Are you one of those who have a running countdown on your work calendar as to how many days are left before vacation? (Guilty as charged.) Don’t you find that the closer you get to vacation, the longer the days seem to drag – until the day before you leave, and then somehow there’s just not enough time to get everything done? The day before you leave for vacation need not be frantic. Let’s break down our preparations to a more manageable schedule. Let’s call the day you leave for Branson V-Day, short for Vacation Day.
Six months before V-Day:
Designate a folder in your favorite email account for vacation-related emails. My email folder is titled Branson 2016. Whenever you get an email relating to your vacation, just move it to the special folder. It will be easier to find if you need it. Plus, if you have a smartphone, you’ll be able to access the folder on the fly.
V-Day minus 30:
Dig out your Branson Organizer and clean out any expired items. If you’re a more recent reader of this blog, you may not know what a Branson Organizer is. Click on this link and find out what it is and how to set it up: http://bransononyourbudget.blogspot.com/2011/07/getting-it-all-together.html
If you have a pet that you’re not taking with you to Branson, be sure to set up a kennel stay for him/her. You may have to set this up earlier than a month in advance. If you’re not taking your pet to the kennel, arrange for someone to come to your home and check on your pet while you’re gone.
Make sure you have all radio station vouchers in hand. Depending on where you live and where the radio station is, any vouchers ordered now may not get to you before you leave on vacation. You should know by now which shows you want to see. If you find a last minute voucher you want to purchase, make sure it is a print on demand voucher or a Groupon.
Now that you know what shows you want to see, call the theaters and make reservations. If you have radio station vouchers/Groupon deals, mention that you have those when you make your reservation. If you need extra tickets besides the vouchers (most vouchers only cover 2 tickets), see if you need to purchase them now or if you can make the reservation and buy the ticket when you get to Branson. If you can buy later, go to the Branson 2 for 1 Tickets website and see if they sell vouchers for the show you want to see. You can purchase a half voucher at 2 for 1 if you have an odd number of people in your family like we do.
Early reservations are great to get the seats you want, especially if you need wheelchair accessible seats or other special seats. We like aisle seats as opposed to center seats. My hubby likes to stretch out his legs since he has arthritic knees, and there are not as many people to crawl over in order to go to the bathroom. If the box office asks if you want front row seats, ask how close they are to the stage. Some front row center seats are flush with the stage, so you have to scrunch down in your seats and bend your head back in order to see the show. That’s not very comfortable. Make sure you write down the confirmation number that the box office gives you.
This year, I have made envelopes for each show to put my show vouchers in. I’ll make up a fake show to show you what I put on my envelopes:
The Larry & Joe Show
August 16, 20____, 2 PM
Rising Eagle Theater, (888) 888-8888
Confirmation #1234567
I have the phone number of the theater on the envelope in case I need to change my reservation or (God forbid) I get lost. Once I put the envelopes in order of the dates of the shows, I will put the envelopes in the Show Vouchers folder of my Branson Organizer. On the day of the show, I will take out that day’s envelope and put it in the glove compartment of my car. I will then take it to the box office and pick up my tickets, which I will then put in the envelope.
V-Day minus 3 days:
Go to the United States Post Office website at usps.com and put a vacation hold on your mail for the time you are gone. Make sure to check the box that says for them to deliver all the accumulated mail; otherwise, you will have to go to the post office and pick up all your mail, which would really be inconvenient if you don’t get home until after the post office closes.
If you get newspapers delivered to your home, go to the website for that newspaper or call customer service and put a vacation hold on your newspapers. You might want to read the newspaper for the morning that you leave; if so, don’t put that day on your vacation hold. Our local newspapers give you the option to either have a vacation pack of papers delivered on your return, donate them to Newspapers in Education (for schools) or get a credit on your bill. Most newspapers have websites with just about most everything that is in their print edition, so you may want to just get a credit on your bill.
Contact a trusted neighbor and tell them that you are going out of town on vacation. Give him/her your cell phone number and ask him to call you in the case of fire, weather damage or theft at your home. If the trash collection service comes on a day while you are gone on vacation, ask your trusted neighbor to bring your trash can(s) to the curb and put them back after the trash has been picked up. Be sure to tell your neighbor that you’d do the same for him/her if they need you to.
V-Day minus 2 days:
Gather up all the luggage that you take on vacation. Make sure that all zippers work, handles are firmly attached, etc.
Make sure that laundry is caught up.
Purchase any food/drinks that you may be taking with you.
I like to make sure my house is clean before I go on vacation. I hate coming home to a messy house. It’s easier to unpack your luggage in a clean house.
V-Day minus 1 day:
Pack everything you’re going to be taking to Branson. Don’t pack the car until tomorrow, however.
Fill up the gas tank in your car. Check all the tires, including the spare, to make sure they are inflated to the proper air pressure. Check all the fluids, like the radiator (including the overflow tank), windshield wiper fluid, brake fluid, and oil. Check the air filter. If it is dirty, the air conditioner won’t run as efficiently as it should. You wouldn’t want to be stranded on the side of the road because you didn’t do the necessary maintenance.
Clean out the car. I like to wash and vacuum out the car before I go on vacation. It’s easier to pack a clean car, and I feel more comfortable on a road trip in a clean car.
Make sure all the dirty dishes are washed, dried and put away. You don’t want to come home from vacation with a house full of bugs.
Get a good night’s sleep!
V-Day!
If you have timers that you set on your lamps, make sure they are plugged in and ready to go.
If you eat breakfast at home today instead of on the road, make sure all breakfast dishes are washed, dried and put away.
Load up all your luggage in your car. Put your Branson Organizer under your front seat for easy retrieval. Check the house one last time to make sure lights have been turned out and the toilet has been flushed.
Make sure all doors and windows are locked in your house.
Make sure that everyone is in the car and their seat belts are on.
Now you’re ready to go! Start your engine and drive to Branson!
That’s all for now! Thanks for reading and see you next time!
Diane
