Top 10 Things to Do Before Your Next International Trip (Updated for 2026!)

In the midst of planning your next vacation outside of your home country? Then you are in the right place. From firsthand experience — and a lot of international miles with our family — preparation genuinely is the difference between a trip that flows and one that is derailed before you even reach the gate.

Whether you are taking a short hop to Europe or an extended adventure across Asia, this updated list will help you fill in the gaps you might not have considered yet. And if you are a returning reader, pay close attention — a few of these have changed significantly since we last updated this post, including one brand-new requirement for anyone traveling to Europe in late 2026.

Let’s get into it!

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Navigate to where you want to go:

• 1. Check Your Passport (And Know the New 2026 Rules)
• 2. Research Your Destination’s Entry Requirements — Including ETIAS for Europe
• 3. Visit a Travel Doctor
• 4. Check the Weather at Your Destination
• 5. Create a Packing List
• 6. Review Your Airline’s Baggage Policy
• 7. Purchase a Luggage Scale
• 8. Sort Out Your Power Adaptors
• 9. Plan Your Currency Strategy
• 10. Purchase Anti-Theft or Safety Devices
• Bonus: Sort Your International Phone and Data Before You Land
• Free Travel Planner

1. Check Your Passport (And Know the New 2026 Rules)

Checking your passport has to be first on this list — because you simply cannot leave the country or enter another without it, and you would be surprised how many families discover an expired or soon-to-expire passport at the worst possible moment.

   

Here is what you need to know about US passport processing in 2026:

Routine processing: 4–6 weeks from receipt at a processing center. Add up to 2 weeks for mailing in both directions, so plan for 6–8 weeks total door-to-door.

Expedited processing: 2–3 weeks, plus an additional $60 fee on top of the standard passport fee ($130 for adults). Add-on 1–3 day return shipping is available for an extra $23.36 if you want to speed up the return.

Urgent travel (within 14 days): You can make an in-person appointment at a passport agency if you have proof of international travel within the next two weeks. Appointments are not guaranteed and must be booked through the Online Passport Appointment System.

Online passport renewal: As of September 2024, eligible adults can renew their passport online if their previous passport was valid for 10 years and is either expiring within one year or expired less than five years ago. Processing time is the same as routine mail renewal (4–6 weeks). This is a genuinely helpful update for families who need to renew multiple passports.

The six-month rule: Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates. Do not just check that your passport has not expired — check how much validity remains and whether it meets the requirement for your specific destination.

For children’s passports: Both parents must consent to a child passport application. The preferred method is both parents accompanying the child to the appointment in person. Children’s passports are valid for 5 years (adults are valid for 10 years), so families with multiple children should check all passports carefully before each international trip.

Pro Tip: Get a label maker and put a label on the outside of each family passport noting the renewal date. Then set a cloud calendar reminder for 12 months before each expiry date. Future you will thank present you for this.

2. Research Your Destination’s Entry Requirements — Including ETIAS for Europe

This step has become significantly more important in 2026, and if Europe is on your itinerary, there is a brand-new requirement every American family needs to know about.

ETIAS — The New Europe Entry Requirement for Americans

Starting in the last quarter of 2026, US citizens will need to obtain an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) authorization before entering 30 European Schengen Area countries — including France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Greece, Portugal, and the Netherlands.

Here is what you need to know:

ETIAS is not a visa. It is an electronic pre-travel authorization — similar to the ESTA system the US uses for visitors coming to America. The application is fully online, most are processed within minutes, and the authorization costs €7 (approximately $7–8 USD) per person. It is valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

Every traveler needs one — including children and infants. There are no age exemptions.

   

The exact launch date has not yet been confirmed by the EU Commission, but it is expected between October and December 2026. The EU has committed to giving at least six months’ notice before the system goes live.

What this means for your planning right now: If you have a Europe trip booked for late 2026 or 2027, keep an eye on the official ETIAS website (etias.com) and EU government communications for the launch date. Applications can only be submitted through the official ETIAS website or official ETIAS mobile app — avoid third-party sites that may charge inflated fees.

Beyond ETIAS — General Entry Requirements to Research

Even for non-European destinations, entry requirements can change and it is always worth verifying before you travel:

• Visa requirements for your specific passport and destination
• COVID-related documentation (now largely lifted but occasionally still relevant in specific destinations)
• Destination-specific health or vaccination requirements
• Any pre-travel registration programs at your destination

The US Department of State website (travel.state.gov) is the best starting point for up-to-date country-specific entry requirements. The State Department also issues travel advisories and security alerts — worth checking for any destination before you book.

Pro Tip: Sign up for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) at step.state.gov. It is a free program that registers your trip with the nearest US Embassy or Consulate at your destination and means the Embassy can contact you in case of emergency, natural disaster, or civil unrest in the area.

3. Visit a Travel Doctor

A travel doctor — yes, exactly that. Travel medicine specialists are genuinely underutilised by American families heading overseas and they can make a real difference to your trip.

A travel medicine appointment helps you navigate what vaccines your destination may require or recommend, what medications to bring for common travel ailments, and any specific health considerations for the region you are visiting. From our experience, being able to carry “tummy trouble” medication — prescribed by our travel doctor before visiting Indonesia — was genuinely invaluable when Bali Belly became a real and present concern on that trip.

Travel doctors can also provide updated guidance on:

• Malaria prevention medication for relevant destinations
• Altitude sickness medication if your itinerary includes high-elevation areas
• Appropriate antihistamines and antibiotic courses for travel
• Zika virus risk by destination (important for pregnant travelers or those planning to become pregnant — see our Traveling While Pregnant guide for more on this)

Find a travel medicine clinic: The International Society of Travel Medicine has a clinic directory at istm.org where you can find a certified travel medicine specialist near you.

Pro Tip: Even if no vaccines are required for your destination, bring a basic first aid kit and any prescription medications in your carry-on — never in checked luggage. Include copies of prescriptions for any controlled medications you are traveling with.

4. Check the Weather at Your Destination

The weather might be the reason you are going somewhere in the first place — but even if it is, knowing what you are actually walking into makes packing dramatically easier and prevents unpleasant surprises on arrival.

Are you visiting during the dry season or the wet season? Is there a heat consideration that will affect how you structure your days? Is the weather variable enough that you need to pack both warm layers and light clothing?

We have traveled during low season specifically for the benefits it brings (fewer crowds, lower prices, more authentic experience) — and part of what makes that work is going in knowing exactly what the weather will be. Our Low Season Travel with Kids guide covers this in detail for specific destinations including Europe, Thailand, and the Caribbean.

Our favourite weather planning resource is AccuWeather — we use it for extended forecasts during trip planning and for day-by-day monitoring as our travel date approaches.

What weather research informs:

• What clothing to pack (and what to leave at home)
• Whether a rainproof layer or waterproof stroller cover is essential
• Which activities to book in advance vs leave flexible depending on conditions
• Whether you need reef-safe sunscreen, a warm base layer, or both

5. Create a Packing List

Following directly from the weather check — a good packing list is where that weather research pays off. Now that you know what conditions to expect, mapping out what to bring becomes significantly easier.

A few principles we live by as a family that travels internationally regularly:

Start your list early. We start a running notes document 4–6 weeks before departure and add things as they occur to us. By the week before travel, nothing important is forgotten.

Think in categories, not just items. Documents and travel essentials. Clothing by day and activity type. Baby and child specifics. Toiletries and medication. Tech and electronics. Entertainment for the journey. Each category gets its own section of the list.

The carry-on rule for anything irreplaceable: Medications, passports, important documents, electronics, the first 1–2 days of children’s clothing, and any prescription items travel in your carry-on. If your checked luggage is delayed (and it happens), you need to be able to function for 24-48 hours without it.

Pack for the real activities, not the aspirational ones. We are all guilty of packing an outfit for a nice dinner that never ends up happening. Be honest about your itinerary and pack for what you will actually do.

Need help getting started? Grab our free travel planner at wedtowanderlust.com/family-travel-planner — it includes a packing checklist designed specifically for family international travel.

6. Review Your Airline’s Baggage Policy

Baggage policies vary enormously between airlines and between fare classes on the same airline — and not knowing yours before you get to the check-in counter is a genuinely stressful and potentially expensive way to find out.

I learned this lesson the hard way on a flight from Rome to London with Ryanair, where my carry-on bag did not meet their cabin policy and I was required to check it at the gate at a cost that still makes me wince when I think about it. I had simply never encountered a domestic US airline with those restrictions and had not thought to check.

What to look for in the baggage policy:

• Carry-on size and weight limits. Budget European carriers (Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air) have particularly strict policies — often one small personal item in the cabin at the lowest fare tier, with an additional fee for a larger cabin bag.
• Checked bag allowances and fees. Many international airlines include one checked bag in the fare; many budget carriers charge for every bag at every tier. Know before you book.
• Weight limits for checked bags. Most international flights allow 23kg (approximately 50 lbs) per checked bag. Exceeding this can result in significant overage fees.
• Stroller and car seat policies. For families traveling with young children, knowing how your airline handles stroller check-in (most allow gate check at no charge) is essential planning information.

Budget airlines in Europe specifically require extra attention here. If you are connecting through a budget carrier on a multi-leg international trip, check the baggage policy for every individual flight — they do not always match.

7. Purchase a Luggage Scale

Directly connected to the baggage policy point above — a luggage scale is one of the most consistently useful pieces of travel gear we own.

We purchased ours specifically to avoid the stress and cost of overage fees at check-in, and we have used it on every trip since. It is particularly valuable when packing for the return journey, when you have inevitably acquired more things than you left with (souvenirs, gifts, the children’s inexplicable collection of rocks from every destination).

Our personal tip: weigh every bag before you leave home, and leave a small buffer under the weight limit rather than packing right to the edge. A few items shifted between bags can make the difference between sailing through check-in and paying extra.

Here is the exact luggage scale we use — lightweight, easy to use, and accurate enough to trust.

8. Sort Out Your Power Adaptors

Many modern hotels and Airbnb properties have updated their outlets to include USB ports, which helps — but it is still entirely possible to arrive in a country and find yourself without a way to charge your phone, tablet, or laptop without the right adaptor.

Different regions of the world use different plug types and different voltage standards. Europe uses Type C, E, F, and G adaptors (the UK specifically uses Type G — different from the rest of Europe). Japan uses Type A (same as the US but lower voltage — most modern electronics handle this automatically). Australia uses Type I. Having the right adaptor for your specific destination is not optional.

We recommend a universal travel adaptor that covers multiple plug types in a single device — you load it up for one trip and repack it for the next without having to think about which individual country adaptor you need.

A few additional notes for families traveling with young children:

• Bring a multi-port USB charging hub or power strip — families generate a lot of charging demand (tablets, phones, cameras, baby monitors) and most hotel rooms have only one or two accessible outlets
• Check that your specific hair tools and appliances are dual-voltage before plugging them in abroad — many are, but some older appliances are not and can be damaged by the wrong voltage

Here is our favourite travel adaptor — compact, universal, and handles the USB demand we generate as a family.

9. Plan Your Currency Strategy

Cash is not dead — and in many parts of the world it is very much still king. Having a clear plan for how you will access local currency before and during your trip saves both money and stress.

Option 1: Order currency before you leave. Ordering from your bank or from a currency exchange service before departure is generally cheaper than exchanging at the airport (airport currency booths are almost universally poor value). Give yourself enough lead time if ordering online — delivery takes a few days.

Option 2: Use an ATM at your destination. Finding a reputable bank ATM at your destination and withdrawing local currency there is our preferred approach for most trips. You typically get a better exchange rate than pre-ordering, though your bank may charge foreign transaction fees — factor those in.

Option 3: Use a no-foreign-transaction-fee card. This is genuinely one of the most underused travel money hacks. Cards like the Charles Schwab debit card, Capital One Venture credit card, and Chase Sapphire products have no foreign transaction fees and reimburse international ATM fees. If you travel internationally even once a year, having one of these cards in your wallet is worth the effort to set up.

The cash reality for family travel:

Many markets, smaller restaurants, local transportation, street food stalls, and some tourist attractions still prefer or require cash. Japan is still significantly cash-based outside the major tourist corridors. Smaller towns in Europe expect cash for parking, cafés, and markets. Have some local currency on hand for every destination, regardless of how card-friendly it is generally reported to be.

Pro Tip: Sick of foreign transaction fees? This is your reminder to get a travel card that doesn’t charge them. We use ours on every international trip and the savings across a multi-week trip are meaningful.

10. Purchase Anti-Theft or Safety Devices

Saving this for last on the numbered list but genuinely — do not skip it. The safety of your family and your documents while traveling internationally is worth taking seriously.

As tourists, we sometimes have a target on our backs — not because travel is inherently dangerous, but because distracted travelers in crowded areas near popular attractions are a known opportunity for pickpockets and opportunistic theft. We have experienced this firsthand in Brussels near Grand Place (you can read our honest account in our Brussels with a Toddler guide) and it has shaped how we approach this for every trip since.

The essentials we never travel without:

An anti-theft crossbody bag or backpack. These have slash-proof panels, lockable zippers, and no external pockets that can be accessed without your knowledge. Wear it crossbody against your body, not hanging behind you. Brands like Pacsafe and Travelon make excellent options at various price points. This is the single most effective theft prevention item we have found.

A doorstopper alarm. Compact, lightweight, and genuinely effective for adding an extra layer of security to hotel rooms, Airbnb accommodations, or any room where you are not fully confident in the door lock. Wedges under the door and sounds an alarm if the door is pushed open. Peace of mind for overnight security costs about $15 and weighs almost nothing.

Practical habits:

• Keep your phone in a front pocket or zipped inner jacket pocket in crowded tourist areas — never a back pocket
• Look up your directions before you leave your accommodation so you are not standing on a busy street staring at your phone looking lost
• Be especially aware in the moments when you are managing a stroller, adjusting a carrier, or corralling a toddler — those are the moments of divided attention that create opportunity
• Leave meaningful jewelry and anything irreplaceable at home

The world is a genuinely wonderful, overwhelmingly safe place for families to travel. These precautions are not about fear — they are about removing the small number of risks that are easily managed so you can focus entirely on the adventure.

Bonus: Sort Your International Phone and Data Before You Land

One last tip that belongs on every international travel list — and one that has gotten significantly better in recent years.

Instead of landing in a foreign country and immediately needing to find a store for a SIM card, or paying your carrier’s international roaming rates (often shockingly expensive), download the BreatheSim app before you leave home.

BreatheSim lets you purchase an eSIM data package for your destination in advance — you select the country and the data amount you need, purchase it, and it is active the moment you land. No store visits, no physical SIM cards, no roaming surprises on your phone bill.

Pro Tip: Not sure whether to get voice and data or data only? For most international family travel, a data-only eSIM combined with WhatsApp is all you need. WhatsApp is used for communication throughout Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and much of the rest of the world — your hotel, local tour operators, restaurants, and friends you meet on the road are all likely to use it. Voice calls can be made over WiFi through your regular messaging apps. This is genuinely how most international travelers communicate now.

Other options worth comparing: Airalo (one of the most widely used eSIM apps, with coverage in 200+ countries) and your carrier’s international day pass (convenient but can get expensive on longer trips).

Grab Your Free Travel Planner

Now that you have the full checklist, the next step is putting it into action. If you want a structured template to plan your next international family trip from start to finish — including a packing list, pre-departure checklist, and itinerary builder — grab our free travel planner at wedtowanderlust.com/family-travel-planner.

And if you would rather hand the planning to someone who has already put in the miles — that is exactly what we do at Wayfaring Consulting. Book a free call and let’s start planning your next adventure together.

Have you tried any of these tips — or do you have a pre-travel ritual that did not make this list? Share it with us in the comments! We love hearing what other families do to get ready for their international adventures.