Lots of travel companies, including us, give you their recommended packing lists, but lately I’ve found that I get more anxiety leading up to the packing process just trying to remember all of the other things related to being ready to travel away from my home. Given that, I’d like to share my TOP THIRTEEN STEPS, in no particular order, to being ready to take an international vacation. Here they are:
- Make sure your passport has at least six (6) months of validity left on it. Check for any required VISAS or other electronic travel authorizations that might be needed (such as the new UK ETA).
- Arrange for a pet sitter or house sitter.
- Pause or cancel any paper subscriptions to newspapers or magazines you might not want accumulating at your house.
- Plan time to learn the basics of the local language.
- Give critical friends and family access to your plans and itinerary details.
- Clear your calendar of in-person obligations and appointments.
- Purchase medical evacuation and trip cancellation insurance after assessing your comfort or discomfort with the specifics of your travel plans.
- Prepare to have sufficient quantities of any required prescription medications and/or supplements on hand. Also check on any vaccine updates or requirements you need for your particular destination.
- Order and receive any special dietary foods you need to bring with you that are not available in your destination.
- Prepare and update any technology products (such as computers, cameras, tracking devices, etc.) which have updatable levels of “code” that should be current before leaving for areas with less reliable Internet connections and speeds. This includes downloading any new apps needed.
- Plan for how you are going to exercise and stretch during your trip.
- Plan for adjusting to a new time zone to avoid jet lag using FLYKITT or a similar protocol. https://flykitt.com/
- Download movies, podcasts, books and music to use during your flights and on location at your destination for your entertainment.
