by Sharon Hudgins
This is a general checklist with entries relevant to most travelers. Use it as a start for making your own customized list.
DO IN ADVANCE
_ Make sure passport is current / renew passport
_ Buy airline / rail / cruise tickets (800-521-6722 x 2)
_ Reserve rental car
_ Reserve shuttle to/from local airport
_ Make hotel reservations
_ Photocopy passport / all tickets / travel & health insurance information
_ Photocopy travel information from guidebooks
_ Arrange for house sitters / pet sitters / or pet boarding at kennel
_ Prepare information for house/pet sitters (travel itinerary, contact phone numbers, pet
feeding schedule, veterinarian phone number, etc.)
_ Purchase all pet-sitter supplies (pet food, cat litter, etc.)
_ Notify home security company of house/pet sitter names & dates of service
_ Check home security system batteries
_ Arrange for lawn mowing service & payment
_ Pay utility bills & other house bills in advance (if necessary)
_ Select credit cards to take
_ Notify credit-card companies & bank about countries (& dates) you will be
using credit cards & debit cards. Increase ATM limit & ensure 4-digit PIN.
_ E-mail hosts with your travel schedule & contact phone numbers
_ Vote absentee
TAKE:
(This is a general list for individual traveling alone—or several family members traveling together, in which case one person might carry some items for the entire group):
_ Passport(s)
_ Airline tickets / other tickets (rail, cruise, airport shuttle)
_ Frequent flyer cards
_ Itinerary
_ Hotel reservation information
_ Phone numbers / addresses for each country
_ Emergency contact information (names, phone numbers)
_ Cell phone
_ Laptop computer / tablet / eBook reader / chargers / converter plugs
_ Digital camera / memory cards / batteries / charger / converter plugs
_ Travel alarm clock / extra battery
_ Phrase book / small dictionary / menu translator
_ Books to read
_ Maps
_ Travel guidebooks / photocopies of travel guides
_ Medicine kit (aspirin, band-aids, antibiotic cream, anti-diarrhea medicine, etc.)
_ Insect repellent
_ Suntan lotion
_ Hand sanitizers (individual packages)
_ Facial tissues
_ Small sewing kit
_ Hair dryer
_ Backpack
_ Tote bags
_ Fold-up expandable bag for bringing back souvenirs from the trip
_ Small flashlight (check condition of batteries & bulb)
_ Bathtub/sink stopper
_ 2 expandable clotheslines (for drying hand-washed laundry in hotel rooms)
_ Liquid soap for hand laundry (small bottles)
_ Leatherman tool / Swiss Army knife (packed in check-on luggage)
_ Picnic supplies (flatware / small plastic tray / tea cups & towels / immersion heater)
_ Plastic bags (various zip-lock sizes / laundry bags)
_ Notebooks & pens
_ Large envelopes for travel brochures & receipts
_ Tags on all luggage / 2 extra luggage tags
_ Gifts for hosts
PACK: (men)
_ Passport / visa(s) / vaccination record
_ Photocopy of passport / visa(s) / credit card information / insurance information
_ Airline tickets / other tickets
_ Emergency contact information (names, phone numbers)
_ Cash / credit cards / debit cards
_ Insurance cards
_ Business cards
_ Shaving kit (razor / soap / shampoo / toothbrush / toothpaste / deodorant)
_ Brush / combs
_ Night clothes
_ Underwear (briefs / T-shirts)
_ Socks / support hose
_ Slacks / jeans / dress pants
_ Shorts (outerwear)
_ Shirts (casual, dressy)
_ Suit / tuxedo
_ Coats (sports coat / overcoat / raincoat)
_ Jacket / anorak
_ Tie(s)
_ Sweater
_ Fleece vest
_ Swimsuit
_ Shoes (walking shoes / dress shoes / shower shoes)
_ Hat
_ Gloves
_ Neck scarf
_ Umbrella
_ Wrist watch
_ Extra pair of eyeglasses / sunglasses
_ Eyeglass repair kit
_ Contact lenses / contact lens solution
_ Hearing aids / batteries
_ Sleeping mask
_ Prescription medicines
_ 2 copies of personal prescription list (medication names & dosages) / eyeglass
prescription
PACK: (women)
_ Passport / visa(s) / vaccination record
_ Photocopy of passport / visa(s) / credit card information / insurance information
_ Airline tickets / other tickets
_ Emergency contact information (names, phone numbers)
_ Cash / credit cards / debit cards
_ Insurance cards
_ Business cards
_ Makeup kit (makeup / soap / shampoo / toothbrush / toothpaste / deodorant)
_ Magnifying makeup mirror
_ Hair curling iron
_ Brush / combs
_ Face cloths
_ Night clothes
_ Lounge dresses / pool dresses (can double as nightgowns)
_ Swimsuit
_ Underwear (panties / brassieres)
_ Socks / pantyhose / support hose
_ Dresses (casual, formal)
_ Skirts (casual, formal)
_ Slacks / jeans / dress slacks
_ Shorts
_ Blouses / tops / formal top
_ Coat / jacket / raincoat
_ Sweater
_ Fleece vest
_ Shoes (walking shoes / dress shoes / shower shoes)
_ Costume jewelry
_ Wrist watch
_ Hat
_ Gloves
_ Scarf
_ Umbrella
_ Extra pair of eyeglasses / sunglasses
_ Eyeglass repair kit
_ Contact lenses / contact lens solution
_ Hearing aids / batteries
_ Sleeping mask
_ Prescription medicines
_ 2 copies of personal prescription list (medication names & dosages) / eyeglass
prescription
HOUSE:
_ Clean out refrigerator / pantry / give perishable foods to neighbors
_ Move pot plants to neighbors
_ Move patio plants near lawn sprinkler heads
_ Cover plants that can freeze (in winter)
_ Put pet carriers in accessible place in garage
_ Organize pet food for pet sitters
_ Cats (trim claws / groom / change litter box)
_ Dogs (trim claws / wash & groom)
_ Transport pets to boarding kennel
_ Put home security keypad in accessible place for house-sitters
_ Put basket for incoming mail in accessible place for house-sitters
_ Unplug computer / TV / other electronics
_ Program lawn sprinkler system
_ Close & lock windows
_ Lower window blinds / close curtains
_ Check all water faucets / turn off washing machine at wall
_ Set air conditioner (or heating) to maintenance temperature
_ Take out trash
