Seems obvious, but some places require that your passport is still valid up to 6 months after your visit. Plus you need to ensure you have space on the pages for stamps.
Some places require that your vaccinations are up to date, or you need specific boosters to prevent you from getting sick overseas.
Some countries have limits on who can drive based on age, how long you’ve had a license, driving history, etc…
While most don’t, some places require a visa ahead of time, and that could take weeks. Just check to make sure that any of the places you’re hitting up don’t require any additional documentation.
Especially when it’s through a third party website. Room reselling is a legitimate thing, and sometimes hotels don’t even know you’re coming. It makes sense to just check in with everyone to ensure they give you their best.
Piled up mail means no one’s home. And burglars love that.
Check your voltages, so you don’t blow your iPad or expensive DSLR batteries to shit.
You don’t want to go chasing down a foreign doc for your allergy meds. Also, make sure your drugs are clearly labeled in original containers for customs.
Just in case. Better that they know you’re in town in case you need to be reached.
So you don’t incur any late fees.
While most places will take cash or credit, a little cash money doesn’t hurt. It’s better to shop around for a better rate, than buy your money over there.
Most banks know when you’re going out of the country now, but it’s always good to give them heads up anyways. Just so they don’t think it’s a fraud thing and cut you off.
Work out how to get to the airport from home, then from your destination airport to your hotel/hostel/resort. You can breathe easier knowing that it’s all taken care of, rather than scrambling on finding transport from here to there.
So you know what to pack.
You hope to never need it, and it might seem like a lot of money, but it’s well worth it, if shit goes down.
While you can’t use it to travel, a photocopy can at least prove your identity. Also, some hotels ask to scan your passport for security reasons, so you can just hand them an extra photocopy, so they don’t walk away with your real one.
Some ass-backwards countries still require that you have a printed itinerary that proves that you’re intending to leave the country at some point.
The worst is finding out at the check in gate that your carry on is too big and your luggage is too heavy.
9-1-1 doesn’t work all over the world, so it’s best to have all emergency numbers programmed into a phone, or written down somewhere. Also, keep the number of the embassy, the hotel, airline, etc…, handy.
Because you don’t want to come back to moldy fruit and dairy. That smell never really leaves you.
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