I am addicted to a checklist when preparing for my next travel journey. Especially if the trip is abroad!
Then, I take notes of everything I may need (or not) before, during and after my trip. It can be annoying sometimes, but at the same time, it has helped me to get more organised and avoid unfortunate surprises at the airport.
This summer has been particularly challenging because I had to prepare not just mine, but also my parent’s travel documents. It was their second time abroad visiting us from Brazil, and we had stopovers in different countries as well. So, it’s needless to say I was preparing all the necessary documentation way before the summer started.
A checklist is what saves me time when preparing for my holiday. So, here’s the list of what papers are essential in a journey abroad:
Table of Contents
Don’t dare to forget your passport!
It seems silly to say but I heard stories of people that remembered to pack the whole house but managed to forget their passports on the table. If you are going abroad, a valid passport ( and a copy of this, just in case) is the first essential in your luggage.
I triple-check my bag before and during the trip. It became a bit obsessive now and I have spent part of this summer checking my parent’s passport in every airport we passed by. They had great memories of their trip to Europe. That wouldn’t be possible without a passport. Don`t forget to also check if you need a visa to the destination you are planning to visit.
I know more papers to deal with.
Medical Travel Insurance avoid big headaches
Yes, I know sometimes we just don`t feel like we need travel insurance because it’s unlikely something will go wrong on your trip. Sorry to break the news, but things can go badly wrong when you are abroad. And medical travel insurance can save your life in this case.
So, I do recommend researching the best options in the market right after choosing your destination. There are different prices and plans for every type of medical condition and people’s needs. All you need to remember is that it’s as essential as a passport when travelling to certain countries all over the world. And it will avoid big headaches when you are far from home!
Save the date and save your itinerary too
Yes, I am not very good at directions. So, I am always relying on apps to show me directions in the city I am visiting for the first (or second) time. I don’t like wasting time looking for information during the trip anyway, so I plan my days according to the places I will visit. Sometimes, the Internet fails. So, I refer to printing all that information too and carry with me on the flight. This is not environmental, I know. But I prefer having the names of streets, restaurant’ addresses, tickets for museums and any kind of attraction I am joining with me than getting lost and stressed during my holiday.
Travel Guide is still a thing!
Yes, I love travel guides. I love papers in general. So, I don’t miss the chance of having a travel guide to the city I am planning to visit. Most of the famous guides, like Lonely Planet, for example, are frequently updated. So, there is no excuse to not pop up to your local library and get one to pack with you. Besides, it can be also exciting to read more about your destination before stepping on it. There is always something different in that map that can explored, anyway.
Money, travelling checks, debit and credit cards – you name it!
Yes, it’s horrible to say but the hardest part of being an adult is having to deal with the fact that we need money for most of the things we want to do. Money of all types. Paper money as travelling checks can be safe, but local currency and debit and credit cards are also important parts of this checklist. You may not need to use all of them but play safe and don’t forget to research with your bank the best interests and currency fees before splashing the cash abroad.
Cover Photo by fdecomite on Trend Hype / CC BY
