Tuesday, October 1, 2013

To Do List

My thoughts on what we need to do for the trip. We can discuss here, at home, individual posts for each item, whatever. I just want to write this stuff down before I forget. I may add to this as we come up with more ideas. I'm sure I forgot something.

And of course we can do things earlier than they say here, but probably not later.


This Week
  1. Book Seville hotel
  2. Book Barcelona lodging
  3. Book train pass
Next Week
  1. Finalize Hossa care, how is she getting to Bloomington, how are we getting her back, etc.
  2. Buy/order backpack (are we going to make it to REI? Or try ordering one online with enough time to return it if we don't like it.)
  3. Buy/order clothes we might want for trip
  4. Buy/order tolietries
  5. Ask someone to watch our car (Kristin? Or I can try to drop off in Algonquin, have Walter drive us to O'Hare on Friday. Pick us up Sunday? Maybe try to get Ron to drive up with Hossa that day? Visit us and Wally? We will be exhausted, but it might be easier than driving to/from Bloomington. either when we get back or later that week. I don't know, just ideas.)
Following Week
  1. Set timer for light
  2. Set thermostat
  3. Hold mail 
  4. Make sure we have back up copies of reservations, maps, passports, IDs, etc
  5. Set out of office assistant at work
  6. Hold calls at work
  7. Set up international plan with AT&T
  8. Pack
  9. Leave for trip
  10. Have fun
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19 comments:

  1. ShannonOctober 2, 2013 at 10:41 AM

    Ron is picking up Hossa on the 15th. That has been confirmed. He's going to take his baby girl to dinner for her birthday (big of him). Of course you are invited.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EricOctober 2, 2013 at 10:44 AM

      I guess I don't need to plan anything for your birthday then.

      That's fine if it's what works for him. Saves us a trip to Bloomington. Too bad he won't go to the game Thursday. He could go with you. Or we could send him with Wally. Their gift for taking care of Hossa from time to time (or for 3 weeks in your Dad's case)

      What about picking her up? We get in on a Sunday. We'll be exhausted, but should we get her that day? Otherwise we're back to work. Drive to Bloomington? Try to get your Dad to come up?

      Delete
    2. ShannonOctober 2, 2013 at 11:10 AM

      Feel free to sell the tickets for the 17th. I forgot to mention that one.

      We get in at 315 Sunday afternoon. Maybe I can see if he can meet us halfway. I don't want to drive to Bloomington and back that day/night.

      Delete
    3. EricOctober 2, 2013 at 11:12 AM

      You don't want to go to the game on the 17th?

      I can fetch H on that Sunday, you can stay home. It's certainly not ideal, but what else do we do? Get her the following weekend? We will miss her after not seeing her for almost 3 weeks. We will be sick of her antics by November 4. Hossa is awesome in concept. In reality, she's a pain in the ass.

      Delete
  2. ShannonOctober 2, 2013 at 11:37 AM

    No - that's ok. It will be too hectic with everything last minute. It's best we sell those tickets for that game.

    I'll go with you on the Sunday to get H. I'll see what my dad has to say about it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ShannonOctober 7, 2013 at 10:37 AM

    Do we want to ensure that we have the correct pins for our Capital One/ING cards in case we need to use them? I think we'll try to use the AMEX as much as possible, right?

    We also need to find our passports. I think we know where they are, but something that we can do sooner rather than later to have it off the list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EricOctober 7, 2013 at 10:44 AM

      Our passports are here, valid, and ready to go.

      We should make sure we know our ING PIN.

      Not sure about the Amex, may depend what card has the lowest foreign transaction fee. We'll be on the same currency the whole time, so there may be some value in using cash. I'll figure it out.

      Delete
  4. EricOctober 7, 2013 at 11:08 AM

    Chase $5 fee for withdrawals for non-Chase ATMs outside US. Exchange rate adjustment fee of 3% of the withdrawal/charge amount (both debit and credit cards). They don't have ATMs in Spain.



    ReplyDelete
  5. EricOctober 7, 2013 at 11:17 AM

    Capital One 360 does not charge any foreign transaction fees as a debit card or ATM.

    We will be subject to any fees from the foreign ATM.

    I notified them where I would be, you have to call and do the same thing. They are also sending us PIN reminders in the mail.

    ReplyDelete
  6. EricOctober 8, 2013 at 11:24 AM

    Do you want to see what Amex will charge for foreign transactions? And let them know we'll be gone. And see what our balance is, probably high between our vacation lodging and our sickly mutt.

    ReplyDelete
  7. ShannonOctober 8, 2013 at 11:56 AM

    Balance on AMEX is $2376.93 which includes numerous Amazon purchases, dog, car, dishwasher, travel, and sox tix.

    Foreign transaction fee is 2.7% of converted cash transaction.

    I'll call to let them know of our travels.

    ReplyDelete
  8. ShannonOctober 8, 2013 at 12:10 PM

    AMEX automatically monitors the travel status of its members. Scary!

    ReplyDelete
  9. EricOctober 14, 2013 at 9:35 AM

    I think we took care of everything on the "this week" and "next week" list.

    I have PDFs of all hotel/apartment rentals, public transit directions to each of them, and copies of our passports.

    Any other hard copies we need?

    What's up with our Frommer's walking tours?

    ReplyDelete
  10. EricOctober 14, 2013 at 9:35 AM

    Oh, I also have our EasyJet confirmation info.

    ReplyDelete
  11. EricOctober 14, 2013 at 9:36 AM

    Mail is held

    ReplyDelete
  12. ShannonOctober 14, 2013 at 9:39 AM

    I'm putting together a booklet on the walking tours for all cities so I have that covered. I'm incorporating Jason's recommendations as well. I'm going to see what free apps I can get tonight when I'm at home too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. ShannonOctober 14, 2013 at 9:56 AM

    I managed to purchase our train tickets today. We got seats although near each not next to each other. I'm not sure how that happened. From Madrid to Seville we are 3B and 3C which is across the aisle from each other. From Seville to Barcelona, we are 3A and 4A which appear to be single seats on the window in front of each other. You might be able to flip these seats according to the seating chart so we can face each other.

    I've printed the tickets and we'll bring them home tonight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EricOctober 14, 2013 at 9:59 AM

      I'm sure we can figure out the sitting arrangements. Thanks for taking care of that.

      Delete

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