Brits are being urged to take a photo of every room in their home before going on holiday, a tip from a TUI cabin crew member to help prevent unnecessary stress while abroad. Faye Whittaker revealed the five checks that cabin crew do before every trip, including taking photos or videos to reassure themselves that nothing important had been forgotten.
Five checks cabin crew do before every trip
Faye said: "As cabin crew, I'm regularly away from home for days at a time and over the years I've learnt that some of the biggest travel mistakes happen before you have even left for the airport. Most people are so focused on their packing and travel arrangements that they forget about what's happening back at home. From missed deliveries and food left sitting in the fridge to worries about whether a window was left open, small oversights can quickly become a source of stress once you're away."
One mistake people make is not sorting out leftover food and bins until the last minute. "Milk, leftovers, fruit and food waste can quickly create unpleasant smells, particularly during the warmer summer months," she explained. "Before leaving, check your fridge, throw away anything likely to expire and take the bins out so you don't return to an unwelcome surprise. A simple trick is to set a reminder on your phone for the evening before you travel called 'fridge, bins and food waste'. It means you are not trying to remember everything whilst also dealing with last-minute packing."
Check for deliveries and let someone know
Another important consideration is checking if you have any food deliveries, parcels or subscription boxes set to arrive in your absence. "Meal kit services such as HelloFresh or Gousto, grocery deliveries and regular household subscriptions can easily slip your mind when you are focused on packing," she explained. "Before you travel, search your emails for words like 'delivery', 'subscription', 'grocery' or 'parcel' so you can quickly spot anything due to arrive while you are away. Nobody wants fresh food sitting on the doorstep for a week, and visible parcels can also make it obvious that nobody is home."
It's also important to let a trusted neighbour, friend or family member know if you're going to be away for longer than a few days, she says. "Whether it's moving a parcel, watering plants, putting a bin out or spotting an issue early, having somebody nearby who knows you're away can provide real peace of mind," Faye explained. "If you're away for a week or longer, consider using timer switches or smart lighting so your home appears occupied in the evenings. It's also worth asking someone you trust to move any post, parcels or bins that could make it obvious the property is 'empty'."
Final walkaround and photo tip
Additionally, before every trip she does a final walkaround of her house. "Even when you've checked everything earlier in the day, it's surprisingly easy to miss an open window, unlocked door or appliance left running when you're rushing to leave for the airport. I always recommend doing it in the same order every time – for example, starting upstairs and working down, so you are not wandering from room to room and forgetting what you've already checked. Look at windows, doors, plugs, taps and appliances, and make sure keys are not left in locks, window locks or somewhere visible from outside."
Her last tip is to then "take a quick photo or video of each room before you leave". "We've all had that last-minute panic of wondering whether we left the iron, straighteners or oven on," Faye said. "I've even been on my way to the airport before and found myself trying to picture whether I definitely switched everything off. After travelling so much for work, taking a quick video before I leave the house has become a non-negotiable for me. It takes less than a minute, but it means that if I suddenly start second-guessing myself, I can check my phone and put my mind at ease straight away."
The clever tip can also be useful if you need to check something while you're away from home. "While nobody likes to think about something going wrong, having recent photos or videos of your home and possessions may be helpful information to have available if you ever need to make an insurance claim or show what was inside your property."
