20 Things To Do The Day Before You Go On Vacation

The day before a big, long-awaited vacation, you're probably dreaming of beautiful scenery, warmer weather, or the many thrilling experiences your trip has in store. But be careful not to get ahead of yourself; you want to make sure you've got everything in order before heading off on your next great adventure.

To truly be able to unwind, you must ensure you've checked everything off your to-do list. You want to ensure you have everything you need for your journey, as well as cover your bases so that everything is safe and sound while you're gone. For a stress-free vacation, go through this brief checklist the day before your trip to know you've taken care of these small, easy-to-forget tasks. It'll make it easier for you to get away from it all and avoid the stress when you return.

Getting cut off from your funds can be a travel nightmare, especially when you've been looking forward to splurging. Call your bank or credit card company or notify them online of your travel plans. Let them know when and where you plan to travel so that an unexpected charge in a different state or country isn't seen as suspicious or fraudulent.

You've enjoyed your flight and found your way to the hotel, but the receptionist can't seem to find your name in the system. Nightmare! Double-check all the dates and details of any reservations you've made at your hotels, restaurants, or other attractions. Bring any confirmation numbers and customer service phone numbers with you, just in case.

People may or may not remember when you're going to be out of town, so set up an automatic "out of office" email reply for those who contact you while you're away. Of course, if you are a digital nomad working while exploring the world, you don't need to do this, but there are few things more fulfilling than leaving those emails unchecked for a good amount of time.

You might know what to expect from the weather at your destination in a seasonal sense, but it always pays to check the forecast in case there's a chance of inclement weather. This will impact how and what you should pack and will also influence how you plan to spend your time on vacation.

Whether you are taking a long-haul flight or expect to be staring listlessly out the window of trains and buses while traveling, you can never have enough entertainment to keep you occupied. Make sure you have adequate entertainment for your drive or flight by stocking up on podcasts, series, movies, music, ebooks, and more. Better to have too much than not enough.

If you're running low on a prescription leading up to your vacation, call in and pick up a refill to guarantee you don't run out mid-vacation. Few things can send a vacation off the rails like a medication mishap, so take all the necessary steps to ensure this doesn't happen to you.

While the days of snail mail are slowly coming to something of an end, plenty of envelopes are still dropping through letterboxes on a daily basis. Request a hold on your mail so your mailbox doesn't become stuffed and packages and newspapers won't be left sitting on your doorstep. You can also delay or reschedule delivery from major carriers like UPS and FedEx.

In case of emergencies, make copies of documents such as your passport, visas or driver's license and have them with you at all times. Having these on hand when moving through security checkpoints, in particular, is always a good idea. If you somehow manage to lose your passport while on vacation, you'll be glad you made a copy (or three).

The world has grown increasingly cashless in recent years, but it is still a good idea to have some local currency on hand for any emergencies. Make a stop at the ATM, bank, or post office and get some cash in case you can't use your credit cards or need to tip people on your journey. Just make sure tipping isn't an insult wherever it is that you're going.

No offense to George Costanza, but there's no reason to carry a wallet that is overflowing with receipts. Clean out your wallet, purse, bag, or backpack to make sure you're not lugging around unnecessary things with you. Things like punch cards, loyalty cards, gift cards, store credit cards, or old receipts can stay at home, lest that wallet explodes under the weight of one bill too many.

You might be escaping from the real world for a while, but your financial responsibilities won't be going on vacation. Check if any bills or payments will be due during your trip and pay them in advance so they're taken care of. Nobody wants to come home to a stack of debts to pay.

It's generally better not to turn your thermostat off all the way when you leave on vacation. There is plenty of good advice on what temperature to set your thermostat depending on how long you are traveling and what time of year you are away. Read up and leave everything in order before you lock the door behind you.

Even when turned off, gadgets still consume energy when plugged in. Unplug any devices, such as small appliances, you aren't using to save energy and money while you're gone. It only takes one overheated device to start an uncontrollable fire in your home, so cut this off at the source.

Sticking with all things electronic, make sure any devices (such as your phone, music player, tablet, laptop, GPS, and e-reader) have a full charge before hitting the road. You don't want to settle into your journey only to discover you can't take any photos out of the window because your phone is in the red.

Seriously, clean the fridge out. Eat up or throw out any food that will spoil during your trip. In fact, you should probably eat up or throw out pretty much everything in there because you never know what might happen. Either way, you don't want to come home to a fridge full of rotten food.

On a similar subject, don't leave any garbage lying around the house. This includes half-full bags. Even a tiny mess can turn nasty or attract pests in your absence, so take out any trash or recycling. Post-vacation you will be very thankful that you did.

And while you're at it, do the dishes. Whether it's running the dishwasher or rinsing a few by hand, make sure to wash any dishes left in the sink before you leave — and make sure you're washing them properly. As with the fridge and the trash, nobody wants to come home from vacation and immediately have to deal with dodgy smells and unwanted pests.

Make sure your plants are adequately watered during your absence. If you'll be gone for a significant amount of time, don't overwater them before leaving. Instead, ask a friend to check in on them as needed.

Mother Nature can be fickle, so even if the forecast at home is clear skies, it's best to secure or store any outdoor furniture in case of inclement weather. Leave those cushions in a place where they can stay dry and fresh until they are required once more.

Before you pack, check to see what amenities your lodging provides so that you don't pack more than you need. Whether you're staying on a cruise ship or at a hotel, rental, or campsite, certain things like toiletries, towels, or hair dryers could be provided. This is becoming more and more common (especially at high-quality accommodation), so you can save some space for more souvenirs.