Pre-departure check-list

Plan your trip in advance

Destination-related preparations

Learn as much as you can about your destination, its climate and local customs and laws. Be up-to-date about the current political situation and possible dangers. Use NetGlobers travel advice pages to inform yourself.

Find out if you require a visa to enter the country of your destination. Visit the country's embassy website to see if this is the case and, should you need a visa, what documents you will have to provide to obtain it.

Make sure that your passport is still valid. When applying for a visa, some countries may require you to have a passport that will still be valid for up to six months from the date you leave their territory. You should therefore verify early on if your destination country has such a requirement, as renewing or applying for the first time for a passport can take several weeks.

If you plan to drive abroad, make sure that your license is current and valid at your destination. Learn about the driving laws beforehand.

Find out where the nearest embassy or consulate is located in your destination, how to get there and when it is open.

Medical preparations

Remember to purchase travel insurance. Medical services may be insufficient at your destination and you may thus need to be evacuated. In other countries medical costs may be very expensive and not covered by your usual insurance. Make sure that you purchase an offer that will cover you for any activities you have planned.

If your country of origin is part of the European Union, you can apply for the free European Health Insurance Card. It allows you to get free or reduced emergency care in any EU country, as long as you have travel insurance.

Before any trip to a distant foreign country, it is advised to visit your physician early on to find out if you need any vaccinations before you travel. In some cases, you might need to get multiple immunization shots, which will require you to visit your doctor several months before you plan to leave.

Contact information

Remember to take photocopies of your passport and other important documents and keep these separate from the originals when traveling. Prepare a document with the contact information of persons that should be contacted in case of emergency, and tell your friends and relatives where you are going and how long you will be away. Provide as much detail as possible about your itinerary and if possible an emergency contact number where they can reach you. Let them know if you chose them as your emergency contacts.

Journey-related preparations

Estimate how much money you will need for your journey. Once you have arrived, it's usually best to use ATMs to retrieve money, so do not take all your money along. Nevertheless, it is preferable to take a mix of cash (in your currency and local currency) and travelers cheques with you as back-up. Be sure to make a note of the cheques' numbers before you leave in case they get stolen.

If you plan to travel by plane, check in advance which items you may carry on board and which ones are not allowed and will be confiscated by customs upon your arrival. You can refer to NetGlobers Travel Tips: Air Regulations.

Leaving your house

Securing your house

Verify in advance that all the window and door locks are working, so that you can close everything without difficulty when leaving. Unplug any electrical devices to prevent fires or possible damages to your electrical equipment while away, and remember to keep some lamps plugged in with timers to make your house look occupied. Turn down the thermostat and close the main water and gas valves.

Do not forget to activate your home security alarm. If your alarm is hooked up to a security company, inform them of your departure and return dates and leave a contact phone number. Tell the neighbors the dates of your trip, so that they can call the police in case they suspect burglars.

Make your house look occupied

Stop newspaper and mail deliveries or ask a neighbor to collect them. This way, accumulated mail will not show that you are away from home for a long period of time. Leave some household lights and a radio plugged in and equip them with timers. By turning on and off at set times, people outside will believe that someone is living in the house.

Have someone mow the grass or shovel the snow while you're gone. If possible, leave a car parked in your driveway, and do not mention on your answering machine that you will be away; rather, keep your usual message.