The checklist
When I first made my checklist, I had a grand total of ten
items. I was hoping that I had covered everything but still, I
had no real idea of whether I had. If I were just beginning to
travel for the first time, the following would be my checklist.
Every item in the checklist is covered in much greater detail in
the following sections.
- Apply for and secure a valid passport or make sure
your current passport will not expire while you’re
travelling.
- Get an idea of which countries you want to visit and
how long you are going to be travelling.
- Buy a guidebook that covers all the countries you are
going to visit.
- Consult a travel nurse and get necessary vaccines for
your chosen countries. Most medical clinics and
doctor’s offices can give you the contact information
for the travel nurse in your area.
- Purchase the needed medicines and pills recommended
by the travel nurse. Be sure to follow the directions
carefully.
- Put together a definitive first aid kit.
- Purchase all necessary gear.
- Place money in two bank accounts (one primary and
one backup).
- Buy emergency travellers’ cheques.
- Do some preliminary research on your areas of
interest.
- Notify friends and family your plans.
- Check with your country’s foreign affairs office to
obtain information on the entrance requirements, visas,
length of stay, issues, etc. In Canada, this office is
called DFAIT (Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade), but the name will change
depending on which country you live in.
- Open an Internet e-mail/blog/etc. account to stay in
touch with everyone.
- Consider giving a parent or trusted person power of
attorney over one of your bank accounts.
- Buy travel insurance for the entire duration of your
trip.
- Do your taxes if you are going to be gone during tax
season.
- Make photocopies of all your important documents.
- Purchase your flight ticket.
- E-mail yourself all important phone numbers, as well
as your passport number and have scanned photocopies
of passports, driver’s license, record of vaccinations
etc. in your backpack.ccessful trip.