Checklist: what to do before leaving on a trip

We've all had that feeling two days before departure: "I'm sure I've forgotten something." And often, we have. Documents, vaccinations, currency, eSIM, home, neighbours, insurance, pets, plants, tickets, transfers… The list is long.

This checklist covers everything to anticipate before a trip, from the big steps two to three months before departure down to the final reflexes on the day itself.

Worth keeping handy, printing out, or integrating into your personalised travel folder.

1. 2 to 3 months before departure: the fundamentals

  • Check your passport's validity (often 6 months past the return date required)
  • Check visas, eVisas, electronic authorisations (ESTA, ETA, ETIAS…)
  • Book flights (ideally 2 to 4 months ahead)
  • Book key accommodation and internal transport
  • Check recommended / mandatory vaccinations
  • Take out travel insurance
  • Block your days off and arrange work handovers

2. 1 month before: administrative prep

  • Book high-demand activities (guided tours, starred restaurants, national parks)
  • Order local currency or plan to withdraw on arrival
  • Check that your card works abroad (fees, ceilings)
  • Choose a connectivity solution (eSIM, international plan, local SIM)
  • Make digital copies of every important document
  • Arrange pet care and plant watering

3. 2 weeks before: fine logistics

  • Prepare a day-by-day schedule with addresses and times
  • Book your airport transfer at both ends
  • Check the weather and adjust your suitcase accordingly
  • Renew prescriptions if needed
  • Pack a travel first-aid kit suited to the destination
  • Download useful apps (offline maps, translation, local transport)

4. 1 week before: the house and the suitcase

  • Pack the suitcase: appropriate clothes, shoes, and accessories
  • Prepare a smart carry-on (documents, change of clothes, medicines, charger)
  • Empty the fridge of perishables
  • Tell a trusted neighbour
  • Check the smoke detectors and close the shutters
  • Set up an out-of-office on your work email

5. The day before departure

  • Check in online and print / save your boarding passes
  • Charge every device (phone, earphones, camera, power bank)
  • Put important documents in your carry-on
  • Lay out a comfortable travel outfit
  • Do one final check of times, transfer, and journey duration
  • Take out the rubbish, hang the laundry, turn off the gas if needed

6. The day itself

  • Check passport, tickets, card, phone, charger
  • Activate your eSIM or turn off data if your plan has no global option
  • Leave with a comfortable buffer (traffic, airport queues, security)
  • Drink enough water and dress in layers
  • Keep the insurance assistance number within reach

7. Checklist by travel profile

Certain profiles add specific items to the base checklist.

  • Family trip: child car seats, cots, health records, comfort toys, snacks
  • Solo trip: copy of passport left with a relative, shared itinerary
  • Trip with friends: Tricount, shared kitty, distributing the bookings
  • Couples trip: align on shared expectations, keep room for spontaneity
  • Sports trip / trek: gear, fitness level, sports insurance, conditioning

Conclusion: a good checklist means a calmer trip

Planning a trip is rarely most travellers' favourite part. But anticipated properly, it removes the mental load that weighs on the final days before departure.

With a tailor-made travel planner, this checklist is built straight into your travel folder, your rolling planner, and your reminders. You leave lighter, free in mind, without chasing one last confirmation.