“BE PREPARED is the Boy Scouts motto and when the founder of Scouting, Baden Powell was asked, “Be prepared for what”? he replied, “”Why, for any old thing.”
Travel is much like that; you have to be “prepared” for any old thing. Stepping out your door into the world of travel is quite exciting but the unexpected can and will happen so doing your homework ahead of time can minimize the chances of something going wrong. Having a travel checklist in place prior to leaving is smart thinking and can save your vacation from going “south” and I don’t mean that in tropical way!
We have just returned from another tropical trip to the magical Playa del Carmen, MX and after having experienced our own unexpected snafus, we now have a pretty solid checklist in place that we follow which helps us navigate the waters of travel with ease.
Here is a checklist we follow that has served us well.
- *Ensure your passport is valid at least six (6) months beyond the dates of your trip. Most countries have this a pre-requisite to enter their country. (We had to renew our passports for our trip in June as they were to expire in October 2012)
- *Photocopy your passport and carry a copy with you separate from your original. Having a copy will allow you to go to the nearest embassy where your passport can be reissued more quickly than if the number had to be tracked down and you have to prove that you are “you.”
- *Photocopy your credit cards, driver’s license, and health-insurance cards & any other documents you carry with you. It will be easier to replace the originals faster if they are lost or stolen. Be sure to include the contact numbers of your bank etc.
- *Bring copies of your flights, travel itinerary and reservation/accommodation information.
- *IMPORTANT: alert your credit card company and your bank when and where you will be traveling. Credit and debit cards can be blocked as a security precaution. (We’ve had our cards suspended because we didn’t follow this important step.)
- *Carry photo I.D. When using your credit card in foreign countries many will ask to see your I.D.
- *Check the exchange rate of the country you are visiting so you can gauge the value of items.
- *Ensure you have travel and medical insurance. When our daughter got sick on a trip, our flights, accommodations and meals were covered.
- *Check to see what vaccinations are necessary before you go.
- *Ensure your license is current for any car rentals.
- *If you are traveling with your children and without the other parent, ensure you have a notarized travel consent form.
- *Bring local currency with you so that when you land you aren’t desperately looking for an ATM. Always have emergency money on hand.
- *Keep all important documents in your carry-on bag. If you luggage is lost or delayed, so is your vital information.
Having a checklist in place and following it, ensures you can relax on your trip safe in the knowledge that your health, belongings and personal documents are covered if the worst happens. (which trust me, also prevents a few extra grey hairs!) So embrace your inner scout and “be prepared”!
“PLAYA Gal” (a very satisfied client working to promote Playa Beach Getaways!) 
salgal@playabeachcondo.com ~~~ PS Catch us on Facebook & Pinterest