

Bill in Va · Post by **Bill in Va** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 9:25 pm

Brenda...go to the www.usps.com website and look on the right side for the drop downs...receiving mail, and then choose what you want to do...God bless...Bill

brenda · Post by **brenda** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:51 pm

Bill, Thanks for the info. Will try to acomplish that tomorrow morning. I'm going to sound corny here, but what a wonderful forum "family" we have here

. Looking forward to meeting you on the 30th. Everyone is always so supportive of one another through good and bad times.

XOXO · Post by **XOXO** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 11:40 pm

Great great great tips!!

There are a few that I didn't think of and haven't ever done. I don't have a copy of our passports. Who do I give it to?? I have a friend who works at the court house--in the recorders office. Could I give her a copy before we go? Is that a good idea in case we run into a problem and don't have the passports?

Gina

brenda · Post by **brenda** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:02 am

I bring a copy of our passports with us in our backpack.

Bill in Va · Post by **Bill in Va** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:18 am

I agree with Brenda to bring a copy with you as well. We leave one back home with our staff who could fax it to us if necessary....wish I felt better, this cold is kicking my butt. Long night last night. I have asked the Beach Bar to set up a quarantine area for me on Sunday..God bless....Bill

Xislandgirl · Post by **Xislandgirl** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:58 am

Since Bill started us on the insurance thing, can I make a Life Insurance comment from the girl that works in death claims?
Not just before you are traveling, make sure that whomever you have listed as your Life Insurance beneficiary is aware that they are the named bene. and they know how to file the claim. I see hundreds of thousands of dollars that go unclaimed because people assumed that their mother, father, sister, etc knew that they were the beneficiary and then when we find out that the insured has passed, we have no idea where to find the people.
Also, if you have any questions about naming a minor child as your beneficiary, please send me a PM. I have some great advice for you.

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:11 am

One of the things I do with my passport and SS card is to scan them and save them as a PDF document.

I then send the attachment to my GMail account (which is accessible from anywhere) and I leave it in my "Inbox" for the duration of the trip.

I also save the PDF to a thumb drive.

Be sure to encrypt the PDF file -- very easy -- so that it's password protected.

Sometimes (depending on the trip) I also scan my DL and CC's.

That way I don't have to mess with paper (which doesn't hold up well in the humidity) or risk losing that too.

And it's totally portable. If I were to need the info any government agency would be happy with the PDF format.

I guess if you had any medical issues it would also be reasonable to store those on a thumbdrive in case there was a problem and you needed a Dr to see your records ASAP.

Just something I do.

turtlegirl · Post by **turtlegirl** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:17 am

Do you bring only copies of your passport, or your actual passport as well? I've read it makes things easier when flying out of STT to have your passport rather than just your U.S. driver's license. Is this true?

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:20 am

I ALWAYS take my passport with me -- even on domestic travel trips.

A) The security folks don't scrutinize it as much (saves time)

B) You just never know when you need to go somewhere!

Like my Amex-- I don't leave home without it!

turtlegirl · Post by **turtlegirl** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:46 am

Thanks AGAIN, Gromit!

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