Things to do before going on holiday: the complete checklist

Most holiday checklists are one long list, which is how the important things end up next to "buy sun cream". This one is sorted by when each job needs doing, because the expensive mistakes (a passport that's too close to expiry, insurance bought too late) are all about timing. Tick things off as you go: the list remembers on this device.

As soon as you book

• Check every passport against the destination's rules. Some countries want six months left after you arrive; Europe wants three after you leave. See the six-month passport rule. Now
• Check visas and travel authorisations. Many trips now need an online authorisation even without a visa: the US (ESTA), Canada (eTA), the UK (ETA) and others. Apply on the official government site only. Now
• Buy travel insurance. Buy it when you book, not when you leave, so cancellation cover starts straight away. Declare any medical conditions. Now
• Book time off and the pet care. Good kennels, cat sitters and house sitters book up around school holidays. Now
• Check vaccinations. Some need several weeks to take effect, or a course of doses. Ask a travel clinic or your doctor 6–8 weeks ahead at the latest. 8 weeks
• Check your driving licence if you'll hire a car. Some countries, including Japan, require an International Driving Permit alongside your licence. 8 weeks

A month before

• Book anything that sells out. Timed museum entry, popular restaurants, theme park extras, tours, the airport lounge. 4 weeks
• Sort the money. A card without foreign transaction fees, a little local cash for the first day, and a backup card kept separately. 4 weeks
• Sort your phone. Check your roaming charges, or buy an eSIM or local SIM for the destination. 4 weeks
• Book airport parking or transfers. Pre-booked parking is usually far cheaper than turning up. 4 weeks
• Check baggage allowances. Every flight on the ticket, including connections on a different airline. Add bags now rather than at the airport. 4 weeks
• Health cover abroad. UK residents visiting the EU should carry a free GHIC; check your own country's arrangements. 4 weeks

The week before

• Check in online as soon as it opens. Usually 24 to 48 hours before, sometimes earlier. It's when you choose seats and get your boarding pass. 1–2 days
• Download every ticket to your phone. Boarding passes, hotel confirmations, tickets, car hire. Make sure they open with no signal. 3 days
• Confirm transfers and car hire. Check the pick-up date matches your arrival date, especially after an overnight flight. 3 days
• Collect prescriptions. Enough medication for the trip and a few days extra, in your hand luggage, in original packaging. 5 days
• Find the adapters and chargers. Plug adapters for the destination, a power bank, and enough charging cables for everyone. 5 days
• Pay any bills due while you're away. And cancel or pause deliveries. 5 days
• Tell a neighbour. Someone who can take in parcels, keep an eye out and has your number. 5 days

The day before

• Put every document in one place. Passports, driving licence, insurance details, cards. One pouch, one bag, one person in charge of it. Day before
• Charge everything. Phones, tablets, headphones, the power bank. Day before
• Weigh the cases. At home, on the bathroom scales, not at the desk. Day before
• Set your out-of-office reply. Day before
• Check the departure time and date again. A flight at 00:05 on Saturday means leaving home on Friday evening. More on the midnight trap. Day before

Things to do at home before you leave

The house list is the last thing you do, so it's the one most likely to be rushed. Do it in this order on the way to the door:

• Empty the fridge of anything that will go off, and take out the bins. Leave the fridge and freezer on.
• Water the plants, or move them somewhere they'll need less.
• Unplug what doesn't need to be on. Televisions, chargers, the toaster.
• Set the heating or cooling to away. In freezing weather, keep it low but on, so the pipes don't freeze.
• Put a light or two on timers, so the house doesn't look empty every evening.
• Lock every window and door, including the back door and the garage, and set the alarm if you have one.
• Last check: passports, phones, wallets, keys.

Keeping the list somewhere useful

A checklist works best attached to the trip it's for, with a "by" date on the jobs that have one, and shared with whoever is doing half of them. A paper list on the fridge does that for one household. When two families are going, or the grandparents are booking their own flights, a shared list stops the jobs falling between two people.

Questions people ask

What should I do a week before going on holiday?

Check in online when it opens, download every ticket and boarding pass to your phone, confirm transfers and car hire, collect prescriptions, find plug adapters and chargers, pay any bills due while you're away, and tell a neighbour you're going.

When should I buy travel insurance?

As soon as you book. Cancellation cover only protects you from the day you buy the policy, so buying it the week you leave means months of the trip were unprotected.

What should I turn off at home before going on holiday?

Unplug televisions, chargers and small appliances, set the heating or cooling to an away setting, and turn off the water supply if your insurer or a long absence calls for it. Leave the fridge and freezer running, and in freezing weather keep the heating low but on.

Do I need to tell my bank I'm going abroad?

Many banks no longer ask you to, because their fraud checks use your phone's location and spending patterns. Check your bank's app or website: if there's a travel notice option, it takes a minute and avoids a blocked card.

What documents do I need to go on holiday abroad?

A passport valid for your destination's rules, any visa or electronic travel authorisation, your travel insurance details, booking confirmations and boarding passes, and a driving licence (plus an International Driving Permit where required) if you'll drive.