Somewhere between booking the flight and boarding it, many travelers stop planning and start hoping.
Imagine this: You are at airport security when you realize your passport expires in four months, which is two months short of the six months of validity that your intended international destination requires. Of course, none of that matters until the last minute, when you realize it absolutely does.
That is why a solid pre-trip checklist comes in handy. It helps you clear the boring pre-travel tasks so your trip doesn’t turn into an avoidable administrative nightmare.
Get Your Entry Requirements Straight First
Every country puts forward its own rules, and valid documents aren’t the same as being valid enough. Many destinations won’t let you in if your passport expires within six months.
For example, Thailand and Argentina both hold to this, even though the US doesn’t require the same going the other direction because that requirement has been waived for citizens of 100 countries, including Thailand and Argentina.
Some destinations also want tourists to apply for a visa or an e-visa days or weeks ahead of their intended travel date, and some also ask for more documents showing your travel plans before you clear immigration. This often includes having proof of onward travel, such as a return flight.
It’s also a good idea to keep a photo of your passport on your mobile device or in a cloud folder, plus a printed copy tucked in your bag. If your passport somehow goes missing during your trip, having a copy of the original could be the difference between a two-hour embassy visit and a ruined vacation.
Handle Your Data Before You Connect to WiFi
Airport and other public networks are the real insecure spots on most trips, perhaps even more so than back alleys in a different city. But out of an abundance of caution, you should probably avoid sketchy alleys, too!
Anyone sharing an open network with you can, in theory, see unencrypted traffic. Unfortunately, a network named “Free Airport WiFi” is one of the easiest things in the world to fake.
Whether Tor Browser is safe enough to rely on for that kind of connection has less to do with the software and more with what you’re doing on it. What that means is that logging into your bank account on an open network is risky no matter what you’re using.
The habits matter much more than what you use, so stick to sites showing a padlock and https, hold off on anything financial until you’re on a network you actually trust, and turn off automatic WiFi joining before you land so your phone stops greeting every open signal like an old friend.
Sort Out Health and Money While You Have Time
International travel essentials also include vaccines, which come with real deadlines. Some need weeks to take full effect, so this isn’t a step to leave for the taxi ride to the airport. Requirements are different according to the country, and what a friend needed last year isn’t necessarily the most reliable guide for you.
The CDC keeps destination-specific health guidance updated for exactly this reason, covering what’s recommended or required before you go and how far ahead to plan for it.
On the money side of it, you should call your bank before you leave, not after your card gets declined at a new grocery store in a new country. Carry a backup card from a different bank or creditor, and change a small amount of cash before you land instead of having to scramble around and relying on the first counter you pass at arrivals. The one at the airport almost always has the worst exchange rates.
Read these related articles:
- How to Stay Healthy While Traveling
- Why Good Financial Wellness is Important While Traveling
- 13 Money-Saving Tips for Your Dream European Vacation
Pack for the Trip You’re Actually Taking
Most people overpack, and that comes from planning for a version of the trip that doesn’t match the itinerary, like having three pairs of shoes for a week that’s mostly walking, or carrying workout gear for a country where gym culture barely exists. So, look at what the destination and the days call for, and build around that instead of thinking about a generic list.
Also, check the plug type and voltage for where you’re headed before buying an adapter. Not every country runs the same standard, and a universal plug shape doesn’t always mean universal voltage underneath it.
And another thing travelers sometimes forget is not having an offline map downloaded ahead of time. That is a must for your international travel checklist because data roaming doesn’t always kick in immediately upon arrival.
None of these pre-travel steps are complicated, but they should happen before the trip instead of during it. By handling your travel documents, phone data, health precautions, and finances in the early planning stage, the only thing left to figure out once you land is where to eat. And we can certainly help you out with recommendations for that, too!