Things to do before you leave To do for most trips

Check the expiration date of your passport  Wash the dishes  Make a lunch  Pet Care  Plant care  Unplug electrical stuff  Turn down (or up, depending on where you live) the temperature in your home  Empty all trash cans  Confirm airline tickets  Get your airmiles in advance  Call airline and ask for good seats and kids meals  Memorize PIN codes to credit cards and your phone's SIM card 

"Memorize the PIN numbers and leave them at home with someone you trust, like your parents, so that if you forget all you have to do is phone home. Do not bring them with you, unless you encrypt them! Otherwise all your money might be withdrawn by someone stealing your cards, and you may not get it back since you had the PIN number laying around."

- Mats Henricson 

Memorize the PIN code to your phone's SIM card  Unlock your credit card for use in other countries  Check out what hospitals are covered by your health insurance  Get travel insurance  Change money/currency  Install or recharge batteries  Get maps  Forward (or hold) delivery of newspapers and magazines 

Core vaccinations

Typhus vaccination  Typhoid vaccination  Polio vaccination  Tetanus vaccination 

Destination specific vaccinations

Yellow Fever vaccination  Cholera vaccination  Hepatitis vaccination  Plague vaccination  Meningitis vaccination  Japanese B Encephalitis vaccination 

Clothes Unisex clothes

Underwear  Shirts 

"I usually just use a long sleeve cotton shirt when walking in the mountains, but I have come to the conclusion that it is not such a good idea. Cotton chills your body when wet, such as in rain, snow, or if you're sweating. Go to your local sports shop and ask them what to use. It may cost a bit, but that will be money darn well spent."

- Mats Henricson 

T-shirts  Shorts  Socks  Trousers ( Pants, Jeans )  Sweater 

"I often bring a fleece sweater. It can double as seat cushion, head cover on cold nights, and pillow."

- Mats Henricson 

Cap ( Hat ) 

Clothes for women

Bra 

"Can for women be a good place to hide money."

- Mats Henricson 

"You'd be amazed at how many times you're on a trip and you have a shirt that requires a strapless bra and now either have to deal with tucked in straps or going without (the shirt...or bra)."

- Kelsie Ferguson 

Skirt  Sarong 

Shoes

Sandals ( Flip-flops ) 

""Teva" and "Teva clones" are sometimes mentioned as a kind of Industrial Strength sandal. I have a pair myself and I'm a satisfied customer. A pair of flip-flops are OK as long as you don't walk too far in them. They don't last long, but they are great when you have to enter that filthy campground bathroom. Other people have moved on to water socks for that purpose."

- Mats Henricson 

Optional clothes

Belt  Swimming trunks ( Bikini ) 

"I read that women may have problems in some countries if they are too revealing. Reminds me of a friend who told me swimming is not allowed on Sundays on some islands in the Pacific Ocean. Pretty weird!"

- Mats Henricson 

Pyjamas ( Pajamas )  Scarf  Beach pants  Jewelry 

Money and documents

"A good idea is to send important information by email to an account you have access to during your travels, such as Hotmail or Yahoo email."

- Mats Henricson 

Basic documents

Passport  Visas 

"Note that while many African countries require you get your travel visas in your country of origin, this is not entirely practical. Travelling in Africa is, at the very least, a test in patience - no amount of pre-planning will prepare you for any of the delays or detours you are likely to experience as a result of weather, politics, or bureaucracy."

- Mats Henricson 

Vaccination certificate  Insurance certificate ( Health Insurance card )  Paper from your local social insurance office  Cash 

"Travel insurance won't cover a large loss of cash. The limit at Swedish travel insurance companies has been US$300 or so."

- Mats Henricson 

Credit/ATM cards ( Visa, Eurocard/Mastercard, American Express etc )  Driver's license  ID card  Address list (with phone numbers and email addresses)