What do you do on Day T-2

I booked a hotel for my last two nights before my 4 month trip. T-7 and paralyzed with anticipation and excitement! Was just sitting here considering adding a 3rd night!

Drinking helps!

Hope you get some good answers!

Christi- lol. We still will have to water the yard one more time and finish clearing out the fridge so no hotels before we take off. We will be drinking once it's a reasonable time for drinking.

Clean! It burns off nervous energy.

"Clean! It burns off nervous energy"

Why did I know someone would suggest that!

That first trip after Covid shutdown was a touch scary - I felt like I had lost my travel skills! 🤣 I was worried I would forget to take something essential or think I totally knew how to do some aspect of the trip - only to figure out I messed up. Of course, none of it happened, but that niggling anxiety was there.

Otherwise, I have my routine list of the things I do on those final 2 days. Some are appointments like a massage and some are things like taking care of the cat stuff for my daughter to handle. I do travel a lot now but I still make my list on my spreadsheet for each trip just so I have a good idea of how to manage time. And so I don’t forget….. Ha!

We will be drinking once it's a reasonable time for drinking.

It's after 5 o'clock somewhere, so it is always a 'reasonable' time

Go get a pedicure.

Double check your medications. Despite my numerous lists, I managed to forget a single pill for 2 out of my 3 weeks.

Make sure your bills are set up for auto payment or are pre-paid. Test your light timers.

Sign up for Mobile Passport if it is available at whatever US airport you first land at when coming home.

If you have a connection in Europe, find out if you can pre-book your time to go through security, if you need to. Here is an example: https://www.frankfurt-airport.com/en/airport-guide/check-in-and-luggage/fra-smartway.html

Pedicure maybe

but did anyone say massage

in fact, how about a day at the spa and the whole works?

In between frantic vacuuming I also obsessively check my airline app.

Texastravelmom -

I felt like I had lost my travel skills! 🤣 I was worried I would
forget to take something essential or think I totally knew how to do
some aspect of the trip - only to figure out I messed up.

Yes, this is exactly how I feel, or at least part of me. The other part is ridiculously optimist. I've got my lists and my spreadsheets so all should be fine, right?

Travel4fun - test light timers is on today's list. They went on, now waiting to see they go off. Bills all on auto. Checking out Moblie Passport.

Get up a couple hours earlier… it really helps combat jet lag

Go for a good walk, preferably in nature but anywhere will do.
It always makes me feel more relaxed and centered.

Totally agree with above post. Try to slow down, going for a walk is a great idea. Especially the day you fly, after all you’ll be sitting on a plane ✈️ for a long time. If it’s too hot to walk, clean. It really uses up that excess energy and remember to charge all of your devices.

Too often nagging my husband to get his butt in gear! I refuse to pack for him. He always "knows" what he's taking but then leaves it til the last minute.

Cook chili or soup to freeze for when I get back. I normally hate to cook but this is one time when my future self is so happy that I do this!

katiecem, it WILL be fine! :)

CW, I love this and need to do something on Friday….. But normally I try to do it the week before - last minute and I usually fail. 🤣

Last day of work as a start Leave, this gets blasted down the hall from my office -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RHTiXvELNg

The couple days before I leave are just chill & relax days. I'll go to my local café for breakfast and BS with the retired guys. Make sure library materials are returned and get a haircut.

Maizey the pet cornsnake gets fed the day before I leave and set the timer for her day light/night light.

And pack the night before

Put a hold on your mail.

Sit down with your travel partner (with the aforementioned adult beverage) and talk through your itinerary out loud one final time, including some plan B'ing. This always helps us find something we forgot to do, or ways to plan for even more fun (let's get to the airport even EARLIER so we can spend more time in the lounge!)
Walk through the house with an eye towards what to do last-minute, and write those things down (empty coffee filter and grounds so they don't mold, etc.)
Have a fab time!

Ah, but you see, TexasTravelmom, I dislike cooking enough that I do not put it on any lists. Only if I have time on my hands a couple of days before the trip will I say "I suppose I could run to the grocery store and cook something for when I get home."

But I am also perfectly happy to let time run out and just not do it!

I was going to suggest a mani/pedi but someone beat me to it! Besides cleaning, change the sheets on the bed so they're fresh when you get home, put a couple of gourmet meals in the freezer so no need to run right out to the grocery store when you get back, and remind the neighbors you'll be gone.

We're leaving two weeks from today for 5 weeks. Within that two weeks, we have a short trip to the West Coast to visit the grandkid, so I'm not even thinking of all the things for the Europe trip just yet. I keep a spread sheet with the "to-do" list, plus put on my calendar things like prescription refills and mail holding. T-1 we'll be bringing in all the outdoor furniture and anything that can be blown around if there's a hurricane, gathering all the houseplants into one central location for the neighbor to water, and doing all the cleaning as suggested.

It's hard to relax with all the adrenaline pumping through one's system!!

Hycolonic .....

In addition to some GREAT advice above, consider downloading Time Shifter for jet lag, you have enough time to start moving towards a European time zone. I just used it flying to Sweden from SFO, I think it lessened total jet lag and fuzzy head significantly. I added the low dose 2-3MG melatonin component, & went to bed an hour earlier each day, which somehow worked! Wore dark glasses at airport & to some degree on plans & followed the times to get sunlight versus not.

If you're afraid you've forgotten something around the house, this link has a lot more advice! https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/how-do-you-do-a-longer-trip-to-europe

Really fun to see all the things you all are doing just before a trip!

KC - I like the "plan B'ing". We had planned to do an itinerary review today so we'll add some plan B'ing. The house walk-through is a great idea.

Sandancisco - Yup. Got Timeshifter. This will be our second time using it. It worked really well for us last time. We are thinking of adding the melatonin this time (a new feature since we used it in 2019). And yes, I was following that thread you linked.

I signed up for USPS Informed Delivery...they capture an image of ant letter sized mail and send it to you. I am paperless for everything and receive very little mail but I'm gone for 4 months...this way I can see if something comes in I need to deal with. I am leaving my mail box key with a trusted neighbor.

We are very lucky to have a renter on the property so it will not be unattended while we are gone. She will collect mail and packages, water the garden and fill the bird feeder when our greedy little (wild) finches empty it.

I try to time shift so I'm up at least by 3-ish a few days ahead of my trip (I'm on west coast time). Usually day T-2 is prime house cleaning/laundry/puttering time. I second the task of making sure those coffee grounds get tossed (it's soooo gross when you don't) and eating up the last bits of random food that won't last in the fridge. If my trash day is after I leave, I ask a neighbor if I can put my last bag in their can so it doesn't sit in mine for weeks. I also try to have my entire bag packed and ready to go on day T-2 so that day T-1 isn't so stressful. I also check in for my flights (if allowed) which always feels like a huge relief. And I check for my passport about 25 times. I sometimes also distract myself by watching t.v. programs I need to catch up on (I'm saving the last of the Apple TV "The Reluctant Traveler" for just this purpose). Trolling this forum is also a nice distraction :) Have a wonderful trip!

Definitely check your airline app and/or website for possible changes to your schedule. Sometimes the airline notifies us and sometimes they don't. And sometimes the app is not as updated as the website. It is frustrating, but needs to be done.

Don't forget to check in with your airline as soon as you can.

Make doubly sure that you have your passports (yes, your husband's too) in your carry-on purse or bag.

I make one more "to do list" usually a day or two before departure....things like make sure I pack my meds, my phone, put out the trash, make sure light timer is on, etc. I check things off as I do them, and then make sure everything is checked off before we leave for the airport.

Checkin online 24 hrs before.
Make a “last minute” list.
Be sure to turn off your water, gas, etc.
Or at least turn off your washing machine and dishwasher water lines.
Charge all your devices.
I have a manicure and pedicure the day before I leave.

Think about what a wonderful trip you’re about to have!

Well, I am T-5 days until I head to Paris. Fortunately or Unfortunately I am still working until Friday, so that gives me Saturday & Sunday to: Do Laundry, Housework, Pack, Wash the Harley, and hope for no transportation issues getting to SFO. I am also doing carry-on only for this week long trip for the first time. Should be fun.

Enjoy your trip.