I updated my Travel Checklist for an upcoming trip, and I’m sharing it, hope it helps you to not forget anything!
Feel free to skip items that don’t apply to your travel plans.
Days Before the Flight
- Save copies of flight & hotel booking confirmations, digital copy of passports, IDs, etc to Google Drive (secure them)
- Check if GCASH Visa is working
- Add money to GCASH
- Check weather forecast of destination, pack appropriately
- Turn on roaming for cellphone & credit cards, if applicable
- Double check lounge access cards/ memberships, check cards are active/enrolled in lounge/priority pass
- Register to any promos like LUCKY LAND (Taiwan), take screenshots of QR code/s
- PACK
- Secure any valuables, impt documents at home and/or bring them somewhere else for safekeeping if no one is left in the house to watch over them
- Do any grooming ahead of time (hair coloring, trimming nails, brow threading, etc)
- Get travel insurance if needed
- Browse Klook, KKDay, etc for activities/ passes, buy what we want. Take screenshots.
- DO WEB CHECK-IN for your flight
- Register to e-travel, etc…
- Clean up your phone so there’s enough space for new photos & videos
Based on research done by Jax Reyes, GCash Visa has the best rates when used abroad. I remember way back when, we used to hide US dollar bills inside our socks when traveling abroad, haha. And then have to go find a money changer. Now in 2024, I don’t need to do that anymore.
I just load my Gcash Visa with some money. When I get to the destination airport, I use the GCash Visa card to withdraw cash in local currency (choose deferred conversion) from a compatible ATM. No fees and the rate is good. There are also compatible ATM machines around the city where I can withdraw when I need more local cash. To save your local currency, you can also tap to pay with the card at any place that accepts Visa. A few days before flying out of the Philippines, I always use the card at places like SM, Starbucks, Watsons, etc.., I also try to withdraw even it’s just P100 from the ATM, just to check that it works. You can also LOCK/UNLOCK your GCash Visa card via the GCash app. If it’s locked, it will be invalid when attempting to withdraw from an ATM. Haha, I know because I forgot I locked it! Don’t forget to unlock your card when you’re going to use it.
You can put the bulk of your travel budget into GSave so it’s safe and earns interest. Just transfer enough for your use into your GCash wallet and just refill from GSave if it runs low.
I used to print out my Klook purchases, but the past few times, they prefer to just see it on the phone/app. If you think you won’t be able to access the booking info without internet, make sure to take screenshots you can show even if you don’t have access to the internet yet.
Essentials
- Passport (check if not expiring within 6 months)
- Visa, if applicable
- Airline Bookings printout
- Hotel Booking/s printout
- Main Wallet
- CASH
- GoTyme, Seabank, Maya, etc…
- Other Credit / Debit Cards
- Make sure to bring lounge access card/s
- Travel Wallet (GCash Visa+ any leftover currency from previous travel)
- Transportation Card of destination country, if I already have it
- Keys
- Ballpens
- Cellphone
- Extra Cellphone (logged in to impt apps)
- Universal Travel Adaptor
- Cellphone charger (check if auto volt)
- Power bank
- SIM card ejector tool
- KLOOK – buy SIM cards, pick up at airport
- Essential medicine
- PAY TRAVEL TAX (online or at airport if not included in airfare)
- CONTACT PERSON IN DESTINATION COUNTRY, IF EVER:
- Relatives, Travel agency, Consulate, etc…
- Travel Itinerary, Research on places to visit
Seabank, GoTyme, Maya, and other cards can be used as backup, they have slightly higher conversion rates/fees. Credit cards charge a currency conversion fee or a foreign transaction fee (or both? not sure. Just avoid it.). It’s more expensive by at least 2-3%. Bring your credit cards for emergencies, and only use them if it makes sense to do so, for example, if you need to earn points and you get better stuff in return when you meet the points requirement.
Travel Wallet – I have a wallet that I only use for travel. I put enough local currency in it good for a few days, and the most used cards during the trip (e.g. GCash Visa), local transportation card, hotel’s business card, etc… This is the wallet I take out when paying for stuff during the trip. I keep my “real” wallet safe and secure inside my bag and almost never take it out.
Extra cellphone – there’s a first time for everything, and during the last trip, my phone fell to the floor and just broke. I was so fortunate that my companion brought along an extra phone, so I just transferred my SIM cards to the extra phone and the trip wasn’t ruined. I had internet, Google Maps, and I was reachable in case we got separated while shopping.
An extra cellphone doesn’t take up much space but is a lifesaver when you need it. Imagine being stranded in a foreign country WITH NO WORKING CELLPHONE. All all your travel information is there, heck, even most of your money (if using GCash). What if you are traveling solo? It’s going to be so difficult. Just bring your old phone. Even if it’s slow, at least it works. This dolphin SIM card ejector tool with silicone case is attached to my keys and also has storage space for sim cards, makes transferring SIM cards easy. This is also why I still prefer physical SIMs over e-SIMs.
This is my favorite power bank – it’s tiny, just slightly bigger than a lipstick, and doesn’t need wires. I try to make my daily travel bag as light as possible, so this is just like adding an extra lipstick to my bag but slightly heavier. It’s so much better than the brick-sized, heavy power banks where I still need to bring along charging cables! It’s got enough juice to charge my phone 1 time, but that’s all I need until we get back to the hotel at night. I have brought this abroad and it’s the perfect travel power bank.
I used to bring cameras but I don’t anymore. My phone can take good photos. Make sure to set your phone to automatically backup photos to Google Photos, so you’ll still have copies of the photos in case anything happens to your phone.
Clothes
- MAKE SURE LUGGAGE HAS MY NAME & CONTACT INFO INSIDE
- Check luggage is in good condition (zippers, wheels, lock are all working)
- Clothes for daily use
- Enough underwear
- Enough socks
- Raincoat (if weather calls for it)
- Jacket/ sweater (if weather calls for it)
- Hat (if weather calls for it)
- Sleepwear
- Laundry bag for dirty clothes
Toiletries
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Soap
- Face wash
- Toner
- Moisturizer, Face Oil
- Face mask (for dry climates)
- Lotion/ hand cream
- Lip balm
- Comb/ brush
- Cotton buds
- Cotton pads
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Floss
- Vitamins
- Band aids
- Small sewing kit
- Minimal makeup
- Scent spray
- Hair ties/ clips
- Safety pins
- Nail cutter
- Tweezers
- Sanitary pads, as needed
- Disposable toilet seat covers
- Wipes, Tissues, Alcohol
- RUBBER FLIP-FLOPS
- White flower oil now with bag charm / Thai inhaler
These may look like a lot but these things are usually small and I only bring enough for the trip.
Rubber flip-flops – I bring them along because I want to have “tsinelas” in the hotel room. Those hotel carpets aren’t clean! Also, I just wear them in the shower to avoid any possible fungus or other foot infection.
Miscellaneous
- Shoe glue
- ZIPLOC BAGS (various sizes)
- Plastic box / big Tupperware
- Dishwashing liquid (small) + small sponge
- Laundry detergent if planning to do laundry
- Water bottle
- PUT DISTINCTIVE MARKER ON LUGGAGE
- Scissors
- Packing tape
- Pentel Pen
- Umbrella
- Extra shoes
- Eco bags
- Ear pods
- Extra bag/ luggage
- Small notebook for any notes
- GIFTS FOR FRIENDS/ RELATIVES WE WILL BE MEETING AT TRAVEL DESTINATION, if applicable
If you haven’t worn your sneakers/ sandals for a while and they’ve just been sitting in the shoe cabinet, there’s a very big chance they will start to fall apart when you wear them during your trip. The shoe glue will hold it together until you can buy a new pair. Better to have this than not. Been there, done that!
Ziploc bags – for leftovers, for packing items that might spill, for packing wet food/ purchases, etc.. Big plastic box – extra protection for any delicate items that you will put in checked luggage. For example, pineapple cakes/ cookies that might get crushed, breakable purchases, fill up any spaces with clothes.
Pentel pen, tape, scissors, etc… you never know when you have to label something, or have to tape something (torn / cracked suitcase?). One time we weren’t able to meet the people we were supposed to meet, so we ended up mailing them the pasalubong instead. The scissors, tape & pentel pen came in handy! Scissors should be checked in.
Eco bags – many places don’t provide grocery bags anymore or charge extra for them.
Dishwashing stuff – thoroughly clean & disinfect your hotel water kettle before using! I’ve heard of something awful – that some guests boil their underwear in the kettles! 🤮
ONLY IF APPLICABLE
Electronics (only if bringing these along)
- Laptop + charger (check if auto volt)
- Tablet + charger (check if auto volt)
- Power strip
- Transformer (220v to 110v) if needed, but this is rare
Swimwear (if planning to swim)
- Swimsuit, swimming cap, goggles
- Sarong / cover up
- Sunblock
- Wet bag, swimming bag
Local Travel or 220v destination
This works great on my hair – dryer + brush combo – wet hair dries quickly, frizzy hair is tamed and straight. Too bad it only works on 220v. Doesn’t give me arm strain unlike hair dryers. I only use it on medium setting, and not longer than 10 mins max to prevent overheating. I would rather not live without this anymore.
Out of all the conditioners I’ve tried, it works best with the Cream Silk Daily Treatment Conditioner in the tub.
Winter/ Cold Destination
- Thermal clothes & underwear
- Winter jackets
- Gloves, scarves, etc…
- Heat pack
~ Some changes for the upcoming trip ~
There is recent news about NAIA Terminal 3’s baggage handling problems but they say those have already been resolved. But peak travel season is upon us and it’s better to be prepared.
Just to avoid any problems, pack all your essentials and everything important in your carry-on and at least a few days’ worth of clothes.
Things that you can easily buy at the destination or things that your hotel can provide, it’s okay to pack them in checked luggage. Anything you need to survive the first few days of travel should be in your carry on.
Check-in very early for your flight. This way, there is enough time for your luggage to get processed and be boarded on to your plane. Remove any old flight tags from your luggage.
I will be updating this if there’s anything new to add. Hope this helps!
Safe travels!
