The Essential Checklist - Before Leaving The House For The Airport

Have you ever gone on a trip and discovered once you’ve arrived at your destination, that you forgot to pack a much-needed item from home? And sure enough, when you return home, you find it’s exactly where you put it - out on the kitchen counter in plain sight so you wouldn’t forget to pack it! How many of us have done this over the years?

For this reason, among others, I started using checklists. I’ve found that checklists save you time and money. They also improve the quality of your vacations! Who doesn’t love that feature!

You can print these lists and use them again and again. Here’s one I created for an airport trip – before leaving the house.

Keep in mind, this checklist has ideas on what to take with you and items to check that you’ve packed. Of course each trip is going to be different, and you may be traveling solo, so you’ll want to adjust accordingly. Here are some basics. Enjoy!

Airport Trip - Checklist Before Leaving The Housen n Crossing The T’s And Dotting The I’snn • Quick call to the airline to ensure your flight is on time on departure daynn • Passportnn • Airline ticket(s) with flight itinerarynn • Purse – with small Ziploc bag to hold your lip balm/travel-sized hand lotion etc.

• Walletnn • Money/Foreign currency/Traveler’s checksnn • Credit card/Debit cardnn • Small bills for tips for porters/Taxi cabsnn • Coins for a luggage cartnn • Driver’s license/Photo ID/International driver’s licensenn • Multiple copies of standard passport-sized photonn • Travel insurance papers and/or card with emergency contact informationnn • Address booknn • Destination hotel/apartment/villa address, telephone number and reservation information, written out or printed from your computer (I always keep this with my passport. You’ll often have to fill in a destination address/telephone number on your customs forms, and they love it when you’re organized!)

• Phone number of your Embassy/Consulate in writing and saved in your mobile phonenn • Register your travel arrangements with your Embassy onlinennn “The Filler”nnn • Your lucky charmnn • Your sanitynn • Money beltnn • Laptop with charger and laptop case, if you’re traveling with onenn • DVD (s) to watch on your laptop/Project work/Homeworknn • Magazines/books/Kindlenn • Travel games for the planenn • Pens and pape
n • Language phrasebook, if you require onenn • iPod/iPod nano/MP3 player/CD Walkman – whichever music device you ownnn • Headphonesnn • iPod portable docking stationnn • iPhone/Blackberry/cell phone with charge
n • Camera with film/batteriesnn • Adapter/converter - if requirednn • Travel size alarm clock with batteriesnn • Travel-sized bottle or tube of Advil/Tylenol or aspirinnn • Motion sickness tablets/Wrist band - if you need themnn • Prescription medications if anynn • Jacket/sweater/wrap for the planenn • Change of clothes to be packed in your carry-onnn • Running shoesnn • Bathing suit and swimming gogglesnn • Eyeglasses with casenn • Sunglasses with casenn • Finish packing your toiletry kit with your last minute items from the bathroom and pack it in your suitcasenn • Snack for the airplanen
Wrapping It Up - The Final 10 Itemsnn • Copy of flight itinerary and contact details left on the kitchen table or posted on the fridge for family/friendnn • Luggage tags – filled out with your destination address and contact telephone number on themnn • Carry-on luggage – packed with all your essentialsnn • Suitcases/Bags/Briefcasenn • Outdoor gear/surfboard/wakeboard/golf clubs etc. – if you’re bringing anynn • Take out the garbagenn • Are the windows/doors closed and locked throughout the house before you leave?

• House keys/car keysnn • Lights off in the house - automatic timers set if you have themnn • House alarm set

Best wishes to you on your journey! Have fun and travel safe!
By Kristine Polleynn© Adapted from Lipstick & Luggage: Ease Your Pain When Traveling! How To Get Organized & Stay Safen