Do travel plans stress you out to the point of staying awake late into the night with thoughts running through your head? Did you remember to back the right travel essentials? Did you arrange for someone to pick up your mail for you and check up on the house while you’re away? The easiest way to ruin a vacation is to have forgotten the perfect gear or goodies, important documents, or safety items. With our first ever gay travel checklist, you no longer have to worry over your usual travel packing woes! Check out our packing and preparation suggestions—and let us know what special items you love to add to yours!
Home Checklist
- Arrange for pet and plant care.
- Stop routine deliveries for longer vacations: including mail, newspaper, and larger shipments.
- Turn off heat and/or air conditioning
- Consider making your home seem lived-in while you are away by leaving a light on
- Close and lock all windows, garages, and doors.
- Leave a spare set of keys and itinerary with a friend or neighbor
Before Leaving
- Read up on your destination on GayTravel.com!
- Confirm flight arrangements
- Confirm how you will be getting to the airport
- Invest in some interesting guide books and maps for your destination
- Passports and visas
- Convert money to foreign currency of your destination
- Travelers checks or ATM cards
- Credit cards
- Insurance: Trip Cancellation/Medical
- Personal Identification
- Photocopy documentation
- Birth Certificate (if necessary)
- Marriage License (if necessary)
Basic Essentials
- Appropriate Luggage and bags—Loius Vitton Anyone?!?!
- Weather and culture appropriate clothing
- Comfortable footwear
- Luggage ID tags
- Rain protection (rain coat, rain poncho, etc.)
- Camera and film, extra memory cards (put film in carry-on bags because of x-ray machines)
- Travel alarm clock
- Travel flashlight
- Travel binoculars
- Hat or visor
- Reading materials, books, magazines, etc.
- Playing cards and travel games
- Batteries for camera and flashlight
- Mini-sewing kit
- Plastic ziplock bags
Medication
- First aid kit
- Aspirin/pain reliever
- Cold/sinus medication
- Diarrhea medicine
- Laxative
- Insect repellent
- Contact lens preparations
- Antibiotic ointment
- Alcohol wipes
- Sunscreen
- Motion sickness medicine
- Personal hygiene items
- Personal prescriptions
Toiletries
- Comb/brush
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Dental Floss
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Blow Dyer
- Hair straightener/curler
- Deodorant
- Lotion
- Perfume/cologne
- Lipbalm/chapstick
- Shaving cream
- Razors
- Towels/washcloths
- Earplugs
- Sleep mask