YOU go on a trip soon and you're afraid of forgetting something essential? How to prepare your suitcase? What are the documents to have? What should you think about before you leave? Today, I deliver to you a travel checklist complete in order to go on vacation in complete peace of mind.
Travel checklist: packing your suitcase
Start packing your suitcase, It’s already a bit of a vacation! However, we always have afraid of forgetting something essential. And this step can be very stressful for some travelers. So, below you will find a multitude of tips to leave more serene.
But, before starting to fill your suitcase, you will already have to choose the size of your luggage. Are you leaving with a cabin suitcase, a backpack or a larger suitcase ? It's up to you to find what will be most practical depending on the length of your stay and your destination.
In all cases, the ideal will be to leave with a easily identifiable suitcase and of weigh it before departure check that it does not reach the authorized weight limit. It must be identifiable to be sure of don't confuse her with another on the airport carpet or among other cabin baggage on your flight (or in the hold of the bus). For this reason, I advise you to opt for a customizable suitcase. Additionally, remember to include your name, address and number, useful in case of loss.
Travel checklist: things to have with you
Even if you check your suitcase, it is best to keep the essential items or which have value during your trip:
- Wallet
- Passport and visa
- Phone
- Tablet
- External battery if you have one
- Camera + memory card
- Camera type GoPro and/or your drone. For the drones, regulations change depending on the country, find out before you leave.
- Laptop
- MP3 player
- The charger for each device
In addition, during your journey, here are some useful items to have with youespecially for your comfort:
- Books, magazines, card game
- Of the headphones or a helmet
- A pen and notebook to write down your memories
- A empty water bottle : you can fill it out at the airport (after security)
- What to eat : sandwiches, pizzas, snacks. Avoid salads because cutlery and liquids (sauce) are prohibited in the cabin
- A travel pillow if it's a long journey. But also a pair of socks, a sweater and a scarf
- Of the support stockings
Travel checklist: documents not to forget
Here is the list of essential documents to have with you when traveling:
- Your valid passport Or an identity card
- A Visa or a pre-authorization to enter the territory (ESTA in the United States, AVE in Canada, etc.).
- There European Health Insurance Card if you travel to Europe
- Your credit cards, which will be to separate
- All documents related to your trip: plane (or train, bus, ferry) ticket reservations, car rental, hotel reservations, etc.
- Certificate oftravel insurance
- Driving license +/- international license, if you rent a car
- Of the species in euros and/or in the currency of the country where you are going
- Your student cardif you have one to get discounts
Travel checklist: things to do before departure
“Have you thought about this?” », “Did you do that correctly? »… When we go on a trip, there is a multitude of things to think about. Here is a list to help you don't forget anything.
- Scan your identity papers and send them to you by email
- Write on your phone or a notebook the address of your hotel
- Seek how to reach your hotel (at least the first), your car rental company, your travel agency…
- Keep number from your car rental company, your hotel/host or your agency
- Identify the route to get to your accommodation (if you rent a car)
- Download offline maps on Gmaps: this will allow you to locate yourself without an internet connection
- Find out about transportation in public if you travel in the city: bus, metro? Until what time do they run?
- Download the app of your airline, your accommodation (e.g.: Booking, Airbnb), the local transport network and that of Uber (just in case)
- Send an email to your car rental company, your agency or your hotel/host to notify them of your arrival time
- Update your Whatsapp application or Messenger to talk to your loved ones and contact easily reach people on site.
- Tell your loved ones that you will be abroad
- Save the contact details of the French embassy and emergency numbers on site
- Take a VPN to protect your data when connecting in public places
- Download series/movies on your tablet or computer
- Charge your phone and your high-tech objects useful during the journey
Bonus: know where you are going
It may also be useful to learn more about your destination. To do this you can:
- Watch the rules of conduct on site
- Learn a few words in the local language: hello, thank you, please, goodbye…
- Learn about the culture, gestures and attitudes that could be misperceived and possible scams
Travel checklist: the contents of your suitcase
We now get to the heart of the matter: how are you going to fill your suitcase? Here is the answer to this question divided into several categories.
Toiletry bag
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Razor or electric shaver
- Toiletries: shower gel, shampoo, etc.
- Moisturizing milk and/or day cream
- Makeup and makeup remover
- Lip balm
- Hairbrush and rubber bands
- Nail file (the nail clipper does not fit in the cabin)
- Sunscreen
- Contraceptive
- Mosquito repellent
- Hygienic protections
- Earplugs + night mask
- Handkerchiefs
- Tweezers
- Contact lenses
In the cabin: liquid products must be in small format (100 ml maximum), in the number of 10 maxstored in a transparent plastic pouch.
If you have a long-haul flight, consider keep hygiene items with you in small format. You can also take a small towel to clean up between two flights.
Drugs :
- Your usual treatment and its prescription (required)
- Of paracetamol, antidiarrheals (depending on destination), antihistamines (allergies) and medication for motion sickness.
- Certificate of compulsory vaccinations during your stay (yellow fever in Brazil for example)
You may be considering bringing a small first aid kit with dressings, bandages, disinfectant, anti-venom, compresses, rehydration solution, survival blanket, etc.
Its usefulness will depend on conditions of your trip. If you are traveling in the city, do not unnecessarily burden yourself with a multitude of medications “just in case”. You will easily find a pharmacy in all cities around the world. However, if your vacation takes place in nature, take what seems most important to you.
Clothes :
This section depends greatly on your destination, the capacity of your suitcase and your habits.
For a minimalist suitcase and a trip to the sun, here's what you can take:
- A pair of sneakers with you + a pair of light shoes in your bag
- 5/6 T-shirt, tank tops
- 1 dress or 1 “dressy” outfit if needed
- 1 sweater on you + 1 sweater in your suitcase
- Leggings type pants on you (for hiking) + 1 short
- 1 raincoat
- 4 pairs of socks
- 4 underwear
- 1 cap and sunglasses
- 1 swimsuit
- +/- a beach towel
- +/- hiking shoes (can replace sneakers)
- 1 dirty laundry bag
On the other hand, if you travel to a cold country, you can take:
- 3 thermal skin knits (tank tops or short sleeves)
- 3/4 long sleeve thermal t-shirts
- 2 warm sweaters
- 1 pants + 2 underwear
- 1 pair of winter shoes
- 4/5 underwear
- 5 pairs of thick socks
- 1 hat, 1 scarf, gloves
- 1 winter jacket
Useful objects
Also think about slip into your suitcase:
- A travel guide and a phrasebook
- A padlock
- A power strip + one plug adapter
- A USB key: can be useful for printing documents (return plane tickets, voucher for an activity)
To pack your suitcase, consider optimize space. For that, roll your clothes, put some items in every pocket and in the storage bags (from your camera for example).
Travel Checklist: House Checks Before Departure
Is your suitcase ready? You are about to leave? The last check concerns your accommodation. Here's what you can do before you leave:
- Check that the sockets are unplugged, that the hob and the oven are turned off
- Put the cumulus in vacation mode
- Turn off the gas +/- water
- Empty the fridge and lower your thermostat
- Close all windows
- Water the plants
- Collect mail
- Leave your keys with a loved one
This travel checklist especially includes the essentials to think about. You will see that as you travel, everything will become simpler and you will carry less and less things with you. Didn't take enough clothes? Did your pair of sneakers fail? Can't find the toothpaste? Don't panic! You will always find something to replace these products once you are there, even on the other side of the world. So, Don't worry too much about what he might be missing. Put things into perspective!
Personally, my travel checklist has a lot evolved over time, just like the capacity of my travel bag. Today I tend to say “I have my credit card, my phone, my passport: I’m ready! “. You will see that anyway, a small oversight will never spoil your vacation!
