Life is simpler with a checklist. This is what I use before my travels:
Travel Documents
- Check all your travel documentations carefully and contact your travel agencies immediately if you have any queries or problems,
- It’s a good idea to have separate copies of all your documents (including passports) to carry and leave a copy of your itinerary with a relative or friend at home,
- All names on the booking match passport names of all travellers,
- Frequent flyer number has been advised and used in all bookings.
Passports
- Check that your passport and visas are in order. Most countries require a minimum of 6 months’ validity on your passport (from your return date). If you are travelling on a non-Australian passport then you must carry correct re-entry documentation.
- Check that you have the correct visa and passport type for your destination
Flight confirmation
Although most airlines do not require you to reconfirm, still, check your flight schedule at least 24 hours prior to departure. Airlines have the right to change flight times and dates without notice. Download the airline’s app and turn on notification.
Make sure that seating and meal requests for flights are confirmed.
Baggage Allowances and Regulations
- Check your baggage allowance carefully as you may incur an additional charge for excess baggage.
- Check your airline baggage safety notices that detail items that cannont be carrid or only carried in checked baggage. Strict regulations are in place regarding the carrying of liquids, aerosols and gels in hand luggage on all international flights into and out of Australia.
- Check with your travel agent or airline for further information or refer to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development (Australia) and local government websites on what can or cannot be brought into Australia.
Duty-Free goods
These vary depending on your country of destination. Visit Australian Customs website for the latest allowance information.
Travel advice
Sign up for the latest travel warnings at smartraveller.gov.au. The Department of Foreign Affairs and trade recommend you register your travel plans and contact online with Smart Traveller (Australia) before you travel.
Travel insurance
Carry the following information with you when travel:
Provider:
Policy number:
Consider:
- International Travel Insurance
- Purchase Protection Insurance
- Extended Warranty Insurance
- Guaranteed Pricing Scheme
- Transit Accident Insurance
Emergency contacts
Carry the following information with you when travel:
The Australian Government provides 24 hour consular assistance to Australian citizens overseas through its Consular Emergency Centre.
- Within Australia: 1300 555 135
- From overseas: +61 2 6261 3305
The Consular Emergency Centre provides assistance in situations such as:
- Serious illness or injury
- Arrest or detention
- Death of an Australian citizen
- Crises overseas
- Lost or stolen passports
- Welfare and other serious matters
The Australian Government also provides consular services through its embassies, high commissions, and consulates around the world. For non-emergency consular inquiries, you can contact the relevant embassy or consulate during business hours, or submit an online inquiry.
Travel agent information
Carry the following information with you when travel:
- Travel agent store ID
- Travel agent consultant name and contact
Finally,
Before leaving home
- Advise bank of international travel plans
- Get an overseas mobile SIM card for data, disable roaming
- Arrange mail to be collected
- Organise someone to water plants and collect the garbage bins
- Turned off unused electricity power plugged
Lessons learnt
Lessons learnt so far from my travels:
- Always bring some local cash for airport and taxi because some places charges cash!
- Book tour on location will waste at least one day, prebook is the best
- Travel document backup: photocopy or scan them and tell someone where it is, so they can help if you lost yours. I keep an electronic copy in the cloud these days.
- Visa International Assistance: 1 866 795 9644. (Freecall in the USA) Outside the USA, contact the telephone operator to make a reverse charge call to 1 433 641 2004. Just in case. Or, knows how to contact own back from overseas.