5 Fantastic Travel Preparation Tips

While there are few things as exciting as going on holiday, doing the trip preparation often isn't as thrilling. But if you want to have a stress-free getaway, then proper planning is usually key.

Being prepared can give you extra peace of mind when you travel. You’ll also spend less time dealing with mishaps and more time to make memories.

So if you're starting your travel preparation, check out our five tips that can help you effortlessly prepare for your next holiday.

Plan your next trip as early as possible. That way, if you run into any unforeseen issues, you'll have plenty of time to figure it out without creating extra stress in your life.

Some key tips when planning your trip are to:

• Check your passport is valid and up to date. Be aware that many countries will require a minimum of six months' validity to enter. [1]

• Check tourist visa requirements for your destination country, if there are any.

• Scan and email your passport, identification card and itinerary to yourself. Print out copies of all your travel documents so you have a physical backup in case your phone gets stolen or lost.

• Subscribe to your destination on Smartraveller to keep up to date with travel warnings and important news.

• Tell your bank and credit card companies that you're leaving so they don’t suspect fraud when foreign transactions show up on your card.

• Keep receipts and take photos of the valuables you take with you in case you have to make a travel insurance claim.

• Whether you're travelling alone or with a group, make sure at least one person at home, potentially a family member or close friend, is aware of your itinerary and can be one of your emergency contacts if something goes wrong.

In the early stages of your trip preparation, you should also ask yourself:

• Will my budget last the entire trip?

• Do I need certain vaccinations before I leave?

• Which travel insurance company should I choose?

• Do I need to save money for this trip?

• Are there any local customs to be aware of?

• Where's the local embassy located if I need to get in contact with them?

• What's the weather usually like during the season I'm visiting?

• How will I get to and from the airport?

• How will I get around town?

• Will I need to take any prescription medicine with me?

• Can family members or friends look after things at home if I'm going on an extended trip?

One of the most important parts of the pre-travel checklist is the packing list. This will change depending on who's going and where they're going, but there are a few key things to make sure you have.

These include:

• First aid kit

• Money belt or somewhere secure to put your passport, money and documents

• Hard copy of travel documents including copies of your passport and visa information

• Essential items for your toiletries bag including toothpaste, toothbrush and soap

• Plug adaptor and chargers

These are just a few suggestions but for more tips on what to include on your list, check out our travel packing list planner.

A pre-travel checklist to cover the month, week and day before you leave is a great idea to make sure you have everything covered.

The day before you leave, you can:

• Mark your bag as fragile to make sure it's handled with care.

• Make sure you have your water bottle, passport, travel documents, financials, phone, chargers and prescription medication all ready to go.

• Set aside a pen for marking customs forms.

• Choose an outfit for the next day that’s respectful of cultural dress codes and customs in the countries you’re visiting.

Whether you’re a first-time traveller or a frequent flyer, it never hurts to pre-plan how you’re going to get to the airport.

As a part of your trip preparation, you should figure out whether you can get there directly via car drop-off, or if you'll need to sort out an alternate route.

Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to your flight, while also taking into consideration delays that could pop up such as traffic or roadworks.

When booking your accommodation, check to see if the hotel or homestay offers airport transfers. While this can sometimes cost extra, it can help save time and make the process less stressful if someone is waiting to pick you up on arrival.

Otherwise, if you’re catching public transport, check that your bus or train is running on time without any unexpected delays.

You can also use rideshares or taxis to get you to your flight on time. And if you want to be super prepared, you can book your trips the night before to avoid wait times on the day.

Before you begin packing, make sure you've checked the baggage allowances on your flights. If you're going on multiple flights, remember that baggage allowances can change between domestic and international travel as well as between airlines.

Baggage allowances tell you what size or weight your bag can be, as well as what baggage you're allowed to take on your flight.

Australia’s main domestic airline carriers including Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar all have their own rules when it comes to checked and carry-on baggage.

The baggage rules are as follows at the time this article was written:

For checked baggage, no single piece can exceed 32 kg. An adult in economy travelling within Australia can check one piece up to 23 kg, while an adult in economy travelling internationally can check one piece up to 32 kg.

For carry-on baggage allowances, you can include one piece up to 10 kg or two pieces with a combined weight of 14 kg. [2]

All fares include one piece of checked baggage at 23 kg plus more if you’re travelling business class.

With carry-on, you can have one standard piece or two small pieces weighing 7 kg in total for economy guests. [3]

Your checked baggage allowance depends on what level you're travelling at. For the most basic level of economy, there's no checked baggage allowance included in the initial price.

Instead, you can either purchase baggage or move up to the more expensive economy options. These can get you 20 or 30 kg of luggage before moving up to business class.

For carry-on, you can take 7 kg of baggage on board with you between two items or you can purchase more to get up to 14 kg. [4]

Sometimes despite our best efforts, accidents happen. That’s life. But preparing for those accidents might mean the difference between a bump in the road and a disaster.

When you're in a different country, where you may not be too familiar with the local language or customs, it's comforting to know you have a safety net with your travel insurance cover.

Adding your insurance certificate to your travel documents will mean you'll have all the details on hand if you ever need to make a claim.

Common travel insurance claims can cover stolen or damaged luggage, personal items and medical expenses.

Whether you're on a quick holiday or a big trip away, having the right level of cover is a key part of your trip preparation to make sure you're taken care of.