Backpacking Checklist - Paperwork

Work relatedPhoto
Finish paperwork at work (e.g. time reporting).Bring passport photos if needed in order to get a
Book hotelvisa on arrival or if you lose your passport and
Make a booking for the first night if you arrive atneed to get a new.
an inconvenient hour, have traveled for manyBook to read on the plane
hours or you arrive in high season (where findingGet it before you go to the airport (where they
accommodations may be difficult). There areare usually more expensive).
many on-line services for booking or just usePhotocopies
your travel agency.Make photocopies of all important documents
Sticky labelssuch as:
Get sticky labels and write peoples name on* Visa
them, then just stick them onto your postcards.* Passport
Visa* Tickets
Get necessary visas in your passport. Start this* Certificate of Immunizations (health book)
process in time since it can be time consuming.* Maps in the guidebook (in order not to have to
Sometimes you can get visa on arrival. See visacarry the book along while walking around)
section for details.Store the photocopies in a separate location from
Certificate of Immunizationsthe originals and protect the copies from rain with
Bring your Certificate of Immunizations (healtha plastic cover.
book)Upload copies
Drivers licenseIf you have access to a scanner you can scan
If you plan on driving bring your drivers licensethe photocopies (see previous bullet) and upload
along. Get an international drivers license if needed.them to the Internet (e.g. send an e-mail to
Other cardsyourself with the files attached). If you do not
Bring other relevant cards such as airline bonushave a scanner you can take a photo with your
cards, phone cards, student cards (e.g. ISIC) todigital camera instead of scanning. You can also
obtain discounts, Hostelling International card etc. Ife-mail them to a friend or your family.
you have an e-ticket and it was registered to aPrint information from the Internet
card, make sure that you bring the relevant cardPrint the information you have gathered on the
along.Internet about your destination).
InsuranceYour own checklist
Make sure you have a paper which states yourMake a copy of your own checklist (based on this
insurance cover with policy number and contactone) and bring along. It may be useful for
details. If you live in the European Union and willinsurance purposes if your luggage is lost/stolen.
visit another country in the E.U. get a EuropeanPhrase list
Health Insurance Card which entitles you toA small list with the most useful phrases in the
receive health care under the same economiclocal language to keep in your wallet/purse for
conditions as the citizens of the country you willeasy access or on your mp3-player.
visit.Guidebook
Ticket and itineraryDictionary
Bring your ticket and itinerary along.There are electronic ones you can download to
Contact informationyour cell phone or portable computer. You can
Print contact information to:also get a separate electronic device or a good
* Embassiesold paper dictionary :)
* Health clinic where you got your immunizationsPassport
* Insurance company. Note if there are specialApply for a passport well in advance if you do
emergency contact numbers (sometimes reversenot have one. Check the expiry date of your
charge)passport. Some countries require it to be valid for
* Your bank/credit card issuer so that you canat least six months from your date of entry.
report stolen/lost cardsCheck the state of your passport, I was once
* Travel agentalmost refused to board a plane to Japan because
* Traveler´s cheques issuers local officethe page with my passport photo was almost
* Hotelsfalling out of my passport (a well know quality
* Emergency contactsproblem with some Swedish passports). This can
* Addresses and phone numbers to friends(foralso prevent you from getting a visa.
postcards)Happy travels!