Even though it sounds far too organised for many people, it really does pay to start organising everything you need to sort out before a trip at least a couple of months in advance. Things that on the surface seem simple can end up being more complicated and take much longer than expected.
For example, I needed to renew my passport and thought “Great! I can do that online now. That ought to be easy”. But it actually took over a month and several unexpected visits to get it sorted. First of all I had to set up my ‘RealMe’ online identity, which required getting a photograph taken (and there was a special deal where you got a discount off your passport photo). So I had to find time to go to a Post Office to have my picture taken, but of course my local post office didn’t have the capability so I had to go further afield. The first time I went there, their system was down so I had to go back a second time. After a few days I got the ‘all approved’ message so I could now start the actual passport application process. This took me a while as I was very busy with other things and when I got the time to do it, I discovered that I had to have full name and passport details of someone who wasn’t a relative or lived with me to verify my identity. Okay, got that, start again. This time I got a bit further with the application but when it came to attaching the photo, I couldn’t access the photo that had been taken for that purpose. Phone call to RealMe – no they couldn’t help, I’d have to go back to the post office. Back at the post office – no they couldn’t access the photo they’d already taken, I’d have to have another photo taken so that they could email it to me. Then I was finally able to complete the online application but it takes 10 working days to process.
Another example is going to get vaccinations. I have had vaccines for just about everything there is over the years and if I need anything it is usually just a booster shot. But this time they decided that I really ought to have a Rabies vaccine. This requires an initial shot, another shot a week later, and then a third 2 weeks after that. After another 3 weeks you have to go back for a blood test and if that isn’t positive for antibodies, a fourth shot is required. So you may need up to 2 months to be fully protected.
To help you (and me) remember all the things that you need to think about before you leave, here is a checklist that I have compiled (with assistance from my well-travelled mother):
| Travel | |
| Choose and book trip | |
| Book flights | Apply for upgrades if you are lucky enough to have them available |
| Hotel transfers | I always book these because when you’ve just got off a long flight you are often tired and not thinking straight. It is great to have someone meet you, so that it removes having to worry about that vulnerable period. |
| Book extra accommodation | If required either end of your trip |
| Travel insurance | Do this as soon as you can so that you are covered in case something happens that means you can’t travel. |
| Passport | Check that your passport is not due to expire and that you have enough time remaining as many countries require you to have an extra 6 months after your travel. If you need a new passport you will need to allow enough time for this. |
| Visas | Check if visas are required for the countries you are visiting. |
| Register travel plan with embassies etc | You can often register your plans and details through e.g. www.safetravel.govt.nz in advance in case of emergencies. |
| Request leave from work | Do this before you finalise your plans if it is likely to be an issue. |
| Medical | |
| Travel doctor – Vaccinations | Get vaccinations, Malaria tablets etc. Allow enough time for vaccinations that require multiple visits. |
| Travel doctor – First Aid Kit | Get travel first aid kit with medication for common traveller’s ailments. |
| Dentist | There is nothing worse than toothache while you are away so good to get a check-up before you go. |
| Doctor/GP | Make sure you have whatever regular medications you may require while you are away. |
| Financial | |
| Order some cash in small denominations | I like to have some small notes available in either the currency of the country I am visiting or USD before I go in case the ATM is broken or I need to tip someone before I find one. Banks seem to rarely have small notes on hand, so order these in advance. |
| Let the bank know where and when you will be travelling | If you don’t they will assume your debit/credit card has been stolen and cancel it – which makes life very difficult when you are travelling, particularly if you are by yourself. |
| Check which credit/debit cards you can use overseas | And check what account the money will come out of if you withdraw quick cash from an ATM – you don’t want to be using your credit card for this if you have money in your cheque or savings accounts. Load foreign currency if you desire and have the relevant card. |
| Personal | |
| Make hard and electronic copies of all your travel and other important documents | It is good to have spare hard copies of important documents in different bags that you are taking with you and nowadays having an electronic version on your phone, tablet or e-reader is also useful. I don’t rely totally on electronic because it is easy to drop or drown your device and then you have lost it. |
| Arrange bills to be paid if they are not on autopayment | |
| Swap/reschedule/cancel or make apologies for any regular duties or activities | |
| Update or get a will as appropriate | |
| Leave contact and travel details with family | |
| Home | |
| Arrange for your house/pets/pot plants /garden to be looked after | |
| Stop your mail/paper/garden bag/ subscriptions or anything else | Some of these may require several days or even weeks’ notice |
| Leave contact and travel details with neighbours/house-minders | |
| Ask neighbours to clear junk mail/local papers | |
| Special Activities | Anything that you need to get gear for? |
| Camping e.g. sleeping bag, sleeping sheet, inflatable pillow | A microfibre towel is always useful |
| Hiking e.g. shoes, boots | It is a good idea to break these in before you have to use them |
| Diving/snorkelling | Snorkel and mask, flippers, beach shoes? |
| Special luggage requirements | Do you need a backpack, day pack, soft sided bag for on boats? |
| General | |
| Travel adapters for electrical plugs | |
| Gifts/photos for sharing with hosts | |
| Transfer reading/reference material to your kindle/e-reader | |
| Book shuttle to/from airport | |
| Telecommunications | Will you rely on there being free WiFi or arrange roaming or other? |
| Departure Day | |
| Turn off water | If no-one in house and you don’t need to get someone to water the garden |
| Turn off power to appliances at wall | You can also turn off un-needed fuses at the box – at the very least turn off the hot water (unless of course someone is staying in the house) |
| Remove all perishables from fridge | |
| Empty all inside rubbish bins | |
| Check flights are on time |
I hope that is useful! It’ll be good reference for me to have everything written down too.
If you are interested in travel, please see my posts on Finding the Right Travel Style for You and Comparing Travel Styles, and visit:
Intrepid Travel (a range of different travel styles – see my post on travel styles)
Peregrine Adventures (Comfort tours)
Geckos Adventures (for 18 to 30s)
Note: After people telling me they had booked an Intrepid Tour on my recommendation, I now have affiliate links with the Intrepid Travel group of companies and may receive a commission if you book a tour online within a couple of months after clicking through to these sites. So if you are enjoying my tips and stories and finding them useful in choosing your own travel, please click on these links and help me to bring you more ☺.
Leave a Reply