Things to Organise Before Leaving the Country for a Long Holiday
Planning a long overseas holiday is exciting.
However flying can be extremely stressful if everything is not organized before your flight. There is so much to plan and you always leave something behind. Get the fundamentals prepared in advance and you’ll relax and enjoy your journey.
Here’s exactly what needs to be sorted before you leave…
What’s inside:
- Why Pre-Trip Planning Actually Matters
- The Essential Checklist To Work Through
- How To Prepare For Lost Luggage
- Home, Money & Health Admin
Why Pre-Trip Planning Actually Matters
Long holidays are very different from short trips.
A missed connection letter. When you travel for weeks or months at a time, small mistakes become big problems quickly. Miss a payment and you could get a collections call. Lose your passport and you might not be able to go on your trip at all. But if your bag gets lost overseas…now that’s trouble if you don’t have a plan.
Statistics support this claim. Airlines mishandled 33.4 million bags globally in 2024, amounting to 6.3 bags per 1,000 passengers.
That’s a lot of stressed travellers standing at empty baggage carousels.
The more prep you do ahead of time, the less of these problems will surprise you. It also allows you to know how to remedy them quickly when they occur.
Sort Out Travel Insurance First
Travel insurance is the single most important thing to organise before flying out.
Why? Because travel insurance covers just about anything that can happen abroad – from lost luggage and flight cancellations to illness and lost wallets. Without travel insurance, one costly incident can ruin your entire vacation budget (and leave you dipping into savings).
Heading to Bali, Thailand or Vietnam? Consider buying Asia travel insurance that covers lost luggage, delayed baggage and personal effects. One hospital trip in Bali or Bangkok can cost you thousands out of pocket. And since lost luggage is one of today’s most common travel complaints, making sure you have the right coverage means those extra clothes and toiletries won’t be paid for by you either.
When choosing a policy, check for:
- Medical cover limits (aim for at least $1 million)
- Lost luggage and personal item cover
- Trip cancellation and delay protection
- 24/7 emergency assistance
- Cover for adventure activities if you plan any
Don’t leave buying it until you get to the airport. Ensure it’s done promptly after booking flights to give you ample time should you need to cancel.
Check Your Passport and Visas
This one catches so many travellers out.
The majority of countries require a minimum of 6 months validity remaining on your passport from the day of entry. If your passport expires at any time within the next 12 months, you should renew it before you leave. Passport renewals can take weeks to arrive, don’t leave it until the last minute.
Visas are another biggie. Some countries you can enter with visa-free travel. Some will require you to apply for an eVisa online. And others still make you fill out paperwork through an embassy. Be sure to check what each country requires on your itinerary – that includes ANYWHERE you may have layovers.
Also make sure to:
- Take photos of the passport and store them in cloud storage
- Email copies to a trusted family member
- Keep a physical copy separate from the actual passport
If a passport goes missing overseas, these copies make replacement so much faster.
Handle Money and Banking Admin
Nothing ruins a holiday faster than a frozen bank card.
Banks don’t need to send you notice when they report international transactions as suspicious. Tell each bank and card issuer about your trip beforehand. Include countries and approximate dates of travel. This prevents cards from getting locked after first use at an overseas ATM.
Also worth doing:
- Order some local currency in advance for arrival day
- Set up a travel-friendly card with no international fees
- Download your bank’s app and enable overseas access
- Have a backup card stored separately in case one is lost
Another trick is to divide up your cash. If your wallet gets stolen money stashed elsewhere (purse/bank bag) can DEFINITELY come in clutch.
Prepare for Lost Luggage Before It Happens
Lost luggage is one of the most common holiday disasters out there.
Yeah, the stats aren’t particularly comforting – 74% of mishandled bags aren’t lost at all, they’re just delayed before eventually arriving. But of bags that are mishandled, 8% do end up lost or stolen. So if your suitcase doesn’t appear on the carousel, there’s at least a slight chance it will never show up.
The best way to protect yourself is to prepare before it happens:
- Pack essentials, medications, and one day of clothes in your carry-on
- Add a tracker (like an AirTag) inside the checked bag
- Take photos of everything packed for insurance claims
- Keep a printed list of bag contents in the carry-on
- Attach clear luggage tags with your name and phone number
In the event of a bag being lost, notify the airline prior to departing from the airport. Obtain written reference number. Afterward, call the travel insurance company as soon as possible to file a claim.
Sort Home Admin and Bills
Long holidays mean the house sits empty for weeks at a time.
So much has to be taken care of before the front door locks behind you for the final time. Neglecting these things can cause some serious hurt feelings when you walk through that door.
Work through this list before leaving:
- Set up auto-pay for every recurring bill
- Redirect or pause mail delivery
- Give a trusted neighbour or friend a spare key
- Turn off the water at the mains to prevent leaks
- Unplug non-essential appliances
- Arrange for pet care and plant watering
- Consider a house-sitter for longer trips
Should also let neighbours know house will be empty. They can watch for anything suspicious and pick up missed deliveries.
Get Health Prep Sorted
Health admin is easy to overlook but really important.
Certain countries require you to get specific vaccinations before arrival. Some vaccinations are suggested depending on the time of year or region you’ll visit. Make an appointment with a travel doctor at least 6 weeks prior to departure. This will allow time for vaccines to become effective.
Bring the following:
- A full supply of prescription medication (in original packaging)
- A doctor’s letter for any controlled medications
- A basic first aid kit with paracetamol, antihistamines, and rehydration sachets
- Copies of prescriptions in case emergency refills are needed
Bringing It All Together
An extended overseas vacation should be the vacation of a lifetime – not a race to insanity.
Having all that boring admin organised before you leave will allow you to fully unwind when the plane touches down. Whether it’s travel insurance and passports or paying bills and preparing for lost luggage, we have included each item for a reason.
Quick recap of what needs organising:
- Book comprehensive travel insurance
- Check passport validity and sort visas
- Notify banks and prep multiple money options
- Prepare a lost luggage backup plan
- Handle home and bill admin
- Sort health prep and vaccinations
Cross these off well before travel day and the only thing you’ll have to stress about is what drink to order.