There seems to be an endless list of little things to do before you go away on a big trip, but here’s a few that we always do to ensure our trips will go smoothly.
PREPARING YOUR PHONE (& LAPTOP):
1/- ROAMING PLAN (OR E-SIM)
Check with you phone provider how to activate your roaming plan, and that it will cover the countries that you are visiting. Alternatively, look for an e-sim provider that will give you the calling coverage & data that you need.
For more information about data roaming and e-SIMS, visit:
Keep connected while on the go…Data Roaming and e-SIMs – You Me and Friends
2/- ADD TO CONTACTS
Input the name, phone, and address of any hotels, transfer companies, tour meeting points and any other important numbers and information into your phone contacts.
3/- BACK UP (OR SHIFT) YOUR DATA
It may sound a bit negative, but when traveling, assume that you may lose (or someone may steal) your phone, tablet, or laptop. So, before you go, back up any essential data and precious photos to the cloud or an external hard drive, then delete it to gain space and ensure that your personal stuff won’t fall into the hands of the wrong people.
APPS, APPS, AND MORE APPS!
So much of today’s world revolves around apps, and travel is no different. Here’s a few apps that we find essential.
4/- GOOGLE MAPS
Yes, we all have Google maps on our smart phones, but before you leave home, download the specific areas that you are travelling to on your phone. That way google maps can work offline where internet coverage is poor.
5/- MAPS ME
It may surprise you, but Google maps does not cover the entire world. A great back up is to install the Maps ME app on your phone and download the appropriate maps (This map app works better offline than Google maps, so is a great back-up). It also works in China, and other countries where Google is banned.
6/- GOOGLE TRANSLATE
Install the Google Translate app on your phone and download the languages that you will need (so you can use them offline). This allows you to ask easy one-word questions (like “toilet?”) and is getting better and better with multiword sentences.
7/- LIFE360
Here’s a new favourite of ours. We joke around that we “hardly ever” lose any of our travel friends on a trip, but the truth is that people do often lose their bearings. Life360 allows each person in your group to know the precise location of the others, so you no longer have that “all alone” feeling in a strange country!
8/- WHATS-APP
An oldy, but still a goodie. WhatsApp is still the app of choice for most transfer companies and tour guides. Download this app, then go through your trips contacts and see which of them are on WhatsApp. They are more likely to respond to a WhatsApp text or call than a normal phone call or txt.
9/- ARRIVALS APPS
It’s worth checking for each country to see if they have an app that has replaced the old arrivals cards. Singapore does, and of course New Zealand does. Download the NZ Arrivals app on your phone and scan in your passport. Then 48 hours prior to heading home, update it and you are done.
10/- TRAVEL INSURANCE
Most travel insurance companies have an app these days. It’s worth installing this and registering your policy so that’s it’s all set up…just in case disaster strikes! Load your travel insurance company’s emergency number into your phone contacts and note your policy number with it. Sort of like having help on speed dial!
For a full list of apps that we at You, Me & Friends recommend, visit:
Essential Travel Tips and Tools – You Me and Friends
DOUBLE CHECK YOUR BOOKINGS AND DOCUMENTS
11/- RECONFIRMING ARRANGEMENTS
48 hours before we arrive, we like to reconfirm hotels, tours, and transfers. You’d be amazed at the helpful tips they provide—like “Use the side door for easier access,” or “Meet at the statue next to the ice cream stand.” Reconfirming also smooths out any bumps in bookings. (Pro tip: Leave your phone number with them too, just in case!)
12/- E-MAILING MYSELF
Before departing, e-mail yourself a PDF copy of your travel itinerary and all-important document’s-passport, travel insurance etc. Then save them to your phones hard drive so you’ve got them handy, even if the internet’s having a day off.
PACKING
13/- CARRY-ON
Pack your carry-on as though your suitcase might decide to take its own holiday. Essentials like medicines, a change of clothes (suitable for your next destination), and your toothbrush all go in here. If your suitcase does make it to baggage claim, it’s always a pleasant surprise!
14/- LUGGAGE STRAP
Another oldie but a goodie. Get an unusual luggage strap to go around your checked bag case. You will thank us when you see how many suitcases look just like yours!
15/- TRAVEL CUBES AND ZIP LOCK BAGS
Travel cubes are great at organising your clothes, and it is worth investing in good ones if you can. The other thing we like to take are a few large zip-lock bags. They are great for keeping wet or dirty clothes in, and also the odd bottle of duty free.
16/- CHECK THE TEMPERATURE AND WEATHER
Look up last year’s weather in our destination and pack accordingly. We’ve learned that the weather forecast is more of a “suggestion” than a rule.
17/- MEDICINES & HEALTH
A month before you go, get double your prescriptions to take away. One set goes in your suitcase & one in your carry-on luggage. That way, even if you lose one bag, you don’t need to panic about losing your “stay-alive” pills.
18/- ANTIBIOTICS
We always get 2 weeks supply of anti-biotics prescribed from the Dr, because they can be very hard to get when travelling.
19/-VITAMIN C, PROBIOTICS AND HYDRATION TABLETS
The stress of preparing everything for the upcoming journey can take quite a toll on your body. The last thing you need is for your immune system to collapse as soon as you relax into your airplane seat. We start taking a course of Vitamin C or probiotics 10 days prior to departure and keep taking them daily throughout the course of the trip, and for one week after returning home.
We also buy hydration tablets from the chemist to keep handy.
20/- FLU VACCINE
At least 1 month prior to departure (if you haven’t already), we suggest you update your Flu jab. We also suggest that you ask for the more expensive jab if available, which offers better protection against Flu Variants.
21/-PRESCRIPTION LIST AND HEALTH RECORDS
With all the pills that you may be carrying, either get a Drs letter or a copy of your ‘MyHealth’ records to show overseas customs that your pill collection isn’t some rogue pharmacy that you’re running on the side.
For more tips on what to pack and what not to pack, visit:
Pack Perfectly: Your Ultimate Travel Checklist & Guide – You Me and Friends
Travel medical kit – this is what we take – You Me and Friends
Don’t let your luggage become “emotional baggage”! – You Me and Friends
CARD & PERSONAL SECURITY
22/- NOTIFY BANK
Before departing, advise your bank (through the banking app or by phone) that you are travelling overseas, and where and when you’re going, so they don’t freeze your card when you’re trying to buy a croissant in Paris. Also, save your banks emergency contact number in case something goes wrong.
23/- PHONE SECURITY
It is a trend for thieves to try to steal phones that people are speaking on or using, because if someone is using it, then it is obviously unlocked. We recommend that a small clip be installed inside the phone cover, that a lanyard can be attached to. It’s a lot harder to swipe a phone that is tied to its owner!
24/- ON-LINE SECURITY
It’s tempting to want to share your holiday with the world, but don’t make your holiday snaps an advert for your empty house back home. We always open a Private Facebook group that only friends and family can access. Any posts that will go to the wider world should be done AFTER you get home.
KNOW YOUR VISA
25/- IS YOUR VISA RIGHT?
Visa regulations are confusing at best. Check your visa requirements using a reliable source like Qatar Airways’ travel alerts page—better safe than sorry! Try it out on:
https://www.qatarairways.com/en/travel-alerts/requirements.html?iid=ALL26535520#Visa
For more information about visas, visit:
No Visa, No Go! – You Me and Friends
TRAVEL MONEY
26/ FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND CASH PASSPORTS
We order our foreign currency and top up our cash passports in advance. Less hassle at the airport, more time for fun! (Psst… You, Me & Friends can help you with this too. We have access to over 30 different currencies).
TRAVEL INSURANCE
27/-KNOW WHAT YOU ARE COVERED FOR
Travel insurance companies have limits on what they will pay for claims related to specific items. If you have things such as hearing aids, glasses, dentures or expensive jewellery, make sure you list these items individually as Specified Items when you take out insurance. If you can, we recommended leaving your expensive jewellery at home and buying some custom jewellery to wear in its place while travelling.
For more information about travel insurance, visit:
Is travel insurance necessary? 10 good reasons to take it out. – You Me and Friends
And there you have it—our top 27 must-dos before every trip! Follow these, and you’ll be ready for anything—whether it’s an unexpected detour or a missing suitcase. Now, who’s ready for an adventure?
