No one wants to kill the buzz of a travel-high with enormous amounts of planning, but just the right amount can make a world of difference. Make sure these few items are in order and you’ll be on your way to a carry-on only trip.
Documents
Gather passports and insure they are current-depending on your destination, passports may be required to expire no sooner than 6 months than your travel date. Also, plan to have a photocopy or digital of your ID as well. This is reassuring when you are traveling within a country i.e. island hopping that requires boarding an airplane. Tip: Bring a pen when filling out customs forms on the plane for international travel.
Currency
If you already have currency from your destination, be sure to bring it with you. Otherwise, plan to search for a currency exchange either before or after travel with a reasonable rate. This saves you time overall and lessens anxiety about getting ripped off.
Home
Unplug any unused appliances, clear the refrigerator of any items that will go bad before you return.
Packing
Bring only what you need. This depends on the type of trip you are taking, but there are methods that can be applied to all trips. Confirm with your airline their carry-on requirements (weight and dimensions) and select an appropriate bag or luggage.