Before you leave home

Traveller’s Checklist Thank you to AFTA Australia

Print this checklist out and then - see if you have forgotten anything!

Be Prepared

Take photocopies of your itinerary, passport, credit cards, travel insurance documents and important phone numbers, keeping them separate from the originals, in case of loss or theft.

When You're On The Road

Don ’t display expensive jewellery. Make sure your valuables are well concealed.

Transport

If possible, arrange your travel so that you arrive in an unfamiliar city during daylight rather than in the dark. Hitch-hiking is extremely risky and a thing of the past – our advice is don’t do it.

Contact

Keep in touch. The more other people know about your movements, the better protected you will be. Do your family and friends know where you are, who you are with, where you are going and when you are scheduled to arrive?

Most people have their own individual preferences for what they like to travel with so our list won’t be comprehensive for everyone. It’s intended to be a handy reference point from which you can build.

Documents - Don't leave home without them - THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU'LL CARRY! nearly everything else can be bought en route if necessary
  Passport
  Visa
  Spare Passport photos
  Health Documentation (International Health Certificates, prescriptions, Doctors letters)
  Transportation tickets
  Accommodation vouchers & other prepaid vouchers
  Emergency Information - (contacts, Embassy addresses, travel insurance card and contact numbers)
  Travellers Cheques (with register)
  Currency
  Credit / Debit Cards
  Personal ID (Driving Licence, Student Id)
  International Drivers Licence IDP
  Address / phone list
  Photocopies of important documents
  Reservation receipts (tours, hotels, theatre tickets, sporting events)
  Business Cards - good even for pleasure trips
 
Clothes - depends on what you will be doing.  The key to travelling light is to set out what you want to take and then halve it!
  Trousers or dresses / skirts
  Underwear
  Socks / hosiery
  Belts
  Cold weather gear (jumper, coat, warm hat, gloves, scarf)
  Warm weather gear (swimsuit, shorts, sandals)
  Sleep Clothes
  Rain gear (jacket or umbrella)
  Comfortable walking shoes (must be worn in)
  Sun Hat
  Dress-up clothes
 
Toiletries - a lot of items can be purchased wherever you go so don't take industrial-sized bottles unless you know it is not available or you can't live without it
  Comb and/or brush
  Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss etc
  Deodorant
  Soap
  Shampoo & conditioner
  Skin-care lotion
  Razor & shaving cream
  Personal hygiene items
  Vitamins
  Toilet Paper
  Bath / beach towel
  Inspect repellent
  Sunscreen
  Nail clippers
 
Medicine Kit - these items often won't be available or at least not easily found, so its best to take what you think you will need.
  Asprin
  Plasters
  Antiseptic wipes
  Antibiotic cream
  Insect bite cream
  Sterile bandages and safety pins / clips
  Waterproof tape
  Upset stomach medication
  Diaorrhea medicine
  Sunburn relief / lip balm
  Cold medicine
  Thermometer
  Prescriptions - (malaria pills, altitude sickness pills, antibiotics, pain killers)
  Regular medication, plus a letter from your doctor for anything unusual.
 
Miscellaneous
  Luggage - suitcase, backpack, convertible bag
  Day pack
  Wallet
  Money belt
  Organiser bags (mesh or different colours)
  Walkman & tapes / CD's
  Camera & film
  Guide book and maps
  Phrase books
  Reading books
  Travel journal & pens
  Games / playing cards
  Small padlocks
  Luggage ID tags
  Watch  - (preferably with alarm)
  Alarm Clock
  Sunglasses and case
  Torch
  Mini sewing / repair kit
  Travel clothesline & pegs
  Sink plug - (multi size)
  Laundry bag
  Ziplock plastic bags
  Large plastic garbage bag - to use as rain protection for your main bag
  Swiss Army style pocket knife with scissors, corkscrew, screwdriver etc
  Electrical converter / adapter if you have AC appliances
  Electrical plug adapters
  Rubber door wedge (security for hotel rooms)
  Nylon cord
  Duct tape (multiple uses)
  Earplugs / eyeshades
  Lighter & candle
  Mosquito net
  Sleep sheet if you will be hostelling
  Sleeping bag if you will be in cold climates (Cheap hotels don't have the best bedding or heating)
  Camping gear - (tent, sleeping pad, stove, fuel, water filter etc)
 
Before you go
  Stop deliveries and have Australia Post hold mail
  Arrange for care of pets, lawn, house plants, garden, swimming pool
  Arrange for home security if you're worried
  Empty refrigerator and garbage
  Turn off hot water cylinder
  Pre-pay bills (or ask close friend to collect mail and pay bills for you)
  Lock all doors and windows
  Secure grounds if in cyclone area & season
  Triple check that you have Passport / Tickets / Money

Driving Advise

You may be asked to produce your documents at any time. To avoid a police fine and/or confiscation of your vehicle, be sure that they are in order and readily available for inspection.

Car crime

Never leave handbags and other attractive items in obvious view even when you are in the car, and never leave anything in an unattended car.

Drinking and driving

There is only one safe rule – if you drink, don't drive. Laws are strict and the penalties are severe.

Insurance

Contact your insurer for advice at least a month before taking a vehicle overseas. Ensure that you're adequately covered and have the necessary documents to prove it.
 
If you're going to rely on a particular credit card whilst away we recommend checking with the card company to confirm that it can be used in the country you're visiting.

Mobile phones

The use of hand-held mobile phones while driving is prohibited in many countries.

Spectacles

Take a spare pair of spectacles if you wear them – especially if you are the sole driver.

Think right

It's easy to forget to drive on the right, particularly after doing something familiar, such as leaving a petrol station or car park.

Your car

Child restraints

Never fit a rear-facing child restraint in a seat with a front airbag.

Switzerland

Note that Switzerland requires the purchase of a drivers permit sticker, or vignette. A vignette costs CHF40 (€24; $35) and is valid for a calendar year plus the previous December and the following January.

Reflective jacket/waistcoat

When visiting Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria and Croatia.
The AA recommends that each vehicle carries at least two jackets/waistcoats in the passenger compartment - one for the driver and one for a passenger.
The Jacket/waistcoat must conform to EU Standard BS EN 471: 1994 Class 1 or 2.

If you intend hiring a car in one of the countries that require reflective jackets it's important to be aware that not all suppliers provide reflective jackets as standard with their cars. We advise checking with the hire company concerned before you travel.

REFLECTIVE JACKETS & WARNING TRIANGLES IN FRANCE (18 July)
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A law concerning the compulsory carrying of a reflective jacket (EN471) and a warning triangle (ECE R27) in France came into force on 1st July 2008. However, this regulation will not be enforceable with on-the-spot fines until 1st October 2008, when the fine will be between €90 and €135.
The French Road Safety Department has today confirmed that:
From 1st October 2008 all drivers in France, including drivers of vehicles registered outside of France, must have one warning triangle and one reflective jacket in their vehicle.
However, we've recently heard reports via our port shops of some British motorists experiencing difficulties and being fined for not carrying reflective jackets. We therefore strongly recommend that motorists visiting France now carry a triangle and at least one reflective jacket inside the car.

Warning Triangle

A warning triangle is compulsory in some European countries including Austria, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and Spain and is recommended in others such as France, Germany, Netherlands and Portugal.

Leaded petrol

Leaded petrol is no longer generally available in northern European countries and Lead Replacement Petrol (LRP) is getting more difficult to find. If LRP is not on sale, an anti-wear additive (for treating unleaded petrol) can be bought from the filling station shop.

Overloading

Don't overload the car as, safety risks apart, this can incur fines and possibly invalidate insurance.

Tyres

Like the UK, most countries require a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm over the central three-quarters of the tread and around the whole circumference.

We recommend a minimum of 2mm but consider changing tyres if the tread is down to 3mm before you go. Tyres wear out quickly after they get down to 3mm.

Wheel chains

Important for any winter motoring and compulsory in some countries even when using winter tyres.