Travel Checklist: 16 Important Things to Do Before Traveling Internati

Travel Smart, Stress Less! Before you jet off, check out this essential pre-travel checklist. From visas to packing hacks, these tips will help ensure a smooth and worry-free trip.

1) Check your documents - It is important to research well in advance if you need a Visa for the country/countries you'll be visiting. Depending on the country, some Tourist Visas can be purchased directly at the airport upon arrival. However, others have to be mailed in (typically with your passport) and can take a few months to obtain. It’s important to also make sure your Passport is up-to-date. Most countries require that your Passport is valid for at least 3 months from the departure date of the country you're visiting. To learn about the requirements for a specific country, click here.

2) Enroll your trip with the U.S. Department of State - https://step.state.gov/step/ This is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Benefits:

Receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country, helping you make informed decisions about your travel plans.
Help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.
Help family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency.

3) Check the electrical wall sockets in the country you will be visiting. This website provides the necessary information for each type of plug/socket and each country.

Tips:

Most countries outside of the U.S. use 220/240V instead of 110/120V. This means a converter is needed in addition to an adapter to prevent your electronics from overheating and potentially burning out. If you do not already have them, I recommend The BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter since it is both a converter and adapter and has multiple charging ports. If you just want something simple without the multiple charging ports, this Converter/Adapter is another good option.
If you already have a converter and adapter, it’s also a good idea to get a power strip so you can charge multiple things at once. I recommend getting this bright 6-Outlet Power Strip so it’s easy to spot (and less easy to forget!) in your room.

4) Make photocopies of your Passport and Visa (if applicable) to scan and email to yourself and someone else you trust. This could be a spouse, family member, friend, etc. You can also print copies to put in your luggage as an extra precaution. This is all recommended in case your passport gets misplaced.

5) Call your bank and credit card companies ahead of time to notify them of your trip. This way your card(s) will not be shut off for security reasons. It’s also a good idea to bring more than one credit card - preferably different types (Visa, American Express, etc.) in case one is lost, stolen, or a certain type is not accepted.

Tip:

Check to see if your credit card charges 'Foreign Transaction Fees.' Some banks charge up to 3% of everything spent internationally, and it can all add up quickly. Click here for more information along with a list of credit cards that do not charge these fees.

6) Bring some cash and/or a debit card to either exchange or retrieve some of the local currency at the airport when you arrive. You can also typically do this ahead of time at your bank.

7) Check your phone’s international plan to make sure you don’t rack up a huge phone bill! We always turn off Data and turn on Airplane Mode. You can turn on Wi-Fi while in Airplane Mode, and this will help prevent your phone from accumulating expensive roaming and data fees.

Tips:

In some countries, you can either rent or purchase a Wi-Fi Hotspot. We purchased the Solis – a device that works in over 100 countries. This is a great tool if you don’t have an international plan for your phone. It also works for tablets and laptops. We often find that "free WiFi" isn't always free, and this will have you covered throughout your travels. If you decide to purchase one, use the code BRAUNTRAVELS at checkout to save 10%!
You can also purchase a SIM card at some airports.

8) Write down important phone numbers, email addresses, and hotel addresses on something that you can have quick access to in case your phone is misplaced.

Tips:

It’s also a good idea to grab a business card from your hotel to carry with you in case you need to take a taxi or ask for help. Make sure the name and address are written in the local language because some taxi drivers and locals might not be able to speak or read English.

9) Pack an extra set of clothes and a few small toiletries in your carry-on in case your checked bag doesn’t make it right away. If you’re traveling with someone else, another tip is to put an extra set in each other’s suitcases. Don't forget the 3-1-1 Rule!

10) Download Google Translate on your phone and then download the language of the country you’ll be visiting. Once you have the language downloaded, the text option will still work without Wi-Fi.

11) Download a Currency Converter on your phone and add the necessary country/countries you’ll be visiting. Click here for the best iPhone apps and here for the best Android apps.

12) Download Google Offline Maps on your phone for the specific cities and places you'll be visiting. This way if your cellular or WiFi isn't getting signal, you'll still be able to navigate your way around. Instructions on how to do this can be found here.

13) Consider Travel Protection/Insurance for your trip. Your insurance company and/or certain credit cards may already cover some things, so you'll need to check with those first. Click here for some helpful information.

14) Download the App of the Airline you'll be flying with in advance to have an easy way to access your flight information and boarding pass. Many airline apps will also have features including Entertainment, Luggage Tracking, Airport Maps, and more.

15) Avoid putting souvenir stamps in your official Passport. There are some places that have souvenir stamps that look like official passport stamps. These places include the Charles Darwin Research Station in The Galapagos, Machu Picchu, Easter Island, and more. If one of these souvenir stamps is noticed by officials while you're traveling, it may put a halt to your trip.

Instead of stamping your official Passport - get a souvenir passport book to put them in. More information can be found in this article.

16) Learn how to say Hello, Goodbye, Please, and Thank You. This small, polite gesture will go a long way! If you want to learn how to speak a little more of a certain language, my personal favorite lessons are through Pimsleur. Rosetta Stone is another popular one.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you found this list helpful!

Happy travels!

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