20 things (plus one!) you should do during the two days before an international trip.
Even if you’re a frequent flier, the days before an overseas trip can be chaotic. Here are 20 things to do during the 48 hours before you leave that will save you stress and ensure you’re ready to go!
1. Notify your bank and credit card provider.
It’s cheaper, safer, and more convenient to use a credit or debit card overseas than to exchange money or bring loads of cash with you.
If plastic is going to be your main or emergency source of money on your adventure, tell your bank where and when you are going. The last thing you want is for your cards to be blocked or canceled when you’re using them abroad because your bank thinks there’s been fraudulent activity.
2. Photocopy your passport.
Border crossings, hostels, vehicle rentals, and adventure sports companies, among others, may require passport photocopies, so it’s useful to have three or four with you.
3. Create an emergency numbers list.
When something bad happens abroad, you don’t want to waste time searching for the correct numbers to call. Create a document with all the useful numbers you, your travel companion, or a bystander may require in an emergency.
I suggest contact details for at least the following:
– Next of kin and other important family members/friends
– Insurance claims helpline
– USA embassy/consulate in the country you’re visiting
– Your bank’s lost/stolen card helpline
I bring a paper copy, permanently stored in my carry-on, as well as keep a digital copy on my phone via my email.
4. Prepay bills and cancel subscriptions.
Don’t want to get hit with late fees? Arrange for credit cards, housing expenses (e.g., rent, utilities), and other monthly bills to be paid on time while you are gone.
And there’s nothing more annoying than realizing your gym membership has automatically renewed when you’re not going to be at home for the next month! Make a list and cancel or suspend everything you don’t need before you leave.
5. Bring currency.
Bring $50-$100 in US bills. You’ll usually be able to find an ATM on arrival at the airport, but having cash means less stress if you need to get out of the airport quickly or the cash machines aren’t working /charge a high usage fee. Crisp US dollars are always the best currency to have in an emergency, or if you desperately need to exchange money into local currency in the middle of nowhere.
I also recommend bringing a bank card optimized for travel; that is, one that charges zero fees for spending or ATM withdrawals overseas as well as offers a great exchange rate.
6. Make your phone travel-ready.
There are many apps that are useful on the road without a data connection. For example, Google Maps allows you to save lots of maps offline that will work perfectly with GPS. And Google Translate lets you can save an entire language off-line, including useful phrases.
Take screenshots or download your flight and hotel confirmations.
Familiarize yourself with how to turn off your mobile data in order to avoid roaming charges (and huge bills overseas). I recommend keeping your phone in airplane mode and turning WiFi on/off as required. Or call your service provider; most cell phone companies—including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile—offer affordable day passes to U.S. customers for International talk, text, and data plans.
Back-up any important information or treasured photos somewhere safe (in the cloud or on a drive) to avoid losing them if your phone gets stolen or, um, falls in a Roman fountain (yes, mine did).
7. Download or print out maps.
We’ve come to rely on our smartphones to navigate, but when traveling you may find you can’t get a signal or data is prohibitively expensive. Check out data plans and local SIMs before you set off, but cover all the bases by downloading the maps you know you’re going to use while you’re still at home.
It’s also helpful to have a map printed out showing the location of your hotel, just in case you or your taxi driver can’t find it.
8. Double-check flight times, connections, and airport routes.
Whether you’ve designed your own itinerary or outsourced the job to a travel agent, go through your confirmations and other documents (including visas and vaccine confirmations) one last time to check they’re all in order. If you have access to a printer, it’s not a bad idea to print out confirmations. If you don’t, write down confirmation and customer service phone numbers and keep the paper easily accessible in your wallet or carry-on. BTW, your at-home emergency contact should have a copy of your travel plans, too.
If you’re traveling to various cities, check that you haven’t missed a night or booked a hotel you don’t need thanks to an overnight plane or train.
Don’t forget to book airport parking and a rental car.
Double-check when your flight departs, confirm exactly how much luggage you’re restricted to, and then work out how long it should take you to get to the airport and by what time. Then give yourself another thirty minutes on top as a safety buffer.
9. Future-proof your hand luggage.
Always plan for the worst and pack your hand luggage not just for the flight, but in the expectation your checked luggage is going to get lost/delayed for a few days after you arrive for your adventure. Your key travel documents, credit cards, local currency, some toiletries, prescriptions, chargers, valuables, electronics, converters, and a spare change of clothes should all go in your carry-on.
10. Check the weather.
Check the forecast for your destination and your hometown when you’ll be returning, and pack appropriately.
11. Eat, throw out, or give away perishable food.
The last thing you want is to return home to a stinky fridge. Also, run the dishwasher, take out the trash, and clean the sink to be sure there’s no food in the drain that could rot or attract bugs while you’re away.
12. Settle your pets.
Whether you’ve booked a house sitter or a family member is to be entrusted with their care, it’s still a wrench to leave your beloved pets. The night before a trip, make a special fuss over them. Check they have plenty of their favorite treats and you’ve remembered to stock up on food. Jot down anything that will help their caretaker stick to their routines, such as noting their go-to toy and favorite walk.
13. Back up all devices.
It’s so easy to take photos with our phone, sometimes we forget how much we have to lose if it’s misplaced or stolen. Back up your phone and other devices (tablet, laptop) before you leave and, if possible, throughout your trip. That way any special memories will be preserved if you’re careless, forgetful, or just downright unlucky and lose your device while you’re away.
14. Check your medicines are in date.
Organize a medical kit with any prescription medication you need to take plus over-the-counter items to deal with headaches, sore throats, coughs, sore muscles, and indigestion. For travel meds like diarrhea relief and rehydration salts, look at the use-by dates to make sure they haven’t expired since your last trip.
15. Charge your electronics.
Those last minute calls, final updates on your Facebook news feed, and photos of the view from the plane can all take their toll on your battery before you’ve even taken off. And there’s nothing more frustrating than a long layover in an airport with free WiFi when your batteries have died.
All devices and supporting items (powerbanks, earbuds) you’re going to use on the plane should be full of juice when you leave for the airport. Though some planes are fitted with charging points, you can’t rely on this to be the case.
16. Place a hold on your mail delivery.
This is a smart move if you’re going away for more than a couple days. Alternatively, you can arrange for a neighbor to collect your mail until you get home.
17. Bring in outdoor furniture, barbeque, etc.
Don’t leave any outdoor wares (e.g., patio chairs, cushions, pool equipment) unguarded, especially lightweight items that are easy for thieves to steal.
18. Pack your (insert item here).
Think about where you are going, and what would be hard to replace or acquire while there. For example, if a beach is on your itinerary, take a look in your suitcase to make sure you’ve packed sunscreen, a swimsuit, flip flops, and a hat.
19. Clean out your wallet.
Sift through your wallet and remove any items you don’t need on your trip. Leave loyalty cards, gift cards, extra credit cards, and any other unnecessary contents at home.
20. Pack your bags.
Don’t leave packing until the morning of departure. Even if you have a late flight, it’s nice not to be rushing around. Get out your suitcase, give it a wipe over if it’s been in the attic a while, and shake out any sand. Lay out your clothes. Pack versatile items that mix and match to cut down on the amount you need to carry. Roll soft items such as T-shirts and tuck socks into shoes. Leave anything that might crease until last, laying it on top (wrapped in a drycleaners bag) of your other clothes right before you close your case and leave.
Bonus tip: Get a good night’s sleep
I’ve learned it isn’t fun to stay up until 1 a.m. packing for a flight at 6.45 a.m. Especially if you’re flying long haul, you’ll enjoy your trip a great deal more if you get a good night’s sleep beforehand.
You’ll sleep better if you’re not fretting about oversleeping. If you have an early start, set two alarms five minutes apart; one should be plugged into your main power and the other should have a back up battery.
Twist’s Take: Leaving for an international destination? Do these 20 things during the 48 hours before you leave for better trip.
