What to Do Before Traveling Abroad: A Pre-Trip Checklist

Everything most travelers forget to do before an international trip — and how to make sure you don’t

Planning a trip is exciting. But somewhere between booking your flights and packing your suitcase, there’s a whole list of things most people forget to do, and some of them can seriously derail your trip before it even starts.

Growing up with a diplomat for a father means travel safety was never optional in our house. He was strict about this stuff, the kind of parent who made sure we knew exactly what to do before going anywhere. I’ll be honest, I sometimes thought he was being overly cautious (and annoying). Turns out, he wasn’t. Most of what he drilled into us sounds obvious, until you realize how many people have no idea.

These are the things I always do before I travel anywhere. Whether this is your first international trip or your fiftieth, this is the list I use every time.

Things to Do Before Traveling Abroad: The Complete Checklist at a Glance

Before diving into the detail, here is every step in one place so you can use it as a quick reference. If you are a first-time international traveler, start at the top and work down — the earlier items need the most lead time.

1. Register Your Trip With Your Government

This is the most underrated thing you can do before you travel internationally, and almost nobody knows it exists.

Many countries have an official government portal where citizens can register their trip abroad. For Italy, it’s Dove Siamo nel Mondo. For the US, it’s the STEP program. Not every country has this, the UK, for example, doesn’t have a general pre-trip registration portal, though the FCDO does allow registration in specific high-risk situations. Search “[your country] register trip abroad” and see what exists for you, it’s worth five minutes to find out.

My husband learned one of these lessons firsthand, in a situation abroad that turned dangerous very quickly. The reason everything moved fast, the reason he got the support he needed, was because he had registered his trip on his country’s government portal before he left. A five-minute task that most travelers don’t even know exists.

You simply enter your destination, travel dates, where you’re staying, and your contact details. It takes five minutes. And it means that if anything unexpected happens, lie extreme weather, a political situation, a natural disaster, your home country’s embassy knows you’re in that specific place. It makes it significantly easier to reach you, warn you, or help with an evacuation if it ever came to that.

This isn’t about being paranoid. Most people who register their trip never need it. But it’s five minutes that could matter enormously in the rare case that something goes wrong.

While you’re at it: know where your embassy is. Save the address and emergency contact number before you leave. If you lose your documents, get into an accident, or find yourself in a difficult situation abroad, knowing exactly where to go makes everything move faster. My dad is a diplomat, and the number of travellers who’ve shown up at an embassy in a panic, without knowing its address, without copies of their documents, is staggering. Don’t be that person.

2. Make Copies of Your Documents — Digital and Physical

This one is non-negotiable, and it comes straight from experience. My dad has worked as a diplomat for years, and the cases that have come up at the embassy of travellers who lost their documents were plenty. Having copies makes the entire process of replacing them significantly faster.

Before you leave:

• Take clear photos of your passport (the main page and any visa pages), your ID, your travel insurance policy, and your flight and accommodation confirmations. Save them somewhere accessible, your phone’s camera roll, Google Drive, your email.
• Also print physical copies and keep them separately from your originals. If your bag gets stolen, you don’t want your original passport and every copy of it to disappear together.

It takes ten minutes and it’s the kind of thing you’ll be very grateful for if you ever need it.

3. Actually Check Your Visa Requirements (Don’t Assume)

This is the one that catches people off guard the most, and I’ve met more travelers than I can count who’ve had problems here.

Start with your country’s foreign ministry website. This is the single most useful thing you can do. Your government’s foreign affairs or foreign ministry website will tell you everything that applies specifically to your passport: whether you need a visa, what type, how to apply, and how long it takes. It will also tell you whether your government recommends traveling to that destination at all, which matters more than people realize, because if your government has issued a travel warning against a country, some insurance policies won’t cover you there. Always check this before you book, not after.

The passport validity rule is the next thing to get right — and the standard advice you’ll read everywhere is “make sure your passport is valid for six months from your entry date.” That’s technically correct, but honestly? I would never travel with only six months of residual validity on my passport, and I’d recommend you don’t either. Renew your passport when it drops below eight months of validity. I don’t know how long it takes in your country, but renewal processes can be slow, and the last thing you want is to be rushing it before a trip. Build in the buffer. It costs you nothing and removes all the stress.

Then, check whether you need a visa. And I mean actually check — don’t just assume that because you’ve travelled before, you don’t need one. Requirements change, and they vary enormously depending on your nationality and destination.

A few examples that trip people up:

• Egypt: Visa on arrival is available, but getting the e-visa in advance is faster and I always recommend it.
• New Zealand: You need an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) before you fly. They’re strict,no exceptions.
• Malaysia: The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) is required before entry, it’s free but mandatory.
• Singapore: The Singapore Arrival Card must be submitted online before you arrive.
• USA: Most European passport holders don’t need a visa but do need an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) — and this is not the same thing as a visa. You apply online at esta.cbp.dhs.gov, it costs $40.27, and once approved it’s valid for two years with multiple entries (each stay up to 90 days). Apply as soon as you book — the US recommends doing it no later than 72 hours before departure. If your country isn’t part of the Visa Waiver Program, you’ll need to apply for a B-2 tourist visa at a US embassy instead.

4. Check Your Vaccinations and Travel Health Requirements

When to do this: at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure

This is the one that first-time international travelers most consistently skip, and it matters more than people think — not just for exotic destinations, but for anywhere outside your home country.

The starting point is simple: check the travel health recommendations for your specific destination. The CDC (for US travelers) and the NHS Fitfortravel website (for UK travelers) both publish destination-specific health advice, including which vaccinations are recommended or required, whether malaria prevention is needed, and whether there are any current disease outbreaks to be aware of. If you are Italian, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains similar destination-specific health guidance.

A few things worth knowing:

Routine vaccinations first. Before worrying about destination-specific vaccines, make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date. Tetanus, hepatitis A, typhoid, and measles are the ones that travel clinics most often find people are missing. These are not exotic — they are simply things that lapse without people noticing.

Some vaccines require multiple doses over several weeks. Hepatitis B, for example, typically requires three doses over six months. Japanese encephalitis requires two doses. If you are traveling to Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, or South America and you leave this to the last week, some vaccines simply will not have time to work. Book a travel clinic appointment as soon as you have your destination confirmed — six to eight weeks before departure is the minimum; earlier is always better.

Some countries require proof of vaccination for entry. Yellow fever is the most common: many countries in Africa and South America require proof of yellow fever vaccination for all arrivals, or for travelers arriving from countries where yellow fever is present. Without the certificate (an official yellow card), you can be refused entry. Check the entry requirements for your destination carefully — this is not optional.

Malaria. If your destination has a malaria risk, speak to a travel clinic or GP about antimalarial medication. Prescription antimalarials need to be started before you arrive in a risk area — sometimes up to two weeks before. This is not something you can sort when you land.

If you take prescription medication, check whether it is legally available and accessible at your destination. Some medications that are standard in Europe or the US are restricted in other countries. A letter from your doctor listing your medications, on headed paper, can prevent serious problems at customs.

None of this needs to be complicated. A single appointment at a travel clinic — most pharmacies offer them — covers all of it. They will look at your destination, your travel history, and your vaccination record and tell you exactly what you need. Budget 30 minutes and book it as soon as your flights are confirmed.

5. Get an eSIM — Seriously, Skip the Physical SIM

I haven’t bought a physical SIM card in a long time. For every trip I take, I use an eSIM, a virtual SIM that you install directly on your phone before you leave home, and it has made traveling so much easier. The moment I land, I have internet. No queueing at a kiosk, no language barrier at a phone shop, no waiting until I reach my accommodation to connect. You just land and go.

One thing to know: most eSIMs are data-only. For the vast majority of travel this isn’t an issue, you have WhatsApp, Google Maps, everything you need. The good thing is that for certain destinations where calling is still necessary, many eSIM providers are now offering data plans that include voice calls.

I’ve written detailed eSIM comparison guides for different destinations, breaking down which providers offer the best coverage, price, and data allowance, including the best eSIM for international travel if you’re crossing multiple countries, and single-destination guides like the best eSIM for Italy, the best eSIM for the UK, and the best eSIM for Hungary.

6. Know the Money Situation at Your Destination

Before you go anywhere, spend two minutes googling “[destination] cash or card”, because getting this wrong is an inconvenience. Every country has a different payment culture, and knowing in advance means you can prepare properly rather than scrambling when you arrive.

Thailand is a cash country. Street food, markets, restaurants, smaller guesthouses, temples — almost everything runs on cash. ATMs are available but every withdrawal comes with a fixed fee. So rather than withdrawing every two days and paying the fee each time, it makes far more sense to take out a larger amount and budget from there. Go prepared.

New Zealand is the opposite extreme, it’s almost entirely cashless. Cards and digital payments are accepted absolutely everywhere. Bringing cash is genuinely pointless; you’ll come home with it untouched.

Italy sits somewhere in the middle and it depends heavily on where you are. In cities, cards are accepted everywhere. But in smaller towns or when you want to leave a tip, cash is often the only option. Tips in particular can rarely go on the card, so it’s always worth having some notes on you.

Also: notify your bank before you travel. Not every bank requires it, especially if you’re a frequent traveler, but many will automatically flag and block foreign transactions if they haven’t been told you’re going away. A two-minute message through your banking app before you leave can save you from your card being declined at the worst possible moment.

7. Consider Fast Track at the Airport

If you’re flying economy from a busy hub, traveling during peak season, or you have a tight connection, fast track is worth considering, and it’s one of those things that most people only discover after they’ve stood in a 45-minute security queue.

Fast track gives you access to a dedicated security lane, which during busy periods can save you anywhere from 20 minutes to well over an hour. It usually costs €10–20 and can be booked directly through the airport’s website or via third-party services.

One thing worth knowing: if you’re flying business class, you already have it. Business class tickets typically include fast track through security and a dedicated immigration lane, so you’re skipping both queues without paying anything extra.

8. Lounge Access Is Worth More Than You Think

If you have a long layover or a connecting flight that means hours at the airport, a lounge will change your experience completely.

I travel often with my husband, and thanks to his Amex card we get complimentary lounge access, including a guest. The difference is night and day: reliable Wi-Fi, food, drinks, charging points, and somewhere quiet to actually sit and decompress. When you’re eight hours into a long-haul journey and you have a three-hour connection, a lounge isn’t a luxury, it’s a sanity saver.

Ways to get lounge access:

• Premium travel credit cards (certain Amex cards include it as a standard perk — more on this below)
• Priority Pass membership (standalone, or included with some cards)
• Day passes — usually €40–€120 depending on the airport
• Airline status

9. Travel With More Than One Credit Card — and Know Your Perks

Always travel with at least two cards, ideally from different networks (Visa and Mastercard) so that if one doesn’t work at a terminal, the other usually will. And notify your bank before you go so your card doesn’t get blocked abroad.

Beyond the backup factor, it’s worth actually reading what your cards include, because the perks can be significant. Amex Platinum, for example, includes both lounge access and travel insurance as standard, which means if you have the right card, you might already have two things on this checklist covered without paying extra for them. Revolut and similar fintech cards often come with no foreign transaction fees, which adds up on a longer trip.

I’ve put together a full guide on the best travel credit cards, including which ones are worth it for frequent travelers.

10. Pack What You’ll Actually Need

I’m not going to give you a 40-item packing list. But there are a few things people consistently leave out that make a real difference:

Power bank. As part of our honeymoon in Egypt, we stayed at this fantastic eco-lodge that had no electricity! Our fully-charged power bank came in handy (and we got to recharge it form their solar room). So power banks are a non-negotiable, especially for longer or more remote trips, you simply don’t know what the infrastructure is going to be like until you’re there.

Your own medication. This one I cannot stress enough. Paracetamol, antihistamines, probiotics (especially if you’re travelling somewhere with very different food), any prescription medication you’re on, and anything you might need. I’ve had UTIs abroad, swimmer’s ear abroad, and I’ve been the lifesaver of fellow travelers dealing with acid reflux and stomach issues who had completely forgotten to pack the basics. You do not want to be standing in a foreign pharmacy trying to explain your symptoms in a language you don’t speak. Pack it. All of it.

Adapters. Check the plug type at your destination before you leave, not at the airport.

11. If You’re Checking a Bag, Make Sure It Has a Lock

This deserves its own section because most people don’t think about it until it’s too late.

If you’re checking luggage, it needs a lock, and I don’t mean just because of theft, though that’s reason enough. There’s something less obvious that’s worth knowing: an unlocked bag can be accessed by others without you knowing. Items can be placed into your luggage, and at baggage check on your return, you could find yourself responsible for things that aren’t yours, in a country where you don’t speak the language and don’t know the legal system. It sounds extreme. It happens.

A TSA-approved lock is the way to go if you’re flying through or to the US, as TSA agents are permitted to open bags for inspection and will cut non-approved locks off. For everywhere else, any sturdy combination lock does the job.

Some luggage comes with built-in locks, which is worth factoring in if you’re in the market for a new bag. I’ve put together a guide on the best luggage options with this in mind.

12. Get Travel Insurance That Actually Pays

Travel insurance is the ABC of travel, it’s not optional, it’s the baseline. Thankfully I’ve never had a serious medical emergency abroad. But I’ve been close enough to situations that could have gone differently to know that traveling without insurance is genuinely not worth the risk.

And I’m not just talking about dramatic emergencies. It could be something as simple as feeling sick and needing to see a doctor, getting food poisoning, getting stung by a stonefish, or renting a scooter and getting into an accident — all things that happen to real travelers on normal trips. None of them are extraordinary, and all of them can cost you a lot of money without coverage.

The thing I always check when choosing a policy: do they pay directly, or do I have to pay upfront and get reimbursed? For me, that’s a dealbreaker. If I’m in a hospital in a foreign country, I’m not in a position to put thousands of euros on a credit card and wait weeks for reimbursement. I go with providers like Allianz specifically because they handle direct payment.

What to actually look for in a travel insurance policy:

• Does it pay the hospital directly, or do you have to pay upfront and get reimbursed?
• Can you reach a human being 24/7, not just an app or chatbot?
• Does it cover the activities you’re actually doing — scooter rental, diving, hiking, adventure sports?
• Does it cover pre-existing conditions, and if so, only if you buy within a certain window?
• What’s the medical coverage limit — and is it enough for expensive healthcare countries like the US or Australia?
• Does it include emergency evacuation, which can cost tens of thousands on its own?
• Does your credit card already cover some or all of this?

The cheapest policy is almost never the right one. Read the fine print. And if you have a premium credit card like Amex Platinum, check what travel insurance it already includes, you might not need to buy a separate policy at all.

Quick Summary: Pre-Travel Checklist Before Going Abroad

Before you travel internationally, make sure you’ve covered:

• ✅ Register your trip with your government’s foreign affairs portal — as soon as you book
• ✅ Save your embassy’s address and emergency contact — as soon as you book
• ✅ Check passport validity (6 months from return date, ideally 8+) — as soon as you book
• ✅ Confirm visa and entry requirements for your destination (including ESTA for the US) — as soon as you book
• ✅ Check vaccinations and travel health — visit a travel clinic — 6 to 8 weeks before
• ✅ Get travel insurance that pays directly — read the fine print — as soon as you book
• ✅ Make digital and physical copies of all essential documents — 1 to 2 weeks before
• ✅ Research cash vs. card at your destination and notify your bank — 1 to 2 weeks before
• ✅ Get an eSIM before you fly — 1 week before
• ✅ Book fast track if needed (free with business class) — 1 week before
• ✅ Check your lounge access options — 1 week before
• ✅ Travel with more than one credit card — and read the perks — before you leave
• ✅ Pack a power bank, adapters, and your own medication — day before
• ✅ Make sure your checked bag has a lock — day before

Most of this takes under an hour to sort out. But skipping any of it can turn a great trip into a stressful one before you’ve even arrived.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do as soon as I book an international trip?

As soon as you book, do four things: register your trip on your government’s official travel portal, check your passport expiry, confirm the visa and entry requirements for your destination, and buy travel insurance. These are the items with the longest lead times or the most serious consequences if you miss them. Everything else — eSIMs, bank notifications, packing — can wait until the week or two before you fly.

Do I need vaccinations before traveling internationally?

It depends on your destination, but in most cases there is at least something to check. Visit a travel clinic or your GP at least six to eight weeks before departure. They will review your destination, your vaccination history, and tell you exactly what is needed. Some destinations — particularly in Africa, South America, and parts of Southeast Asia — require proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry. Malaria prevention may also be needed and must be started before you arrive. Do not leave this to the last minute; some vaccine courses take weeks to complete.

Do I need a visa to travel abroad?

It depends entirely on your nationality and your destination. Many countries offer visa-free entry or visa on arrival for certain passport holders, while others require you to apply in advance. The safest approach is to check your government’s foreign ministry website, which will give you everything that applies specifically to your passport. Don’t rely on what was true last year because requirements change. All of my destination guides include up-to-date visa information for each country.

What is the six-month passport rule?

Most countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months from your entry date into the country, though always double-check as it varies. That said, I would never travel with only six months left on my passport. My personal rule is to renew when it drops below eight months of validity. Renewal processes can be slow depending on your country, and you don’t want to be rushing it before a trip. Build in the buffer.

Is an eSIM worth it for international travel?

n my experience, yes, completely. An eSIM is a virtual SIM card you install on your phone before you leave, so you have internet the moment you land. No hunting for a SIM kiosk, no language barriers, no waiting. Most eSIMs are data-only (no local phone number), which works perfectly for the vast majority of trips. I’ve compared the best eSIM providers by destination.

Is fast track at the airport worth it?

It depends on where you’re flying from and when. During peak times at busy airports, fast track can save you 30 to 60 minutes at security, which matters a lot if you have a tight connection or you’re just not in the mood to queue. It usually costs €10 to €20 and can be booked directly through the airport website. And if you’re flying business class, you already have it included.

Should I use cash or card abroad?

It completely depends on the destination. New Zealand is almost entirely cashless and you can go the whole trip without touching cash. Thailand is the opposite, cash is king outside of upscale venues and ATM fees add up fast. Always research your specific destination before you go, and never exchange money at the airport if you can avoid it.

Do I need to notify my bank before traveling?

Not always, but often yes. Many banks will automatically block foreign transactions if they haven’t been told you’re travelling. A quick notification through your banking app or a phone call before you leave takes two minutes and prevents your card from being declined at the worst possible moment.

What travel insurance pays directly instead of reimbursing you?

Most budget insurance policies work on a reimbursement model, meaning you pay out of pocket first and claim it back later, which can take weeks. Providers like Allianz operate on a direct payment model, meaning they settle the bill with the medical provider directly. Always confirm this before you buy a policy, and read the fine print on what’s actually covered.

What do I need to do before flying internationally for the first time?

The key things: check your passport is valid for at least six months from your entry date, confirm whether you need a visa or any pre-travel authorisation, make digital and physical copies of your documents, research the cash vs. card situation at your destination, get an eSIM so you have internet when you land, make sure you have travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, and check if your country has a portal to register your trip. It sounds like a lot but most of it takes under an hour total.

Do I need to register my trip with my government before I travel?

You don’t have to, but you really should. Some countries have a free portal where you can log your destination, dates, and contact details so that if something unexpected happens abroad, your home country’s embassy knows you’re there and can reach you. For Italy it’s Dove Siamo nel Mondo, for the US it’s the STEP program. Not every country has this, so search “[your country] register trip abroad” and see what exists. Five minutes, costs nothing.