Travelling for the first time is super exciting, but also nerve-wracking, especially if you’re not sure what to pack or where to get started. We have all been there, throwing items in your suitcase last minute and 100% forgetting something you wish you had brought! Let me help and take away any pre-travel stress or anxiety and give you my top 6 things to do before you travel.
These handy tips should help you prepare for your travels, whether you’re a first time traveller or just in need of a bit of guidance for your next adventure!
1- Make A List!
Grab that pen, grab that notebook and start jotting this down! Lists are your best friend when getting organised for your travels, especially if you struggle getting organised like me! – I ALWAYS forget something and panic buy last minute.
Write down everything you need, I mean everything! From documents to phone chargers, passport to your socks. It’s easier to break it down into separate lists for each type of item. If you get stuck, have a look at our super quick ”Easy Travel Checklist” and check it off as you pack!
2 – Sort Out The Boring Stuff.
I’ve heard people say, do I really need travel insurance? …YES!! ALWAYS get travel insurance before you travel! Most of the time it’s really cheap and you should print a copy off, and/or download it to your phone. Depending on where you’re going, some countries require a certain type of insurance on entry, so double check before you arrive.
Print off any other documents you might need. Boarding passes, hotel bookings, medical documents, vaccination documents and anything else for your journey. Downloading most of these on your phone is super handy, but best practice is to print of a copy of important documents just incase your phone dies or you can’t get signal! This can save you so much time when checking in to places, especially airpots and/or border control.
TOP TIP: Download everything you need on your phone before your first flight. Include all your documents, music, films, apps and your Apple Wallet. Check out our ‘The Best App’s for Travellers’ blog to find out the best apps for travelling around foreign countries.
3 – Check Your Passport.
This sounds like an obvious one, but lots of people get caught out every year and have to pay SO much money to get a fast tracked new passport! Your passport needs to be in date and you MUST have the correct visas for the countries you’re travelling.
Some countries require certain amount of months left on your passport before you can enter, which is what some people don’t realise! The UK Gov recommends you have 6 months left on your passport when travelling, so make sure you’ve got plenty of time before it expires!
TOP TIP: Double check the entry requirements for each country plenty of time in advance so you can prepare and get the correct visas etc.
4 – Vaccinations And Medications
Depending on where you are travelling you might need to get some extra vaccinations to enter borders and to keep yourself safe. Before you travel speak to your doctor or a travel clinic about where you will be visiting and they can give you a list of recommendations. Once you have your vaccinations, keep your vaccination list safe as this can be used as proof of vaccinations at borders.
We’ve gotta talk about the annoying ‘C’ word. Covid. The rules around covid have definitely relaxed for travel in 2023, however, every country is different and has a range of entry requirements/conditions regarding your covid status! Make sure to check if you need a covid passport, negative tests, or anything else to enter safely.
Make sure you stock up on any personal medication you need for the length of your trip!
5 – Speak To Your Bank Before You Travel.
Before you jet off and start using your bank cards in loads of different countries, get in touch with your bank and let them know! Rookie mistake I made before and ended up with my card frozen! Not ideal! This will make sure your cards don’t get stopped due to ‘suspicious activity!’. Give them a call and make them aware. With some banks you can do this online too!
There are so many travel cards out there now. If you’re unsure about what travel card to get or how much money to take with you, have a look at our ‘The Best Travel Cards for International Travel’ blog! Its always handy to have a few options incase your card gets stolen/lost and you can’t get cash out.
6 – Pack, Pack, PACK!
I always get stressed out when I’m packing, especially for long haul trips! How many bikinis do I take? Do I really need my big comfy coat?? How many, is TOO many trainers?
The best steps to help you pack is think about the places you’re going to visit and what activities you will be doing. Say you’re going to Bali in the height of summer, you’re probably not going to need a big jumper! If you’re super into hiking and exploring, pack your good shoes and a smaller day back pack. Write it all down, lay your items out on the floor/bed and tick them off as you go!
TOP TIP: Get some packing cubes! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check these ones out on amazon. They are a life saver. You can separate your bikinis, your clothes and know exactly where everything is!
