Yay, it’s almost time for that weekend trip, that couples’ vacation, or even girls’ trip but you don’t even know how to start planning the trip. You don’t know how to pack or even things you must do before the trip to ensure a memorable trip.

Check your travel documents

I feel like we cannot emphasize this enough. Before you start planning how to have a great time on that trip, have you checked your documents? Is your passport about to expire or may expire on the trip, do you have a visa for your destination, have you booked tickets, have you updated your travel insurance?

This will be a great time to ensure you have all the documents that border control may or may not request. Better to be safe than sorry.

Make copies of your traveling documents

It’s always advisable for you to have on you at all times copies of important travel documents. We are not saying you will lose the original but what if you did, what proof of legal entry would you have in a foreign environment?

Having copies of your travel documents can lead to the documents being easily replaced plus then you won’t have to carry the original at all times, you could just have a copy in your handbag or wallet.

Prebook your accommodations

Unless you will be staying with family, it’s advisable to pre-book your accommodations to avoid arriving when all accommodations have been filled up, especially if you are traveling on some popular holiday. It’s however advisable to do this only after booking flights so you can provide accurate checking-in / departure dates and times for your accommodation booking.

Find cheap flights/bus/train deals

If your trip is weeks away, I would advise you to book those tickets now. Whether you are going cross-country or out of the country, tickets are generally cheaper if you book earlier. So, get on your phone or laptop and find those cheap tickets or get an agent to do that for you if you don’t have time.

Make sure they are refundable tickets in case you can’t go for some reason.

Learn the luggage restrictions

If you are familiar with air travel, you know there are luggage restrictions and items you can’t bring aboard. Of course, all of these depend on the airline and the distance; luggage restrictions on international travel are different from that of domestic travel so before you book those tickets, you should check what their allowed luggage sizes are and adhere to them while packing for your trip.

Have an itinerary

This depends on the purpose of the trip but having a schedule never hurt anyone. For example; if you are going as a tourist, you should check out tourist attraction centers, sign up for some guided tours, get some spa treatment, plan to read a book, or just have some lounging time to yourself.

This is my personal favorite; Sundays are my day of rest, that day I want to do nothing but lounge all day long in bed. You should try it sometimes too, perhaps on your next vacation.

Learn basic phrases in the local language

This only applies if you are visiting a foreign destination. You might want to impress yourself and locals by knowing basic phrases like; ‘good day’, ‘thank you’, ‘how are you’, ‘please’, ‘sorry’, and ‘I want…’ in the local language.

This might help you adjust to the environment quickly and make the locals take quickly to you.

Have a travel checklist

In another article, I talked about the travel essentials you shouldn’t leave home without. If you are like me and you like to start packing two weeks before, you might want to check out that article, it will help you know what you have packed already and what you are yet to pack.

Roaming data charges

This also applies if you will be leaving the country. You might want to check out the Wi-Fi situation and identify free Wi-Fi locations close to where you will be.

If you want to go a step further, you might consider getting a local sim but before you do that, you should consider what the data charges are or if there’s no need, what the roaming data charges might be.

If you are banking on Wi-Fi, you might want to ensure your apps work the same on Wi-Fi. If they don’t, you should get new apps.

Check the weather forecast

Whether you are leaving the country or not, it’s advisable to check the weather forecast so you can know what clothes to pack. Trust me, you don’t want to be caught in summer outfits during winter.

Above all, don’t forget the purpose of your trip and have shameless fun.