International Travel Checklist: 33 Essential Things You Must Do Before Your Trip (2024)

This is the all-important pre-travel things to do list for worldwide travel. Go through this essential international travel checklist as soon as you book your trip. Some of the most important things need to be done well in advance–like checking your passport expiration date! Refer back to the list as your trip gets closer.

***Before booking your trip, check if there are any covid restrictions and requirements for travel. Keep checking for any changes until you leave for your trip.

After Booking Your Trip:

♦Check that your passports do NOT expire within 6 months of your return date (some destinations are 3 months.) Many people are turned away at the airport daily for this mistake!

♦Take a photo of each and make sure it is backed up to iCloud, or pack photocopies in your suitcase (keep them separate from your passports). *When booking airline tickets, make sure to enter names exactly as they appear on your passports.

♦If Visas are necessary, give yourself plenty of time to complete the process. *Choose dates with a cushion on either end of your time frame to allow for unforeseen date changes. Take a photoof each.

♦Book your trip on a credit card that offers free trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance, car rental insurance, and does not charge a foreign transaction fee. I use the Chase Saphire Reserve Card.

♦Get an ATM card that you can use at ANY international bank, without paying any fees. Charles Schwab has an ATM that reimburses for any foreign bank fees for ATM withdrawals.

♦Request a letter of proof of car insurance from a credit card company, for a car rental, if necessary.

♦Make sure you have completed any recommended or required vaccines.

♦Check your medical insurance for coverage abroad and get any necessary medical documents.

♦Check the carry on bag size on the websites of the specific airlines you are flying.

♦Purchase one of the Best Carry On Suitcases for your trip. Click here if you need a new carry on bag

♦Line up someone to take care of your house, pets, etc.

♦Get airport club passes or membership. This makes the wait at airports so much better! Read

Closer To Your Trip

♦Read Carry On Travel Packing Listand order any necessities that you don’t have.

♦Check the weather for where you are traveling to so you can get an idea of the temperature. Pick out clothes that you plan to pack (shop if necessary.)

♦Email to confirm ALL of your reservations for accommodations and include any special requests and arrival times, transfers, tours, etc.

♦Confirm any car rentals *Check the pick up location and office hours, and get any special instructions if you will have an after-hours drop off.

♦Get an international plan on your phones for texting, internet, or phone calls, then record any details about the plan in your notes.

♦Download the airline apps for movies, check-in, etc.

♦Get your seats on the plane by looking at the seating map. Or, if you chose seats when you booked your flights, check to see if better seats have opened up.

♦Download any necessary travel apps– Click here to read Best Travel Apps

♦Choose and download audiobooks (click here for Audible.com), travel podcasts, walking tours, movies, or shows for your flights.

♦If you are driving to the airport, try to find an airport parking coupon and book online. Put snacks and water in the car for your return.

♦If you are staying the night at an airport hotel, Click here for the latest prices on airport hotels

♦Order special meals for your flights, or make a list of food to pack for your flight

♦Stop your mail if you don’t have someone picking it up.

♦Call your credit card company to notify them of countries you are traveling to, so they don’t think your card has been stolen.

Just Before Leaving Home

♦Print your Packing Checklist pdf from signing up to be on my email list (scroll up, and enter your name and email in the box on the right margin) and check off items as you pack them

♦Pack, using The Ultimate Carry On Packing List

♦Take a photo of your passport. In case something happens to it, having your passport number and photo will make the challenging situation easier.

♦Print or take a screenshot of your boarding passes– Make sure that the spelling of all names is correct and matches your passports exactly.

♦Print your itinerary, as well as any tickets or vouchers, and put it into a page protector OR use the Google docs app for your itinerary and take screenshots of your other documents

♦If you are using a travel guidebook, Separate the pages by the area

♦Pay any bills that will be due while you are gone.

♦Clean your house (or schedule your house cleaner for just before your return.)

♦Clean out the refrigerator.

♦Set your thermostat on hold with the desired temperature.

♦Unplug everything possible to save energy.

♦Turn a light on or set a timer for security.

♦♦♦Get all of this done early, so the evening before you leave, you can sit back, relax, and look forward to your trip as a well-prepared worldwide traveler!♦♦♦

For more tips on travel, please read:

Detailed itineraries for Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and North Africa

Make the Airport Quick, Easy, and Fun with these Airport Travel Tips

Plan Your Trip! How to Plan Worldwide Travel In 12 Steps