You’ve packed your bags, booked your flights, and maybe even made a little checklist. But there’s always something that slips through the cracks. The annoying part is, it’s usually not the big stuff. It’s the tiny, boring things that you don’t think about until they’ve already caused a problem. So before you head off, run through this list of easy-to-forget things that could save you a load of hassle later.
Don’t forget travel insurance
It’s boring, yes, but travel insurance can save you a fortune if something goes wrong. Delays, lost luggage, sudden illnesses, all that stuff you hope never happens but sometimes does. A lot of people plan the whole trip and forget this one bit, or they mean to sort it later and then forget entirely. If you haven’t done it yet, head over to Generali. It takes a couple of minutes and you’ll feel a lot better knowing you’re covered. It’s one of those things that’s worth doing properly, not just picking the cheapest option the night before.
Clear out your phone storage
This one gets skipped way too often. You’re going to want to take loads of photos and videos, but if your phone’s already nearly full, you’ll be stuck deleting old screenshots just to snap a beach photo. Go through your camera roll and get rid of the junk. Back up what you want to keep and free up space so you’re not messing around with it mid-holiday. It’s also a good time to check that your cloud backups are working, especially if your phone ever gets lost or stolen. Might as well cover all bases while you’re at it.
Pack your chargers and the right adapter
It sounds obvious, but it’s so easy to forget one charger or pack the wrong plug. Double check what type of sockets your destination uses, and throw a spare adapter in your bag. Don’t just think about your phone either. If you’ve got headphones, a tablet, a camera or even an electric toothbrush, make sure you’ve got everything charged and ready to go. Getting stuck on your first night with 10 percent battery and no way to charge anything is not the best way to start your trip.
Set your out-of-office reply
If you’re stepping away from work, even just for a few days, it’s a good idea to set up your out-of-office reply. It keeps things simple and lets people know you’re not ignoring them. You don’t need anything fancy. Just say when you’ll be back and who they can contact if it’s urgent. It only takes a minute but makes life a lot easier when you come back and your inbox isn’t full of people chasing you for things.
Share your travel plans with someone
Even if you’re not going far, let someone know your general plans. A friend, your parents, whoever. Send them your flight details, the name of your hotel, and maybe let them know if you’re doing anything that might make you unreachable for a bit. It’s not about being dramatic, it’s just smart. If something happens or you miss a connection, at least someone knows where you are and how to help.
