My travel checklist keeps my stress level lower when planning an upcoming excursion. These are the top four items that I add to every international packing list.
Traveling can be extremely stressful – especially if you are traveling with a large family or have left packing until the very last minute.
It’s quite easy to book your holiday and count down the days until you are finally embarking on your travels, only to forget about all the important things you need to check off your to-do list before you leave.
Here is a before- travel checklist to ensure you are prepared and ready to travel when the day to leave finally comes around.
Travel Checklist Item #1: Find Your Passport
You may think you know where your passport is – until you come to retrieve it and it’s not in the place you left it last. It seems you may have put it in a safe place that is just that little bit too safe.
It is a good idea to locate your passport as soon after booking a holiday as possible, especially if you are traveling by plane – as you will need your passport details to book and check in online. You also need to make sure it is not due to expire soon!
When you’ve located your passport – possibly after hours of tears and pulling your hair out – be sure to put it straight into your carry-on bag of choice. Leave this bag in an obvious place ready to pack when you have the time.
Checklist Item #2: Currency Exchange
If you do not have a Charles Schwab ATM card yet, then it may be a smart idea to change your money into the appropriate currency before you leave.
You may think you’ll be able to get some quick cash at the airport when you arrive, but typically all ATMs will charge you for withdrawing, and there will be a long line of people who had the same idea as you waiting at the currency exchange.
Changing your money in advance will not only help with your budgeting system, but it will also mean you can plan ahead and not travel with all your money in one place.
Spreading money out will avoid any opportunist pickpocket disasters as your cash will be spread out and not all easily accessible in one wallet, pocket or bag. Also check out this post on how to handle your money overseas.
Travel Checklist Item #3: Print All Necessary Documents
Have you ever gone to print off an important document and realized there is no ink in your printer? Imagine that the morning of travel and your stress levels may already be rising.
Try to print off your boarding passes as soon as possible, and pack them with your passport in your carry-on. That way your most important documents are already packed and ready to go.
It is also advisable you sort out your travel insurance in advance so either your certificate arrives through the post in time, or you can print off your proof of purchase and pack it with your other documents just in case of any emergencies.
Checklist Item #4: Confirm With Your Employer
Everyone has been there – you book your holiday time off in advance only to look at your work schedule the week before you leave and see you still need to be at work.
It’s a good idea to just check a few weeks before with your boss, to ensure they remember and are aware of the time you have booked off.
This will just help to avoid any stress that will come with seeing your name penciled into work when you’re meant to be far away lying on a sunny beach relaxing.
After ticking everything detailed above off your travel checklist, you are left with preparation: the fun outfit planning and picking with tours you are going to take.
Your stress levels will be significantly reduced; you’ll be well-prepared and more likely to be early leaving on the day of travel, setting you up for a relaxing stress-free holiday. You deserve it right?
I live by my pre-trip travel checklists, and I am so glad you mentioned traveling with paper copies of your documents! Even though digital copies can be useful, there have been plenty of times where I have needed to show a paper copy of a reservation for tour checkins or even at immigrations when crossing borders. Great tips!
Yes, I still use paper also! I have checklists for everything and print my boarding passes at home. Sometimes I have been the only one with the pass ready to go, strolling past everyone who is trying to pull up the pass on their phone. Cut them right off and get on the plane faster haha
Great post! Do you find you get a better deal on changing money when you do it in your home country? I second the Schwab debit card, by the way – it’s been a huge asset for me as I’ve traveled!
It really depends. I wouldn’t exchange in America since you usually get charged commission fees so it’s not worth it. Love my CS card!
Yeah, I do the same. Or I just charge it on my Chase Sapphire Preferred (great travel benefits, if you haven’t checked that one out yet)!
My life revolves around the Chase Sapphire card! I was lucky and got it when they had the 100,000 sign on bonus also 🙂
I have read out this informative and useful blog post while my las vegas to yellowstone national park and should share it with my mates as I will free from my tour.
Thanks for sharing!