I’ve visited several countries and been to some pretty amazing places. But I’ve also messed up, forgotten things, and made some dumb travel mistakes along the way! In this post, I’m sharing tips for your trip abroad and more specifically, giving you a great international travel checklist to walk you through the process. Wondering where to start? Let’s begin…
Have you ever set a goal for yourself that felt a little overwhelming?
Any time you stretch yourself, it can seem really daunting in the beginning.
The first step is always the hardest.
Have you noticed though, that once you get going it feels easier?
Two things that help me in these types of situations are to get good advice and to break down the goal into a step-by-step plan.
The same is true for planning an international trip! In this post, I’ll teach you the steps to take so you can start planning that trip you’ve been dreaming of…
Your Checklist For International Travel
Any great journey starts with one foot in front of the other, so just take the first step.
It may feel like an overwhelming amount of planning and expertise is needed to plan a trip abroad. But I promise you it’s not as complicated as you think.
We’ll be going step by step to keep you focused and take the overwhelm out of planning a trip abroad. Here’s what you can expect:
- The very first thing to do
- Tips for picking a destination
- Advice on how to choose travel dates
- Budgeting ideas and resources
- The best time to book flights (and where to find them)
- A few important things you may not have thought of
- Info on currency and language
- How to pack smart
To make this process even easier, get the free printable version of this international travel checklist! It’s totally free, walks you through the steps, and will keep you organized and focused along the way! Grab your copy here:
1. Get A Passport
The first step on this checklist for international travel is to get a passport!
It’s essential if you want to travel internationally. I would do this first because the processing time can be up to 6 weeks, and longer if you have to track down any personal documentation (like an official copy of your birth certificate).
If you’re a U.S. citizen, you’ll start by applying for a passport book. Here are the steps:
- Fill out Form DS-11
- Gather the required personal documents
- Get a passport photo taken
- Calculate your passport fee
- Find a local passport acceptance facility
Annnd… DONE! Not too bad, right?
To learn more and get the forms and documents, click here to visit the usa.gov passport website. There’s tons of good information to answer all your questions.
Get your passport! Consider it your commitment to yourself to make your dream trip a reality.
2. Choose Your Destination
Congrats, you got your passport! Isn’t this trip abroad starting to feel real? You’re well on your way.
Now it’s time to choose your destination. For step two, begin by choosing 2-3 places that you’re interested in traveling to. The good news: there’s no wrong answer here! It’s completely personal preference.
Here are a few things to consider if you’re drawing a blank:
- A few great options near the U.S. are Canada or Mexico
- For affordability, try Jamaica, Costa Rica or Thailand
- If Europe is your dream, check out France or Italy
- For English-speaking countries, a few options are the Bahamas, Ireland, or the U.K.
- To really get away, consider Australia, Asia, or the Middle East
- For ideas, read 100+ Incredible Things To Do Before You Die
Do some research and compare a few of your favorites, but keep in mind that your goal is to pick one destination. In order to move forward, choose your favorite and stick with it.
If you’re struggling to make a choice, a few things you can do are make a pros and cons list, discuss it with a friend or family member, or give yourself a deadline to make a decision.
3. Pick Travel Dates
Woohoo! Now that you’ve decided on your destination, the excitement is building, right?
The next thing you want to do is pick your travel dates. It’s important to nail this down because if you don’t, your trip abroad will just be a distant dream in the future.
But taking a trip abroad is something you’ve always wanted to do! Let’s get it on the calendar and make it official.
Here are a few important questions to ask yourself when choosing dates:
- What season/time of year is best for my destination?
- Are there any seasonal events, festivals or holidays to be aware of?
- When is the off-season, or shoulder season?
- Do I want to travel for a few days or a few weeks?
- Can I take time off from work? How far in advance?
- How much time do I need to save money? (more on that below)
When you go matters. Really take the time to consider what activities are important to you and make sure it’s possible.
For example, if you want to ski in Germany, you may not want to go in the summertime because they won’t be snow. Just an example, but it’s worth considering before you make your decision.
4. Save Money For Your Trip
Now that you’ve picked a destination and dates for your trip, you’ll want to start saving money.
While this isn’t the most glamorous part of planning a trip abroad, it’s an important one. Best case scenario – you already have money saved! But if that isn’t your situation, start today by giving yourself a monthly savings goal.
Not sure how much to save each month? Start by calculating approximately how much money you’ll need for your trip. There’s no exact science to this, and it will vary based on your destination, time of year, length of the trip, and how many people are going.
To get you started, check out this travel calculator. It’s pretty neat and will help you factor in everything from flights and hotels to activities and souvenirs.
The bottom line is to keep your goal in mind! It may mean giving up some things in order to save for your trip, but it’s worth it! Check out my post How To Travel Cheap: Secret Strategies To Spend Less and Do More for creative money-saving ideas.
5. Book Your Flight
If you’ve made it this far, give yourself a high five. You’ve knocked steps 1-4 of this international travel checklist.
Now you can start looking for flights, and book your ticket! It’s generally recommended to purchase your airline tickets a few months in advance for an international trip.
Start looking now! That will give you a sense of the average price and you’ll be able to spot a good deal when you see one.
Here are a few resources to help you find a deal:
- Hopper (has a forecasting tool to help you book at the right time)
- Google Flights (lets you see prices by calendar date)
- My post on how to travel cheap (shares the best sites for travel deals)
6. Book Accommodations
For step #6 of this international travel checklist, let’s find a place to stay.
Start by considering all your options: hotels, resorts, Airbnb… and do a little research beforehand. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to find the perfect accommodation for you:
- What area or part of the city do I want to be in?
- How much money do I want to spend per night?
- What amenities am I looking for?
- What is the cancellation policy?
- How can I find the best Airbnb?
You’ve probably heard the real estate phrase “location, location, location!” and it’s also important when choosing where to stay. Think about what’s most important to you: Do you want privacy and seclusion? Nearby access to shops and restaurants?
Spend some time researching your location and what it has to offer before you book anything.
Once you have an area or neighborhood in mind, you can start narrowing it down by price and amenities. There are some great booking websites online that can make this process easier – just use the filters to sort through.
Remember to read the fine print! Know what the cancellation policy is (in case you have travel delays) and also consider additional fees and deposits. Be informed so you know exactly what you’re paying and what you’re getting.
7. Decide On Things To Do
It’s time to choose what you’ll do on your trip, i.e. THE BEST PART!
This step goes hand-in-hand with step #6 above. Chances are when you were scouting the location you also noticed where all the best sites and activities were located. So you already part of the way there!
What are the things that initially drew you to this particular city or country?
For example, for our honeymoon we chose to explore Italy because we wanted to eat lots of great food and experience the best things to do in Rome. So on our trip, we prioritized seeing sites like the Colosseum and Pompeii (and made sure to eat at some great restaurants along the way!)
When choosing things to do on your trip, start a list of ideas. Then consider the length of time you have, the pace of your trip, and how much money you want to spend.
It’s important to consider all these factors. For example, if you’re looking for a relaxing trip, you wouldn’t want to plan so many activities and forget to allow for downtime.
8. Book Transportation
Now that you have a good idea of where you’ll be staying and what type of things you’ll be doing on your trip abroad, let’s decide on transportation.
You have lots of options here, from taxis and Uber to trains, buses, and rental cars. And don’t forget walking – it can be a great way to explore a new place. Here are a few things to think about:
- Once my flight lands, how will I get to the hotel/resort/Airbnb?
- Will I use a rental car, taxi, or public transportation to get around?
- Is there anywhere I can easily walk to?
- How close are the things I want to do in relation to my hotel/resort/Airbnb?
You’ll probably use lots of different types of transportation. On our Italy trip, we visited Rome, Venice, and Florence and took a train to travel between cities. Once we were in the city, we primarily walked everywhere and took a taxi if something was more than a few miles away.
Check to see if your destination has any guided bus or bike tours, and be sure to read their policies and FAQs prior to booking. Find out how and where to get tickets and remember to do your homework ahead of time!
The bottom line is that different countries have their own way of doing things, and you’ll want to know how things work before you get there. If you’ll be using a rental car, check and see what the rules are. Some countries will require an international driving permit for you to legally drive.
9. Take Care Of The Details
Ok, we’re almost there!
At this point, you’ve taken care of the biggest and most important parts of planning your trip abroad. But there are still some important actions that you’ll want to take before you leave. Here’s an idea of some additional things to take care of before you leave:
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This will connect you with the local U.S. Embassy as well as update you on travel alerts for the country you’re traveling to
- Find out if any vaccines are needed
- Get prescriptions filled
- Check for travel warnings and advisories by typing in your destination here
- Invest in travel insurance
10. Communicate
Now the important details of your trip are finalized, it’s important to ensure good communication.
Start by letting family and friends know your travel plans. In case of an emergency, it’s good for someone at home to know where you’ll be and when. Share a copy of your itinerary so they’re in the loop.
In addition, remember to do these things:
- Notify your employer
- Notify your bank
- Place a hold on your mail
- Set an “out of office” email reply
- Pay bills
- Make arrangements for pets
- Decide what to do with your cell phone service
- Suspend any recurring services (lawn care, deliveries, etc.)
- Notify trusted neighbors or landlord
11. Download Travel Apps
There are some great travel apps out there that are really helpful!
Ranging from planning and packing to local weather and maps, you definitely want to be prepared and download them ahead of time to your phone. Remember to think about access to wifi – some apps only work with an Internet connection.
Not all travel apps are equally helpful. In fact, some are downright hard to use! Be sure to avoid the worst travel apps.
12. Get The Right Currency
No matter your destination, it’s a good idea to have some cash on hand. So that means having the correct currency.
Every country has its own preferred currency, so do a little bit of research and find out what you need.
The good news is, it’s pretty easy to exchange your U.S. dollars. Check out this post – it’s a quick read and gives you a starting point for how to exchange currency and where to do it.
13. Learn the Language
Part of the fun of traveling to another country is experiencing a new way of life. And knowing a little bit of the language will make it easier to interact with locals.
Now don’t worry, there’s no need to learn French or Spanish entirely. Just memorize a few go-to phrases and you’re good to go! Here are a few phrases I recommend that come in handy:
- Hello
- Goodbye
- Thank you
- You’re welcome
- Where’s the restroom?
- I’m sorry
- Yes
- No
14. Go Shopping
It’s time to shop for your trip (and I know I don’t have to convince you on this one!)
Start to think about what clothes/shoes/accessories you might need, as well as things like luggage tags, power converters….
Here are a few things you may need to purchase for your trip:
- Chargers
- Adapters and power converters
- Passport cover
- Luggage tags
- Great luggage
- Comfortable shoes
15. Pack Your Bags
At this point, it’s getting down to the wire. Packing your bags is the last and final step of this international travel checklist. Woohoo!
I’m so excited for you! You’re put in a lot of time and effort planning your trip, and now it’s time to pack.
Start packing your bags about a week before your trip. It gives you time to pack thoughtfully (and not feel rushed). The last thing you want is to realize the night before you leave that you 1) don’t have enough room in your suitcase or 2) forgot something important. Trust me, don’t leave this part to the last minute!
Be sure to read my post What To Pack: The Genius Method You Need To Try. It’s full of packing tips and tricks and links to a free downloadable packing list.
Ready For Your Trip?
A trip abroad will be an experience you’ll never forget.
Remember: take it one step at a time and before you know it, you’ll be on your way to life-changing travel.
It doesn’t have to be hard, and it doesn’t have to be extremely time consuming or expensive. The most important thing is that you simply follow the steps and commit to your trip. If you get overwhelmed, stop and take a deep breath and remember why you’re doing this in the first place.
And Don’t Forget…
You made it! Once you finish these steps, you’re practically on your way and all your time spent researching and planning will pay off.
I’m so happy that you’re taking your first trip abroad! You are going to have an amazing time!
If you still have unanswered questions, comment below! I’m happy to help and would love to chat with you…
