Pre-Trip Checklist: Leave Ready, Come Home Happy
Between planning a trip and planning your outfits, there is plenty to keep track of. The last thing you want is to remember something you forgot while already 30,000 feet in the air, or reach departure day realizing you ran out of time for something you really wanted to get done. After visiting more than 30 countries, I have mastered my pre-trip routine. From travel logistics to beauty appointments to leaving the house ready for my return, believe it or not, it all matters.
The Week Before.
Appointments & Personal Prep.
☐ Book your hair appointment: color, trim, haircut, or blowout, if needed.
☐ Schedule eyebrow shaping or tinting, if part of your routine.
☐ Book a lash lift, if you want one before the trip.
☐ Schedule your manicure and pedicure.
☐ Book waxing, or plan time to shave closer to departure.
☐ Check your toiletries and grooming essentials; replace anything running low.
☐ Request prescription refills early enough to pick them up before leaving.
Travel & Home Arrangements
☐ Review your reservations, arrival times, and transportation plans.
☐ Arrange pet care, plant care, and someone to check on the house, if needed.
☐ Share your itinerary and contact details with someone you trust.
☐ Check that you have the adapters, chargers, and travel supplies you need.
☐ Plan your outfits and leave time to wash anything you want to pack.
☐ Start using up food that will spoil while you are away.
☐ Plan an easy freezer meal for your first night home.
One or Two Days Before.
Get the House Ready
☐ Clean the kitchen, finish the dishes, and wipe the counters.
☐ Clear out anything in the fridge that will spoil while you are away.
☐ Finish the laundry, including drying and putting it away.
☐ Vacuum or sweep the main living areas.
☐ Change your bedsheets for a fresh bed when you return.
☐ Prepare and freeze an easy meal for your first night home.
☐ Confirm pet care, plant care, and house-check arrangements.
Get Your Travel Essentials Ready
☐ Save offline copies of tickets, hotel confirmations, and transportation details.
☐ Download offline maps for your destination.
☐ Install your eSIM on home Wi-Fi; follow your provider’s activation instructions.
☐ Pick up prescriptions and pack enough for your trip, plus a few extra days.
☐ Decant toiletries into travel containers and check for leaks.
☐ Pack your bags and check your airline’s baggage allowance.
☐ Confirm your ride to the airport and decide when you need to leave.
☐ Set your work out-of-office reply, if needed.
The Night Before
Finish Packing
☐ Check in online when your airline’s check-in window opens.
☐ Save your boarding pass where you can access it easily.
☐ Weigh your luggage and make any final adjustments.
☐ Charge your phone, camera, laptop, and power bank.
☐ Put your passport or ID, wallet, and medications in your personal bag.
☐ Set aside your travel outfit and comfortable shoes.
☐ Leave room for the toiletries and chargers you will use in the morning.
Get Yourself Ready
☐ Shave, if part of your routine.
☐ Finish your usual skincare and grooming.
☐ Set your alarm and confirm your airport departure time.
☐ Check the latest flight status.
☐ Prepare a snack and set out your refillable water bottle.
☐ Write down any last-minute tasks for the morning.
☐ Get to bed with enough time to rest.
Before You Walk Out
One Last House Check
☐ Take out the trash and recycling.
☐ Check that the stove and oven are off.
☐ Unplug non-essential appliances and electronics.
☐ Adjust the thermostat for your time away.
☐ Water plants as needed, or leave care instructions.
☐ Check that windows and exterior doors are locked.
☐ Set the alarm, if you have one.
One Last Bag Check
☐ Passport or ID, wallet, and payment cards.
☐ Phone and boarding pass.
☐ Medications and essential personal items.
☐ Chargers and power bank.
☐ Toiletries you used this morning.
☐ House keys and any keys you need when you return.
☐ All bags, including your personal item.
Two Things I Always Do
The week before a trip, I skip my usual grocery run and work through what is already in my fridge, pantry, and freezer. Less food to throw away, one less errand, and a little more money for the trip.
By the time I get home, I am usually tired of eating out, but cooking from scratch is asking a lot. I leave a meal in the freezer for that first night back. Chili in winter or lemon shrimp spaghetti in summer are my favorites.