Planning
Trip planning timeline — what to do when
Eight weeks out, pick dates and budget; six weeks, book flights and core hotels; four weeks, insurance and sold-out activities; two weeks, eSIM, transit research, and restaurant holds; one week, documents and packing; 24 hours, check-in and home prep. Compress the timeline for last-minute trips — never skip passport and visa checks.
Last updated 2026-08-05
8+ weeks before
- Choose destination, dates, and rough budget tier.
- Check passport validity and visa processing times.
- Sketch route — which cities, how many nights each.
- Note festivals, holidays, or closures that affect your dates.
6 weeks before
- Book flights or long-distance trains on popular routes.
- Reserve first and last nights’ accommodation plus any peak-period stays.
- Set fare alerts if dates are flexible.
4 weeks before
- Buy travel insurance if the trip is mostly non-refundable.
- Book activities with limited capacity (balloons, major museums, popular tours).
- Plan airport transfers for arrival and any early departure.
2 weeks before
- Install eSIM or confirm roaming plan.
- Download offline maps and transit apps.
- Restaurant reservations for special meals.
- Confirm pet sitter, mail hold, and time off work.
1 week and last 24 hours
Use the before-you-leave and night-before checklists for packing, documents, and home prep. Re-read airline baggage rules the day before — policies change more often than people expect.
More planning guides
Airport transfer: train, taxi, or pre-booked ride
Take public transit when it is safe, direct, and you travel light. Pre-book a transfer when you land late, have heavy luggage, travel with children, or the official taxi rank is known for hassle. Rideshare and official taxi ranks work in many cities if you confirm the pickup zone and avoid touts inside the terminal.
ESTA, eTA, and electronic travel authorizations
Many countries require an electronic travel authorization before you fly — not a full visa, but mandatory pre-clearance linked to your passport (US ESTA, Canada eTA, UK ETA, Australia ETA, and the upcoming EU ETIAS). Apply only on official government sites; third-party “expeditors” markup a free or low-cost form. Approval is not guaranteed — errors or ineligible past visits can mean denied boarding.
First international trip
Your first international trip goes smoother when you fix immovable items early: valid passport, entry rules, flights, and insurance. Then layer lodging, airport transfer, and phone data. Save packing and restaurant research for last — they change least if documents are wrong.
How much to budget for a trip
Start with nightly lodging and daily food/transport bands for your destination and travel style, multiply by trip length, then add fixed costs: international flights, airport transfers, insurance, visas, and one-off tours. Add 10–20% buffer for surprises — estimates only; our country and city pages show static bands, not live prices.
International travel documents checklist
Before an international trip, confirm passport validity for your destination’s rules, check visa requirements on official government sites for your nationality, save digital and paper copies of bookings and insurance, and carry the physical passport on travel days — photos on your phone are backup, not a substitute at border control.
Passport validity rules
Many countries require your passport to stay valid for three or six months after your planned departure date — not just through the trip. Airlines check at check-in and can refuse boarding even if the border would have let you in. Renew early if your passport is within a year of expiry and you travel internationally often.
Apply this on your trip
Planning guidance only — not legal, medical, or booking advice. Verify entry rules, insurance terms, and prices on official or partner sites before you travel.