As we are entering the last few days of fasting in Ramadan 1444 Hijriah, some Jakartans are starting to prepare their return to their hometowns in order to celebrate Eid Al-fitr. How about you, Smartcitizen? If you are one of those going home for Eid, considering that traveling can take up time, effort, and money, there are several things you need to prepare before leaving. What are those things? Find out here.

Prepare Fees

Costs during the trip to and from your hometown can vary, depending on the mode of transportation you choose. If you are going home using a private car or motorcycle, you need to prepare a budget for gas, tolls, and food or drink needs for your whole family. Also, increase your electronic card balance so you don't run out of toll fees. If you use public transportation such as planes, buses, or travel, you also need to pay upfront to buy tickets. In order for you to get a good price for the tickets, order them days or months before the day of departure.

The costs that need to be prepared are not only for the trips. Smartcitizens also need to take into account the costs of your needs while staying in your hometown, such as food, lodging costs, THR for the family if needed, and emergency funds.

Find out the Government Mudik Rules

Every year, the government issues regulations regarding Eid homecoming. So, before leaving for homecoming, you must know the homecoming regulations that have been set by the government this year. Rules that you need to pay attention to regarding joint leave and travel requirements related to Covid-19. In 2020 and 2021, the government issued a ban on going home for Eid. Meanwhile, in 2022, homecoming is permitted with the condition that people who go home for Eid already got their shots for vaccine doses 1, 2, as well as boosters. This year, homecoming restrictions will no longer be applied. However, people are still advised always to be vigilant.
 

As for Eid 2023 joint leave, it occurs on April 19, 20, 21, 24 2023. Keep in mind the dates so you can plan your homecoming trip well.

Take your office leave

Those of you who work will need to prepare for office leave before going home if you want to extend your holidays outside of joint leave. Thus, after knowing the date of joint leave according to government regulations, you can immediately prepare a leave letter. Don't forget to tell your co-workers so they are informed that you will be taking some time off, as well as finishing work so you don't have to be disturbed while on vacation later.

Ensure That You Are in Good Health Condition

When going home for Eid, usually the traffic will be very congested. It often results in traffic jams. If you take a road trip, your energy might be extra drained, because you could be stuck in traffic for hours. After arriving at your destination, maybe you will also be tired and feel jet lag for some time. Therefore, the health of you and your family needs to be taken care of. Try to get enough rest and take multivitamins days before your departure so that you maintain yourself in good health conditions.

Check Your House Security

Homecoming will take quite a long time, it could be several days or even weeks. In order to safely leave the house within that time frame, make sure the condition of the house before you leave. Check whether all doors and windows are locked, stoves, lamps, and electronic devices are off, and secure all valuable items.

Packing

Packing sounds easy, but in fact, it takes a lot of time. It is because we need to take into account the number of days of going home as well as the types of activities that will be done to determine how many and what clothes as well as items to bring. In order not to miss your stuff, it's better for Smartcitizens to pack ahead of time. Make sure you bring essential items as well, such as toiletries, medicines, masks, and hand sanitizers. For those of you who are going home by plane, you need to make certain that the weight of the bags you carry doesn’t exceed the load capacity.

Bring Food and Drink Supplies

When going home for Eid, there will be moments when you have to wait for a long time. It could be while waiting for departure time or stuck in traffic. In those kinds of emergency situations, it would be better if you had food and drink supplies. So, don't forget to bring them.
 

If you need food intake during a road trip around Jakarta, you can find culinary destinations easily by using JakPeta on JAKI! If you don't have the JAKI app yet, download it through Google Play Storeor Apple App Store.

Wear Comfortable Clothes

During the trip, there are high chances you will sleep or change seating positions. Thus, you need to wear comfortable clothes. Clothes with simple cuts will really help you to move freely. It is also important to consider the weather. If the weather is cold or you use transportation with Air Conditioning (AC), it's best to wear a jacket so you don't get cold or catch a cold.

Keep in Contact With Family

No one knows what will happen during the trip. It could be that you will lose the signal, the cellphone battery runs out, or you have to turn off communication devices. For this reason, it's important to contact your family or closest person before leaving and after arriving at your destination so they know you're doing fine.

Beware of Covid-19 Transmission

Even though the number of Covid-19 cases has been slumping, we still need to be vigilant. During the homecoming trip, beware of Covid-19 transmission. You can start by bringing the necessary medical equipment, such as masks, hand sanitizers, and others. If you go home using public transportation, wear a mask while on the trip. When you are outdoors, you can already take off your mask. However, if you want to be more vigilant, you can still wear a mask outdoors. Don't forget to wash your hands and maintain physical distance from others. 

Have you taken notes of those 10 important preparations for Eid Al-fitr homecoming? Which do you want to prepare first? To make your trip safer and more memorable, you can read the official guidefor this year's homecoming. Happy homecoming and we hope you arrive at your destination safely!