Welcome to Day 3 of Packing Week at Trips With Tykes! Be sure not to miss the other posts in this series below:
Today's list is all about paperwork. If you are like me, you've probably gone largely electronic in your daily life. When taking international trips, however, a little old-fashioned paper is still a necessity. Before you plan to travel abroad, use this list of essential paperwork you might need in your travels to plan.
Identification Documents
- Passport
- Passport copies (pack separately from your passport in case of loss)
- Driver's license
- International driving permit (some countries will not accept a U.S. driver's license and an IDP is require)
- Student ID card
- Visa & supporting documents
Money
- Traveler's Checks (& serial numbers stored separately)
- Cash (local & US)
- ATM Card
- Credit card
- Currency conversion pocket cheat sheet
Travel Documents
- Airline boarding passes
- Reservation printouts (airline, hotel, car rental, etc.)
- Attraction tickets or confirmations
- Rail passes
- Cruise documentation
Medical & Emergencies
- Important contact numbers and addresses for emergencies (family/friends, embassy details, local hospitals)
- Prescription information (it is often best to travel with a doctor's letter explaining what each prescription is)
- Vaccination records (a few countries may require proof of vaccination, particularly for yellow fever in endemic regions)
Everything Else
- Parental consent letter (When one parent is traveling alone with a child, a notarized letter of consent from the other parent may be required to enter. Check country-specific requirements, but I always travel with one just in case.)
- Business cards
- Stationery & envelopes
amywhitley says
Glad you included the consent letter from the other parent...I've forgotten that more than once, and it's not pretty! I've found I never need traveler's checks anymore, however. You?
tripswithtykes says
I haven't needed traveler's checks the past few times either. Although I know some people prefer to carry them just in case, particularly if they don't carry a lot of credit cards.