What should you do to prepare for a vacation?
So you're going on a vacation soon or at least thinking about it, nice! It is always good to be prepared especially since you want to leave all the thrills for your adventure and not at the airport before travel. We have a few essential travel must-dos or pre-vacation tips to avoid last-minute issues and make sure you are ready for your next trip abroad.
5 Tips to prepare before traveling
- Check your passport
- Create a packing list
- Print your travel documents
- Travel itinerary and budget planning
- Relax your mind: It's time to be stress free
1. Check your passport
The US Department of State encourages all Americans to check the expiration date on their current passport. Due to a surge of international travel plans in 2023, the Department saw an "unprecedented demand" in passport applications, receiving more than 500,000 applications this past winter, causing delays with processing new and applied passport renewals. If you haven't checked your passport in awhile, make sure you go through the following passport checklist:
- Is it still valid? When does it expire?
- Be sure to make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended travel dates. Note that it also has to be valid for the return journey as well, otherwise you might have issues getting back into the country. If you need a renewal, plan early. Despite paying for expedited services, there may still be delays so apply early.
- Do you have blank visa pages?
- Depending on the country(countries) you are planning to visit, you may need at least two to four blank visa pages.
- What if my passport is damaged?
- If your passport is damaged (torn pages, damage to the cover, ripped, falling apart, etc) you would need to replace/apply for a new passport.
- Change in name and personal information
- Does your passport information match your travel ticket? Did you change your marital status and also had a name change? Other than providing supporting documents, you may run through some unexpected issues at the airport. Avoid the hassle by checking over your reservation and supporting travel documents.
- Do you need a visa to the countries you are visiting?
- Make sure you have everything you need, including preparing the necessary visas, including transit visa in some cases if you have a layover or transiting through a country on the way to your final destination. Each country has different visa requirements and may entry requirements may differ depending on the nationality of the passport.
2. Create a packing list
Prepare your packing list well in advance so you make sure to have everything. Steer away from the adrenaline rush and panic at the last minute. Otherwise, before you know it, you're boarding the plane and realize you've forgotten your swimsuit, your handy city guide or toiletries ... How to avoid this? Make your own list or we have one prepared for you: check our generic packing list and the ones below!
Helpful packing tips for various vacations
- 🏖️Packing tips for a beach holiday | Planning some "Me Time" by the beach?
- ⌛Packing tips for a weekend getaway | Planning a short getaway trip?
- 🚗Packing tips for road trips | Planning to hit the road?
3. Print your travel documents
While many travelers would rather store electronic copies of these travel documents on a smartphone or tablet, it is still a good idea to have physical copies of these documents with you, especially at times of emergency (device is lost/stolen, loss of battery, need to reach for assistance with the embassy/consulate abroad, etc).
When making a printed copy of your travel documents, make sure to have it on you for easy access and also check which documents you may need a physical copies vs electronic copies.
4. Travel itinerary and budget planning
It is important to plan your budget while figuring out where and what to do while you're at your destination. Questions to ask:
- How much money do you want to carry? Is it going to be in cash or credit card?
- Furthermore be sure to notify the bank or credit card provider so you can still use my card abroad. Also check to see if you can already arrange the travel alerts online.
- Where do you want to go and how much time do you want to spend there?
- Also think about the mode of transportation (train, bus, taxi, ridesharing, or by feet). Make sure to make the most of your trip by planning your day-to-day activities.
5. Relax your mind: It's time to be stress free
You're stressed all week, but perhaps your travel companion is very calm and relaxed. Why the difference? There is nothing worse than you not being on the same wave length and feeling mentally drained when you're on vacation. Acceptance is the key! Before your trip, reserve some time for yourself: Meditate, go to a yoga class, read a book, watch movies, listen through your favorite setlist of songs you can hum or karaoke to, and get yourself mentally prepared to let go of the daily routine and enjoy your vacation to the max!
So maybe one of the final things you can do to get into the vacation spirit is to change your screensaver (computer, mobile, tablet) with a nice background of your destination and dream away as you'll be there soon. Be sure to not forget to take new pictures for your screensaver to reminisce later on!
We hope that providing these tips to prepare for your travels in advance will provide some relief by the time you are waiting to board your outbound flight.
Still looking to find a nice flight deal to that dream vacation? Then don't forget to take a few minutes to browse for flight deals on BudgetAir.com. Compare and contrast various airline flight options and find the itinerary that fits your budget!