Checklist secrets of savvy travelers

By Kristin Hull

Before heading out of town for summer vacation, consult this checklist of things you may have forgotten, or perhaps never even considered. Seasoned traveler and New York City resident Kether Kerrane offers valuable tips to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Prepare for disasters

• Email yourself a scan of all-important documents, such as identification and credit cards, which can be accessed from anywhere.
• Put clothing in another traveler’s bag so if yours is lost or stolen, you’ll still have something to wear.

Pack smart

• Compression bags, which keep your belongings sealed in air-tight plastic, are a perfect solution to fitting more into a suitcase. Put an entire outfit into each bag or separate clothes by type (socks, shirts, shorts, etc.).
• Transport toiletries in a soft six-pack cooler, and then use it to keep drinks cold at the beach.
• A mini bendable tripod is just the thing for capturing group photos.

Traveling with small children

Don’t forget about the little ones! Children require some specific accommodations, and making them comfortable is key to a smooth vacation. Here are just a few traveling suggestions:

• Before traveling abroad, ask your doctor about your child’s vaccinations and update them if needed.
• If traveling on an airplane, bring gum for older children to chew during descent. It’ll help with ear “popping.”

Protect your home

• Never post anything on the Internet that indicates you will be out of town — even an auto-response email.
• Ask a neighbor to roll your trashcan to the curb on trash day, and to bring it back in afterward.
• Don’t just put timers on lights — do the same with a TV or radio.
• Enlist a friend to pick up your mail and/or newspaper each day, or put them on a vacation hold.

Now, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the lazy days of summer!