Before You Go:
Backpacking Checklist

Picture this:

You arrive at the airport and ready to check-in. The nice lady behind the desk asks for your itinerary and passport. You think: "Yeah, of course." You look inside your bag and… wait a minute… where`s your passport?!

You start panicking, throwing all your stuff on the floor. Damn, you forget it at home! You don`t know what to do, tears are coming and you can`t think. PANIC!

So, I will help you avoid this and alike by going through the tips in this article. Here`s my painless backpacking checklist… And I`ve divided it into a time schedule!

Backpacking Checklist
-- 1 year-6 months to go

Start reading up your destinations. Find out what the climate is like in each country and work out your route.

To find out how much the flight will cost you, surf on the internet or visit travel agents with your rough itinerary and dates. Ask them for estimates and compare prices.

If you have a job/or go to school: Is your vacation permit OK?

E-mail at work: Have you set up an auto reply absence message?

If you resigned your job: Is there a possibility for you to get a job when you return home?

If it takes a while for you to get a job, do you have enough money while you`re unemployed?

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Backpacking Checklist
-- 3 months to go

Book and buy your ticket (if not 6 months before...)

Have you bought a travel insurance?

Is your passport still valid? Enough pages? Now`s the time to get a new passport.

Have you acquired your visa permit?

Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss vaccinations and malaria medication.

Have you taken care of subletting/selling/resigned your apartment/house?

If you haven`t done the mentioned things above, who`s going to take care of your apartment? (family, friend, neighbour?)

If you resigned your contract: Are you keeping the furniture? Or are you going to sell the furniture?

If you`re keeping the furniture, where are going to store it?

Do you have a place to live when you return home?

If you don`t have a place to live when you return home, do you have enough money to rent an apartment?

If you have pet(s), have you made the arrangements?

Who`s watering your plants? Or do you have special pots with a self-watering function?

If you`re going trekking, buy new shoes now so that they the`re well broken in by the time you leave.


Backpacking Checklist
-- Two months to go

Received your ticket/e-ticket?

Does the name in your passport match the name in your itinerary? Any misspellings?

Start recording your favourite music to take with you -- it always takes longer than you think!

Have you decided how to handle your money during your backpacking trip?

By now, you should know how to keep your money safe. If not, read these practical tips.

If it`s possible, have you stopped your monthly bills? (Mobile, magazine, internet, bank loan, Mastercard etc.)

If you`re going to pay bills while you`re abroad, have you made the arrangements?


Backpacking Checklist
-- One month to go

Go to a dentist/optician for a check-up

Check the dates on your credit cards. If they`re due to expire during your trip, order new ones now.

Check that things like camera/torch/MP3 are working properly. Do they need repairing/cleaning?

Set aside a day for shopping. Make a list and tick off everything as you go. Doing it now gives you the time to buy anything you might forget.


Backpacking Checklist
-- Two weeks to go

Order traveller cheques

Changed some money into Thai baht/Indian rupees/Riel/Kip?

If you don`t come from the United States, have you changed some money into USD dollars?

If you`ve bought a new backpack, make sure it`s properly fitted to your frame

If you`re taking Lariam (malaria medication), start it now so you have time to see if you`re experiencing any side-effects.


Backpacking Checklist
-- One week to go

Prepare an itinerary and copy it to your friends and family

Take two photocopies of your ticket/insurance details/passport and visas/credit cards. Leave one set with someone at home (in case of emergency)

Get some passport photographs taken for visas en route

Deliver any pets or plants to whoever`s looking after them. Leave enough money to cover food, any injections etc.

Start making a pile of everything you`re planning to take with you

Arrange a "good-bye" party with your friends - don`t party the night before you leave -- hangover on long-distanced flight is NOT fun!

Have you paid the bills that can`t wait?

Made any arrangements for your mail? And have you stopped your newspaper subscription?

This will minimize the chances of breaking and entering. It`s obvious that thieves look for empty residences, and one of the ways of doing that is to check your mailbox or your entrance door. If there`s like a pile of newspapers on your doorstep, that will give the signal that no one`s home…

If you haven`t stopped the mail/newspapers, who`s going to pick it up for you?

Have you bought something from Ebay or other online stores before departure?

In cases where you don`t receive the package(s) before you go:

Who`s going to pick it up for you at the post office?

Is that person "authorized" to pick up your package?

Some online sellers send registered mail and that will usually require identification at the counter. This means identification of the person registered with the package….YOU.

If that person is not authorized, is there a way for him/her to collect it?

It`s usually possible for you to give the person the authority, by writing a letter with your full name, signature, the "authorized" person`s name, what the package contains etc. The person who collects the package must show this letter at the counter. And don`t forget to give a copy of your ID along with the letter!

Do you have any valuables that you should store somewhere safe?

Does your apartment/house have an alarm?

Do you have a smoke detector? And have you changed the batteries?

If something happens to your apartment/house (burglary, fire, humidity damages, lightning, explosions, vandalism etc.), is the insurance for your residence still valid? And is it valid for the whole period you`re away?

If not, you should renew it.


Backpacking Checklist
-- Three days to go

Reconfirm your flight and check that vegetarian or kosher meals have been requested

Do you have long legs? Call the airline and ask if you can sit by the exit door where there`s more leg room.

Do you have a house phone? Have you redirected the phone line?


Backpacking Checklist
-- The Day Before

PACK!

Pre-book a cab to take you the airport or ask a friend to give you a lift. Allow some time - try to arrive two hours before departure

Have you emptied your refrigerator? Cleaned it?

To save money on electricity, you should consider emptying it instead of letting it run for several months. Get rid of milk products, juice, eggs - everything that will expire while you`re away. You can only imagine how green/yellow/white bacteria/fungus and insects will stuff their selves in leftovers… and it will stink in your entire apartment!

The same for your freezer box. Have you defrosted and cleaned it?

Give frozen meat to shelters or family.


THE BIG DAY

Do you have travel paper tickets or electronic tickets? Printed out the itinerary?

Have you brought your passport and insurance card and papers?

Brought your vaccination card?

If you have diseases/allergies/special needs: Have you packed the medical certificates?

Have you packed your documents in your handbag?

Have you closed the windows?

If some bastard breaks into your place, the insurance company will check if the loss was a result of negligence as they call it … like if you forgot to close the windows.

Have you unplugged appliances like TV, Playstation/X Box, radio, computer, washing machine, lamps, coffee machine etc?

By doing this, you minimize the chances of fire…

Have you turned off the water to the washing machine?

Have you turned down the heat?

Have you shut the water to the dish washer?

Have you closed the curtains so thieves can`t look inside?

Have you taken out the last garbage?

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For more tips on what to bring:

Clothes, accessories, essentials, footwear, gear, toiletries and medical supplies

Money and Documents

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You`re done with the Backpacking Checklist. Where do you want to go next?

Don`t know what to pack? Go to the Packing Lists.

Money safety during your backpacking trip?

Learn the 36 Ways of Saving Money during your trip?

Return from Backpacking Checklist to Backpacking Tips Asia.