Trip Planning Checklist

Check the expiration 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 expiration 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 eTA for Canada or an ETA for the UK).

• 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 deal with.

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

• Check the maximum trip length. Standard policies often cap trips at 30 to 90 days, so long trips may need a long-stay or backpacker policy.
• Adventure activities like scuba diving, skiing or bungee jumping are often excluded unless you add them.
• Your US health plan may cover little or nothing abroad, and Medicare generally doesn't cover care outside the US.
• Save the 24-hour emergency assistance number in your phone.

See your doctor or a travel clinic at least a month before you leave, ideally sooner, since some vaccines need several doses. Some countries require proof of a yellow fever vaccination to enter.

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

Read the State Department travel advisory for each destination and enroll in STEP for alerts. Share your itinerary with someone at home, agree on how often you'll check in, and note the local emergency number and the nearest US embassy or consulate.

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

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

Bring 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 reader or ATM offers to charge you in US dollars, choose the local currency instead. It's almost always cheaper.
• Check whether your bank wants a travel notice before you go.

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

The small things that are a pain to be without:

• Universal plug adapter and a portable charger
• Quick-dry towel and a padlock for hostel lockers
• Reusable water bottle and a headlamp
• Earplugs and a sleep mask

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

Check your carrier's international roaming charges before you go. A travel eSIM or local SIM card 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 driver's license. Get it before you leave, since you can't get one abroad. In the US, IDPs are only issued by AAA and AATA.