How to use the travel checklist
- Start a week before. Work through the “week before” tasks first: mail, pets, prescriptions and offline maps take time to arrange.
- Tick as you go. Tick each task when it is done. Your ticks are saved in this browser, so you can come back to the list.
- Print it if you prefer paper. Print the checklist for the fridge door and cross things off with a pen.
Why a before-you-leave checklist helps
Most travel stress comes from small jobs left until the last evening. A travel checklist spreads them out: the things that need a phone call or a booking happen a week before, the quick jobs happen the day before, and the final walk-round happens at the door. Nothing depends on remembering it at midnight.
The tasks above are the same defaults the Wayfold app uses for its leaving-home checklist. They cover the house (mail, plants, thermostat, appliances), money (telling your bank you are travelling), health (refilling prescriptions) and the trip itself (offline maps, online check-in and charged devices).
Documents to check before you travel
- Passport validity: many countries require your passport to be valid for months beyond your stay; check the rule for your destination.
- Travel authorisations: visitors to the US under the Visa Waiver Program need an ESTA, and most visa-free visitors to the UK need an ETA. Apply only on official sites.
- Insurance: keep your policy number and the emergency phone number somewhere you can reach offline.
- Bookings: save confirmations for flights, hotels and car rental offline, in case you have no signal on arrival.
General guidance, not legal advice. Rules change; always check the official source before you travel.
Then pack
With the house sorted, build your bag with the packing list generator or pick a ready-made packing list. Going abroad? Thepacking list for international travel covers passports, visas and adapters. For the complete walkthrough, read our travel checklist guide.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do before leaving for a trip?
A week before: hold your mail, book pet care, tell your bank, refill prescriptions and download offline maps. The day before: set an out-of-office, water plants, empty the fridge, charge devices and check in online. As you leave: set the thermostat, take out the trash, unplug appliances and lock up.
Is this travel checklist printable?
Yes. Use the Print button, or your browser’s print command, for a clean one-page version.
Does it use US or UK wording?
US wording, with the UK version underneath where it differs, for example “Hold the mail” and “Arrange Royal Mail Keepsafe or ask a neighbour”.
What about entry requirements?
Check whether you need a visa or a travel authorisation such as ESTA or the UK ETA well before you travel. Our guide ESTA, UK ETA and ETIAS explained links to the official sources.