Every international trip we plan starts with the same short conversation: passport validity, visa copies, and travel insurance. It sounds obvious until someone is standing at check-in with a passport expiring in four months — most countries require at least six months of validity from your date of entry, and airlines will deny boarding if that's not met.
Carry physical and digital copies of your passport, visa approval, hotel bookings, and travel insurance. Save PDF copies to your phone and email them to yourself, since a lost bag shouldn't mean losing your documents too.
On money: carry a mix of a forex card, a small amount of local currency for the first day (taxis and tips rarely take cards on arrival), and one international debit card as backup. Inform your bank of your travel dates in advance so a card isn't blocked for 'suspicious activity' on day one.
Pack for the destination's plug type and voltage, not just the weather — a universal adapter is worth the extra 100 grams. And keep one change of clothes and any daily medication in your carry-on; checked bags occasionally take a different flight than you do.
If any of this feels like a lot to track, it's exactly what we handle for you when you book a package with us — visa documentation, insurance, and a pre-departure checklist specific to your destination.