Complete Travel Checklist for Traveling Outside of the U.S.

Clothing is kind of a given where it comes to packing for any trip, but it’s important to be prepared for the weather and having to walk farther than you anticipated. Pack clothing that you can layer should temperatures change.

Comfortable walking shoes will be an absolute must, and you won’t want to forget your bathing suit! Accessories like sunscreen, an electric outlet adapter, local currency, and any medications are also must-packs for any trip.

You’ll want to arrange for travel insurance and notify your bank and credit card companies that you will be traveling, to avoid your accounts being frozen due to suspicious activity. Ask whether or not your debit and credit cards will be accepted by ATMs and point-of-sale terminals in the country you’ll be visiting.

Some countries will require travelers to have a tourist visa, which will likely require you to get specific vaccinations. It’s a good idea to check online for CDC vaccination recommendations, as some must be given over a period of several weeks.

Checking your passport for an expiration date is one of the most important things to add to your international travel checklist. You should do this several weeks in advance of your trip. Some countries require visitor passports to have a minimum of six months of validity remaining. If you need to renew before you leave, standard passport processing can take up to six weeks. This wait time can be shortened to between two and three weeks if you choose expedited processing.

Of course, you will need time to complete the necessary paperwork to obtain or renew a passport and confirm you’ve provided all of the needed information. Otherwise, your application could be rejected, and your processing delayed. The fastest way is to renew your passport online, as this doesn’t require you to visit a passport office.

Once your passport arrives, make two copies of the ID page, giving one to a trusted friend or family member and keeping the other in your carry-on bag. You’ll also want to photocopy any other important documents, such as your ID, social security number, and travel permissions and ID pages of the passports of children who are traveling with you.