“Before You Travel” Checklist

Print this travel checklist off and keep it handy as you’re preparing for your upcoming trip! 

Within Days of ENROLLING

• Purchase any necessary health or travel insurance (some plans require you to purchase insurance within days of booking your trip)

About 2 Months Before Your Trip

• If traveling internationally, make sure your passport is up to date 
• Check visa requirements
• If you have health concerns, check with your doctor before you depart
• Ask about any necessary vaccinations
• Make sure you have enough medication before you go, including over-the-counter

About 1 Month Before You Travel

• Research your destination, including
  • History, culture and politics
  • Unusual customs
  • How to use public transit
  • Events going on while you’re there
  • Local sayings
  • If the water is safe to drink 
• Research your airline weight limit and baggage fee policy
• If you have a medical device you need for the plane, like a CPAP machine, make sure it complies with the airline’s regulations and you have a portable battery
• If leaving for a long period of time, arrange a house sitter
• If you have any pets, arrange for a pet sitter or a kennel
• Update your phone plan if you plan to use your phone internationally

At Least 2 Weeks Before You Leave

• Stop or pause any reoccurring deliveries or services, such as newspapers or housecleaners
• Make advance payments on bills that have due dates during your trip
• Notify your bank and/or credit cards that you’ll be traveling
• Check ATM and credit card foreign transaction fees
• Plan your first day. You’re exhausted from traveling, so having all your ducks in a row when you arrive will save a lot of stress.
• Look up the conversion rate before you go and consider getting some cash in the necessary currency from your bank. Find a list of currencies here. 

The Week Before You Leave

• Share with a friend or family member your itinerary and the best way to contact you while traveling
• Make a copy of your passport and any other important documents to keep in a safe place in your luggage, or keep a digital copy in your email
• Download any travel apps or online tools you may need, like WhatsApp.  See our list of other handy travel apps here. 
• Download maps from Google Maps for the destinations you’ll be visiting so you can use the maps offline
• Bring in your outdoor furniture
• Pack! (Refer to our Packing Tips).
• Mark your suitcase with an unusual luggage tag, a colorful ribbon, strip of bright duct tape, etc., so it will be easily recognizable in baggage claim

The Day of Departure

• If you’re concerned about your phone being charged for data when you’re abroad, turn it off before you go

When You’re Traveling

• Phone home using the Internet and smartphone apps (like Skype or Facetime) instead of minutes