Taking a trip anywhere is exciting, whether its somewhere new or an old favorite destination, there are lots of fun and new adventures to dream about. But to enjoy everything as much as possible on your trip, you need to plan ahead – especially if you travel with a child like me. There is nothing worse than panicking about travel arrangements, or perhaps finding that you forgot your camera, phone or other important possessions. A travel checklist is a great way to have everything organized before you set off, leaving you to relax and enjoy everything about your vacation trip.
This is our checklist for your vacation from start to finish. Everything you need to make sure you have the best vacation ever.
Think About Your Budget
Once you’ve picked a destination, work out your budget. It is imperative to do this now, because it affects a lot of the later choices you have. From how long your vacation will be to the choice of accommodation and activities you do; all contribute to the total cost of your vacation. Set yourself a realistic budget that you know is achievable, and then stick to it (also, always set aside an emergency budget for unforeseen circumstances such as canceled flights and medical issues.)
Organize Your Cards
If you are not a regular traveler and haven’t done so already, it may be time to take a look at your debit and credit cards. Today, you can get credit cards that offer reward systems for travel miles.
Also, check your with your bank regarding withdrawal/charge fees overseas. Compare if withdrawing overseas works out better than exchanging your currency.
Inform Your Card Companies You Are Travelling
Nothing is worse than your card being rejected abroad because of automated fraud flagging. Tell your card company in advance you are travelling, and you avoid the problem entirely.
Book Your Flight
Don’t forget your air miles! Booking your flights early means more chance of finding a flight you can use air miles on, so get this done as soon as possible. Don’t forget to shop around, there are several discount flight sources to use to make sure you are getting the best price possible for your tickets.
Book Your Accommodation
Flights secured, now it’s time for the accommodation. The kind of accommodation you look for will depend on your budget and the kind of holiday you want. Some prefer the ease of a hotel, the friendlier nature of a bed and breakfast or the freedom of a self-catered rental apartment or villa. Think about what suits your vacation best.
Plan The Trip Activities
Depending on the destination, you may have a huge choice when it comes to activities. It can be tempting to simply wait until you are on the trip to plan this, but doing it early helps you build your schedule and budget for how much they all cost. This saves stress once you are away, it’s much easier to check websites from home and decide what to do beforehand, so that on the trip, you can just focus on enjoying the experience.
You can often book activities in advance via local websites, such as Traveloka… and all you gotta do is simply turn up that day!
Organize Mail Collection At Home
A sure sign your home is empty is a pile of uncollected mail. Get a friend or family member to pick up your mail every couple of days while you are away.
Buy Travel Insurance
You never want to use it, but travel insurance is great peace of mind. |It doesn’t cost a lot, just a few dollars a day. Check reviews to find the best insurance company for your needs.
Pack Your Bags!
Time to pack everything for the trip. Take your time, make a list of everything you need, tick it off as it is packed into a bag. Don’t forget things like phones, passports and wallets in your carry on.
Enjoy The Trip
With everything booked and insured, nothing forgotten in the packing, and even your activities booked before you go, all that is left is to just relax and enjoy the vacation.
