Preparing for an international trip

This is how I set up an international trip.  Some steps won’t be relevant for you, but this is how I do it to get the most bang for the buck and make sure I have all the info I need.

1.  Check the visa and continuing travel requirements for the country. Confirm expiry date of the passport is ok for the trip.
2. Check the CDC for any immunizations I might need, or health info that is useful.
3. Get flights squared away, and clear the time off with work.
4. Do a quick google search for attractions in the area I am going to. Pick which general area I want to stay in so that I can…
5. Get one or two hotel reservations in my chosen location that look promising. I can review these later and choose whichever I think is better, or even a different one entirely.
6. Get insurance for the trip.
7. Make a document with information about the locations I want to see. I also note their opening hours, costs, and transportation information if needed.
8. Note nearby grocery stores, general stores, and restaurants that are of interest.
9. Mark the locations on google maps, and download the area’s map into my phone
10. Check whether it’s more cost-effective to visit any relevant sites with a tour (e.g., something from Viator or TripAdvisor), or on my own.
11. Arrange for cat sitting, mail collection, etc.
12. Notify credit card/bank that I’m traveling. Also, put info into the government’s  SMART system
13. Finalize the hotel situation based on what I know now. Check if there are lower prices at newly listed locations.
14. Pack the basics (clothing, electronics, health/safety stuff, other useful things…)
15. Keep track of any extras I might need (leftover money from previous trips to the country, snorkel gear, anything else that is specific to this trip). Cross them off as I add them to the bags.
16. Print out all paper information. Also, put the info about the flights and my first hotel in a plastic page holder in my personal item. The rest goes in my carry-on. Put a copy of everything important in a second location in your bags.
17. Put some cash and my passport in my personal item, as well as at least one credit card that doesn’t charge fees for using it in a foreign country ( and an extra backup in case it is lost or damaged).
18. Print boarding passes.
19. GO.