pre-travel check list
You’ve got your itinerary planned, booked your plane tickets, reserved your accommodations, and have your car rental or train tickets ready to go. Before you get on the plane, I’ve created a handy check list to go through to make sure your trip goes as smoothly as possible.
Credit and ATM cards:
Call your bank and/or credit card company to make sure they know you will be traveling internationally. From time to time, companies can put a block on your card when they don’t recognize your normal activity. This can cause extra frustrations when you’re trying to get out money at a cash machine or pay for an item.
If you’re renting a car, while you’re on the phone with your credit card company, ask them if they cover your rental car insurance. I know some people feel safer getting the extra insurance from the rental companies but most major credit cards include accidental insurance.
Passwords and Pin #s:
Keep your valuable passwords, credit card and ATM card pin numbers safe in a password app. There are loads but I use LastPass to store all of these.
Cell phone:
I typically recommend purchasing a SIM card within the country of travel to save money, but you can also call your cell phone provider to add an international travel service while you’re away. Each company is different but you’ll want to be sure to have a solid data plan when you’re on the road. Uber, WhatsApp, Google Maps and your favorite social media are the apps you’ll likely be using frequently which eat up your data quickly. So be sure you have a solid plan (at least 10+ gigs per day) when you arrive to your destination. And honestly, just using hotel or airport wifi won’t cut it for your travels!
Apps for your phone:
Be sure that the apps that you will use frequently are up to date and running properly. I suggest updating Uber, Google Maps, Google Translate, XE currency converter, your bank/credit card’s app, and your social media apps if you use them.
Find My Phone:
Be sure to set-up/turn on your phone’s tracking device. If your phone becomes lost or stolen, this is invaluable to track it down or to secure the content and shut it down, if need be.
Airplane bookings & luggage requirements:
If you’ve already made your plane bookings, be sure to understand the luggage requirements/restrictions that you have with your ticket. Airline companies these days can be sneaky where you have to buy a costlier ticket to include carry-on or checked luggage. Most international flights will allow a carry-on suitcase but if you’re taking extra flights within Europe on low cost airlines, they can also charge for carry-on suitcases (which isn’t always clear). Check the airline size and weight requirements for the luggage and make sure your bag will pass (if you’re not sure, it’s probably best to check your bag). If you don’t purchase the right ticket ahead of time, they will charge you either at the ticket counter or the gate (and it’s usually higher if you don’t purchase ahead of time on their website).
Airline online check-in:
Typically 24 hours before you’re ready to fly, your airline will send an email to check-in online. This is always a good idea. You can make sure you have your preferred seats (or purchase seats if necessary). They will also generate a QR code that you can keep in your phone for ease of getting through security and your gate. In some cases, if you are unable to check-in online, you may have to check-in at the ticket counter if there are current covid travel restrictions in place. If that’s the case, I recommend getting to your airport an hour earlier than you usually would. It sounds like overkill but it’s better to be safe than rush to catch your plane.
Airline and/or Train transfers:
If you are transferring planes, be sure to book enough time between your flights. If you’re not flying with the same company, it’s imperative that you find out if the flights will be leaving in/out of different terminals. For example, you might be flying from the US to Paris, then taking a domestic flight to Bordeaux. You will need extra time to go through customs, go through security again and get yourself to another part of the airport. Long lines can be frequent and unpredictable. That’s why 2 hours or more for transferring is usually best so that you’re not running through the airport to make your flight.
If you have train travel planned after your international arrival, it’s also wise to leave enough time to get through immigration, get your checked bags, and travel through terminals to the train line. For reference, typically 2 hours will suffice at Charles du Gaulle airport transferring to Roissy train station.
Covid requirements:
Travel in the age of covid is definitely an extra hassle but something we have to take seriously. Find out what the requirements are to your destination well before getting on a plane. You may be asked to show proof of an antigen or PCR test 24-72 hours before your flight. You might also need to show a proof of vaccination. For travel to France, please check this website for the latest information.
Traveling back to your country may also require a negative test so make sure you will be able to take care of that by finding a local testing center before getting on your return flight. Within France, you can use the handy website Doctolib to book an appointment by searching for a Dépistage in your area of stay.
Favorite travel medication:
Speaking of health, it’s not a bad idea to bring your favorite travel medications to avoid trying to find something similar (which can be difficult) OR trying to explain your ailments to a pharmacist in French. Some examples include (but are not limited to): food related meds like Tums, Imodium, Pepto. Headaches: Advil, Tylenol. Aleve. Colds: Nyquil, Sudafed, Zicam. Allergy meds, etc.
Passport copies:
It’s a great idea to make paper copies of your passport and ID cards and keep them in your main suitcase or separate carry-on bag. This will give you some peace of mind.
Paper printouts:
While you’re printing out your passport and ID, it’s also a good idea to print all of your travel documents. It may be old school but I like to do this for extra safety (or if something happens to my phone/it dies unexpectedly). Boarding passes, covid tests/proof of vaccine, hotel address/phone number, car rental confirmation, driver’s license, train tickets, emergency contact, etc.
Money:
Most everywhere in Europe takes credit cards but it’s nice to have some cash on hand too. I always recommend getting local currency at an ATM at the airport of arrival. You will have the best exchange rate there. A couple extra tips: use a bank-owned ATM for best rates and always use “local currency” if asked (changing to your own currency will cost more in the end). Figure out how much cash you might need to get out one large amount (the more times you withdraw, the charges will add up).
If you want to have some money before arrival, the next best plan is to go to your bank ahead of time and get some euros. The last resort is go to a currency exchange at the airport. They will take the largest commission so only do this if you must.
