Travel checklist - our list of tasks to do before we leave

Travel Checklist – Tasks to do before we go Travelling

You may not realise just how much work is involved in planning a round the world trip – we certainly didn’t. Now, with only 19 weeks left until we leave, our pre-travel checklist seems to be growing, rather than shrinking. I like to think I’m an organised person but somehow I’ve got multiple travel lists scrawled in notebooks, typed up on spreadsheets and scribbled on random bits of paper and yes, I am starting to panic.

Travel checklist - our list of tasks to do before we leave

Copyright: Koalazymonkey on Flickr

Firstly, there’s the proper travel list – that is, sorting out all our visas and travel documents as well as booking flights, buying our gear and planning where we want to go.  It doesn’t stop there though, since we’re leaving for an undetermined amount of time we need to sort, store or get rid of all our stuff and cancel all the trappings of our current lives.

So, I thought it would be a good idea to publish our checklist for travelling, not only to help organise ourselves, but to hopefully help other aspiring travellers and show just how much hard work is going into this trip – here goes…

Our Travel Checklist

  1. Travel Gear checklist
  2. Travel Bookings
  3. Travel Documents
  4. Finances
  5. Medical
  6. Sorting our Stuff
  7. Travel Planning Tasks

Travel GearCompleted?Notes
Buy our backpacksYesFind out what backpacks we chose
Buy our Travel Camera YesCheck out what travel camera we bought
Buy our Travel LaptopYesSee what travel laptop we chose
Buy the Rest of the items on our packing list YesSee what’s on our packing list

Travel BookingsCompleted?Notes
Book New Zealand flightsYesWe’re booking flights as we go – here’s why we decided against a   round the world plane ticket.
Book flights from New Zealand to AustraliaYes
Book flights from Australia to  Indonesia Yes
Book New Zealand accommodationYes
Book New Zealand car rentalYes

Travel DocumentsCompleted?Notes
Get new passportsYes
Get Indonesian visas Yes
Get Australia e-visa Yes
Get travel and gadget insurance YesFind out which long-term travel insurance we chose
Scan all important documents and save on computer/dropbox YesIncludes passports, visas, bank contact info, eye prescriptions
Create a paper copy of important documents YesTo keep separate from the originals
Upload CVs, qualification certificates to Computer/ update LinkedIn profile YesFor taking on freelance work abroad and if Andrew needs proof of his   teaching qualifications
Order business cards YesFor Amy’s freelance work
Get International Drivers Licence Yes
Apply for new driving licence (Amy) Yes

FinancesCompleted?Notes
Get a credit cardYesFind out how we chose the best travel credit card here
Get new debit cards (so we pay zero fees for withdrawing money and using our current accounts abroad) YesHere’s how we found the best travel debit card
Sort out where to keep our savings YesCheck out our savings account comparison
Cancel bills/direct debits (phone,   internet, council tax, water, car insurance) Yes
Unlock phones to use abroad NoWe’re going to get this done in Asia
Purchase blog domain and hosting for Our Big Fat Travel AdventureYes
Tell tax office we’re leaving Yes
Tell student loan company we’re leaving Yes

MedicalCompleted?Notes
Dentist appointmentYesOur gnashers are fine!
Get contact lenses – six month supply Yes
Get malaria tablets (or get abroad?) Get abroadFind out why we’re getting our malaria tablets abroad
Find out our blood types No
Get travel vaccinations YesFind out what travel vaccinations we needed to get for our trip

Sorting our StuffCompleted?Notes
Sell CDs and DVDsYesWe’ve sold as many as possible through Music Magpie and We Buy DVDs
Sell as much of our stuff as possible on eBay/GumtreeYesCheck out how much money we made by selling our stuff.
Decide which books to keep and give the rest away Yes
Sell car Yes
Sell bike Yes
Shred all our old documents (bank statements, etc) Yes
Back up all our music and electronic files Yes
Hand notice in at work Yes
Hand notice to landlord Yes
Sort out what will go into storage with our parents Yes
Get rid of all our furniture YesOur landlord will keep the furniture when we move out.

Travel planning tasksCompleted?Notes
Plan a rough list of things we want to see/do in the first few countriesYes Planned for New Zealand
Join house sitting websites No
Check volunteering opportunities / organise before we go No
look into home stays No
Collate all research on travel organisations / publications Yes

 

20 Comments
  • Patti
    Posted at 19:22h, 22 October Reply

    This is a great list and very helpful to those in need!

    • Amy
      Posted at 20:35h, 22 October Reply

      Thanks Patti – I’m looking forward to ticking a few things off the list, that’ll help me sleep better!

  • Camping Gear
    Posted at 07:13h, 12 March Reply

    I visited several blogs and I find your site wonderful. Keep up the good work.

  • Craig
    Posted at 23:33h, 08 March Reply

    Hi guys, hope you’re safe and well. Another list lover here! What platform / hosting site do you use for your blog and is it easy to maintain?

    • Amy
      Posted at 03:20h, 09 March Reply

      Hi Craig, glad you enjoyed! We use Bluehost, which has been pretty good for our needs – let me know if you have any other questions, we’re happy to help 🙂

  • Rachel
    Posted at 20:35h, 18 January Reply

    I am so glad I found your website! I’m just starting to plan for a long trip and this is just what I needed to get organized. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    • Amy
      Posted at 03:28h, 19 January Reply

      Hi Rachel, glad you found our website useful! It sounds like you have an exciting trip ahead of you 🙂 Let me know if you have any planning questions.

  • Anne Betts
    Posted at 21:26h, 04 January Reply

    Hi Amy. I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated your chart. I like the column approach allowing for notes to help keep a person on track. I liked it so much I made reference to it in my recent post on how to create a pre-travel checklist. Keep up the great work. It’s very useful.

    • Andrew
      Posted at 23:26h, 04 January Reply

      Hi Anne, thanks for reading and commenting, I’m glad you found our post useful.

  • Brandon
    Posted at 22:52h, 11 March Reply

    Wow I love how organized this is!

    • Amy
      Posted at 12:18h, 13 March Reply

      Thanks Brandon 🙂

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