One Week Before Travel: Final Preparation Checklist
Your countdown guide to a stress-free departure
The week before you travel is when preparation gets serious. This is when you confirm all bookings, start packing, gather documents, and handle the dozens of small tasks that make the difference between a chaotic departure and a smooth one. This day-by-day checklist ensures nothing is forgotten.
7 Days Before: Documents and Admin
Start the week with paperwork and confirmations:
Document Checks
- Locate all passports and check validity dates again
- Check visa requirements one final time
- Print flight confirmations and booking references
- Print hotel/accommodation confirmation
- Print travel insurance policy and emergency numbers
- Print car hire booking if applicable
- Print any pre-booked activity confirmations
- Check EHIC/GHIC cards are valid (Europe)
- Locate driving licence if hiring a car
Tip
Email yourself copies of all documents. If papers are lost, you can access them from any device.
Admin Tasks
- Notify bank and credit card companies of travel dates
- Check mobile phone roaming is enabled
- Download offline maps of destination
- Download entertainment for children (Netflix, Disney+, apps)
- Check for any flight time changes
- Reconfirm any restaurant reservations
- Reconfirm any tour or activity bookings
- Check online check-in window - set reminder if not open yet
- Order any foreign currency needed
6 Days Before: Shopping and Supplies
Purchase everything you need - do not leave shopping until the last minute:
- Buy sun cream (factor 30+ minimum for children)
- Buy any medications needed - paracetamol, antihistamines, plasters
- Buy travel sickness remedies if needed
- Buy insect repellent suitable for children
- Purchase travel-size toiletries or decant into small containers
- Buy any new clothing items needed
- Purchase swimming gear if needed
- Buy new books or activities for the journey
- Get batteries or portable chargers
- Buy snacks for the journey
Warning
Liquid restrictions apply to hand luggage. Buy travel sizes or decant into 100ml containers before packing.
5 Days Before: Start Packing
Begin packing non-essential items:
Main Suitcase
- Lay out all clothes you plan to pack
- Check weather forecast and adjust clothing
- Pack items you will not need before departure
- Roll clothes to save space and reduce creasing
- Place heavy items at the bottom near wheels
- Pack shoes in bags to protect clothes
- Include a spare outfit in case of delays
- Pack adaptors and chargers
- Include basic first aid supplies in checked luggage
Children's Items
- Count out enough clothes for each day plus spares
- Include extra underwear and socks (children go through these)
- Pack comfort items - favourite toy, blanket
- Include a familiar book or two
- Pack sun hats and UV protection clothing
- Include swimwear and swimming aids
- Pack any special dietary items difficult to find abroad
Generate your personalised packing list for a comprehensive checklist based on your destination and trip type.
Build My Packing List4 Days Before: Home Preparation
Start preparing the house for your absence:
- Arrange pet care - drop off or arrange visits
- Give neighbour spare key and contact details
- Ask someone to check on house or collect post
- Set up smart lights or timers for security
- Cancel any deliveries due while away
- Water plants thoroughly or arrange watering
- Start running down fridge contents
- Check smoke alarm and CO detector batteries
- Make note of meter readings if away long term
- Confirm airport parking or transfer booking
3 Days Before: Final Checks and Devices
Technical preparation and final verifications:
Devices and Tech
- Charge all tablets and phones fully
- Charge all power banks and portable chargers
- Download offline content - maps, shows, music
- Check camera has space and battery
- Test headphones work
- Download boarding passes to phones
- Set up Apple/Google Pay if not already done
- Check data roaming settings
Final Booking Checks
- Check flight status for any changes
- Confirm check-in is complete
- Verify seat selections
- Check baggage allowance and add extra if needed
- Verify airport parking booking
- Confirm transfer pickup time and location
- Check accommodation check-in time
- Note any early check-in requests needed
2 Days Before: Serious Packing
Complete the majority of packing:
- Pack all main suitcases except last-minute items
- Weigh all bags - check airline limits
- Redistribute weight if any bag is too heavy
- Pack hand luggage with flight essentials
- Pack children's entertainment bag for journey
- Prepare liquids bag for hand luggage (100ml max each, clear bag)
- Pack medications in hand luggage
- Include change of clothes in hand luggage for delays
- Pack snacks for journey
- Prepare baby bag if travelling with infant
Money-Saving Tip
Weigh bags before the airport. Excess baggage fees are expensive and stressful to sort at check-in.
Day Before: Final Preparation
Complete final tasks and prepare for early start:
Last Packing Items
- Pack toiletries and bathroom items
- Pack phone chargers (leave one out for overnight)
- Pack glasses/contacts and cases
- Pack any final clothing worn today
- Pack children's comfort items last (accessible)
- Double-check passports and documents are in bag
- Add any cash or cards to travel wallet
House Preparation
- Clear out fridge of perishables
- Take out rubbish and recycling
- Run dishwasher or wash remaining dishes
- Do final laundry load if needed
- Check all windows are closed and locked
- Set heating/cooling to away mode
- Unplug non-essential appliances
- Set light timers or smart home routines
- Water plants one final time
- Leave house tidy for return
Night Before
- Lay out travel day clothes for everyone
- Put bags by front door
- Put passports and documents somewhere visible
- Check car has fuel or confirm taxi booking
- Set multiple alarms for morning
- Charge phones overnight
- Check flight status one final time
- Get children to bed early
- Adults get early night too - travel days are long
Tip
Put passports in the same place every time. The panic of not finding them on departure morning is avoidable.
Morning of Departure
Final checks before leaving the house:
- Final passport count - one per person
- Final bag count - nothing left behind
- Phone, wallet, keys check
- Unplug final chargers
- Check all taps are off
- Check all windows locked
- Set alarm if you have one
- Lock all doors
- Photo of parking spot/zone when you arrive
- Deep breath - holiday starts now
Hand Luggage Essentials Checklist
Make sure these are in your carry-on:
- Passports and travel documents
- Boarding passes (printed and on phone)
- Wallet and cards
- Phone and charger
- Medications (prescription in original packaging)
- Change of clothes for each person
- Entertainment for children
- Headphones
- Snacks
- Empty water bottle (fill after security)
- Comfort items for children
- Glasses/contacts
- Any valuables (never in checked luggage)
Additional for Babies/Toddlers
- Nappies - enough for journey plus delays
- Wipes
- Change of clothes (multiple)
- Formula/snacks for journey
- Bottles/sippy cups (empty through security)
- Favourite toy or comforter
- Dummy/pacifier if used
- Muslin cloths
- Nappy bags
- Changing mat
Family Tip
Pack twice as many nappies as you think you need for the journey. Delays happen, and airport shops charge premium prices.
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