Ultimate Travel Checklist – A Solo Traveler’s Guide
Travelling to a foreign country? Use this handy travel checklist to help make sure you haven’t missed anything before you head off! Don’t worry, if it turns out you don’t have everything done yet you can download the FREE Printable below.
Documentation
Passport
A passport is a document required to leave one country and enter another, visas, on the other hand, are only required by some countries so it depends where you are going and what you plan to do at your destination.
Some countries have instituted requirements to help prevent child abductions and may require travellers to present proof of relationship to the children and evidence of consent from any non-accompanying parent(s).
When does your passport expire? Some countries require that a traveller’s passport be valid for at least six months beyond the dates of the trip. Contact the embassy of your foreign destination for more information.
Do I need a visa to get into country X?
Maybe. You can use this site to determine what kind of visa you’ll need if any.
You might want to buy your passport holder for your travels. But we don’t sell them. We refer you to AMAZON.COM. Even when you travel in a few days, you can receive your order in time!
Health \ travel insurance
By taking out travel insurance you are essentially covering yourself against travel risks such as lost or stolen luggage, cancellation cover (should you not be able to travel due to unexpected medical reasons) and most importantly, unexpected medical costs abroad.
Vaccine card
The Carte Jaune or Yellow Card is an international certificate of vaccination (ICV). It is issued by the World Health Organization. It is recognised internationally and may be required for entry to certain countries where there are increased health risks for travellers.
Booking
Hotel or Hostel?
It depends on what kind of experience you want. If you’re interested in meeting new people and having a more authentic local experience for a vastly cheaper price, choose a hostel. If you want to be pampered in luxury or don’t want to deal with the inconveniences of living in close quarters with strangers, a private room at a hostel or a hotel room could be the better choice for you.
Airbnb accommodations are a big preference because of their low cost, convenient location, and household amenities. There is the opportunity to interact with the host or other locals, or the promise of an authentic, local experience.
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Suitcases
When you travel, you cannot do without suitcases. Before you pack your bags, do check the regulations from the airline, train, boat or other travel company. Often there are limits to size or weight. And they are different for every company.
Cabin Luggage
There are no standard sizes or weights for allowed cabin luggage (carryon). The allowed dimensions are approximately 45 inches (22 x 14 x 9 in) or 115 centimetres (23 x 36 x 56 cm) including handles and wheels. You will have to check the airline! Some airlines are very strict about their allowed dimensions.
Buy your suitcase or carryon luggage
You might want to buy your suitcase or carryon luggage for your travels. But we don’t sell them. We refer you to AMAZON.COM. Even when you travel in a few days, you can receive your order in time!
Money
How many credit/debit cards should I bring?
You should bring at least 2 debit or credit cards with you. It’s a common rite of passage among travellers to lose a card, and having a backup can be a lifesaver. If you DO lose all your cards, don’t panic, you can still use Western Union to get you money practically anywhere in the world while you wait for your bank to ship you a new card. I lost my wallet on a remote island in Thailand and had a handful of cash just twenty minutes later.
What credit/debit cards should I have?
Ideally, you’ll want one that waives foreign transaction fees, like the Capital One credit card, and then a debit card that waives or reduces ATM fees. This will keep you from being fleeced by financial institutions every time you make a transaction.
Will my credit/debit card work overseas?
Visa definitely will. My Visa card was accepted almost everywhere I went. In some countries, there are few places where you can pay with your credit card or collect money at an ATM.
Foreign currency
Most countries in the world have their own currency. So you probably will have to change money. To check what currency is being used in the country you plan to visit, check out our service TravelCurrencies.com. We also provide current exchange rates.
Get Your FREE Travel Checklist Printable Now
Health and safety
It is always best to be prepared. So bring your first aid supplies with you. If you travel by car, you can be obligated to carry a first aid kit, as well as a warning triangle and a warning vest.
Buy your first aid kit
You might want to buy your first aid kit for your travels. But we don’t sell them. We refer you to AMAZON.COM. Even when you travel in a few days, you can receive your order in time!
What kind of Health Insurance do I need?
If you already have health insurance, check how they handle situations like emergency evacuations. Your current insurance might not cover the cost of flying you back to your country for an emergency procedure. If you want to be safe, get Travel Insurance. I highly recommend World Nomads. Other insurers stick you with restrictions that require you to purchase insurance before your flight and don’t let you extend your insurance if you decide to stay longer.
What kind of medicines should I bring?
Talk to your doctor! I have my own personal travel medical kit that I like to use, but your needs may be quite different, so check with a doctor before taking any medication.
I’m in a foreign country and I’m getting sick, should I go to a doctor?
If you’re asking the question, then you probably should. You especially want to be careful if you’re in a country with tropical diseases like malaria, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, or yellow fever. Or if you’re in Australia, where everything is designed to kill you. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Am I going to get food poisoning?
Probably, at least a little. I’ve gotten some form of food poisoning in all but one of the countries I’ve been to, but aside from a miserable week shitting my brains out in Thailand, it wasn’t really that big a deal. Keep this link to WebMD’s site on how to treat your food poisoning and you’ll be fine.
Do I need to get vaccinated for country X, and if I don’t will I die?
It largely depends on the country. Check out the CDC’s handy travel health site to figure out what shots are recommended for you for where you’re going. In the US you can visit Walgreens’ Health Clinic or CVS’s Minute Clinic for vaccinations and/or travel healthcare advice. As for whether you’ll die if you don’t get your shots, that really depends. I met several travellers in Southeast Asia who didn’t get their shots and were totally fine even after being there for years. I also met some who were there for a week and spent half their time bleeding out of their rectum. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Is the country I’m travelling to dangerous?
Check out the US State Department’s travel site and type in your destination in the “Learn about your destination” box to get detailed safety information. You can also enrol in their STEP plan to get automatic email updates about your destinations if the situation on the ground changes.
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