Pre-departure TO DO List - Florida Vacation

Pre-departure TO DO List - Florida Vacation

•Medical Insurance: required for travel over 40 days outside province/country; Johnson (Medoc) top up for additional days; application by internet or mail; fast response; internet allows bank account payment 1 week before departure

•Bell Sympatico ISP: down rate from high speed to dial-up for time away - savings $45. Not allowed to suspend because you would not have access to email account which is essential; prior years Bell would issue a credit for the period away but no longer available in 2009.

•Bell Mobility Cellular Phone: #611 1-800-667-0123; $20/month Florida Connexion for 100 minutes from anywhere in Florida to anywhere in USA and Canada; $40/month to get USA Connexion for anywhere in USA
Important Note: Minutes are calculated from billing date to billing date; e.g., say billing date is 20th of the month, Arrival in Florida is 15th Leave State of Florida on 28th two months later; 5days/30days x 100 minutes = 20 minutes from 15th to 20, 100 minutes from 21st to 20th of next month and 8/30 x 100 = 26.33 min from 21 to 28.

•Snow Removal: neighbour $200

•Hyundai Santa Fe: phone call to notify of travel outside province (Nissan required letter)

•Inform car insurance company of travel to USA (increased PLPD coverage if needed; small increase in premiums if over 30 days – some companies e.g., ING but not La Capital)

•Change winter tires to 4 seasons (new Quebec law); get 7 day exemption from SAAQ just in case; free for now; not applicable in Ontario.

•Alert credit card companies of travel dates for security and to not get refused transactions

•Get any prescriptions for duration of holidays; get a list of prescribed medication from pharmacy in case of emergency

•Update all files in laptop (contacts, favourites, emails, key files, etc.)

•Get $USD cash, US bank account, US credit card as needed

•Sent list of contact telephone numbers and other coordinates to family and friends

•Keys: Ensure required house and car keys are left for whoever will be checking the house; starting the car, clearing the driveway and picking up the mail.

•Keys: make sure you have required house, car and other key sets (second set?); trailer, bike support, etc.

•Star Choice: suspend for duration

•Get recommendations from Gas Company on hot water tank, furnace and thermostat adjustments.

•Make final calls, emails and chats to make everyone envious.