How to Prepare to Go on a Vacation

Those who are planning to go on a holiday should make the necessary preparations to enjoy their time away from home. While it may seem as simple as booking a hotel and heading out the door, leaving home for a significant period does require some planning and forethought. From paying what's owed to re-stocking the fridge, here are some practical and easy to follow tips on how to make your next vacation a smooth experience.

1. Making Arrangements

Those who are leaving behind pets should make sure that their furry friends will be taken care of while one is away on holiday. If a neighbour or a relative has agreed to take care of the pet, make sure they have all the information they need to keep the animal safe and happy during your absence. Pet hotels are another option although travellers should visit the venues weeks in advance and ensure the facilities are clean, animal-friendly and comfortable for their pet. Those with house plants can look into automatic watering mechanisms such as Aqua Globes to make sure the plants don't wither and die by the time you return. Informing your postman on where to deliver your mail is also necessary unless someone is house-sitting for you.

2. Taking Care of Those Left Behind

If any family members are not joining you on holiday it is crucial to ensure their well-being by informing neighbours of close friends of who's staying behind. If the family member is elderly or a child, it may be wise to prepare a few meals and put them in the freezer to use for emergencies. Leaving detailed instructions for any babysitters or caregivers who will be visiting your home during the holiday is also necessary. The key is making sure their routine is not disrupted while you are gone. Cleaning the refrigerator and stocking it with favourite foods, snacks and other food items that will not expire soon is a practical way to take care of family members left at home.

3. Work Place Responsibilities

Most travellers do not think to tie-up loose ends at work when planning some time away from the office. Informing clients, superiors and colleagues of your plans as well as setting up an automated message for your answering machine and email address at work is also a must so those who are calling and e-mailing you know you are unavailable. Delegating duties to subordinates or other office colleagues is also a good way to make sure none of your workloads is left unattended during the off-time. Making sure all your files and work-related folders are accessible to co-workers is also a responsibility all employees have to their office.

4. Bills, Bills, Bills

There's nothing quite as disheartening as walking into your home after a relaxing holiday to find a stack of bills on the table. Take the time to pay all your bills including electricity, telephone, water and other essentials as you want to be able to get back into your normal routine as soon as you return from the getaway. Setting up an online payment schedule is a great way to stay on top of this aspect even if one is thousands of miles away from home.

5. Set up a Contact Plan

Give out your number and contact details on your holidays such as the name and number of the hotel etc. to a close friend or sibling so they know where to contact you in case of an emergency. Make sure someone in your life also has an idea of your schedule during the holiday as well as a copy of the airline tickets and flight details. While on vacation, it is wise to schedule a weekly or daily call time to check in with friends and work colleagues so everyone can relay any important information to you at that allotted time instead of calling and disturbing you during excursions, hikes, an outing at a Siem Reap dining hub or any other adventure. Those who are based at Anantara Angkor Resort or any similar resort can purchase a local SIM card.