What To Do The Day Before You Travel: Complete Pre-Trip Checklist

Everything’s packed. Still, I always experience that uncomfortable blend of thrill and anxiety just a day before departure. 

Whether I am getting ready for a weekend away or a transcontinental voyage, the last day before my leave is crucial — and what I do (or fail to do) can have a big impact.

So, what am I actually supposed to do the day before you leave? From verifying my travel Insurance to one last glance at my bags, there is a complete pre-trip checklist to follow.

What’s There On Your Complete Pre-Trip Checklist?

It does not matter how spontaneous you want your travel regime to be; you need a pre-trip checklist. 

It works as a shield protecting you from all the hassles before and during the travel. 

1. Confirm Travel Insurance: Don’t Leave Without It

This is the one thing people tell us they wish they’d double-checked. Many travellers assume they’re covered or plan to “just buy it later,” but unexpected medical emergencies don’t care about delays.

What you need to do:

• Make sure your Travel Insurance is in place and covers your dates and destination.
• If you haven’t yet purchased a policy, select from cheap travel insurance options that cover emergency medical, trip cancellation, lost baggage, and more.
• Get instant estimates with a Travel Insurance cost calculator online based on the type of trip, your age, and your health conditions.
• If you have not already done so, purchase Travel Insurance online. It only takes a few minutes.

Pro Tip: Even if you’re just visiting family in another province, medical coverage gaps can exist. Confirm interprovincial medical coverage isn’t limited.

2. Double-Check Your Flight, Hotel & Transfer Confirmations

Think everything’s confirmed? Think again.

We’ve seen clients realize just a day before flying that their hotel reservation was never finalized—or that their name was misspelled on their boarding pass. One traveller even found out they booked the right hotel… in the wrong city.

Action List:

• Open your airline app and verify flight times, gate numbers, and layover durations.
• Cross-check your name exactly as it appears on your passport.
• Print physical copies or screenshot your:
  • Boarding pass
  • Hotel booking
  • Airport shuttle or taxi instructions
  • Travel Insurance policy confirmation

3. Check Passport, Visa & Entry Requirements (Again)

Even seasoned travellers miss this step.

In the last 12 months, rules have changed for several countries, including updated vaccination requirements, new visa-on-arrival policies, and digital travel authorizations. You don’t want to be caught off guard at the airport with the wrong documents.

What to confirm:

• The passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel date.
• You’ve checked the entry visa requirements for your destination.
• Your Travel Insurance Coverage meets the country’s entry criteria (some countries require minimum medical coverage amounts).
• If you need eVisas or arrival QR codes, make sure you’ve completed them and saved the files offline.

4. Prepare Cash, Cards & Currency

Don’t rely on your card working everywhere.

Some destinations have limited access to ATMs or charge high foreign transaction fees. In other cases, your card may get flagged and frozen just when you need it the most.

To-do list:

• Notify your bank of international travel (you can usually do this through your mobile app).
• Prepare a mix of payment options:
  • One credit card
  • One backup debit card
  • Local currency for taxis, tips, and small purchases
• Separate them across bags in case one is stolen or misplaced.

5. Charge All Devices & Download Critical Apps

The night before you leave is not the time to discover your power bank is dead or your phone memory is full.

Checklist:

• Fully charge you:
  • Phone
  • Tablet or laptop
  • Power bank
  • Wireless earbuds

• Download the following apps:
  • Airline and hotel apps
  • Offline maps
  • Google Translate (offline languages)
  • Currency converter
  • Your Travel Insurance provider’s app (for emergency claims)

6. Print And Organize Important Documents

Yes, we live in a digital world—but batteries die, apps crash, and Wi-Fi fails.

We’ve seen travellers stranded simply because they couldn’t pull up their boarding pass at the check-in counter.

Print and keep copies of:

• Passport and visa
• Travel Insurance policy (including emergency contact numbers)
• Flight tickets and hotel confirmation
• COVID-19 vaccination records (if required)

Keep a second set of copies in a different bag or share it with a travel companion.

7. Recheck Weather & Pack Accordingly

We’ve had travellers land in Tokyo with no raincoat during a typhoon. Others reached Iceland in summer shorts—during a surprise snowstorm.

How to avoid that:

• Check the 7-day forecast for all stops on your itinerary.
• Add a small emergency weather kit to your bag:
  • Travel umbrella
  • An extra layer of thermal innerwear
  • Sunscreen & hat for tropical regions
• Adjust your carry-on if needed for comfort during layovers or delays.

8. Secure Your Home Before Leaving

You’d be surprised how often people forget to unplug electronics or empty the fridge before flying out.

We’ve heard of clients returning to spoiled food, water leaks, or worse—security issues.

Pre-trip checklist for your home:

• Take out the garbage and clean out perishables from the fridge.
• Unplug non-essential electronics.
• Leave a light on a timer.
• Lock all windows, back doors, and garages.
• Inform a neighbour or trusted friend to check on your place.

9. Set Up Travel Alerts & Roaming Plans

Worried about surprise phone bills? You should be.

Checklist:

• Contact your mobile provider or log in to your app to activate a roaming plan.
• Turn off background data for apps that eat bandwidth.
• Set up SMS or banking alerts for large transactions.
• Note down local emergency numbers for your destination.

10. Final Packing Check (You Will Forget Something Otherwise)

We’ve had clients forget the following:

• Medications
• Glasses
• Phone chargers
• Passport (!)
• Travel Insurance confirmation

Don’t assume. Recheck everything.

Go through this final list:

• Passport + ID
• Wallet with cash/cards
• Medications + prescriptions
• Glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses
• Travel-size toiletries (TSA-approved)
• Chargers + adapters
• Travel pillow, earplugs, neck support
• Travel Insurance documents (physical + digital)

Lay it all out and mentally walk through your trip, morning to night.

Why Travel Insurance Must Be On Your Pre-Trip Checklist

Still thinking of skipping it? One broken bone or stolen bag can cost more than your entire trip.

We’ve seen hospital bills for minor injuries abroad run over $4,000. Lost baggage without reimbursement? That hurts more than lost clothes.

That’s why the day before you travel is the final chance to make sure you’re covered.

Look for:

• Affordable Travel Insurance Plans with solid medical and cancellation coverage
• Providers offer a Travel Insurance cost calculator so you know exactly what you’re paying for
• Instant ability to buy Travel Insurance online with 24/7 support

Even a basic plan can cover the following:

• Emergency hospital costs
• Trip delays or cancellations
• Baggage loss
• Accidental injury or death
• Repatriation

Bonus Tip: Create A Shared Itinerary

If you’re travelling solo or with family, make sure at least one person back home knows where you are.

What to share:

• Your itinerary (flights, dates, cities)
• Contact details of your accommodations
• Emergency contact info
• Travel Insurance Coverage Details

This isn’t about worrying—it’s about preparedness.

Pre-Trip Checklist Done Right? Enjoy The Calm Before The Takeoff

The day before your flight should feel like tying the last bow on a wrapped gift—not chaotic and full of doubt.

If you’ve handled the steps above—especially securing proper Travel Insurance Coverage from one of the affordable Travel Insurance Plans available online—then you’re truly ready.

Don’t underestimate the last 24 hours. They matter.

When you fly out tomorrow, you’ll do it with confidence. You’ll know your home is locked, your documents are ready, and the right coverage backs you if things go sideways.

One day. One Checklist. Total peace of mind.

Should you ever require urgent medical evacuation, Air Ambulance 1 offers safe, reliable, and timely transport anywhere in the world, with a global fleet capable of reaching even the most remote locations