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Summer is almost here, which means a lot of people have vacation on their minds. Picking your destination is always so much fun, with the world being pretty much open to tourists. Whether you feel like a cruise or lying on the beach by your hotel, visiting ancient cities or climbing mountains, you will find dozens of offers from different travel agencies, or you can make the arrangements by yourself using online tools. Once the arrangements are made, all you have to do is wait for the departure date and just go, right? Wrong.

You are ready to leave after the house and pets have been taken care of and the luggage is packed. The better you organize everything before leaving, the better you’ll be able to enjoy yourself on your vacation, so here are some tips on what to do. First off, if you have pets and can’t take them with you, please make sure they’ll be taken care of during your absence. Since your animal is sure to be familiar with some friends and family members, check if any of them can take care of your pet. Otherwise, look for a safe and well kept animal hotel, where the staff is knowledgeable, pleasant and caring.

Once the arrangements are made for your animals, make sure the house is also taken care of. Let your neighbors know how long you’ll be gone, so that when they see any strangers looking around, they can alert the security or the police in case of trouble. If anybody will be coming to the house to water your plants, make sure the neighbors know who that is going to be to avoid unnecessary alerts. Those having security alarms may want to inform the security company regarding the absence and also let them know who is authorized to go inside in case of any need.

To avoid trouble, it’s wise to turn off water in the house and turn the AC to a temperature that will keep the house dry from humidity but won’t let it get too hot. If possible, it’s smart to have lights on a timer so that there is a feel of somebody being present at the house. It’s wise in a situation like tat to unplug all unnecessary electronics like computers and TV sets. The fridge is best left plugged in, but for your own good get rid of anything that will spoil in your absence.

When the house is taken care of, it’s time to take care of yourself, which means packing. There is absolutely no need to take five suitcases filled with shoes, couture dresses, jewelry and purses, or suits, belts and a dozen ironed shirts. Consider your destination and pack specifically for it. If you’re going hiking, you won’t need dress shoes; if a city is your destination, why bother with beach gear, and so on. Besides, if you happen to have a special day and really need to wear something you don’t pack, you’re sure to find stores selling anything from vintage jeans to couture designers somewhere in the area.

Getting everything ready for your trip may seem like unnecessary work, but it most definitely pays off when you can relax in a hammock, take in the beauty of nature from the mountaintop, or run around some European capital worrying whether you’ll manage to see everything you planned, and not whether your house is being vandalized.