The suitcases are packed? Everything seems to be ready, but you are accompanied by a nervous, obtrusively recurring thought or are you sure you haven’t forgotten anything? Take advantage of the first part of our holiday guide – a travel checklist. Do it best some time in advance and make sure that everything is at its last button.
Regardless of whether you are a beginner or an experienced tourist, it is worth using our model to work out your own checklist on the basis of it (or completely from the point of view of attitudes) and be able to use it on subsequent trips. This will significantly speed up your preparations in the future.
Reservation of flights and overnight stays
There are people who take a very spontaneous approach to planning their holidays. They are not limited by the date of their holiday (full flexibility) or the means of transport (they have their own bicycle, camper, car) or accommodation (tent).
If you cannot afford such a freedom or if you choose a more distant part of the world to reach by air, we suggest you think about buying flights and booking accommodation in advance. This will save you unnecessary stress and money.
Documents (passport, visa, driving licence)
Before you board a plane, make sure you have all the documents you need and that the documents you have with you are valid for a reasonable period of time. In the case of a passport or ID card, it should be at least 6 months from the planned date of the end of your stay, unless different rules apply in the given territory. You can check them here.
Verify whether the country you are travelling to requires a visa and how to apply for one. When crossing the border, do you need to present a return or continuation ticket, or do you need to show that you have enough money to support you during your stay? Do I need to pay extra fees when I arrive and/or leave the country?
Health on the move
The state of our health is always worth checking regularly. However, this is especially important if you are planning a longer stay abroad. Different climate zone (especially tropics), different food, more exercise than usual – all this can aggravate the symptoms of different diseases.
Your health condition should be checked before departure (pediatrician, dentist) to avoid unpleasantness, when you are already far away from home. Persons suffering from chronic diseases before departure should be provided with sufficient amount of all permanently taken medicines.
Travel insurance and Health Insurance Card
There’s a reason it’s said that a prudent man is always insured. Buying the right travel insurance should be high on your travel checklist! Choose your insurance company carefully. When choosing it, it is not always worth to be guided only by the price.
The most important part of travel insurance is the cost of treatment, i.e. reimbursement of costs incurred for possible hospitalization, medical visit, medicines, transport. The amount of the limit should be adjusted to the country in which we will be staying.
Selection of luggage
When planning a trip, it is not only what counts, but also how you transport your belongings. So: suitcase or backpack, backpack or suitcase?
Packaging
Pack your head in the first place! It’s a good idea to start preparing the list of things to be collected more in advance, so that you don’t forget about anything. We will write more about packing in the second part of our guide. You can read about it here.
Electronics
For fans of photography it is almost the most important part of their luggage. If you are one of them, your checklist should include items such as: camera, lenses, tripod, camera, charger, powerbank, batteries, spare memory cards and contact adapters.
Phone
Before travelling, make sure you have activated roaming with your service provider. If not, do so before you leave. Also read the terms and conditions of your contract. Check how much and if at all you are entitled to free Internet access within the service purchased.
Check your phone settings and set up the appropriate locks so that you do not have an unpleasant surprise on your next invoice. If you need the Internet or calling facilities at your destination, a good option is to buy a local SIM card. Very often these are offers specially designed for tourists. And don’t forget the charger!
Finance (payment cards, cash)
Check if you have enough local currency. However, there are other options you should consider. Sometimes it is much better to exchange it on the spot in local currency exchange offices.
Online check-in
There is nothing more annoying than mindlessly spent money, for example, for something that could have been done before and free of charge. So remember to always check in online. You will save yourself stress and inconvenience at the airport, not to mention the extra costs!
Copies of documents and printouts of tickets and reservations
It is better to breathe in the cold and always be prepared for every eventuality. Before you set off on your dream journey, copy all your important documents and keep them in a different place than the others in case of theft or loss of your luggage.
Notebook and pen
You never know when you’ll have to make a note of something. This will allow you to record memories, reflections or important tips for the future. It’s nothing, but it’s very useful! Hence its place as a separate item on our (before) departure checklist.
Maps and guides
In the age of the Internet, we are increasingly switching to electronic guides. And maybe there is less to wear, but there are places where we can not necessarily count on WiFi access. So it is still worth having a traditional paper guide. A very good solution are also various applications with maps and guides operating in offline mode. They are based only on the GPS indications in your phone.
Traveling savoir-vivre
It is not money that makes us better people, but whether we can make good use of it for the benefit of the more needy. Support local culture and crafts. Put arrogance in your pockets and always treat others (including the poorer ones) with respect. Keep an open mind for other cultures and traditions. Do not judge, do not exalt yourself.
Others do not mean worse. Take full advantage of your contacts with the local people. Learn, get to know, taste. Respect people and respect nature. Leave the world you visit better than you found it. Never leave traces of your presence – this applies not only to rubbish, but also to taken souvenirs. The basis is openness and smile.