You just arrived at your destination. You have planned your trip for months and everything is supposed to be perfect.
You start unpacking and to your horror, you forgot to pack something vital.
What should be the first day of a fabulous vacation is now spent desperately trying to find this item instead of relaxing on the beach, exploring a new city or even a well deserved nap.
Even the simplest of trips requires a ton of super savvy planning in order to make it smooth and enjoyable from start to finish.
In all the rush and planning, there are always certain things you forget.
Print this article and use it as a check list.
1. Prescription medication
I have to take thyroid meds every day or I turn all grey and go right to bed. If I do not have these it is vital that I get some right away. The same is true with many prescription meds for many people.
You never know exactly what medications are available in other countries and minimally, you would probably have to see a doctor in order to get them.
If you arrive on a weekend, that makes a couple of days without your prescription.
Make sure you have enough of your prescription meds to see you through your entire stay.
Put these in your carry on luggage in case your luggage takes a side trip to Rangoon.
2. Your passport
Sounds like a no brainer but I have gotten all the way to the airport and realized I left my passport on the nightstand at home.
There is nothing like the sinking feeling that occurs when you realize what you have done.
Save yourself some grief.
3. Your chargers
Add to this list, your phone charger, your computer charger, your tablet charger and anything else you can think of that requires a charger. You can probably replace them where you are going but again, it takes time.
4. An electrical transformer
In many countries, especially in Europe, the plugs are different and you will need a transformer to use your appliances. You will not be able to plug your blow dryer into a European outlet.
5. Your phone
Make sure you have it and call your provider to ensure that it will work where you are going. If you are traveling with others or meeting others at your destination, you need to ensure that you can call and text each other. This does not happen automatically. You have to set it up.
6. Money in the currency of your destination
Change your money before you go. If you change it in the airport when you arrive or in any of the money changing stores or kiosks near any of the monuments, you will get charged way more than you should.
Your bank will need some notice as many of them do not carry different currencies as a matter of course. At least two weeks prior to your trip, order some new currency from your bank and get as much as you need.
If you have to change money at a bank when you arrive, ensure that you bring your passport and plan to spend at least 45 minutes there.
Or you can use the ATM for smaller amounts but there is a limit for each day.
When using the ATM, make sure you know what the limit is in the currency of your destination. Your dollar limit means nothing to a foreign ATM.
7. An over-the-shoulder-travel bag with reinforced straps
In most cities with any amount of tourism, thievery is rampant. Thieves have many ways of distracting you, grabbing your bags and even cutting the straps of your bag in order to steal from you.
Remember, a thief’s job is to figure out more effective ways to steal from wary travelers and they work hard at it. The scams and tricks they have are numerous.
If you have a bag with reinforced straps that goes over your shoulder and preferably under your jacket, it could save you losing your bag with all it contents.
8. Your ATM PIN
In different countries, PIN numbers may be different. In Italy they have to be four digits. Make sure you find out what the requirements are in your destination country so that you don’t get there and find out that you can’t use your ATM card.
9. Advise your bank that you are traveling
If your bank detects activity in a different part of the world than you are normally, they may freeze your account as a fraud prevention measure. You can avoid this by advising them before you leave that you will be in another country and how long you will be gone.
10. Tickets and reservations for attractions
With most of the popular attractions in any city, they book up fast. For this reason you see people waiting in lines snaking back and forth and they look like they have been there for hours.
Vacation time in your destination is priceless. You only have a certain number of hours in any given city. You do not want to waste it by standing in line.
Decide in advance what attractions you want to see and reserve your place online before you go. Some of the attractions book up months in advance like Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper in Milan.
If there is something you simply must see, check it out way in advance to ensure you don’t miss it.
Additionally many cities with a lot of attractions have discounts and passes you can buy that will save you tons of money and sometimes allow you to skip the lines.
In Florence you can buy the Firenze Card which costs 72 Euros and allows you 72 hours to access the museums and exhibitions on the Firenze Card circuit. You also get priority access to some museums saving you more time and allowing you to get more for your Firenze Card buck.
Other cities may have similar offers so go online and check it out.
Now that you have packed all the vitals and made all your reservations, you are ready for a stress free trip to your dream vacation.
For future dream vacations, check out our limited time travel deals. Taking advantage of these will stretch your travel buck and make you an even more Super Savvy Traveler.
Have fun!