THINGS
TO DO BEFORE YOU LEAVE FOR SHORTER TRIPS:
Pay the rent and other necessary
bills
There’s nothing like coming back from
your holiday with ‘overdue notices’ in the mail
and an overspent budget. Change
the message on your voicemail answering machine
It might be a bad idea to leave the message
‘I’m away on holidays for 2 weeks’ since
it gives a thief plenty of time to empty your house.
Confirm your
reservations
Doesn’t hurt to
make sure that the airlines aren’t on strike and you
still have a holiday to go to.
Plant care
Have someone take care
of your plants while you’re away or they will change
colours.
Pet care
Have someone take care
of your pets while you’re away or they will change colour
too, or book them into an exclusive ‘Pet Motel’.
Store
away things that are easy to steal
Somethings, like bicycles, are unlikely to
be stolen from your backyard when you are home, but if it
becomes obvious that you’re away, such as if there is
tons of mail in your letterbox, then a thief may feel comfortable
enough to steal things that usually require too much time
and effort to locate and move. |
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THINGS
TO DO BEFORE A LONGER TRIP:
Empty your fridge of perishables
Vegetables, for example, are pretty disgusting if you have to
deal with them 4 - 6 weeks after they should have been eaten.
Give
a copy of your house keys to someone else
Not a bad idea if you are on a longer trip, in case something
must be done in your house - maybe someone needs to water
the plants or take care of your mail. Make sure you give them
spare keys, you don’t want to be locked out of your
own house if the only set gets lost.
Forward newspapers and magazines - if you’re away for
some time, it might be a good idea to forward your subscribed
newspapers or magazines to some other place or person. Some
newspapers also allow you to put your subscription on hold
till you come back.
Unplug
electrical stuff
This may reduce the risk of fire if the house is struck by
lightning , or if there is some kind of power surge, while
you’re away. Some appliances consume electricity while
plugged in, even if they are turned off - a good example televisions.
If
you are worried about your house not looking lived in while
you are away
It is very simple and inexpensive to change that. Firstly,
re-direct your mail to a friend or family members’ home
and secondly, you can purchase, quite cheaply from any major
department store, lamps and radios that have timers on them.
You can set them to turn on at times in the evening so from
the outside it looks like you are still home. A good idea
is to set the radio on a talk-back show ( if you can find
one) - makes it more real. Or you can purchase timers for
your household lights. |
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TRAVELLING WITH
CHILDREN
When booking your accommodation, go for something self-contained
with a kitchenette and a laundry and try to pick something that
has a swimming pool or a garden; somewhere the kids can run
amok at the end of the day and burn off all that extra energy.
Of course you should have a medical kit handy in the car, but
make sure it contains paediatric strength medications, extra
adhesive strips, Stingose and of course, plenty of sunscreen.
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SENIORS TRAVEL
There are about three million senior Australian who spend almost
$900 million on domestic travel every year. You can now get
hold of Australia’s first Seniors’ Travel Guide
called ‘Get Up and Go’ written especially for senior.
The book has it all, such as, how to stretch your dollar further,
deals on
public transport, attractions which offer senior discounts,
travelling as a single and advice for seniors with disabilities.
‘Get Up and Go’ costs around $3.95 and is available
from Amcal pharmacies throughout Australia or you can call Seniors’
Card Offices in each state. |
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OUTBACK DRIVING
When planning a trip through the outback make sure your vehicle
is thoroughly serviced before you hit the road. Make sure you
have plenty of food and water with you just in case you do break-down
in some remote area.
You won’t believe the state of some of the roads until
you reach them and you should always carry spare parts, such
as a fan belt, radiator hose and an extra spare tyre.
The most important thing is to let people know where you are
going and how long you expect to take to get there. If you intend
to be in Thargaminda in two days time, ring a friend in your
home town and let them know you will ring them when you arrive.
If they don’t get your call, they can alert the authorities
who can start looking for you. It’s easier if they know
the direction you were heading in.
Another good piece of advice: if your car has broken down, never,
ever leave it. You’ve got food, you’ve got water
and your car is there. It’s a big object and you won’t
perish. Stick with it and you’ll be fine. |
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TRAVELLING WITH
DISABILITIES
The most important tip is research. It’s an important
tip for able-bodied people, but when you have a disability it
becomes critical to know as much as possible about the place
you are visiting. The success of your journey can depend on
that.
Transport is a vital issue - will there be wheelchair-friendly
transport on arrival? Are the places you want to visit able
to accommodate a wheelchair? Try to find out how locals in the
same situation get about.
Check out accommodation - how close is it to where you want
to be? Are there bathrooms suitable? Is there somewhere nearby
where you can rent any necessary equipment? If you need to take
transport from your accommodation, can it take a wheelchair?
If travelling alone, see if there are any nursing or caring
agencies available, and find out their costs. Before leaving
home, have your chair tuned up, just like a car. It’s
important that everything is running smoothly. People with disabilities
and their family and friends can access this website www.accessibility.com.au
to get in contact with companies specialising in travel for
people with disabilities. |
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