Now that you’ve planned your trip with my free Pre-Trip Planner And Checklist printable download, booked your flights and hotels, and taken all the necessary steps to make sure your trip goes smoothly with my Ultimate Guide To Planning Your Trip Abroad, here’s what’s next. These are 10 important things to do before you board the plane and take off for your carefully planned vacation or trip abroad! There are still a few things you want to be prepared for before your vacation officially starts to make traveling as comfortable as possible.
- Make sure your check-in luggage and carry-on are within the limits allowed by your chosen airline before you board the plane. You don’t want to have to take things out and throw them away when you’re at the airport because it’s oversized. Personally, I’ve never had to throw anything out but I’ve had to rearrange my belongings and luggage a few times and that’s still a hassle. I’ve also seen people get into fights at the airport when they get told they can’t take something with them because the sizes are over their allowed limits. That’s a public embarrassment I think most of us would like to avoid.
- Don’t overpack. You don’t need 25 pairs of underwear for a 7 day trip. But really, you don’t want to be traveling around with heavy luggage and not even using half of what you packed. First, you could probably be paying for overweight luggage. Second, if you arrive early and can’t check into your accommodations right away, the hotel will have to store it for you if that option is available or if it isn’t, you’ll have to take it with you everywhere you go before you can settle in. Third, if you like to buy a lot when you travel, you’re not going to have enough space to bring things back.
- Check your destination country’s compatibility of power sources – as in what kind of outlets do they use? You may need to bring a travel adapter to be able to charge all your electronics. And most of us have to charge our cameras, laptops, phones, and tablets (per person). You’ll need to have access to more than one outlet and travel adapter. This swivel surge protector outlet allows for multiple charges at the same time including USB ports. It’s also designed in a way where you don’t have to play Tetris to make sure all your chargers fit in this one block. A universal travel adapter will come in handy so it will work in all countries.
- Pack essentials you may need if you run into a problem. This includes pain killers, ear plugs, bandaids, cold or flu pills, wet wipes, allergy medication, prescribed medication, and melatonin (for those who get jetlag or just really want a good night’s sleep). For prescription medication, make sure you have enough to last your trip. It’s best to avoid going to the doctor on vacation as it wastes your time, insurance doesn’t always cover visits or prescriptions, and you may not get your medication fast enough and that could affect your health and really put a damper on your trip. The worst thing is to not feel 100% when you’re traveling abroad.
- Have cash on hand for emergencies. Even though most places are shifting to cards, it’s important to have cash on hand for those places who don’t accept cards. You don’t want to be without food or transportation because you don’t have the right type of money.
- Have everything you need charged the night before you board the plane. It could be a long one, and some planes don’t offer charging stations or plugs at your seat. It’s also good idea to take a portable charger with you should you not be near a wall outlet if you’re running low on battery. I personally prefer a portable charger that has a minimum of 10,000 mAh as it gives my phone at least 5 full charges before I need to recharge the power bank itself. Since I purchased my Aukey in 2015, they no longer make the one I use, but here is the same brand that made a newer and similar one.
- I always like to bring snacks with me when I travel (well, technically everywhere I go) – the worst thing is when you’re hungry and there’s no food around. And you also don’t want to be paying $25 for a bad quality sandwich at the airport before you board the plane. Also, depending on the time you arrive at your destination, sometimes restaurants aren’t open yet or it’s not that easy for you to get to one as quickly as you want. You don’t want to be tired and hangry while on vacation.
- Dress comfortably for your plane ride and possibly have a change of clothes if you’re going to a hotter or colder destination. It’s best to avoid the discomfort of endless sweating if you’re overdressed and or have exposed skin with freezing temperatures.
- Bring sanitizing wipes for your plane ride. For those who want a more comfortable and cleaner experience on the plane, wet wipes are great for quickly cleaning your seats, the arm rests, and the pull-out trays. Most of the times after you give it a wipe, the cloth actually turns black from the amount of dirt that’s on the seat. Who knows how much time and effort the flight attendants can actually put in to clean after the previous passengers disembarked.
- Check your flight status! Make sure your flight hasn’t changed dates or times otherwise you have to adjust your plans. If your plane is delayed, you don’t want to arrive at the airport too early, and if it’s early, you don’t want to miss your flight. Worse case is a cancelled flight or a re-booked flight and then you’ll have to change itineraries and make accommodation, transportation, and excursion adjustments. You want to give yourself as much time to do this as possible.
Finally, have a safe and comfortable flight and most important of all, an adventure-ful and memorable vacation!