Travel 101 - International Digital Nomad VISA
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Travel 101 - Getting Free Rental Car Insurance through your credit card in US
Here are all the details you need to know regarding getting free Rental Car Insurance through your credit card in the US:
- **Coverage Overview:**
- Reimburses for:
- Collision/Physical damage and theft of the rental vehicle.
- Valid loss-of-use charges.
- Reasonable towing charges.
- Reasonable administrative fees.
- No deductible.
- Coverage could be primary or supplemental based on card type.
- No coverage for personal liability, belongings, bodily injuries, etc.
- Limited to rental periods within/outside country of residence.
- **Claim Filing:**
- Report accidents/theft to Card Benefit Services promptly.
- Submit claim form within 90 days.
- Follow rental agency instructions.
- Submit claim online at https://www.eclaimsline.com/
- **Required Documentation:**
- Obtain from rental company immediately:
- Accident/Police report (if applicable).
- Rental agency's claim document.
- Car rental agreements.
- Repair estimate/bill.
- Photos of the damaged vehicle.
- Additional may include:
- Billing statement.
- Insurance carrier statement.
- Copy of primary insurance policy's Declarations Page.
- Any other requested by the Benefit Administrator.
- **Coverage Details:**
- Covers most vehicles but excludes certain types like antique cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc.
- Exclusions: intentional acts, wear and tear, off-road operation, etc.
- Certain territories and rental origins are excluded.
- **International Coverage:**
- Applies outside country of residence, subject to conditions and exclusions.
- Minimum collision damage waiver coverage mandated in some countries; benefit applies in excess.
- **Payment and Settlement:**
- Payment to rental agency or cardholder.
- Settlement usually takes 8-10 weeks after receiving all required documentation.
- **Who Is Covered:**
- Cardholder who reserves, picks up, and pays for the rental.
- Additional drivers covered.
- **Additional Information:**
- Residents of certain states may have coverage under Property Damage Liability Law.
- Coverage provided even without personal automobile insurance.
- **Considerations:**
- Personal circumstances, insurance coverage may warrant additional rental insurance.
- Personal effects coverage redundant if covered by renters/homeowners insurance.
Airbnb Hosting: Before, During & After Checklist
Here's the Airbnb to-do list grouped by categories:
### Pre-Guest Arrival:
0. Set up a cleaning message for Guests within the Airbnb app:
Please remember to do the following before you leave:
1) load and run dishwasher
2) wash and dry towels; keep them where you initially found them.
3) empty trash and add new garbage bag.
4) move the garbage bag in the garbage bin located in the parking lot
5) organize bed and comforter to be as you initially came.
6) empty refrigerator to remove any food you cooked/bought.
If the above listed are not done, there will be a cleaning fee surcharge.
1. **Cleaning:**
- Dust all surfaces including furniture, shelves, and electronics.
- Vacuum carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture.
- Sweep and mop hard floors.
- Clean baseboards, ceiling fan blades, and light fixtures.
- Wipe down countertops, tables, and kitchen surfaces.
- Clean mirrors, windows, and glass doors.
- Scrub and sanitize grout, tile surfaces, and shower curtains.
- Clean and sanitize toilets, sinks, showers, and tubs.
- Sanitize kitchen sink, drain, and countertops.
- Clean appliances such as stove, oven, microwave, and refrigerator internally & externally.
- Wash dishes, utensils, and cookware.
- Wipe down exterior of appliances like toaster and kettle.
- Dust and wipe down decorative items, artwork, and blinds.
- Vacuum under and behind furniture.
- Clean entryway floors, doormat, and light fixtures.
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs and light switches.
- Vacuum and spot clean carpets or rugs.
- Disinfect trash bins and replace liners.
2. **Non-Cleaning Tasks:**
- Store, move and/or lock all personal/valuable items
- Store a spare key within & outside your home in case the guests need it
- Close all windows, doors, curtains
- Empty refrigerator & other food appliances.
- Have extra phone chargers & AA/AAA cells for replacement available for visitors
- Do your laundry & replace towels and bed linens.
- Replenish toiletries
- Set up Smart TV logins & subscriptions
- Check expiration dates of consumables like tea, coffee, and toiletries.
- Provide basic cooking essentials like oil, salt, pepper, and spices.
- Ensure adequate lighting in entryway and living spaces.
- Test smoke detectors and replace batteries if needed.
- Turn on your home's AC & water heater
- Check that keys or keyless entry codes are working properly.
- Refill guest amenities such as shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
- Stock up on cleaning supplies for the next turnover.
- Adjust thermostat settings to comfortable levels.
- Update online calendar and availability for future bookings.
- Leave a welcome note or small gift for arriving guests.
- Perform a final walkthrough to ensure everything is in order before guests arrive.
- Make sure you don’t receive shipments at home during rental
- Communicate WiFi password &/or key lockbox code with visitors
### During the Guest Stay:
1. **Maintenance:**
- Address any maintenance issues promptly.
- Water indoor plants if necessary.
- Refill any consumables like coffee pods or tea bags.
- Check outdoor areas for debris or cleanliness.
- Ensure all appliances are in working order.
- Verify that all keys or access codes have been returned or reset.
- Respond promptly to any guest inquiries or requests.
2. ** Provide recommendations to visitors**
- for local attractions, restaurants, and amenities.
- for keeping the home clean during their stay.
- for taking their luggage and belongings with them & not forget anything
### Post-Guest Departure:
1. **Cleaning:**
- Launder used linens and towels.
- Sanitize and polish faucets, fixtures, and appliances.
- Reorganize furniture and decor as needed.
- Reset any personalized settings on smart home devices.
- Ensure outdoor areas are tidy and any outdoor furniture is clean and arranged.
- Double-check that lights and electronics are turned off.
- Check walls for scuffs or marks.
- Remove all garbage from the home
- Perform a final walkthrough to ensure everything is in order.
2. **Inspect for Damages:**
- Check for stains on carpets or upholstery.
- Verify the condition of walls, appliances, and furniture.
- Take photos if needed for documentation.
3. **Restocking:**
- Refill toiletries and essentials.
- Replenish kitchen essentials like coffee, tea, sugar, and cooking oil.
- Stock up on cleaning supplies for the next turnover.
4. **Resetting:**
- Adjust thermostat settings to standard levels.
- Ensure all lights and electronics are turned off.
- Reset any personalized settings on smart home devices.
- Check that all keys and access codes are reset.
5. **Preparing for Next Guests:**
- Update the online calendar and availability for future bookings.
- Double-check that the listing description accurately reflects the current amenities and features.
- Perform a final walkthrough to ensure everything is in order before the next guests arrive.
Travel 101: Things to do before you leave for travel
Hide/Save or send to a friend/neighbor/relative for safekeeping:
- Laptop(s)
- Legal documents
- Plants
- Cash
- Extra Credit/Debit cards
- Jewelry
- Other Expensive items
- Anything else not covered by home theft insurance
Prepare for travel:
- Research places to see at your destination
- Research and Book hotels & travel wrt budget
- Pack & weigh luggage
- Remove all sharp things & liquids from carry on
- Prepare wallet & documents
- Prepare subscriptions/files for offline music/movies
- Buy international internet for your phone
- Wake up early & get ready early
Chores to complete before leaving:
- Pay all bills in Advance or set up autopay
- Suspend Internet service for travel time
- Clean house to prevent bugs and odor buildup
- Check perishable food from the refrigerator
- Check pets feed & Water plants
- Install self-watering mechanism to plants
- Lock all laptops/phones
- Install/update/link security cameras
- Close all taps or main water supply
- Turn off the electricity supply
- Empty garbage cans/bins
- Return any pending items to Amazon, etc
- Turn off lights and appliances
- Lock rooms & house
- Store house keys in a secure & backup location
Travel 101: Things you need when you move from one place to another
Things to do before you move:
- Cancel the current lease in advance to avoid fines
- Clean up the place to avoid fines
- Pay all bills pending or due in future
- Cancel existing subscriptions (Internet/Gym, etc)
- Remove all smart devices from your old home
- Book transport/storage for your stuff before you move
- Book transport for yourself
Essentials:
- Car(s)
- Subscriptions (Internet/Gym, etc)
- 4K 65”+ TV
- TV remote & 4K 60Hz HDMI wires
- TV stand (preferably tilt+height adjustable)
- TV table/rack
- Sofa set (preferred set of 2) (for at least 3 people)
- Sofa/Futon pillows for lumbar support
- Bed (queen size for 1 person) (king size for 2 people)
- Bedsheets, pillows and pillow covers
- 2x Dressers / drawer sets (2x for each side of your bed and sofa)
- Lamps/lights (for kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and open space)
- Dustbins (for kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and open space)
- Dining/coffee table (for open space)
- Desk for work (in open space)
- Chairs for coffee/dining tables (in open space)
- Shower/bathroom curtains
- Wi-Fi extender+Router + LAN wires
- Microwave (preferably as air fryer combo)
- Smart Thermostat
- Washing machine & Dryer (preferably 2 in 1 combo)
- Roomba Floor Vacuum (preferably with LIDAR and mop)
- Mini/Large Vacuum cleaner (high suction)
- Kitchen Utensils
- Working sink (for bathroom and kitchen)
- Internet Router & LAN wires
- Cleaning essentials
- Tissue rolls (for kitchen and open space)
- Tissue roll holders
- Toilet paper
- Refrigerator (with freezer or buy freezer separately)
- Suitcases (for packing travel luggage and gifts separately)
- Empty bags (for garbage and packing)
- Clothes & Shoes
- Personal Computers
- Personal electronics
- Phone chargers for all rooms
- Power cord extensions
- Shoe Rack
- Floor mats/carpets (Entrance, kitchen, hall, bathroom)
- Double-sided tape to stick floor mats to the floor
Optional Nice to Haves:
- Soundbar / speakers
- Hall & room curtains
- Alcohol bar (furniture & bottle stand)
- Recliner (with 180 degree flat option)
- Cloth Iron & ironing table
- Books (collectible encyclopedias)
- Bookrack
- Wall-mounted racks/paintings
- Cold/hot water station (in open space)
- Toilet bidet (water jet)
- Dishwasher
- House Plants
20 Addresses to Update after moving:
- Online Shopping (Amazon, Ebay, etc)
- Airline memberships (online)
- Car & home Insurance policy: Contact your insurance provider(s)
- USCIS / Immigration (using Form AR-11 Alien's Change of Address Form)
- USPS (Change of Address form); UPS / FedEx (online)
- Credit card accounts (online)
- Bank accounts (online)
- Retirement/Roth IRA/HSA/FSA accounts: Contact your account administrator(s)
- Trading accounts (Robinhood, etc)
- Health insurance membership: Contact your health insurance provider & doctors
- Employer records (workday, ADP, etc) in your employee profile or contact your HR department
- License & ID (Local Government Offices like DMV)
- Tax Authority (IRS): Form 8822 (Change of Address) or by updating your address when filing your next tax return
- Priority pass (travel memberships)
- Credit Score: Experian/Equifax/TransUnion: online through their websites or by phone
- Voter Registration: ensure you receive voting information and ballots for elections
- Subscriptions and Memberships: gym memberships, associations, or clubs.
- Subscription Services: streaming (Netflix, Spotify, etc.), magazines, meal/grocery delivery, etc.
- Utility Companies: Contact your electricity, gas, water, internet, and cable providers
- Vehicle Registration: Contact the relevant vehicle registration authority in your area.
Feel free to bookmark this Checklist for your next move :)
Also check out my other article; Travel 101: Things to carry with you when you travel anywhere
Travel 101: Things to Carry when you travel anywhere
Basic checklist for any/all travel:
- Passport for international/domestic travel
- VISA and permit for international travel
- Driving License for identity verification
- Other Personal ID/Identification
- Medical Insurance documents (signup for international travel insurance separately)
- Your own House & Car keys
- Suitcases & Bags to take with you
- Baggage locks
- Baggage labels (with your name, address & phone number)
- Empty Plastic bags (you will need them)
- Paper napkins/tissues
- Hotel/Airbnb booking (printed)
- Air Travel Tickets (printed)
- Destination directions/Maps (printed)
- Embassy contact info in destination country (printed)
- Car rental / personal car documents
- Priority Pass / Lounge access booking
- Destination Travel phone apps (pre-downloaded)
- Job/Work related travel documents
- Work/Job laptop &/or phone
- Home country cash
- Destination country currency
- Credit/debit cards with no foreign transaction fees
- Business cards / Workplace ID
- Sim/cell-plan for country you are going to
- Phone (with Offline TV/music pre-downloaded)
- Phone charger (preferably fast charger)
- Power bank for phone (preferably solar)
- Watch/Smartwatch
- Smartwatch charger (if travelling for 1 day)
- Wireless Speaker / Headphones / earphones
- USB flash drive &/or SD card
- Laptop / iPad for entertainment (with Offline TV/music pre-downloaded)
- Laptop / iPad charger
- Multiplug for different types of charging ports
- Gifts for/from home/destination country
- Portable Coffee/Tea cup/container if you drink tea/coffee during travel as well
- Spoon, fork, butter knife & bottle opener
- Other cooking tools/utensils if you want to cook wherever you stay
- Healthy high fiber Portable Snacks
- Favorite spicy/sweet sauce travel packs
- Salt & Sweet travel packs
- Packing tape
- Favorite blanket/bedsheet/pillow
- Travel Bag pack with lots of pockets
- Plastic disposable Water bottle
- Loose/Comfy clothes for hotel wear
- Formal/fashionable work/party clothes
- Formal Black Belt & Tie for formal events
- Jewelry - Mens & Womens - Rings, chains, etc.
- Special winter/summer/rain clothes based on destination weather
- Sunglasses for driving/fashion/travel
- Extra pair of prescription glasses/lenses
- Comfortable slippers for summers or hotel stay
- Boots for cold weather or rough terrains
- Generic Sports/Travel shoes
- Swimming/summer trunks/shorts
- Cold/summer weather socks (stockings for women)
- Gloves, Scarves, etc
- Umbrella/Raincoats if Destination has rain
- Perfume/deodorant (<100ml travel size)
- Hairwax, Oil and Comb
- Sunscreen &/or Moisturizer
- Condoms / Birth control pills
- General health Supplements
- Generic Medicines for cold / fever / headache / stomach ache, painkiller, etc.
- Basic first aid kit (Band-Aids, antibiotic cream, bandage, etc)
- Medicines with their Doctor approved Prescriptions for international travel
- Vaccine Card showing proof of covid vaccinations
- 48-72 hr prior Negative Covid test report
- Facemask (not a Bandana)
- Handkerchief or Mini Towel
- 1 lightweight but large drying towel
- Mini toothpaste/shampoo/soap
- Eye mask
- Earplugs
- Hair trimmer / shaving kit
- Forceps / Small scissors for personal care
- Nail cutter for personal care
- Toothpaste & Toothbrush
- Dental floss / Mouthwash
- Paper/Portable Soap or Hand sanitizer
- Q-tips to clean ears
- Band-Aids (preferably waterproof)
- Swiss knife / Multi-tool
- Playing Cards or dice game
- Pen/Marker to write stuff
- Empty piece of paper or A small pocketbook
- Books to read (Novels, etc)
- High definition Camera
- Cigarettes/Vape, etc (check travel rules)
- All kids stuff if you have kids
- All Pets stuff if you have pets
- All elderly people stuff if you are traveling with old folks
Feel free to bookmark this Checklist for your next travel :)
Travel 101: Portable Living in a Van/RV/Camper/Tiny House
Following are the only things you will need if you are planning to live portably in a Van/RV/Camper/Tiny House.
Note: I do not recommend families with kids to live in tiny homes unless you are on travel.
You will need:
- A reliable and enough water source.
- A reliable and enough electricity source.
- A vehicle to pull, park and transport your portable home if/when you travel or if/when the authorities/government shows up to remove you from your area of living.
- Sound and heat proofing in your living area to keep you shielded/separated from external noise and heat/cold.
- A toilet or portable way of getting rid of human waste reliably
- Weekly maintenance to fill up backups for gas/fuel/water/electricity/toiletries, etc.
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