If you’re heading on a trip, whether it be a week-long vacation or a year-long round-the-world trip, there are so many things to do before you actually set off. The below travel checklist will cover everything you need to consider doing before backpacking from 3 months before your trip up until the day before you depart. Not everything on the below checklist will be applicable to every person going backpacking, but it will give you a good idea of things not to forget to do before you travel. If you haven’t planned your trip yet and are looking for help in the planning stage, check out my helpful travel planning guide here.
3 months before you leave
- Have you researched vaccinations and medical considerations for the region you are travelling to?
- Are you up to date on all recommended vaccinations?
- Have you checked the validity and condition of your passport?
- Do you need to apply for visas for the countries you are visiting?
- Have you purchased travel insurance?
1 month before you leave
- Do you have a plan for accessing prescription medications? Will you take prescription medications with you or purchase them in the region you are travelling to?
- Are you up-to-date on all preventative health tests? E.g. Pap Smears, STI Tests, Mole Checks
- Have you researched which travel card or credit card will be the best for you for the region you are travelling to?
- Do you have multiple cards in case you get mugged?
- Have you notified your employer/ quit your job?
- Have you organised a pet sitter?
- Have you bought the kind of travel adaptor you need for the region you are travelling?
- Have you applied for an international driver’s license?
- Do you have a backpack, suitcase, toiletries bag or other luggage?
- Have you purchased a microfibre towel, lock, eyemask and earplugs for hostels?
- Do you have appropriate clothing and shoes for the activities you are planning on doing?
1 week before you leave
- Have you notified your banks that you will be going overseas?
- Have you informed family and friends and advised them how to contact you while travelling?
- Do you have copies of your passport (both softcopy and printed copy)?
- Do you have copies of your bank cards (both softcopy and printed copies)?
- Is someone going to be collecting your mail for you, or have you organised mail forwarding?
- Have you organised direct debits for any bills/ rent payments that will be due while you are away?
- Do you have your first night of accommodation booked at your destination?
- Have you written down some helpful phrases in the language of your destination? E.g. “Thank you”, “please”, “hello”, “where is the bathroom”, and “I need help”.
The day before you leave
- Do you have chargers for all the tech devices you are bringing with you?
- Have you charged all your electronics?
- Have you downloaded travel apps?
- Have you downloaded things offline for the plane, like Spotify podcasts or Netflix movies?
- Have you cleaned out the fridge/ pantry and thrown out anything that will go off while you’re away?
- Have you packed your bags?
- Have you triple checked you have your passport, phone and cards?
- Have you checked there haven’t been any changes to your flight time?
- Have you organised how you will get to and from the airport?
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