Travel Checklist: 20 Things to Do Before You Take Off

According to the Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index, the Canadian passport ranks highly in terms of travel freedom: yet another reason why Canadians are the envy of the world. However, there are a few countries that require you to apply for a visa before your visit. Visa requirements change often, so check with the embassy or consulate of the country you’re going to travel to.

Every country has its own requirements for entry and exit. You may need to pay a fee upon arrival, for instance, or your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date. The Government of Canada's travel information website has more info. You should also check with the embassy or consulate of each country you’re planning on visiting.

When you make your travel arrangements, the Government of Canada says that you should do it in the name that appears on your passport. If you’ve recently changed your name, get a new passport in your new name or you might have trouble crossing borders or boarding flights.

An International Driving Permit or IDP is a document that shows that you have a valid driver’s licence in Canada and will allow you to take that epic coastal drive in your destination country. Most countries recognize the IDP and you can apply for it through the Canadian Automobile Association.

Jessie on a Journey suggests that you find out about the local laws before you visit any country. Drug laws are pretty obvious (just don’t do it) but some local laws, especially traffic laws, can be so obscure that you would never have thought of them if you hadn’t done your research.

Before you travel or as soon as you arrive in your destination country, use the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to register with the Government of Canada. You can do this online or at a Canadian government office abroad. Being registered will allow government officials to let your loved ones know in case of emergency.

Government travel advisories do sometimes make things sound scarier than they really are but still, you don’t want to arrive at your destination only to find yourself in the midst of a civil war. The travel advisories are a wealth of information on local conditions and can also help you avoid dreadful diseases. For example, you’ll get an idea of Zika-free beach destinations.

Travelling in a foreign country can make you vulnerable to crime, especially if you do dangerous things that invite opportunists. Just in case, make copies of your important documents and store them where you can easily access them. Jessie on a Journey suggests storing them in Google Drive but you could also simply email the documents to yourself.

When you get sick, have an accident or the airline loses your luggage, you’ll be grateful for having travel insurance. It will help lower your travel anxiety too. Travel insurance is inexpensive, so there’s really no excuse not to be safe rather than sorry.

Smarter Travel suggests that you arrange stop orders for regular services for the time you’ll be away. Alternatively, pay in advance or automatically so you won’t fall behind on regular payments while you’re travelling.

There’s nothing worse than trying to withdraw money or use your credit card in a foreign country only to find they don't work. To avoid this happening, notify your bank of when and where you’ll be travelling.

The sooner you book a house sitter or kennel, the greater the chances that they’ll be available on the dates you’ll be travelling. Smarter Travel says that this is something you may even want to take care of before booking your flight.

Have an idea of what the weather will be like at your destination before you even book your trip. After all, you don’t want a beach vacation in the middle of hurricane season, do you? The weather can help you choose your destination but, as Smarter Travel says, it should also guide your packing strategy.

Smarter Travel suggests that you check the local listings before you leave home so you can book tickets to that show you want to see or make restaurant reservations. You’ll get an idea of what’s free, and whether the destination will be crowded because of some big festival or event.

Cleaning out your fridge is probably the last thing you want to do while preparing for travel but as Jessie on a Journey says, there’s nothing quite like coming home to the stench of rotting cheese or curdled milk.

Jessie on a Journey suggests that before you leave home, you unplug your electronics and gadgets like the WiFi router. This will save you money on your hydro bill and is better for the planet too.

When you’ve landed after an exhausting return flight, got flagged at customs, waited forever for your luggage and finally make it out of the airport building, the last thing you want is to have to search for your car. Take a picture or make detailed notes on your phone about where you parked.

A tip from Travel Smarter is to get enough cash before your trip so that you won’t have to search for an ATM as soon as you arrive at your destination. Exchanging currency at the airport is a pain and will end up costing you too much to boot.

You probably know that an unlocked phone is one of the things you should always travel with but what if you’ll be driving a rental car? Having a hands-free device will help you keep your eyes on the road and follow local distracted driving laws. You can also use it when you’re walking so you won’t have to flash your phone to potential pickpockets.

Even if you plan to wing it during the rest of your trip, have your transport and accommodation for the first and last days of your trip booked in advance. This will help reduce stress, provided that you book your hotel with care. Also keep things like your house and car keys close at hand before you board your flight home.