How do you prepare for a trip? Have you ever forgotten something essential to avoid trouble abroad or to travel comfortably? Experienced travelers are well acquainted with the fact that all smooth and pleasant trips have one thing in common: a thorough checklist made well in advance before traveling. But what does this list need to include? Is it valid for all destinations? It would be safe to answer “yes”, take note of our recommendations for a trip preparation checklist below and keep it handy for all your upcoming adventures. Revising it every time you start thinking about your next destination will ensure that you won’t overlook any important requirement and will get everything you need prior to your departure.
Prepare for your next travels with this vacation or trip checklist
Book your accommodation well in advance
Secure a safe place to stay during your trip as soon as possible. Bear in mind that nightly rates generally go up as your arriving date approaches. Before making a reservation, search for hotels that will cater to your needs, are close to your interests and seem to offer good value for money. Reliable hotel booking websites will let you modify or cancel your stay without penalty as long as you do it between 24 and 48 hours prior to your scheduled arrival.
Search for flights and book with the best airline covering your route
In order to find the lowest airfare with an airline operating flights to your destination, you can use a flight price comparison website. However, don’t reserve a seat until you have checked what is included in the final fare (the luggage allowance, snacks, assigned seats, etc.). In this case, the same rules of hotel booking applies: the earlier you get your flights, the better the deals.
Check whether you need a Visa, Permit or Tourist Card to enter your destination
If entering the country you plan to visit requires a travel visa, tourist card or some kind of permit, note that you should apply for your document soon, since processing visas for visitors with a foreign passport may take up to several months. Planning ahead will ensure that you will have received your permit by the time you depart.
Learn about health and vaccination requirements
Many destinations still ask travelers to show proof of their current health condition and vaccination status, and a few may still require you to quarantine for a period of time before being admitted into the territory. It is also advisable that you carry written prescriptions by a doctor if you are carrying any type of medication with you.
Purchase a travel health insurance plan
You should always buy specific medical insurance for your travels, especially when planning long stays abroad. Today, you may even find multi-country health insurance plans for international tourists and business travelers. Learn more by watching the video (text continues below).
Make sure you have suitable clothing for your trip
You might be travelling somewhere with very cold weather, to a tropical part of the earth with dry climate and high temperatures, or something in between where you will be smart enough to wear layers of clothing. Also pay attention to what you will be doing: meeting clients (or bosses), walking long distances or practising extreme sports and choose your clothes accordingly. Don’t forget your portable travel iron to look impeccabble all the time.
Keep a printed copy of your passport and plane tickets in your hand luggage
Printed copies of your documentation, plane tickets and hotel reservations will come handy if your smartphone suddenly stops working or runs out of battery. In other words, don’t rely solely on your devices for crucial steps of your trip like boarding the plane or checking in at the hotel, and take photos of your belongings inside your bags just in case they get lost.
Get cash in the local currency of your destination
Visit your bank or the bureau the change counter at your home airport to purchase foreign currency that you can use just like a local in the city you will be visiting. Think that small stores and restaurants may not accept international debit or credit cards, especially if you plan to explore non-touristy towns.
Arrange airport transfers and shuttle services before getting there
You will surely need some means of transportation to go from the airport terminal to your hotel, and from your hotel to a congress venue, for instance. For a smoother trip, book all your rides while you are still home, and print out the confirmation e-mails with your itineraries and schedules.
Put battery chargers and powerbanks in your hand and checked luggage
No matter if you travel for work or for leisure: nobody wants to miss the chance to come back home with the coolest photos and videos. When you pack your bags, put USB chargers and powerbanks in both your checked and your cabin luggage so that you can keep the battery of your digital camera and electronic devices fully charged at all times.
Download useful travel mobile apps
In order to stay informed while in transit, it would be ideal to download your airline app, as well as any other relevant mobile applications related to transport, health regulations, activities or city guides of your final destination.
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