Trip Planning Checklist

Check the expiry date now. Many countries require at least six months of validity beyond the date you leave, plus a couple of blank pages for stamps. New passports and renewals can take several weeks, longer in spring and summer, so apply early.

• Check the expiry date against your return date, not your departure date.
• Some countries also check when your passport was issued, not just when it expires.

Every country sets its own entry rules, and they depend on your nationality, how long you'll stay and what you'll do there. Working holidays, volunteering and study usually need a specific visa. Many places now need an online entry permit before you fly, even for short visits (for example, an ESTA for the US or an eTA for Canada).

• Check every country on your route, including ones you're only passing through.
• Only apply through the official government website. Look-alike sites charge extra fees.
• Some countries ask for proof of onward travel or funds at the border.

Save photos of your passport, visas, insurance policy and bookings somewhere you can access from any device, and keep a paper copy in a different bag from the originals. It makes a lost passport far easier to sort out.

Buy it as soon as you book so you're covered if you have to cancel. Make sure it covers emergency medical treatment and repatriation, cancellation, and your belongings. Declare any pre-existing medical conditions.

• Check the maximum trip length. Standard policies often cap single trips at 31 to 90 days, so long trips may need a backpacker or long-stay policy.
• Adventure activities such as scuba diving, skiing or bungee jumping are often excluded unless you add them.
• Save the 24-hour emergency assistance number in your phone.

A free card that gives you state healthcare in EU countries on the same terms as locals. It isn't a replacement for travel insurance and won't cover things like getting you home. It's free, so only apply through the official NHS service.

See your GP or a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you leave, since some vaccines need several doses. Some countries require proof of a yellow fever vaccination to enter.

• Carry prescription medicines in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription.
• Check that your medicines are legal at your destination. Some common ones are restricted.
• Pack a small first-aid kit.

Read the Foreign Office (FCDO) travel advice for each destination and sign up for email alerts. Share your itinerary with someone at home, agree how often you'll check in, and note the local emergency number and the nearest British embassy or consulate.

• 112 reaches emergency services across the EU and in many other countries.

Add up flights, accommodation, food, transport, activities, insurance and visas, then add a buffer for the unexpected. Daily costs vary hugely between countries, so budget each leg separately.

Take a card with no foreign transaction fees, plus a backup card kept in a separate bag. Carry a little local cash for your first day.

• When a card machine or cash machine offers to charge you in pounds, choose the local currency instead. It's almost always cheaper.
• Check whether your bank needs to know you're travelling abroad.

For multi-stop trips, a 40 to 65 litre travel backpack is easier than a suitcase on stairs, cobbles and buses. A bag that fits airline hand luggage limits saves money and time at the airport.

The small things that are a pain to be without:

• Universal plug adapter and a power bank
• Quick-dry towel and a padlock for hostel lockers
• Reusable water bottle and a head torch
• Earplugs and an eye mask

Pack layers that mix and match rather than outfits, and plan to do laundry. Check the weather for every stop and any dress codes, such as covering shoulders and knees at religious sites.

Check your mobile network's roaming charges before you go. Roaming in the EU is no longer free on many UK plans. A travel eSIM or local SIM is usually much cheaper. Download offline maps and a translation app before you land.

If you plan to drive, some countries require an International Driving Permit alongside your driving licence. Get it before you leave, as you can't get one abroad.