This travel packing and preparation checklist, though geared toward travel by air to overseas destinations, can be adapted and used for any vacation planning need. There are specific planning checklists on the net for people with small children, kids, going to Disneyland etcetera. There are just too many variables for me to create them all, and since they have already been created, you can find them very easily.
I've always created lists before traveling but this list was expanded created from a one I saw which was published in 2004 on the Microsoft Office web site Microsoft® in Excel™.
| Travel Checklist for Plane Trip | ||
|---|---|---|
| Done? | Planning the Trip | Notes |
| Enroll in frequent flyer mileage program | ||
| Make airline reservations for all people | ||
| Request in-flight meals for special dietary needs | ||
| Check auto insurance policy to ensure coverage on rental car | ||
| Reserve Rental Car | ||
| Check medical insurance policy for coverage of out-of-town needs | ||
| Decide whether to purchase travel insurance | ||
| Make Hotel / Bed and Breakfast reservations. Request smoking/non-smoking accommodations | ||
| Inspect existing luggage, purchase new luggage. ID all luggage. | ||
| Purchase or arrange to borrow guidebooks and phrase books for destination | ||
| Find books, maps needed for trip. | ||
| Ensure passport or visa is current | ||
| Done? | Arrangements | Notes |
| Arrange for pet sitter | ||
| Arrange for houseplant and lawn care | ||
| Arrange for pickup of packages and solicitations left at door | ||
| Leave emergency contact info and itinerary with relative or friend | ||
| Get appropriate inoculations for destination | ||
| Verify available spending limits on credit cards | ||
| Purchase local currency | ||
| Purchase traveler's checks | ||
| Pay bills | ||
| Put hold on newspapers | ||
| Put hold on mail | ||
| Arrange transportation to and from airport | ||
| Register high value equipment with Customs Office to prove you did not purchase it overseas | ||
| Done? | Packing | Notes |
| In checked luggage: | ||
| Shoes (walking/dress/beach/hiking) | ||
| Swimsuits | ||
| Exercise clothing | ||
| Sweaters, coats, hats, gloves | ||
| Comb/brush | ||
| Shampoo, hair spray | ||
| Hair dryer | ||
| Deodorant | ||
| Lotions/creams | ||
| Cosmetics | ||
| Shaving cream, shaver | ||
| Nail clippers, emery board | ||
| Toothbrush/paste/floss | ||
| Sunscreen | ||
| Insect repellent | ||
| First aid kit | ||
| Mini sewing repair kit | ||
| Travel power plugs/adapters | ||
| Travel alarm clock | ||
| Extra luggage space for purchases | ||
| Download maps into PDA. get paper maps, guidebooks | ||
| Leatherman tool (any possible sharp object that would be confiscated by screener) | ||
| Extra camera batteries, AA batteries for flash , or NiMHs and charger | ||
| Film Changing Bag, 35 mm film extractor | ||
| Lens (wrapped for transport) | ||
| Tripod, Monopod, miniature tripod, window tripod, bean-bag | ||
| In carry-on luggage: | ||
| Prescription medications | ||
| Vitamins and over-the-counter medications (travel sickness, headache, indigestion, diarrhea) | ||
| Extra pairs of sunglasses, prescription glasses, contact lenses & cleaning solution | ||
Address book/PDA and PDA charger |
||
| Cell phone and charger | ||
| Camera, primary lens and two others, video camera, batteries | ||
| Film: slide ASA 50 thru 200; B&W 50 thru 400; Negative 25 thru 1600, Tungsten 160 | ||
| Disposable underwater camera | ||
| Binoculars | ||
| Magazines, books, portable music or DVD player, playing cards | ||
| Travel maps, guidebook, phrase book | ||
| Travel neck pillow | ||
| Snacks and bottled water | ||
| Lip balm | ||
| Towelettes | ||
| Ear plugs | ||
| Credit cards | ||
| Health insurance card | ||
| Long distance phone card | ||
| Driver's license | ||
| Auto insurance policy number and agent telephone number | ||
| Passport/visa | ||
| Recent photos of all travel companions | ||
| Local currency | ||
| Traveler's checks | ||
| Airplane tickets | ||
| Confirmation numbers for hotel, rental car, and other reservations | ||
| Register high value items with Customs before leaving | ||
| Done? | Day Prior to Departure | Notes |
| Set timers for lights in house | ||
| Water plants | ||
| Empty trash | ||
| Update voice mail and e-mail auto-reply message | ||
| Update Web sites that you manage | ||
| Give or throw away perishables from refrigerator | ||
| Get seat assignments for flights | ||
| Check in for flight via Web | ||
| Done? | Day of Departure | Notes |
| Lock all windows and doors | ||
| Turn down thermostat | ||
| Disable garage door opener or set to vacation mode | ||
| Remove unnecessary cards from wallet (library, video rental, punch cards, extra credit cards) | ||
| Check all windows in house as being locked | ||
| Power-off computer and other sensitive electronic equipment (TVs, cable boxes, etc) | ||
| All luggage: ensure all pieces have current ID tags and initial vacation hotel information inside them on a piece of paper | ||
| Set some lights onto automatic timers | ||
| Set house alarm | ||
Any time your pack a lens, changing bag, or anything big and metal like a tri-pod into your checked luggage it WILL be opened and looked since the metal and glass causes problems with their X-Ray systems. Stand there while they x-ray it, open it up, go through it, then have them cable-tie it or lock it with your locks before they put it onto the conveyor belt for loading into the aircraft.