Pre-Travel Checklist: 53 Things to do Before you Travel

Often when people think of preparing to travel, purchasing vacation essentials and packing is what comes to mind. We get caught up in the excitement of planning a trip, and sometimes forget about many other important tasks until the last minute, making the last week before a trip a stressful scramble to get everything done. That’s where this super comprehensive pre-travel checklist swoops in to save the day.

As a seasoned travel agency owner with years of experience in planning and executing seamless trips, I understand the importance of meticulous preparation before embarking on a vacation – because I’ve seen all the things that can go wrong when some of these things are missed!

To ensure your journey is stress-free from start to finish, I’ve compiled an essential pre-travel checklist covering everything you need to do before leaving home. You can download a printable version of this list for easy reference.

Let’s break it down into a few categories:

Pre – Travel Checklist: Your Home

1. Verify travel dates with employers and schools: Hopefully you put in for vacation dates at work long ago, but what about your children’s school?
2. Arrange for pet sitting or boarding: you may need to get shots updated to be able to board your pet, so start this task a couple months ahead
3. Check your calendar for appointments that may need to be rescheduled
4. Notify neighbors and make sure someone has a key to get into the house in case of emergency
5. Provide a trusted friend or family member with a detailed copy of your itinerary and documentation in case of emergency
6. Arrange for someone pick up your mail or stop service and pause any regular deliveries like meal kits or Amazon pantry orders
7. Check that your security system / cameras are working correctly, notify monitoring services of the dates you’ll be gone
8. Pay any bills that might be due while you’re gone 
9. Get all laundry done – don’t forget to remove any clothes from the washer to the dryer if you don’t get entirely done – you don’t want to come home to a stinky washer!
10. Run the dishwasher and unload
11. Put clean sheets on your beds – there’s nothing like climbing into your own bed after a trip, so you want it to be fresh!
12. Clean out the fridge – and maybe the pantry too, depending on the length of your trip
13. Program thermostat 
14. Program automatic lights
15. Close blinds and curtains
16. Make sure windows and doors are locked – especially the door from the garage into the house – we often forget that
17. Water your plants or insert automatic watering bulbs
18. Mow the grass or arrange it to be done
19. Turn off water supply to the washer / disconnect hoses
20. Empty all trash and arrange for someone to put out the cans on pickup day
21. Unplug unnecessary appliances
22. Close your curtains or blinds

Pre – Travel Checklist: Documentation, Legalities and Safety

1. Purchase travel insurance: If you didn’t do this when you booked your vacation, it is not too late (although it may be too late to cover certain types of cancellations) to purchase a policy to protect your family in case of emergency when traveling
2. Research entry requirements for any countries visited: You may need to apply for visas, and it’s crucial to find out if there may be something that could prevent you from entering a particular country – like a felony on your record
3. Check for any needed vaccinations if traveling internationally
4. Check that you have the necessary forms of ID and they are current  *International travelers: make sure passport has at least 6 months left before expiration
5. Acquire a Child Travel Consent form if you are separated from your child’s other parent or you are bringing children that are not your own. You’ll need to get the signatures of all parties on this form notarized, so I suggest doing this well in advance 
6. Scan your ID to have digital backup copies in case they’re lost. Print copies as well, bring a set with you and leave a set with a trusted friend or family member. If you lose your luggage or are separated from your items, having a backup system will be a big help
7. International: Sign up for STEP program, a free service by the state department there to help you in case of emergency abroad
8. Download apps like Mobile Passport Control, apps for navigation, translation, any hotels you may be staying at or travel providers you are using
9. Print copies of all reservations in case of technology failure
10. Notify your banks and credit cards that you are traveling to prevent your accounts being frozen due to suspicion of fraud
11. Check your mobile phone provider for international service if applicable: this may be included with your plan, or you may need to add it for the dates you are away

Pre – Travel Checklist: Packing

1. Make a packing list or download one of ours – see below
2. Layout clothing items in advance, determine any necessary purchases – try on anything you haven’t worn in a long time
3. If you bought new shoes, wear them around to break them in for at lease a month
4. Refill medications and bring copies of prescriptions just in case
5. If you bought new shoes, wear them around to break them in
6. Order foreign currency if necessary – you may want to have some for the first day before you can get to a currency exchange. It may take up to two weeks depending on your bank, so do this well ahead of time
7. Attach ID tags outside and put ID inside as well in case the tag becomes detached. If you have layovers, you may want to consider including a bluetooth tracker like an Apple Airtag
8. Photograph the contents of your checked luggage to ease any insurance claims if your bags are lost

Pre – Travel Checklist: Getting Out the Door

1. Gas up the car the day before so you DON’T have to do it on the way to the airport
2. Load up your devices with movies, music, and books to keep yourself entertained during downtime
3. Make sure your devices are all charged
4. Put a copy of your packing list on the door to scan on the way out with those easy to forget (like your sunglasses) or very crucial items (like your passport) highlighted

IF FLYING

1. Verify your airline’s baggage policies and weigh your luggage to make sure you’re under
2. Download/update your airline’s app
3. Check in for flights 24 hours prior to departure time
4. Print boarding passes as a backup in case of technology failure
5. Reserve / Print coupons for airport parking or arrange a ride to the airport

IF DRIVING

1. Book en route hotels 
2. Car oil and filter changed, fluids topped off, tire pressure checked
3. Buy snacks for the road
4. Download / update driving apps like Waze and Road Ahea

We try to prep our travel clients the best we can to have a smooth travel experience. One of the ways we do this is with our itinerary app that is customized for your vacation. The vacation checklist as well as all other travel essentials including uploads of all reservations are included in the app, so you’ll have digital copies of everything at hand. 

By following this pre-vacation checklist diligently, you can depart with peace of mind, knowing that everything is in order for a memorable and hassle-free getaway. If you are just getting started planning your next getaway, get in touch with us to see how we can create a frictionless vacation experience. Happy Travels!