“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
