Planning
Your First International Trip: A Practical Checklist
îBCB Travel Editors · August 7, 2026 · 1 min read
A first international trip is mostly logistics. Get these right and the rest takes care of itself.
Six months before
Check your passport expiry. Many countries require six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Renewal times fluctuate — apply early.
Three months before
Check whether your destination requires an electronic travel authorisation. The UK, EU (ETIAS), Australia (ETA) and New Zealand (NZeTA) all have schemes. They are cheap and quick but not optional.
One month before
Buy travel insurance that covers medical evacuation. Check whether your policy excludes scooter and motorbike use — many do, and this is the single most common claim rejection in Southeast Asia.
Two weeks before
Tell your bank you are travelling. Order a small amount of local currency if arriving late at night. Download offline maps.
The week of
Check the State Department advisory and the CDC health notice for your destination one final time. Photograph your passport and store the image somewhere you can reach without your phone.
On arrival
Use official airport transport only. Skip the currency exchange desks in the terminal — ATMs give better rates almost everywhere.