PREPARATION
MONTHS / WEEKS BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Destination and travelling
• Check the countries you’ll be visiting and the way you’ll be getting there to see if there are any problems.
www.bupa-intl.travel-guides.com is an excellent site with details on virtually every destination in the world.
www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk another excellent site. Can provide a customised healthcheck for your itinerary.
Passport & Visas
• Check the valid dates on your passport. Some countries demand your passport is valid for at least another 6 months.
• Ensure you obtain any visas required well in advance.
Health & Medication
• Check if you need vaccinations for the countries you are visiting – these may be needed up to 3 months in advance.
• Have medical and dental checkups if it’s some time since your last visit.
• Ensure you have sufficient supplies of any prescription medication for the full length of your trip and some spare.
Credit cards & money
• Check with your credit card company for available spending amount and ask for an increase if needed.
• Make sure your payments are up to date.
• Don’t forget about recent spending that will be charged and leave some room on the card for emergencies.
• Check the valid dates on your cards to make sure they will remain valid while you’re traveling.
• Notify the credit card company that you’ll be traveling, so they will expect charges from your destination.
• Check your ATM and debit card for both daily and total limits.
• Memorise your PIN numbers for any credit, debit, ATM and phone cards.
• Order travellers cheques if needed.
• Order foreign currency if visiting countries with currencies your bank may not have to hand.
Others
• Check whether you need an International Driver’s license in the countries you are visiting.
• Arrange care of your pets.
• Reconfirm all your reservations.
• If driving for some distance have your car checked and serviced.
THE WEEK BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Luggage & packing
• Start packing – don’t leave it till the last minute – you will leave something and/or take far too much
• Ensure your luggage is marked with identification on the inside and out.
• Do not put your home address on your luggage on the outside of your luggage. Use tags that conceal your personal details.
• Check with the airline maximum luggage sizes and weight allowances. It may change with security alerts.
Home
• Don’t buy many perishable items you’ll have to throw out before you leave.
• Cancel your newspaper and milk deliveries.
• Fill the car with fuel. Check the fluid levels and tyre pressure.
Others
• Photocopy your passport, cards and travellers cheques. Leave a copy at home with someone you trust and take two copies with you. Don’t keep the copies on your person. Keep one at your hotel and/or give one to another of your party.
• Pay bills that will come due while you are away. Ensure your cards will not default for non-payment when you are away.
JUST BEFORE YOU LEAVE
• Carry out the security precautions in ‘Home security while you are away’
• If you have a digital camera take pictures of all your luggage and important documents. Preferably keep this on a spare memory card.
• Ensure you have your tickets, passports and other vital documents!