Your Pre-Travel Checklist: 7 Essential Things To Do!
There is no denying that going on vacation is exciting! You are likely counting down the weeks and days until you jet off to somewhere new for a while.
You will have no doubt got a mental checklist in your head of things to do before you go. Those may include the obvious: packing your clothes, booking your flights and hotel accommodation. But, have you got these other essentials on your travel checklist?
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- Make copies of all your travel documents
It’s no secret that you will need certain documents for your travels, such as visas and permits. But what would happen if you lose them? It might seem an unlikely thought; however, it does happen to people.
Be sure to make backup copies of all documents. Keep them accessible on the go, such as in a secure Dropbox folder.
- Make sure your passport is valid
One of the biggest disappointments to any vacation is the horror of realizing your passport expired! It might sound like an obvious thing to check, but it will amaze you how many folks forget!
With that in mind, check the validity of your passport. Will it be valid for the duration of your vacation? If not, get it renewed immediately.
- Find out how much foreign currency you need
It’s likely the country you travel to may use a different currency to you. If that is the case, you will need to buy some foreign currency so that you’ve got cash to spend on arrival.
It’s important to know how much money you’re likely to need abroad. Use a currency converter to determine how much foreign currency your local money will buy.
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- Take enough medication with you
Are you taking prescription medicine? If so, make sure that you have enough of it when you travel. If you’re likely to run out, visit your doctor and request some more.
Also, it’s a good idea to take a copy of your prescription with you. That way, if airport customs officials have any questions, you can prove that you get prescribed the medicine you’re carrying.
- Ask a friend or family member to house-sit
While you are away, it makes sense to keep your home occupied. The last thing you want to deal with when you get back from vacation is a burglary in your home!
Ask a trusted friend or family member if they will house-sit for you.
- Leave your itinerary with a loved one
If there is ever an emergency back home, it’s crucial that your family can contact you. If they cannot connect with you via telephone, how else can they reach you?
Because of that, it’s important to leave a copy of your itinerary with a family member or loved one.
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- Take backup funding sources with you
Last, but not least, you should make sure that you have more than one way to pay for things. Sure, you will take some cash with you. But, it’s also wise to take a debit and credit card as well.
This is such a helpful checklist for travel! Thank you so much for sharing. I am a big list maker but I still always feel like I am forgetting something.
These are all very good tips for whenever you travel, especially internationally. One that I will definitely add to my usual list is #6: Leave your itinerary with a family member or loved one.
A very helpful list! Thank you!
I get very anxious before a trip so having a check list like this to refer to is really helpful.
#3 is especially important if there are several countries in your itinerary. Once, I travelled to 5 countries in Europe with euros only without realizing that the currency for Swtizerland is Swiss Franc and not Euro.
Not every country requires an International Driver’s License, but it is a good idea to have one in case you run into any issues if you are planning on driving. Plus, it’s super easy to get an IDL. If you’re an American, you can go to any AAA and they can set you up with one.