Ever get pre-travel anxiety, or jitters, when you know a trip is coming up?
Travel-related stress is especially high if it’s a dream trip, or a bucket-list trip, you’ve been planning for a while.
But suddenly, the departure date is..the next day!
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You probably feel travel anxiety at its worst the day before your trip. Do you always feel as if you’re going to forget something at the last minute? Or do you keep thinking about whether you’ve packed everything you need?
I’ve compiled a list of housekeeping items to check the day before your trip to help you tame your pre-trip nervousness. Hint: as long as you have the essentials of the essentials, then you’ll crush those pre-travel jitters.
This post assumes you have your trip booked, and any visas you need have arrived, and that things are packed (see my packing guides for specific packing tips). This post hones in on the final things you should do before you leave for the trip to calm any travel-related stress.
Things to do the day before your trip
The trick to managing pre-travel anxiety is by focusing on the non-negotiables you should get done the day before you leave. You probably already have a list of things you do before you leave for a trip, so why another list? I do find lists an easy way to manage tasks without leaving it all in your head (which would make the anxiety worse). The list below covers the essentials I like to do before a trip that make me feel in control; taming any restlessness I’m feeling.
Get your passport and paperwork together.
Find your passport and make sure any visas you need (which should be glued into your passport) are all in one place. I know, it seems obvious you should be bringing your passport, but in all the excitement it’s also the most obvious thing to forget as well. Most visas are glued into your passport when you receive them, but if you happen to have them as a separate document, then make sure it’s in the passport.
And make sure your passport hasn’t expired!
Are you going on a business trip or student exchange? Make sure to have any letters of invitation or letters of acceptance you might need. This is all in case customs asks for it. Keep a photocopy of your passport with you and lock the original in a lockbox safe at your hotel when you get there. And don’t forget to set an alarm on your phone to take out your passport the night before you leave! This way, you’re not fiddling with the code or panicking in the morning.
A photocopy of your passport is safer than taking the original with you just in case things get lost or stolen. Also, some places (like a tour or bar) might want to see your ID to verify your age, and a photocopy of your passport is good for this. It’s also useful for saving taxes on purchases if the store exempts you right then in there by checking your passport. This was a benefit for me in Japan when the sales associate checked the photocopy of my passport to confirm I was a tourist and immediately exempted me from paying taxes on my purchase.
Gather money and medicine
Or M and M for short. It’s a short acronym I like to use to remind me to bring the next 2 important things on this list after my travel documents. Make sure to always have some cash on hand in the local currency of the place you’re visiting. Cash is good for small tips or when a business (like a taxi ride) ride doesn’t accept credit cards.
Call the bank to let them know you’ll be using your credit cards in another country. This is to make sure they don’t inadvertently block your card. Most banks generally don’t need you to do this anymore, so it’s up to you to decide if it’s necessary. I always say it’s better to be safe than sorry: if you don’t generally use your credit cards outside of the place you live then it might be best to call.
I always advocate bringing some medicine for quick fixes for headaches or nausea. You never know when they might strike and having something to mitigate those symptoms can be a huge relief. And make sure to bring any regular medication you might need (such as insulin, for example).
Charge your phone and download apps
It seems like another no-brainer, but forgetting your phone is a possibility due to how overwhelming it can be to plan for a trip. Bring a backup battery with charger so you don’t run out of battery at the worst moment. Download any apps you might need to keep track of your trips. I recommend downloading the airline’s app to check your flight status and any rail apps to check timetables.
I love Airalo for data e-sim (use code CHLOE9365 to get CAD $4.50 off your first purchase) to avoid roaming on your cell provider because it gets pricey, fast. Airalo lets you buy single cities or regional e-sims at competitive prices. The best part is you buy the e-sim once and simply top it up if you run out of data. And you can simply top up the e-sim when you head to the same country again without having to buy another e-sim.
Save receipts to albums on your phone
Even though it’s convenient to have the confirmation emails or notifications in your email or app, they can be hard to find if you’re in a rush, or if you have no wifi at the moment. What makes me feel more in control is saving screenshots of important documents and saving them into albums on my phone for easy access. I always have an album titled Tickets on my phone and I save screenshots of hotel confirmations, airline tickets, travel insurance policy numbers, restaurant reservations, and tour reservations. I like to then highlight the address and dates on the screenshots, so I can see at a glance the dates, times, and address for those events.
Save contacts into your phone
Save important numbers into your phone so you can easily find it in an emergency. I like to save my insurance claim line in case I do get sick and need to call them for pre-approval for treatment before seeing a doctor. I also like to save the contact info for my bank for emergencies, like if I find out my credit card has been compromised. I also like to save my local taxi numbers in case I need a ride and uber isn’t working.
Store all the above in your travel bag
I put all the above (passport, phone, wallet, medicine, backup battery) in my travel bag zipped up, and ready to go, by the door along with my carry-on. This way, I’m ready to grab it and go on the day of the trip.
Share your itinerary with trusted neighbours
Make sure your neighbours (the ones you trust, of course) know where you’ll be by sharing your itinerary with them. Give your keys to your neighbour if you need pets fed or plants watered. Let them know who might be visiting (like anyone you’ve hired to mow the lawn or shovel the snow). But, just as importantly, tell them who is not supposed to show up. It helps everyone keep a watch on your home and the neighbourhood safe. Close all blinds and maybe keep a light on here and there, so your home isn’t completely dark. Make sure to put out pet food and water for the neighbour if they’re caring for your pets while you’re out. And have them collect the mail if you get it delivered to the door. Basically, don’t make it too obvious you’re not around.
Book taxis or rideshare
Book any taxis or rideshare you need in advance so you’re not worrying about whether they’ll be late. Always have a taxi number saved on your phone if, for whatever reason, your rideshare doesn’t show up. You might have some wiggle room around this if your flight is later in the day or if you’re taking public transit to get to the airport. Either way, I always advocate for backup options just in case.
Sleep well before your flight
You’re probably worried about missing your flight with all the travel jitters you have. Worse, you might even be thinking of staying up all night if you have an early flight.
Don’t.
Trust yourself, and the alarms you’ve set, that you’ll wake up when you need to. Avoid drinking alcohol or eating a heavy meal before your flight. Take a hot shower to relax and read something nice before bed to calm your mind.
Clean your home and empty the fridge.
Get your home all ready to welcome you back when you return from your dream trip. Clean out your fridge of any food you know won’t last while you’re on your bucket-list trip. Either give it away or toss it out. The last thing you want is to return home exhausted from your trip and find decaying food in your fridge. Make sure to wash all dishes and vacuum the place. Basically, make your home orderly. No matter how great the trip is, you will be tired when you return. Travelling is exhilarating and all that adrenaline will tire you out.
Things to do on the day you leave for your trip
Check your flight is on time
Check the flight app you downloaded the day before (see how you’re already calmer because you did all the important stuff the day before?) and make sure your flight is on time.
Check your travel bag and carry-on
Check that your passport, money, keys, and phone are tucked snugly into your travel purse and that your carry-on is still nicely zipped and ready to go. Don’t keep checking what’s inside your carry-on, though. Once you close it up, really close it up, or you’ll be forever checking it.
Order (or wait) for your taxi to arrive
Wait for your booked ride to show up! Then grab your travel bag and carry-on and get into your cab!
And then breathe. You got this!
What if you really did forget something? Then it won’t be something important because all the important stuff (passport, phone, money, and medicine!) are already safely tucked away into your travel bag. Besides, you can always buy the thing you’re missing, if you really want to, during your trip.
As long as you have the essentials of the essentials, then anything else you bring is the cherry on top.
You did all you can for the trip. There’s only so many checklists you can follow. Tell yourself the trip will be great and no amount of pre-travel nervousness can stop you.
You planned the trip. You booked the things. You paid for it. And now you’re going places.
Breathe. You got this.
