The Travellers Checklist

Travelling can be problematic if you don’t plan ahead. Unexpected emergencies, delays and general health problems can be just some of the difficulties you might face on the trip. These situations are always horrible, and can ruin a holiday. In this way, you should always take the time to make a checklist for the trip, and try to do as much research as possible about what you’ll need to take with you on the journey, and what things you should try to insure against. By doing so, it is possible to have a stress free holiday, barring any real surprises. The following list contains some issues that you should think about when planning:

cc licensed flickr photo by Trey Ratcliff

1 - Researching an Area and Travelling

Researching an area doesn’t have to involve going into a lot of detail, but should try to get a good sense of the general layout of an area, as well as transport links and local customs. Work out how much you’ll need to spend on average per day, as well as whether there are any areas or shops that are overpriced. A good travel guide or a browse online will make this relatively easy to achieve.

When planning the journey, you should also check to see if your mobile phone carrier has any special deals or limitations for your destination country. Heavy roaming tariffs for mobile phones can make the next bill after a holiday an unpleasant experience. Similarly, try to avoid any unnecessary costs for flying. See if you can save money on return tickets, and whether making a change during a flight will be worth the extra hassle.

2 - Insurance

The right insurance is crucial to providing you with peace of mind on a holiday. You can probably save time by taking out an additional policy with your existing provider, but should also think about exploring options from more specialist companies, who may be able to get you a better deal. Health insurance is particularly important to pick up, as is a European Health Insurance Card, which can be ordered for free. You should also take out insurance for any special activities that might be dangerous, such as skiing, as well as personal liability for accidents.

3 - Documents
Always try to keep your travel documents together during a trip, and make photocopies of the most important ones like your visa or passport. Make sure that you have a list of emergency contacts, as well as numbers for embassies and other information. You should keep separate lists of flight dates, hotel reservation codes and insurance policies in case you run into any problems. The same caution should apply to how much money you carry. A mix of notes and traveller’s cheques is usually best, with a credit card or debit card as a back up.

4 - Health

Check to see if your destination country requires any special vaccinations or supplements. Similarly, bring along some basic medical supplies such as a first aid kit, as well as blister pads and insect repellant, and carry plenty of bottled water to avoid dehydration and infection if the local tap water is unsafe to drink.

5 - Internet

If you are traveling to foreign countries such as China, you should be aware that many popular websites might be blocked in that country. For this reason, you might need to get a reliable VPN servce that you can use during your trip. If you plan to visit china, you can take a look at this list of best VPNs to be used in China.

Currently visiting France and exploring boutique hotels in Paris, Matt Mynors is a travel enthusiast writing on his experiences and his plans to travel the world.