Traveling can be both exciting…. and stressful. From planning the itinerary to packing the right clothes, there are many things that need to be taken care of before leaving for a trip.
The night before a trip can be the most crucial day of prepping as it sets the tone for the entire trip! Here are 15 things you should do the night before a trip to ensure a smooth and stress-free travel experience.
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15 Things To Take Care Of The Night Before Your Trip
Make Sure You Have Your Housesitter or Petsitter Prepped and Ready
If you have a pet, a garden, or indoor plants that need to be taken care of while you are away, make sure you have a housesitter or petsitter ready to take care of them. Confirm their availability and go over any important details about your home or pets with them.
Not sure where to find a house/petsitter you can actually trust? We love TrustedHousesitters because every sitter goes through a background check and has a sincere love for pets!
Pay Any Credit Card or Utility Bills You Have Outstanding
Don’t forget to pay any outstanding bills that are due while you’re away. This will ensure that you don’t have to deal with late fees, incurred interest, or service interruptions while you’re traveling.
And by paying these ahead of time, you’re clearing up some headspace so that you don’t have to think about your finances and responsibilities at all while on your trip!
Make Sure All Devices are Backed Up
Back up all your devices, including your phone, laptop, and camera, before leaving. This will ensure that you don’t lose any important data in case your device gets lost or stolen during the trip, or you accidentally drop your phone into the ocean while snorkeling.
And if your phone is low on memory, now is the time to free up some space so you have room for all the new pictures and videos you’re going to take on your trip!
Charge Up All Your Batteries
Charge up all your batteries and power banks, including those for your laptop and camera, so that you don’t run out of power while out and about.
Laptops are necessary during long and boring flights, while power banks are so necessary when you’re out, so make sure those babies are ready for you to use!
Download Google Maps For Offline Use If Traveling Abroad
If you are traveling abroad and either have no international roaming plan or don’t know how spotty it will be, I recommend you download Google Maps offline for the area you will be visiting.
This will ensure that you have access to maps even if you don’t have internet connectivity.
Read Next: Get These 25 Best Free Travel Apps For Your Next Trip
Set Up Your Out-Of-Office Replies
Set up out-of-office replies for your email and voicemail so that people know that you are away and when you will be back. This will ensure that you don’t miss any important messages while you’re traveling.
Ideally, this is done on the last night of your workday — that way, you won’t have to think about work the day after (or chance forgetting to set it up at all).
Make Sure You Have Cash on Hand
It’s always a good idea to have some cash on hand for emergencies or for situations where credit cards may not be accepted. And by cash, I mean home currency and foreign currency.
I always recommend carrying cash in the local currency of the country you’re visiting, but I also make it a habit to have at least $50 USD on me in case my cards don’t work abroad.
Make sure to withdraw some home currency cash from an ATM before leaving for your trip. For foreign currency, you can withdraw from an ATM there for the best exchange rates. Just be sure to use a card that’s ATM fee-free!
I have the Schwab Bank Investor Checking debit card which I love because they reimburse 100% of ATM fees charged by ATM operators.
Check the Weather and Make Sure Your Gear Is Fit for the Local Weather
The night before, be sure to check the weather forecast for your destination and pack clothes and accessories that are appropriate for the local weather.
Did rain or snow randomly pop into the forecast? Pack that umbrella/rain jacket. Did it all of a sudden get 10 degrees hotter? Ditch that longsleeve and pack more tanks.
Doing a last-minute weather check will ensure that you stay comfortable and don’t have to deal with unexpected weather changes when you arrive on vacation!
Pack Medications for Those Just-In-Case Ailments
Traveler’s diarrhea and allergies — you never know when they might strike! Pack medications for any just-in-case ailments that you might encounter during the trip, such as Pepto-Bismol for stomach issues, Benadryl for allergies, Immodium for diarrhea, and Dramamine for motion sickness.
This will ensure that you can handle any unexpected health issues while on the road or abroad!
Trust me, finding brands of medicine that you’re used to internationally is not the easiest thing to do especially when you don’t speak the local language!
Sleep at the Right Time to Get Ahead of Any Jetlag You Might Encounter
If you are traveling to a different time zone, try to adjust your sleep schedule a few days before the trip to get ahead of any jet lag you might encounter. This will ensure that you are refreshed and ready to enjoy your trip when you arrive.
Pro Tip: Adjusting to the new time zone can take several days and leave you feeling groggy and unproductive. One way to alleviate jet lag when traveling eastward is to gradually adjust your sleep schedule a few days before your trip. Start by going to bed 30 minutes earlier each night until you’re on the same schedule as your destination’s time zone.
Once you arrive at your destination, try to get as much exposure to natural light as possible during the day. This will help regulate your body’s internal clock and make it easier for you to fall asleep at night. You may also want to consider taking a melatonin supplement before bed, which can help reset your sleep cycle.
You may also like: 10 Extremely Simple Ways To Beat Jet Lag Once And For All
Get All Your Travel Documents Together
Print out any of the travel documents that you think you’d need to show in person, including your flight tickets, hotel reservations, and travel insurance, and keep them in a safe place. This will ensure that you have access to all the important information you need while on the road.
If you’re able to show QR codes or reference numbers electronically, go with that option to save paper! Just be sure to keep any important emails starred, and have those QR codes loaded into your e-wallet or screenshotted in your photos.
For flights and excursions/activities, I really like downloading the airline and tour company apps because all your tickets and confirmation numbers are loaded in there as soon as you connect your accounts.
There’s no need to attempt to find things in your email. Everything is so clean and organized with the apps!
Empty Your Fridge and Take Out the Garbage
Empty your fridge of any perishable items and take out the garbage to avoid coming back to a stinky home after your trip. Nobody wants to come home to festering trash!
Double-Check Your Packing List
Double-check your packing list to make sure that you have packed everything you need for your trip. This will ensure that you don’t forget any important items and have to deal with the hassle of buying them while on the road.
Little things like sunscreen, phone and camera chargers, allergy medicines, bug bite stick, and my portable power bank are things I tend to forget most frequently.
Read More:
- The Ultimate Car Camping Packing List: 35 Must-Have Items
- 40 Travel Essentials for Hot Weather and Tropical Climates
Arrange Transportation to the Airport
Make sure you have arranged transportation to the airport, whether it’s a taxi, pre-arranged shuttle, ride-sharing service, or a friend or family member who will be driving you. This will ensure that you arrive at the airport on time and avoid any last-minute stress.
Relax and Unwind!
Finally, take some time to relax and unwind before your trip! Let go of all the preparation anxiety because your vacation is HERE!
This could be anything from watching a movie, reading a book, or taking a warm bath the night before. This will help you de-stress and get in the right frame of mind for your trip.
GAME-CHANGING GADGETS FOR SMARTER AIRPORT TRAVEL
These are some of my favorite airport/airplane travel products that free my hands up and make traveling so much more convenient. Say goodbye to the days of fumbling around or not having enough hands for things.
- Add-a-Bag Hook and Hanger Strap | Have a purse, briefcase, tote bag, or bag of souvenirs that’s causing you inconvenience by needing to be carried? Get this bag hook and attach it to your luggage so you only need one hand to tow everything with you.
- riemot Luggage Travel Cup Holder | This foldable drink caddy holds 2 cups, perfect for your pre-flight coffees and fountain drinks. There’s also room to hold books, iPads, phones, tickets and documents.
- Traveling Hat Clip | Have you ever brought a wide-brimmed hat on vacation and found it to be the most annoying thing to travel with? A hat clip for your bag or backpack completely removes the struggle of needing to carry your hat in hand!
- Flight Flap Phone & Tablet Holder | Attaches to airline seat backs so you can watch movies hands-free. Also great for standing your phone up on tables too!
- Clipa2 – The Instant Bag Hanger Collection | Hang your bag or purse literally anywhere (on your luggage, on restaurant tables, hotel rooms, etc).
- Priority Pass – I have had a Priority Pass membership since 2018, and I don’t think I’ll ever give it up! I love being able to gorge on lounge food/drink, shower, nap, and relax in peace before my flight. If you’re wondering if this pass is worth it, it is! (Especially if you travel internationally — the lounge options have gotten kind of poopie domestically, but are still amazing in other countries!)
I totally get it, the night before a trip can be a busy and stressful time, but taking the time to prepare can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable travel experience!
By following these 15 tips, you can rest easy knowing that you have taken care of everything before leaving for your trip. Bon voyage!
Looking for more travel tips? You may also like:
Monos vs Paravel: Which Luggage Brand Is Better?
Top 10 Wallet Essentials: What’s In My Wallet When I Travel
WayAway Plus Review: The Best Way To Get Cashback On Travel
18 Advanced Ways to Save Money For Travel
- WayAway | This site compares flight ticket fares from hundreds of agencies. You’re going to get the best prices on the market, at least $10 lower than those on Skyscanner, Kayak, and Priceline.com. The best part is? The WayAway Plus membership. With the membership, you’ll get up to 10% cash back on airline tickets, hotel bookings, car rentals, and other travel services.
- DEAL ALERT! Use code ‘travelswithelle’ for 10% off WayAway Plus.
- Booking.com | Honestly, this is my go-to accommodation booking site. This site has free cancellation and no prepayment required on reservations which is huge for me. It also has amazing abilities to filter accommodation options by rating and price. Honestly, it’s shaved off so many hours of endless research for me and has made booking hotels and other accommodations a breeze.
- Viator | Viator is a huge online marketplace for all things tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, ATV tours, sailing trips, walking tours, hot air ballooning, and more.
- Go City | Go City offers great value-for-the-money attraction passes in various destinations around the world. Whenever I want to play tourist in a city, I always check to see if Go City operates in that city. The money you can save with this pass is unreal (as opposed to buying admission tickets for various attractions separately).
- SafetyWing | SafetyWing is by far one of the best travel medical insurance for travelers as they’ve got a large network and offer both short-term and long-term coverage. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those heading abroad.
