Pre-Travel Checklist of Things to Address

My 2023 considerations for travel to Asia are essentially as follows:

Papers/Legal

• Does my passport have at least 6 months validity from the date of travel?
• Is a visa/similar needed for my destination?
• Buy plane ticket with a credit card that has travel insurance as a benefit.
• Print all travel documents, in case something happens to electronic devices. (For example, theft, severe damage.)
• Review import regulations for destination countries and origin country so that I do not inadvertently get something confiscated and/or get me fined.
• Check news for any important changes in destination countries with regards to disease, policies, wildlife, etc.

Financial

• Give travel notice to bank/institutions of any debit/credit cards I take (to avoid any card being disabled).
• Deposit money into travel-only debit checking account, if needed.
• Have US$1000 in cash in case I cannot find an ATM but need cash or in case my cards get disabled.
• Have any anticipated bills set up for payment; overpay for the current statements in anticipation of future statement; or have the apps or access on electronic device.

Electronics

• Can I get by with only a phone? Also, turn off data or remove physical SIM.
  • If only a phone would not suffice, can I get by with a tablet?
    • If a tablet is not sufficient, should I bring a laptop instead?
• Take battery pack just in case.
• Take charging cord for any devices brought along. Can take only one wall charger adapter. If I plan to use public USB for charging, make sure to take a wire that only moves data or a data blocker adapter. Alternatively, charge battery pack at public USB stations and then charge devices off battery pack.
• Consider an wall extension cord if I have many devices and the space/weight allowance.
• Purchase any needed travel data SIM or WiFi hotspot ahead of time and know where to pick up or how to set up. Alternatively, purchase at airport counter.
• Test all electronics again before traveling!
• Download offline map of destination area in map app.
• Download offline translation libraries in translation app.
• Make sure any necessary email accounts are accessible from whatever device.
• If travelling with other people, make sure whatever needed apps (Discord, LINE, WeChat, etc.) is downloaded and activated ahead of time.

Luggage

• What are the carry-on / checked dimensions and weight limits for my chosen airline?
• Strip luggage of all barcodes from previous trips to avoid a situation where my luggage is sent to a destination I am not at.
• Check all pockets and compartments of luggage to ensure I do not inadvertently take something I do not mean to bring.
• Take luggage strap to tie luggage together, if necessary.

Clothes

• What is the climate at my destination?
• If my destination is warm, still consider bringing a jacket and scarf for the plane.
• What sort of hat do I need?
• Am I attending anything requiring nicer clothing? Make sure to pack something nice-casual if so.
• Am I attending anything that requires formal clothing? Pack a set if so.
• Is this a one pair or two pairs of shoes trip?
• Take an extra t-shirt that doubles as a pillow cover.

Miscellaneous

• Pack luggage weigher.
• Consider packing heat pad, eye heat pad, face mask, face mist, hand cream, Vaseline for use on plane to comfort and avoid dehydration.
• Glasses + Sunglasses, or Glasses + Extra Glasses
• Dental care:
  • Toothbrush and charger if needed;
  • Dental floss or water flosser;
  • Case to hold toothbrush to avoid bristles flattening.
• Personal care:
  • Sunscreen;
  • Whatever skincare regimen includes. (That is currently cotton tissues to clean my face and a night cream.)
• Grooming Supplies:
  • Tweezers (because I will have no armpit odor if I make sure to pluck all my armpit hair and do not reuse tops. I heard it is an Asian thing. It becomes tweezers or deodorant, and tweezers are overall more useful. Tweezers are all useful to tweeze out a splinter that gets stuck in my finger.);
  • Fingernail trimmer (Also useful to cut things, such as the edge of a bag of chips for easier tearing when the pre-made tear does not really exist or thread when mending.);
• Hair care:
  • Brush or comb;
  • Some hair ties or clips;
  • Hair mousse/gel/oil for taming flyaway strands.
• Water bottle. Reusable or take an empty one-use bottle to refill. The one-use bottle has the advantage of being able to just give it up if I accidentally arrive at a checkpoint with it filled and am told to get rid of it.
• Airport/airplane snacks.
• Pen + Post-its, small notebook, or music notebook to write music in, especially if I do not bring a laptop.
• A thank you card. It comes up every so often.
• Sewing kit.
• Small first-aid kit.
• A few business cards, especially if I anticipate needing to exchange one.