My first trip I confess my priorities were a little out of wack according to some people (my mother…ahem!). My first thoughts were what would I wear, what should I buy, is my camera good enough to capture every suitably enviable golden moment… basically all the fun and not super necessary bits! But, of course my mum was on standby to quickly stop me in my tracks with the annoying realism of life admin and sensible logistics I would actually NEED to sort out too.
There are a million blog posts and lists out there of the endless stuff you need to do before a backpacking trip or around the world adventure, some of which just feels so overwhelming and crazy! So we are gonna keep things simple and to the point.
There can be a lot of shit to do, but it’s totally manageable – copy and paste our list below, and tick off at least one task a day in the 10 days after booking your flight! EASY!
1. VACCINES
Top of the list (as sometimes these require courses or a few sessions) is vaccinations! Really is best to get this one out the way early. Head down to your GP or Travel Clinic – usually found in a Pharmacy (and if you’re in the UK, this includes Superdrug, Boots and STA). You’ll have a chat with them about where you’re going and they can advise which jabs you need… if any!
2. PASSPORT
Obvi but a goodie – is it in date?!! Not just now, but for up to 6 months after your return date? Some visa entries require at least 6 months on the passport. ALSO we find it super helpful to make copies of your passport, scan a copy and email it to yourself, save it to your Google Drive and maybe even send a copy to your parent or best friend back home too.
3. VISA'S
Destination and nationality dependent, but always worth checking if there are any limitations surrounding entry, length of stay etc for wherever you’re headed. The Foreign Ministry websites usually have the most accurate and up-to-date information. You can also check your visa requirements here! A lot of countries offer the opportunity to buy a 30 day tourist visa ON arrival in the airport of the country you’re visiting, but often this may be a little more pricey and it’s sometimes possible to buy in advance online – so just choose whichever method you feel more comfortable with!
4. INSURANCE
Never underestimate your travel insurance. You might think you are spending money on something you don’t need, and most of the time, hopefully you really won’t. Until something unexpected happens – and when it does, you really don’t want to be caught short, without any insurance. Hospital stays, stolen belongings, cancelled flights, lost or delayed luggage, natural disaster or even an emergency trip home. Those are all things that can ruin your trip but are covered if you have the right insurance. Don’t travel without insurance. Just DON’T.
5. OFFLINE MAPS
You never know if you’ll be able to access the internet easily in your destination. Be prepared and download maps.me which means you can also download offline maps to your phone. We all know arriving in a city you have never visited before can be a bit confusing at first. Having maps.me that can access anytime will give you that extra peace of mind and let’s be honest, quick access to the nearest beach/cocktails/coworking space!
6. MONEY STUFF
Tell your bank you’re going overseas – nothing worse than suddenly having your card blocked because of ‘suspicious behaviour’ when thats you trying to pay for mojitos at the hostel in Costa Rica! Depending on how long you’re going for – it might be worth getting a travel card – hands down the best ones are either Revolut or Monzo – basically offering free withdrawals and card payments in most countries across the world! Will save you a ton in fees and they do digital cards to so even if you lose your physical one, you’re fine! I actually lost mine last week (ARGH!) but managed to cancel the old one, order a new one & still use the digital one, ALL within the app! Get a little cash in the right currency to have on you when you arrive for emergencies, but these days, unless going somewhere very remote – you don’t need a ton of IRL cash anymore.
7. BOOKING APPS
If you’ve booked flights, hotels, airbnbs, tours or anything else – yes you probably have all the confirmations in your email inbox, but for convenience and efficiency we recommend downloading the various apps – your flight airline, the hotel booking site and any other stuff you’ve confirmed!
8. PHONE / SIM
Sounds obvious but do a check as to if your normal sim card offers any free roaming service in the destination you’re visiting! Brands such as THREE mobile actually offer free use of your regular data in over 70 countries for no extra charge! Winning!
9. MEDS +
If you’re on meds as you’ll know it can sometimes take a while to get an appointment or prescription, allow yourself enough time to get this sorted. Also if your trip is longer than a few weeks, make sure you get an official letter from your doc to explain all the pills in your case! This was a very handy tip from personal experience! I carry quite a lot of medication with me, and so far have never been questioned, bit having this letter gives me peace of mind for any awkward questions that may occur!
10. PACKING
We are putting together the ULTIMATE packing list which will be going live next week (!!) but for now, remember you need clothes – yes but there are also laundries everywhere in the world, so you don’t need to bring every item in your closet! For a week we recommend writing down anything you use EVERY DAY – like face wash, toothpaste, phone charger etc. This is the start of an essentials list for YOUR lifestyle, whether home or abroad. Watch this space!!
PIN AND SAVE FOR LATER! 👇🏼
