Pre-Trip Checklist #2: Before You Leave

Documentation and Itineraries:

Make 2 copies of the following:
(Take one set of copies with you and leave one set with a friend or family member back home.

• Passport, visas, itineraries, credit card and travelers checks.  Also include copies of your health insurance cards as well as any Travel Insurance coverage you might have purchased

Are you renting a car while overseas? 

• Make sure to bring your driver’s license and check to see if the country you are visiting requires and International Driving Permit.

Cash and Credit Cards:

• Check the current exchange rate for the currency of the country(s) that you will be visiting. (See our Useful Links section for an easy to use Currency Converter).
• Decide which credit card you are going to use for your trip and research what the transaction fees will be for international purchases.
• Do the same for the debit card on your checking account.  It may be less expensive to just use an ATM oversees to get cash in the local currency.

Health and Medical

• Schedule an appointment to see your doctor for a checkup and get any immunizations required for your trip.
• Make sure that you have enough of your prescription medications to last your entire trip.  You can have your prescriptions filled and delivered to your door at drugstore.com.
• Make inquiries with your current health insurance provider to see what kind of coverage (if any) you have if you have to see a doctor or fill a prescription while on your trip.  If you find you have little or no coverage with your insurance provider, consider purchasing travel insurance  that includes medical coverage.

Suspend Newspaper and Mail Service:

• The USPS will hold your mail for you while you are away.  You can request this service online by clicking HERE.
• If you have a newspaper subscription.  Call them and have them suspend delivery for the time you will be on vacation.

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