Priorities:
- Good friends or family to count on if you get stuck.
- Purse; Wallet; Carry-on Bag; Backpack; Suitcase.
- Passport.
- Travel visas if required.
- Transportation: Airplane Tickets, etc.
- Names, Phone Numbers and Addresses of where you will stay.
- Cash (different currencies if necessary), Traveller's Cheques, Credit Cards.
- Prescribed Medications (with Doctor's Prescription along if possible.)
- Presription Lenses or Contact Lenses? Toiletries? Other health requirement?
- Basics - A day's worth of travel clothes. Good (broken in) shoes highly recommended.
Highly Recommended:
- Leave the keys to your home, your itinerary if you have one and a forwarding address, and perhaps names, addresses, and phone numbers of people to contact in case of emergency.
- Names, Phone Numbers and Addresses of those you want to visit, write, call. Address Book is good.
- Travel First Aid Kit: i.e. bandaids (even a couple just for blisters); anti-bacterial swab or pad with alcohol (even one small pack) for cleaning even a paper cut; aspirin and/or tylenol; (consider also anti-hystamine, peptobismal, etc.)
- Just in case - bring a Travel Emergency Repair Kit: Safety Pin; Needle and Thread in a Sewing Kit... but do not include these in a carry-on!
Other Reminders:
- Show-and-Tell: photographs of your family, friends, home, other travels; travel diary; local news or magazine from home; music cassettes, videos, CDs; candies or treats from home.
- Gifts for those you plan to see or visit.
- Driver's License, sometimes an International Driver's License (ask your nearest automobile association, i.e. AAA or CAA etc.)
- Auto Rental Voucher or Confirmation if the car rental has been booked or prepaid.
On Insurance:
- Don't forget your liability insurance if the car rental has been booked or prepaid. Collision or Theft Insurance is good to have also: collision/theft is sometimes included on some credit cards. Sometimes your own insurance company can arrange continuous coverage for rental cars.
- Health Insurance: sometimes available in a group health plan, sometimes purchased separately. Depends where you are going.
- Trip Cancellation Insurance. Usually available when you buy your travel ticket, but will probably only cover the cost of your cancelled trip if it is for your own unexpected medical emergencies or of your immediate family. Some credit cards include this automatically if you use their card to purchase the trip.
- Lost Luggage Insurance.
Leaving Your Home Intact while You're Away:
- Leave your key and a forwarding address (if possible) with someone who can check your home when you're away, or be the contact in case of emergencies.
- Have someone look after your pets and plants while you are away. Leave behind instructions and food etc.
- Discontinue newspaper and other door deliveries.
Copyright © 1996-2009
Astrid Terras
This website began February 1, 1996, but is constantly alive and changing.
This page last updated on 2009-03-04.
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