The Essential International Travel Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before You Fly

Getting ready for a trip abroad is basically a balancing act of excitement and admin where you need to check your passport validity, sort out visas, arrange health precautions, and secure your home before heading to the airport. If you do these things properly you avoid the misery of being turned away at the border or landing in a foreign hospital without insurance. It is that simple.

Paperwork and The Passport Panic

Most of us have had that sudden jolt of fear at 3am thinking our passport has expired. It happens. The general rule is that your passport needs to be valid for at least six months beyond the date you plan to return. I learned this the hard way years ago when a friend was denied boarding for a flight to Thailand because he only had four months left. It was brutal to watch.

Check the expiry date right now. If you are cutting it close you need to renew it immediately because the passport office can get slammed during peak times. Do not rely on the fast-track service always being available because sometimes it just isn’t.

Then there is the visa situation. It used to be you could just turn up in a lot of places but that is changing fast. Research the entry rules for your specific destination on the GOV.UK website. Some countries offer visas on arrival while others demand you apply weeks or even months beforehand. We are also looking at big changes coming in 2026 with the UK ETA and the EU’s ETIAS system which will require digital permissions for travel. It pays to be paranoid about this stuff.

Health Checks and Jabs

I cannot stress this enough. Your health is the one thing that can ruin a trip faster than a lost wallet. Before you go anywhere exotic or even just slightly off the beaten path you need to visit a health professional. Experts from the NHS and UKHSA generally advise doing this at least 4 to 6 weeks before you fly so your body has time to build immunity.

It is worth noting that about 25% of UK travellers visiting high-risk areas come back with illnesses that could have been prevented. That is a massive number. I use Fit for Travel to check what is going on in the specific region I am visiting. It gives you a personalized checklist which is incredibly weary on the brain if you try to figure it out yourself.

You might need Travel vaccines to protect against nasty things like Typhoid or Hepatitis A. Dr Jane Wilson from the British Travel Health Association actually said that vaccines can reduce illness risk by up to 90% for common tropical diseases. If you delay them you risk incomplete immunity which defeats the purpose. Some jabs like Rabies need multiple doses spaced out over a month so do not leave this until the week before. Also keep in mind that while some shots are free on the NHS others will cost you privately.

Insurance Is Not Optional

I have heard people say they do not need insurance because they are healthy. This is madness. Travel insurance isn’t just for when you get sick it is for when flights get cancelled or your bags end up in Peru while you are in Paris. Ensure your policy includes medical expenses and repatriation. Repatriation is the expensive part where they fly you home with a medical team if you get seriously injured. That costs thousands. Tens of thousands.

Read the small print. I know it is boring but you have to do it. Some policies exclude “risky” activities like riding a moped or skiing off-piste. If you plan on doing those things you need to be covered specifically for them. Also check the excess amount. If the excess is £200 and you lose a pair of £150 sunglasses it is not worth claiming.

Money Management Abroad

Banks are getting smarter but they are also getting more trigger-happy with blocking cards. Let your bank know your travel dates and destination to prevent them from freezing your account due to “suspicious activity” the moment you buy a coffee in an airport. Most banking apps let you do this in seconds now.

I always carry two cards. One creates a single point of failure and that is a bad strategy for travel. I usually take a credit card for emergencies & a debit card for cash withdrawals. Speaking of cash you should carry some local currency. Not everywhere takes Apple Pay especially in remote areas or small markets. Having enough cash for a taxi and a meal is a good safety net.

Research the exchange rate before you go so you know if you are getting ripped off at the exchange bureau. Usually the airport bureaus have the worst rates known to man so avoid them if you can.

Medication and Digital Copies

If you take prescription medication ensure you have enough for the entire trip plus a few extra days just in case you get stuck. Keep medicines in their original packaging. Border control can get suspicious of unmarked pills in plastic bags. Carrying a copy of your prescription is also wise. It proves the medicine is yours and helps if you need a refill abroad.

Make copies of everything. Scan your passport and your insurance policy and your booking confirmations. Email them to yourself or save them to a secure cloud folder. If your bag gets stolen with your passport inside having a digital copy makes the emergency replacement process at the embassy much smoother. I also print a paper copy just in case my phone dies or gets stolen too. Call me cautious but it works.

Unfortunatley I once forgot to print my return ticket and the wifi at the airport was down. It was a stressful hour trying to prove I had a flight home. Learn from my mistakes.

Tech and Staying Connected

Roaming charges have come back with a vengeance for UK travellers in Europe. Check with your mobile provider before you fly. Some have daily charges that rack up very quickly. I often just buy a local SIM card upon arrival or use an eSIM if my phone supports it. It is usually much cheaper and the data speeds are better.

Don’t forget the power adapters. The world still hasn’t agreed on a single plug socket which is annoying. I bought a universal adapter years ago and it lives in my suitcase. Also bring a power bank. Maps and camera apps drain your battery fast and you do not want to be lost in a strange city with a dead phone.

Securing Your Home Base

There is no point having a relaxing holiday if you are worrying about your house the whole time. Cancel regular deliveries like milk or newspapers because a pile of uncollected items on the doorstep is a clear signal that nobody is home. I think it is also worth setting lights on a timer to make the house look occupied in the evenings.

Check all windows and doors are locked. It sounds obvious but people forget the small bathroom window or the side gate. If you get on with your neighbours ask them to keep an eye on the place. Maybe give them a spare key just in case of an emergency. It gives you peace of mind.

Packing Strategy

Pack your hand luggage as if you will never see your checked bag again. Keep essentials such as medication and travel documents and valuables and a change of clothes in your carry-on bag. If your checked luggage is delayed you can still function for a day or two. I have had to wear the same t-shirt for three days in Rome because I didn’t do this. It wasn’t pleasant.

Weigh your bags before you leave. Airlines are strict about weight limits and the fees for excess baggage are extortionate. Leave some space for souvenirs if you plan on shopping. I usually roll my clothes instead of folding them. It saves space and reduces creasing. Or so they say.

Liquids rules are slowly changing with new scanners but for now assume the 100ml limit applies unless you know for sure the airport has upgraded. It saves the hassle of having your expensive toiletries thrown in the bin at security.

The Final Thoughts

Travel is amazing but the prep work is what makes it possible. You can wing it to a certain extent but the big stuff like health and passports needs attention. I try to enjoy the planning phase now. It builds anticipation.

Once you are on that plane you can relax knowing you have covered your bases. You have your insurance and your meds & your money is sorted. If something goes wrong you have a plan. That is the best way to travel.

Crave Magazine: your essential guide to the best in UK lifestyle, food and travel.