DO AHEAD

• Get your tickets as soon as you know you're traveling - the earlier you book an overseas flight, the more likely you are to get a decent seat. In fact, these days flights are booked up early, so you need to plan ahead to even get reservations.  If you want a special meal, order it.
• Take care of medical or dental visits ahead of time

Planning

• Plan your trip to the airport - taxi, a ride from a friend, or leaving your car in long-term parking
• Arrange for a pet-sitter
• Get travelers checks ($1000+) or be sure your credit card and ATM are current
• Consider trip insurance, especially if your health insurance will not cover you at your destination
• Notify creditors of vacation dates, and especially notify your credit card companies.  Our bank used to freeze our credit card when we used it back in the States, thinking it had been stolen. Of course, they couldn't reach us to verify that the purchases were valid! Be sure you have enough credit available, and allow for emergencies. Be sure your pin numbers will work at your destinations, and memorize the numbers
• Work out menus to use up perishable foods.  You never know if the power will be out for an extended period, so it's best to assume it will.  Otherwise, you may defrost a rotten pork roast your first day back!
• At the office, delegate tasks and leave instructions for handling certain issues; see to it that no one will need to contact you on vacation
• Check your calendar and reschedule any conflicts
• Try to schedule a free day on your return. You'll be exhausted and have laundry and other errands to run, including grocery shopping to replace your perishables

• Check Consular information well ahead of your flight, for health or terrorist warnings. Be sure you know where the US Embassy is in each country you will visit.
• Check Customs Regulations for each country you will visit, to see what you can take into the country and what you can take out
• Do online research for your destination.  List places you want to visit and bookmark pages in your guidebook.  Arrange for special tours and events ahead if possible
• Do some research about the costs of local items so you can set your budget.  Don't forget to budget for taxes and tipping.  Many governments charge high taxes for travel related services, including arrival and departure fees.
• Check the Department of State to see if there are any travel warnings for your destination
• Check to see if you need immunizations or medication before you enter a country
• Check the exchange rate and budget accordingly. Most locations will give you an idea of local costs for meals and tipping customs
• Check on the voltage of the country you will be visiting. You may need voltage converters
• Learn basic words and phrases in the language of your destination
• Check the local dress customs and try to blend in so you won't look like a tourist. Plan not to carry or wear your expensive jewelry, and to dress conservatively

• Packing lists - keep them out where you can edit when you think of something. If you put a “/” in the square when you pack the item, you can use the list again for your return, by adding a “\” , converting the “/” to an “X”. Keep this list in the computer, or at least file it away, so you can use it over and over, adding to it until it's perfect
• List items needed to buy for trip
• Check ahead with your hotel for laundry services, iron and ironing boards, hair dryers, and robes. Don't carry them if the hotel offers them
• Start breaking in new shoes - you don't want to do it while walking 8+ hours a day
• Transfer music, reading material, projects, etc. to your laptop or iPod

• Check your passports to be sure they are up to date and valid. Some countries will not let you in if your passport will expire within six months of your return home
• Check to see if you will need a visa. Obtaining a visa from some countries is a long process
• Locate your shot records.  Be sure you are up-to-date on immunizations
• Copy your passports, tickets, credit cards (leave the store credit cards at home unless you know you can use it at your destination), medical insurance cards, travelers checks and other ID.  (Except for the international legs of the flight, carry the copies with you wherever you go, leaving the originals in the hotel safe.) Include your doctors/dentists/pharmacy phone numbers
• List all frequent-flyer numbers and collect your airline cards
• Print your itinerary for yourself, family, office, and anyone you'll be visiting. Be sure to include contact information for each leg of your trip. Include airline itinerary, car rental confirmations, hotel confirmations, tour bookings and confirmations, and dinner reservations. If you are staying with friends or family, be sure to include that information too.  Carry one copy in your planner, one with your travel papers, and keep a couple in separate suitcases
• Prepare a medical history for each person traveling including current medications (both generic and brand names), immunization history, eyeglass prescription, allergies, blood type, emergency contact information, health insurance information
• List emergency contacts and print in an easy-to-carry form
• Start eating yogurt every day. It will help prepare your digestive tract for strange food and water
• List each credit card account number and contact numbers in case of loss. Make 2 copies - keep separated in case you lose one