A little research and planning can go a long way to insure you’ll have a safer, more economical and enjoyable trip. A little preparation will also help to keep your property safe while you’re traveling. But, who can remember all the little details when you’re rushing to get away? We can help you find the resources you need for planning and remind you of all those little details so you can relax and enjoy your travels.

In this section, we have included a checklist that you can print to help you keep track of your planning efforts. This checklist is a suggested timeline you can use to guide your research, planning and other preparations. This section is most useful when used in conjunction with other tips sections of this site. It also compliments our research links section which guides you to the resources you’ll need as you move down the checklist.

• Plan your trip.
• Start looking for special deals and other discounts for which you may qualify
• Do some research on the area you’ll be visiting and on the way you’ll be getting there. This is especially important to start your research early if you are planning foreign travel.
• Check the valid dates on your passport if you are planning on leaving the country.
• Take care of medical and dental checkups and vaccinations if necessary.
• After consulting your physician, consider starting an exercise program to prepare your body for the extra exertion you’ll experience while traveling.
• Make reservations.
• Watch the weather, so you’ll know what to expect and can pack accordingly.
• Check with your credit card company for available spending amount; ask your bank for an increase if needed. Don’t forget about the deposits that will be charged and leave some room on the card for emergencies.
• Check the valid dates on your credit card to make sure they will remain valid while you’re traveling.
• Notify the Credit Card Company that you’ll be traveling, so they will expect charges from your destination.
• Check your ATM and debit card for both daily and total limits.
• Remember your PIN numbers or get new ones issued for all your credit, debit, ATM and phone cards.
• Purchase automatic light timers to switch on and off in the evening.
• Check your driver’s license to make sure it will remain valid while you’re traveling.
• Check cameras, purchase new batteries if necessary, and film.
• Make an arrangement with a neighbor, friend or relative to check your home periodically.
• If a friend or neighbor cannot collect your mail, make arrangements for it to be held at the Post Office.
• Arrange for lawn care or snow removal. Ignoring these areas will make your house stand out in the neighborhood and announce to everyone that you are gone.
• Arrange for someone to start your car during very cold or very hot weather.
• Arrange boarding for your pets.
• Add some yogurt to your diet to strengthen your digestive system. This is especially important if your plans include travel to foreign countries where you will be exposed to elements that are hostile to your digestive system
• Reduce the amount of fresh items you buy at the grocery, such as milk, fruit and other perishables you’ll need to throw out before you leave.
• Get out the suitcase and start your packing.
• Be sure your luggage is marked with identification on the inside and out.
• Start adjusting your sleeping and eating habits closer to your destination’s time zone to help avoid jetlag.
• Make at least two lists of credit card numbers and travelers check serial numbers.
• Make several copies of your passport. Leave one list at home and keep the other with you in case you lose your passport. Do not keep the copies on your person, rather keep a copy in your suitcase and/or give your traveling companion a copy.
• Check prescriptions for necessary refills; bring a list with the drug’s generic name listed since the brand names available can differ in other areas.
• Pick up all your items from the dry cleaners.

• Carry them in your carry-on since it will be less likely to be lost than your checked luggage. Your carry-on will also do less harm to temperature-sensitive medication.
• Carry your medication in their original bottles to help avoid security questions.
• Bring along the generic names of your medications since brand names can vary.
• If you have any questionable drugs or particularly large supplies, you might want to bring a letter from your doctor stating you have a legal right to use these drugs.
• If you are traveling outside India, check to see what you can take with you. Something legal here might be illegal elsewhere. It could get dumped, or you could get dumped in jail.

• Don’t pack valuable, perishable, and fragile or items sensitive to the heat and cold in your checked baggage. Try to avoid these items altogether, but if you must take them, they will be safer in your carry-on bag.
• Never leave your luggage unattended or take your eyes off your bags.
• Learn your destination's airport code and make sure the correct one gets put on your bag.
• Avoid taking luggage with flashy brand names, as it will make them more attractive to thieves.
• Clearly label your luggage on both the inside and outside of your bags.
• Remove any items that are hanging off your luggage and could get caught on conveyor belts.
• Avoid carrying your laptop in a bag that lets everyone know you are carrying expensive electronics.
• Place a unique bright marking on your luggage so you can easily identify it. This way others will recognize that their similar looking bag did not have the markings and leave yours alone.
• Switch some of your items with those of a traveling companion. That way if your bags go missing, you’ll still have some items with you.
• Cover your hands when you are entering ATM or phone card numbers so others can’t copy them down and use them.
• If an airline loses your items make a claim before you leave the airport; some Airlines will not honor claims made after you have left the airport.
• Carry a list of all your items in your carry-on and leave one at home, to help you make a complete claim form if your items go missing. Carry a copy of the final list in your carry-on bags, you’ll be able to use it to fill out claim forms with the airline if they lose your luggage.
• Consider purchasing trip insurance that offers protection for your property.