Free Checklist

The First Trip Abroad Checklist.

You have never done this before. That is fine, because this list has. Work through it top to bottom and nothing important slips. Check items off right here, or print it and pin it to the fridge.

Three Months Out

The slow paperwork lives here. Passports and visas take weeks you cannot buy back later.

  • Check your passport: valid for 6 months past your return date, with 2 blank pages
  • Look up visa rules for your passport at the destination's official embassy site
  • Check your destination's safety score and read the country intel page
  • Ask a travel clinic about vaccinations; some need multiple doses over weeks
  • Set a total budget with the Budget Calculator before booking anything
  • Book flights; fares for international routes are usually best 2 to 4 months out

One Month Out

Lock the plan while there is still time to fix surprises.

  • Book your first nights of accommodation, even if you will wing the rest
  • Generate your day-by-day itinerary and share it with someone at home
  • Buy travel insurance that covers medical care and your planned activities
  • Ask your bank about foreign transaction fees; order a fee-free card if needed
  • Check your phone plan abroad, or plan to buy a local SIM or eSIM
  • Register your trip with your country's embassy program (STEP for US travelers)

One Week Out

Copies and backups feel silly until the day they save your trip.

  • Photocopy your passport, visa, and insurance; keep copies separate from originals
  • Save digital copies of every document to cloud storage you can reach from any device
  • Notify your bank of travel dates so your card does not get blocked
  • Download offline maps and a translation app for your destination
  • Exchange a small amount of local cash for arrival day; skip the airport counters later
  • Write down emergency numbers for your destination and your embassy's address

The Day Before

Tomorrow is for excitement, not errands.

  • Check in online and save your boarding pass to your phone and as a screenshot
  • Confirm how you will get from the airport to your first night's stay
  • Charge everything; pack the portable charger where you can reach it
  • Weigh your bag against the airline's limit
  • Send your itinerary and accommodation addresses to family or a friend

In Your Carry-On

If your checked bag takes a vacation of its own, this keeps you going.

  • Passport, wallet, phone, and all printed copies
  • Any medication you take, in original packaging, plus a basic first-aid kit
  • One change of clothes
  • Portable charger and a universal power adapter
  • Empty water bottle to fill after security

When You Land

The first hour in a new country sets the tone. Keep it simple.

  • Withdraw local cash from a bank ATM inside the airport, not an exchange counter
  • Get connected: airport wifi for now, local SIM or eSIM when convenient
  • Use official taxis or the ride app you researched, never curbside offers
  • Message home that you arrived
  • Open your PINYA itinerary and enjoy the trip you planned 🍍

Checklist Done? Travel Sweeter.

Turn the list into a plan: a verified day-by-day itinerary for your first trip. Free, no card needed.

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