It is easy to get swept up by all the preparations before going on a trip. Whether it’s a road trip to a place nearby, or somewhere overseas, it’s not the big things that you forget such as booking flights or hotel rooms, but the small things that you notice when you get home, or you remember when you’re already there (worst feeling ever!).
Having a pre-travel checklist will save you the agony of trying to remember everything the day before or wondering about the things you forgot on your way there.
In this article, I have gathered a list of important things for a pre-travel checklist of things that don’t usually come to mind.
1. Travel documents
Although this is obvious, it happens that you can arrive somewhere and find out that you forgot an important document (hello, checking your passport 10 times at the airport!). To avoid this, ensure you have these documents right before you travel:
- Passport
- Visa (if you need one)
- Bank cards
- Identity card
- Driver’s license
It’s also important to make sure that your passport is not expired and to check the visa requirements for your destination, especially with Brexit and changing visa policies around Europe and other destinations.
What is even better is to have hard copies of documents like your flight tickets and bookings. Keep electronic copies of everything like ID and driver’s license in case of theft.
Tip: Carry a small belt bag (or running bag) under your clothes that includes your bank cards and some cash.
2. Communication for safety
One of the most overlooked preparations is safety precautions. No one wants to travel with the thought that something bad might happen, but it’s always good to take precautions. So, inform a trusted friend or family member about your travel plans, including your itinerary and contact details. Share emergency contact information with them.
3. Take out unnecessary things from your wallet
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
You don’t want to travel with a wallet full of unnecessary things you won’t use on the trip. You want to remove any gift cards, credit cards you won’t use, and loyalty cards. It’s easier to lose important cards if you carry unnecessary ones along the way. Plus, fewer cards = less responsibility.
4. Put a hold on mail delivery
You don’t want things to keep getting delivered to your house when you’re not there, especially if you’re spending a long time away. You can risk having them stolen or lost, so it’s better to put a hold on mail delivery or ask a trusted neighbor to collect them for you.
5. Bring outdoor furniture inside the house
This prevents the furniture from getting stolen, ruined, or piled with dust.
6. Pay bills due during your trip
Paying in advance is better than coming back home to the stress of having to pay late bills or even worse, pay for late penalties. Ensure you’ve made advance payments for your credit card, water, electricity bills, and other subscriptions.
7. Clean your fridge
Check the expiry date on items in your fridge to avoid coming back to a smelly fridge. For less food waste, hold on grocery shopping before traveling and eat what you have, give them to people, or pack them with you if possible.
8. Notify your bank of your travels
It is important to inform your bank to avoid freezes on your accounts and bank cards. That’s because they might assume that you’re not the one using the card and put it on hold until they verify that it’s you. Inform them of your travel destinations and dates.
Also, do your research on currency conversions and fees that apply to it, and whether they have limits on foreign currencies. It is better not to rely on sorting out the financials in the destinations since some places don’t offer easy access to ATMs, or might not even accept foreign cards. Planning is key.
9. Take out the trash
This one seems pretty obvious, but it’s easy to forget to take out all the trash in the house when you’re overwhelmed by all the things you need to remember. So, here I am reminding you to take out the trash before you leave so you don’t come home to a horrible smell or worse, insects and mice in your house.
10. Free up phone storage
If you’re like me and love to document travels, then you shouldn’t overlook this step. Free up some storage before you leave to make room for all the memories you want to document. If you don’t like to delete things, you can upload them on your computer, or delete applications you won’t use and re-download them again when you’re back.
11. Give a spare house key to someone you trust
Not everyone would like to do that step unless they have pets to feed or plans to water, but it’s recommended that you leave someone you trust a spare key just in case. You might lose your keys on the trip, or need them to pick up something for you. So, make sure someone has your back.
12. Confirm the reservations you have made
I know it’s very unlikely for someone to forget to book flight tickets or a hotel, but you want to make sure that the reservations are confirmed. Also, either print out the confirmations or take a screenshot on your phone so that the details are easily accessible when you need them.
13. Utilities and appliances
Depending on the length of your trip and the weather in your country, you want to either turn off completely your cooling/warming systems or adjust according to your needs; if you’re keeping pets or plants in the house. Also, unplug electrical appliances and turn off lights to save energy and prevent accidents.
14. Download the necessary applications
In this digital world, having the right applications makes things way easier when traveling. There are many travel-related applications to help you. Also, don’t assume that because a service is popular in your region, that is operating or there isn’t a better alternative in your travel destinations (like no Uber in China!).
Here are some of the best travel-related applications to download:
- Google Maps or Waze. Both are great navigation apps, but Google Maps offers more information about the places of interest and Waze offers real-time traffic and road information.
- Uber, Lyft, or Bolt. Ride-hailing services available in many cities worldwide.
- Moovit. Ideal for navigating public transportation systems.
- TripIt. Organizes travel plans, itineraries, and reservations all in one place.
- Trail Wallet. Tracks expenses and manages budgets while traveling.
- Foursquare. Suggests nearby places to visit and dine based on user reviews.
15. Health and Medications
Even though almost most countries don’t require COVID-19 vaccinations anymore, some countries require COVID-19 vaccinations or vaccinations for other diseases. So, make sure you are prepared.
- Necessary vaccinations
- Prescription medications and copies of prescriptions
- Travel first aid kit
16. Miscellaneous
Here are some miscellaneous last-minute checks to do before traveling:
- Snacks for the journey
- Entertainment (books, downloaded movies, etc.)
- Travel pillows/blankets for comfort
- Last-minute checks for weather forecasts
- Verify the status of your flights or transportation