Beyond the packing lists and travel checklists, have you ever considered a last-minute checklist for travel—the recommended things to do before leaving on vacation? How about a list of things to do one week before you travel? I mean, travel planners and checklists for up to the moment right before you walk out the door and drive to the airport or set off on a road trip.
THOSE last-minute things.
35 Things To Do Before Leaving on Vacation
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I’m a list keeper and a list maker, so it only seems reasonable that I would make a list of all the last-minute things to do before leaving on vacation.
Why? Because I have a tendency to forget important things when I have a lot of things on my mind.
These are definitely travel tips that help you to be a confident and travel like a pro.
1. Prepare for Trip Essentials: Pack Your Travel Bag and Backpack
First, plan to carry-on your luggage. It is essential that you know the carry-on rules and limitations on luggage weight and size. Don’t over pack.
Keep your essentials and dedicated travel items—fitness shoes, laundry bag, toiletry bag—packed and replenish all items as needed when you return home.
Plan appropriate clothing for your destination and the weather.
Think of your backpack as your “home away from home” as you begin your travel adventures. Fill your backpack, or personal underseat carry on, with must-have travel essentials to have a comfortable flight without having to repeatedly get up and access your “standard” carry on luggage.
2. Organize Your Toiletries
One of the essential tips for smart travel is to invest in travel-size toiletries and repack or restock as soon as you arrive home in readiness for your next trip. These are a few of the items you will want to always have on hand:
- Hair brush
- Deodorant
- Fingernail Clippers
- Medicine – Unisom, Advil, Pepto Bismol chewables , anti-diarrheal, cold medicine
- Styling Gel
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- First Aid Items
3. Plan the Electronics You Will Take
If you are like many travelers, you rely on your smartphone ALL. OF. THE. TIME. Even more so when you travel. Your phone, along with top travel apps, often become your lifeline to your travel logistics and enjoying the ideal vacation. You may also wish to bring a tablet, headphones, and camera equipment.
4. Download Books, Movies, and Magazines
My husband always reminds our daughters to download the entertainment they might need for a trip. Entertainment that includes books and magazine to read and movies to watch. Inevitably, they leave this until the last minute and always want dad’s help.
5. Pack Charging Cables, a Portable Charger and Wall Plugs
Always Always Always keep a CHARGED Portable Charger in your backpack or travel bag for charging devices. You’ll be surprised at how often you will use one as your travel. Be sure to pack the necessary charging cable as well.
Make sure you have the cables, chargers, and adapters that you need for all of your electronic devices. One of the packing hacks of frequent flyers is to use a electronics tech organizer for all of your cords and cables— you’ll know in a glance if you have forgotten to pack an item.
A universal adapter will come in handy if you are traveling internationally.
6. Add a Travel Notice on Your Credit Card
Before going on vacation, be sure to go online or use an app to set an alert on your credit card that you will be away. Why? For that moment in Rome (or elsewhere) when you want to use your card and don’t want to receive a fraud alert because of the unexpected location.
7. Set the Thermostat
There are so many thermostats today that allow you to have a “Smart Home”. You can set your thermostat to vacation temps to cut down on utility costs while you are away. And with handy Apps that allow you to control the temps while you are away, you can still accomplish this task after leaving if you forget.
Also, set a reminder to turn on the air conditioner or the furnace (depending on the time of year) so that your home is at a nice temperature when you arrive home.
I did learn the hard way that keeping our air conditioner at a higher temperature while we were away for a longer period of time was not good for my house plants (even when I had someone come and water them while I was gone). So keep that in mind if you have lots of plants in your home.
8. Program Interior Lights to Give Your Home a Lived-In Look
You likely already have an app for your interior lights. Be sure to set timers to give your home a lived-in look while your away.
9. Program Your Sprinklers
Don’t forget about your lawn, flower beds, and garden. Be sure your sprinklers are programmed to continue their water cycles when you travel during the summer months.
10. Leave Your House Tidy
This may not be your style and that’s ok. But if you like to have a tidy house, and more importantly come home to a tidy house, this isn’t too hard to accomplish before you leave if you plan time for it.
Make beds, pick up clothes, and put kitchen items away. I am not suggesting you undertake an extensive spring cleaning project, just tidy up. For me, it is so much nicer to come home to a tidy house when I know I will have lots of vacation unpacking and laundry to do once I return.
While it may not be one of the essential things to do before leaving on vacation, it sure is nice. CNET (Computer Network) recommends that you should prep your house before you leave.
11. Do Laundry
Much the same as leaving your house tidy is making sure laundry is done before you leave. You’ll have plenty to do when you get home.
12. Arrange for a Child Sitter
Are you planning a romantic getaway for you and your special someone. Be sure to make plans in advance with a trusted sitter or family member.
13. Arrange for a Pet Sitter
Don’t forget about your furry (and non-furry) friends.
14. Put a HOLD on Your Mail (and Newspaper)
This is especially true if your mail and newspapers are delivered to your home. Don’t leave your mailbox to overflow or newspapers to litter your driving. That’s a huge alert that you aren’t home.
15. Arrange for Someone to Check for Packages
Sometimes you can’t always plan for delays with package deliveries. Be sure to have someone check your front porch or make arrangements with your neighbor to pick up packages when you receive delivery alerts.
16. Schedule Transportation to the Airport or Parking
Need a ride to the airport or a place to park once you get there? Make sure to schedule in advance when applicable and check off this vacation to-do on your pre-trip checklist.
17. Find Someone to Mow Your Lawn
Being gone for two weeks in the summer months can mean lots of yard work when you return if your lawn needs to be mowed. Find someone in the neighborhood who can maintain the lawn while you are away. Keeping the lawn trimmed is one less way to announce that you are going on vacation.
18. Arrange for Someone to Water Your Plants While You Are Away
If you are gone for any time longer than a week, you will likely need to have someone come in and water your plants. If you have only one or two indoor plants, you may even find someone who can “plant sit” for you while you are gone where you take your plants to their house.
If you have lots of plants (like me), then making arrangements for a family member, trusted neighbor or friend to come in and water your plants will help to ensure the plants are still alive when you return. This should be on your vacation checklist!
19. Empty the Fridge of Perishables
You won’t forget to do this a second time if you have ever left something in the fridge that has gone bad during your absence. Ohhh, the smell! Definitely an important pre-trip checklist item.
Sometimes it is hard to “guesstimate” how long a gallon of milk will last and time the emptying of that jug to your departure date.
You may need to freeze some items to use when you return, give unused groceries to a neighbor, family member close by or a friend, or simply toss unused items.
If those tossed items will stink up your garage, you may wish to get permission to dump the garbage in a neighbor’s bin or at a garbage site that you know will be serviced in your absence.
20. Check In For You Flight
Don’t forget to check in. This is especially true if you are flying Southwest Airlines and your promptness in checking in determines your position for boarding at the airport.
21. Charge All Devices Before Going on Vacation
Don’t forget to charge your watch, our phone, your table, your portable charger and anything else on your list.
22. Unplug Small Appliances and Possibly Turn Off the Water to the Washing Machine
Turning off the water to your washing machine is just a precautionary measure. 99 times out of 100, nothing would ever happen. But in this case (in my opinion), it is better to be safe than sorry.
Popular Mechanics lists turning off your washing machine as one of their 10 home prep tips before you leave on vacation.
You may also wish to unplug small appliances, treadmills, etc. in your absence.
Last Minute Things to Do Before Leaving on Vacation
23. Take Out the Garbage
If you set your garbage bins out to be emptied after you leave, make sure you have a close friend or trusted neighbor put the bins back in the garage or where you store them so the outside of your house doesn’t shout, “These people are on vacation!”
I would not recommend putting the garbage bins out if they are going to sit on the street for a lot of time before being picked up though. Again, if you have a good relationship with your neighbors, families that live close by, or a friend, prepare for trip essentials and ask if they will put your full garbages out and then put them away again while you are away.
24. Remind Everyone to Use the Bathroom
This seems pretty logical, but if you are traveling with young children and teens, they may be so excited to go on vacation that they forget some of the “necessities” before claiming their seat in your vehicle.
It has happened to us. One response you might have is, “Seriously? Why didn’t you go before we left?”
It is easier to make a general announcement before everyone leaves to prevent and prepare for trip emergencies.
25. Make Sure Toilets are Flushed
And it only stands to reason, that after reminding everyone to use the bathroom before you leave on vacation that you may need to walk around to all of your bathrooms and make sure they have all been flushed as well. This is one of those things to do before leaving on vacation that you don’t want to skip!
Much the same as emptying your fridge of perishables, un-flushed toilets are NOT something you want to come home to find (or smell!).
26. Water All of Your Plants
Be sure to water all of your plants right before you leave on vacation. You may wish to make arrangements for someone to water them if you will be gone longer than a week.
27. Turn Off Lights as You Make one Final Sweep of the House
You may choose to leave a light or two “on” while you are away. If you are set up with timers or “smart fixtures”, you can have lights come on with a timer to give your home that lived-in look. Do a quick sweep through the house as one of the final things to do before leaving on vacation and turn off lights.
28. Ensure All Windows and Exterior Doors are Locked
As you are doing that sweep of the house and turning off lights and flushing toilets, be sure to check that all windows are closed and secured and that all exterior doors are locked.
If you have someone coming to water plants, mow the lawn, pick up the newspaper, put garbage bins away, and check for packages delivered to the front door is to be sure that your neighbor, friend, or family member has the codes and keys necessary to access your home. See also #33 Set the House Alarm.
29. Close Blinds and Curtains
And while you’re closing windows, doors, and turning off lights, be sure to close blinds or curtains throughout your home. You may wish to keep some open if you normally don’t close them or if you have plants that will benefit from the sunlight during the day.
30. Make Sure You Have ALL Luggage Packed in the Car
This seems like a no-brainer, but I have forgotten toiletry bags and my travel backpack before. Fortunately, as I was running through the list in my head while driving down the driveway, I remembered the forgotten items. But in your final sweep of the house, check to make sure everything is loaded into your car.
If your children are responsible for their own packing, just a quick check of their rooms will let you know that all items are accounted for. As you prepare to leave, a quick question with a run-down of items needed can be helpful, “Does everyone have their sunglasses, shoes, jackets, backpack and suitcase in the vehicle?“
Having a staging area in your living room or by the back door where you can do a quick count can also be helpful. Or simply count the luggage as you load it.
31. Check to Make Sure You Have Your Phone, Wallet, and Keys
There are some Genius Gadgets for Travel that you will surely want to pack. There’s a reason why I have packing lists as well as a list for last minute things to do before leaving on vacation: I don’t want to forget anything.
YOU don’t want to forget anything!
A weekend without my iPad because I left it on the counter for a quick recharge helped reinforce the need to make sure I have grabbed my phone or iPad off the charger, my wallet, and my keys (though you won’t get too far without your keys!)
32. Do One Last Check to Make Sure all Passports are Packed
It doesn’t hurt to check and double check that passports are in one central location and that all are accounted for.
If you are traveling with children, I would advise that one parent or adult carry all passports and keep track of them as you use them at the airport and throughout your trip.
33. Set the House Alarm
If you have a house alarm, set it as you walk out the door.
If you have arranged for someone to come to your house while you are away, make sure they have all codes necessary for entering the garage as well as instructions and codes on how to disarm the alarm when they enter the house and then reset it again when they leave.
Alternatively, if you know when they will be at your house, you may be able to disable and then reset the alarm with an App.
34. Get in the Car and Say a Prayer Before Travel
Make sure everyone is in the car. This seems like a no-brainer as well, but if it can happen in “Home Alone” perhaps it could happen in real life. Just count heads.
If you are inclined to say a prayer, a little extra heavenly care for safety in your travels might just add a little peace of mind.
35. Make Sure the Garage Door Closes
Watch to ensure that the garage door is closed as you leave. If you have an app for the garage door, you can close this while you are away from the house, but peace of mind that you have left everything buttoned up goes a long way. This should be one of the very last things to do before leaving on vacation.
Have a great trip!
Prepare for Trip Essentials with Packing Lists
Have you ever driven away from your house, whether driving to the airport or to a vacation destination, and wondered, “Have I forgotten anything?” That thought is always present in my mind as I drive away from my house for a vacation.
And sometimes those thoughts bother me with persistence.
In fact, there have been numerous times over the years when I reach my destination and realized that, yes, indeed, I had forgotten something! One time it was pajamas for my daughter and another time it was another daughter’s Sunday dress.
That’s when I started making packing lists of all the things to do before leaving on vacation that I need to remember. And when I was on vacation, I would add to that list additional items that would be convenient, handy, and easy to pack for the next trip.
Packing lists are awesome and just so you don’t forget to pack an essential item, I have created a “Things to do Before Leaving on Vacation” packing list for you and added it to my Travel Planners.
Travel Planners
International Travel Planners
- International Packing List – Women
- International Packing List – Men
- Travel Bag Packing List
- Travel Pre-Trip Checklist
- Last Minute Things To Do Before Leaving on Vacation List
Tip * The Travel Check List in the Travel Planner is a detailed list that starts with creating a vacation fund and applying for passports (if necessary) and includes all of the travel-related tasks you need to consider before you reach the final list of things to do before leaving on vacation.
Please note that when you add your email address and download this travel planner, you are being added to my mailing list. I will not spam you and usually only send out a monthly newsletter with updates, recent posts, tips and travel information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there additional things to do before going on vacation?
Move cars into the garage.
Make sure all bills are paid.
Notify your alarm company.
Arrange for snow removal in the winter.
What should I unplug in my house when going on vacation?
You should turn off or unplug your home entertainment equipment, computers, small appliances and your treadmill.
What temperature should I leave my house at while on vacation in the summer?
The U.S. Department of Energy suggests leaving the temperature between 85 and 90 degrees. I personally don’t do this since I have lots of plants and they don’t appreciate the warm temperatures.
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Final Thoughts on a Pre-Trip Checklist: 35 Important Things to do Before Leaving on Vacation
You have so many things to think about when you plan your travel, prepare for trip essentials, pack, and make sure you don’t forget anything (pssst…use a vacation checklist!).
Let me take the stress out of one or two things with my TRAVEL Planners.
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A great list and so practical LOVE it I always do a double check on doors, windows and utilities as I can never remember…A list is perfect for this… thank you
These are great tips. I always make a list of last minute things I need to do in the morning before we leave. It’s so hard to keep track of all the little things in my head, but so helpful to actually check them off during the chaos!
A really great list and I wish I listened to all of these before leaving!
this is all super helpful! Big fan of coming back to a tidy home, especially after tiring travels!
Me too!
‘Get in the car and say a prayer’ made me laugh out loud haha. You never ever know how smoothly a trip will go, that’s for sure. These tips are super helpful, thanks for sharing!
Whenever we go on vacation, we’re always scrambling with packing and making sure that everything is in place. This is a great checklist to help with those last minute checks!
And it doesn’t take too long if you plan time for it.
That is a great list!! Will definitely keep in mind next time before leaving for A vacation!
Hope it reminds you of the important stuff.
We too have a list of things to do before leaving on vacation. It was good to check your list and add a few things to my list. We bought combination air purifiers / humidifiers this year and we had to make sure to add that to our prep list. The last vacation the machine kept sending me messages that it was out of water!
I’m quite the planner and list keeper myself :). I do all of these steps (at least those that are applicable for apartments) before I leave for any trip. I had some friends once that left their patio door unlocked while on vacation, and of course, that did not end well. I always double and triple check everything before I leave just in case. P.S. thank you for the Travel Planner – I downloaded my free copy last week! Xx Sara
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for reading.
Great tips! I’ve definitely been thinking more and more about a home alarm system so that I can worry less while I’m gone!
We love that peace of mind.
If you are a paranoid person that always asks yourself ‘did I turn off the oven?’ — take a picture of the oven console with your iPhone. Even if you don’t look at the photo later, just the act of taking the picture makes that stick in your brain!
What a great idea!
These are all great tips especially cleaning the house before you leave and checking to make sure you have all of your documents. The last thing you want is to arrive to the airport without those!
Right! That might just cause a bit of family discord!
Super helpful list. It’s always better to have a checklist so you don’t forget, especially when you have so many things going on. Thanks!
Glad it is helpful!
Thanks. This is a good little list to run down on your way out the door. I usually have a handwritten list that I tick off in addition to my own packing list. It makes my life so much easier.
It is easy to forget things if you don’t write them down!
Totally agree with all of these! We once forgot to take out garbage before a trip. I can’t begin to tell you how disgusting the place smelled when we were back.
Yes, we have done that too.
I absolutely agree with all your point! One of the most important for me is to empty fridge and freezer. I was sharing a flat with other people’s years ago and one of my flatmates had a fridge in his room. His fridge broke while he eas on holiday and when he came back and he opened it the smell was disgusting. His freezer was full of meat and fish so you can imagine the smell. From that time, I always stop buying any food at least 2 weeks before my travel and I eat every single thing inside my fridge/freezer. It is a great way to save money and avoid wasting everything if the fridge break.
Ohhh I bet that was a bad smell.
This is a very thorough checklist. I’ve never thought to turn off the water to the washing machine. Every time I travel I just think of the essentials like phone, camera, laptop, chargers for all of them, passport. Anything else I figure I can find when I get there if need be.
Well, 99 times out of 100 you would be fine. I would just hate to experience that 1 out of 100 time.
I turn off the water to the entire HOUSE!! LOL!!
That certainly would ease your mind while you are gone.
These are all awesome tips! Since we live in a small apartment, I always turn off our AC before we leave for vacation, and it saves us a ton of money, especially during the summer in Phoenix. I also always clean before leaving, it’s so nice to come home to a clean house. Thanks for sharing these great tips! 🙂
Oh, I bet that makes for a hot house in Phoenix in the summer!
Such great tips, I love coming home to a clean house!
Me too. One less thing to worry about.
This is a very useful list! We also turn off the water to our toilets. Came home to a leak through the dining room ceiling once.
Oh man, that would have been awful.
Sometimes you can come home to some pretty awesome science projects!
Technology can be so helpful at times.
These are some great tips, and reminders that not always are readily handy when getting ready to leave for vacation. But are necessary.
Such a great list of tips! You thought of everything! We also give a spare key to our trusted neighbour especially when we leave on really long trips.
This is a super handy checklist to have by your side when actually packing. Thanks, very interesting approach here !
You’re welcome!
This is such a super useful list of things to do. Somehow I always leave things for the last minute (tend to overestimate how much I can get done in that time) so I really appreciate this guide.
And it is helpful for making sure nothing is forgotten.
Great post! We’re getting ready for a road trip this weekend.
Such great reminders! One thing I always do is alert my credit card companies. I would hate to be stuck in a foreign country with limited access to money. Thanks for putting together these tips.
#10 is a must for me. My home must be cleaned before vacation time. Nothing beats coming home to a clean home. Great tips, they are useful.
A pre-made checklist that I don’t have to create myself!! This is AWESOME! Very well thought out and practical checklist items, too!!
A great list! Checking that the garage door closes all the way seems simple, but we’ve had a number of times where we’ve questioned whether it closed after we left, and had to ask a neighbor to check.
Such a helpful list! I am always forgetting about my plants.
What a comprehensive list! I do a whole bunch of stuff ticking off to-dos mentally, but having a list would be so much easier.