Our essential travel checklist for your next holiday

Published August 2024 | 4 min read
Words by Lucy E Cousins

You’ve booked your plane tickets, hotel and transfers – what’s next? Here’s a travel checklist of what you should do before you even step inside the airport. 

Half the fun of travelling is planning – choosing your destination and researching travel tips for what you should do and where you should go. You’re able to picture yourself there, relaxing on the beach, skiing down slopes or perhaps walking around historic cities, and you start to get excited about what’s to come. Most Aussies plan their holidays well in advance, so we have time to enjoy the journey, before the journey.

Being an island nation, going overseas has been our national obsession for generations, and although travelling around our own backyard is on the rise, perennial favourites the UK, New Zealand, the US and Asia still see millions of Australian tourists land on their shores. In fact, most of us are probably planning a holiday right now. So, once you’ve finished shopping for a travel pillow, here are eight things to do before you leave.  

1. Keep up to date on travel advice

Start by checking the most recent government safety advice on Smartraveller for the country and region you’re travelling to. There’s no need to register your travel plans as previously requested – now you can keep up to date with safety advice by subscribing to the Smartraveller newsletter for the latest information.

You can elect the destinations you wish to be notified about, either by email or push notifications on your mobile. Smartraveller advises subscribing as soon as you’ve decided on your holiday plans.

2. Check your passport

If you haven’t used your passport in a while (or even if you have), it pays to check the expiry date. Some countries require at least six months’ validity from the date you plan to leave that country, and some airlines will also impose the same rule before you leave Australia. If you’re coming to the end of your passport validity, it’s recommended you renew it as soon as possible, keeping in mind that it can take up to six weeks to get your new passport.

You should also renew your passport if it’s damaged or ripped – even slightly – as some countries will view it as invalid and not allow you to enter. Don’t forget that everyone in your travelling party will need a passport, including babies and children. Take a photocopy and scan of your passport to leave with friends (along with an itinerary), in case of emergency, theft or loss.

3. Take out travel insurance

Travelling – like life – doesn’t always go to plan, so it’s a good idea to consider whether you need travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your tickets. Unplanned events can happen even on your holiday, so it’s best to plan ahead. HCF Travel Insurance can offer cover for luggage and valuables^*, trip cancellation^* and additional expenses^*. Like all insurance products, when choosing your travel insurance policy, make sure it covers what you need it to.

HCF Travel Insurance^* offers 24/7 emergency assistance with Australia-based case managers, nurses and doctors for overseas policies. Plus, it’s simple and quick to claim with our online claims portal, which you can access from anywhere.

4. Research vaccinations

Spend some time talking to your doctor and researching what vaccinations are recommended for the countries you’ll travel in, including stopovers. Vaccine Hub has an interactive map with up-to-date information for every country in the world.

Some countries will require proof of vaccinations when you arrive – like yellow fever in certain parts of Central and South America – while other vaccines, like hepatitis A and B, are highly recommended.

5. Plan your medication

If you take regular medication, you’ll need to check with your doctor that your medication is permitted in the country you’re travelling to. If it is, make sure you have enough to cover your trip (plus some extra), and consider bringing a prescription or a letter from your doctor verifying what it is and that it’s for you.

It’s recommended you carry any medication in its original packaging, and don’t forget to check its expiry date. In case your luggage is delayed, make sure you carry it in your hand luggage.

6. Research local customs

As part of your planning, spend some time researching if the countries you’re visiting have any particular religious or traditional customs you may need to be aware of, like modest clothing and religious holidays when attractions may be closed.

Learning a few words in the local language will go a long way – apps like Duolingo and Babbel can help.

7. Organise your finances

Gone are the days of traveller’s cheques; you can now use your credit card (though you may be charged extra fees), purchase a prepaid travel money card or a travel credit card, issued by most banks, and you can travel with cash.

If you're going to use your credit card, you’ll need to notify your bank that you’ll be travelling so that they don’t see overseas activity as suspicious.

8. Consider your phone options

Staying in contact with family, friends and travelling companions, or even just being able to Instagram your latest selfie, all require using your phone. Some network providers offer international roaming for certain countries, so it's worth exploring if you can access this. You could rely on the wi-fi options of where you’re staying; however, there are inherent risks when using public wi-fi anywhere and your device could be compromised.

Instead, you can purchase an international SIM card, or an eSIM, which is a digital SIM card that you can connect to via your phone’s operating system, while keeping your physical SIM card in place. Your telephone provider may sell these or you could use a company like Holafly. Some phone companies also offer international roaming for a fee. If you prefer, you can channel your inner James Bond and simply purchase a local SIM and a burner phone that you leave behind.

Planning your next holiday? 

Eligible HCF members can save 25%^{^} on travel insurance^* when you use our discount code^{^}. Go to hcf.com.au/travel to log in and get your discount code.