A Checklist for International Travel

When planning a trip abroad, there are a number of important things to do before your departure. The last thing you want is to arrive to your destination, only to realize that your passport is expiring or you left something important at home.

We’ve put together this simple checklist from our own international travel experience so that it might help others be more prepared as well.

International Travel To Do List

Things to Do Well in Advance

☑️ Ensure that your passport will be valid for 6 months after you arrive at your destination. Some countries may not let you in if your passport expires within 6 months.

☑️ Research the best method for making payments in your destination country. Are credit cards widely accepted and if so, do vendors require chip-enabled cards? Is it worth getting foreign currency before your arrival or will an ATM card suffice?

Read next: How we handle money and cards for international travel

☑️ Evaluate whether you’ll want travel insurance in case of evacuation or canceled flights. We use SafetyWing (referral link), especially for longer trips.

Read next: Our review of SafetyWing Nomad Insurance

☑️ Find out if a tourist visa is required for your country and apply if needed.

☑️ Research the best way to get from the airport to your accommodations. If necessary, save an offline map to your phone or print out directions.

If you’re enrolled in my Google Maps Travel Hacks course, I walk through how to find and save transit options as well as how to use the app offline so you’re never stuck when you land.

☑️ Research the basic cultural customs of your destination, like how do people greet each other, how does tipping work, what behaviors and clothing are appropriate in different public spaces.

Read next: Cultural questions to ask before visiting a new country

☑️ Research your phone options. Determine if you need to make calls and texts abroad, and if you’ll need a local number (tip: in most cases you really don’t!).

We usually get for an eSIM for travel. With some providers, you might get free texting, data, and wifi calling with your normal phone plan. Other international add-on packages through your home carrier might be convenient but they’re usually the most expensive option.

TIP:  If you need more guidance on choosing the right solution for your phone and trip needs, I go into depth on the options in my WorldWide Connectivity course. We cover: how to know which options are possible for your phone, methods to make calls without a local phone number, how to avoid surprise data fees abroad, and more.

☑️ Find out if you need any vaccines and schedule those appointments. Check out the country recommendations on the Center for Disease Control site.

To Do List: One or Two Weeks Before

☑️ Set out your essential items Having everything in order will help ensure these items don’t get left out when you pack. Make sure your passport is packed somewhere that’s easy to retrieve and where you won’t forget!

See priority packing list below.

☑️ Charge all your electronics and load them with any entertainment or reading materials you want during the trip.

☑️ Create an offline info sheet. This can be in the offline notes of your phone, a PDF document, in an app like TripIt, and/or on a piece of paper.

Your info sheet should include things like: the address and phone number of your accommodations, reservation confirmation numbers, a list of recommended places to visit, addresses for anyone you want to mail postcards to, etc.

If you’re a Toolkit member, the Trip Planner workbook you have provides a perfect template for organizing this kind of info all in one place.

☑️ Download any smartphone apps you might want, like offline maps, currency convertors, or language translators.

TIP: Not sure what travel apps you really need? To keep it simple, I teach only the most essential – maps, translation, transportation, and messaging – in my Smartphone Savvy Travel course. If you’ve got the course, the video lessons will walk you through setup tips and simplify the most important features so you can use these apps without stress.

☑️ Put your mail on hold or arrange for someone to take care of it while you’re gone.

☑️ Make a color copy of the photo page in your passport. Keep it in your carry-on and then keep it separate from your actual passport while you travel, in case the real one disappears.

☑️ Notify your credit card and ATM card companies of your travel. Sometimes you can do this through an online account, but usually you just call the number on the back of the card and tell them when and where you’re going.

☑️ Get any cash or foreign currency you need.

In the following video, I share the essential steps to make sure your smartphone is prepped and ready for a smooth arrival in a new country.

Priority Packing List

Obviously you’re going to pack a lot more than what is listed below. We call these priority items because it can be a big pain if you forget them.

• Socks and underwear (the easiest essential clothing to forget)
• Passport
• Credit card
• ATM card
• Cash/Local currency
• Prescription medications
• Drivers license/ID
• Contact info and directions for first destination
• Pen to use for the customs form on the plane

Jedd with double backpacks in Copenhagen

Want more than just a checklist to prepare for your trip? My on-demand courses are designed to help travelers like you save time, avoid stress, and travel smarter.

If you’re looking for practical tools and step-by-step strategies, from choosing the best flight to managing your phone abroad, my travel courses are available individually or inside our Toolkit Membership.

You might also like:
– Long Term Travel Essentials: Clothing Recommendations
– Packing Hacks of Frequent Travelers
– 12 Items We Take With Us on Every Trip
– Surprisingly Useful Travel Gift Ideas

Let us know if you have other recommendations to add in the comments!