I am a self proclaimed packing geek, a queen geek at that. When I was a child and traveled with my parents, they always made sure I was prepared, for comfort and weather, and with the appropriate attire for the occasion. That mindset has stayed with me as I plan for my own trips.

Here are some of my tips to prepare for your trip ahead of time:

Check your passports and make sure you have the allotted time required for your travel window. You are required to return well before your passport expires. Research the requirements for your country.
Some people like to plan every leg of their trip and others enjoy traveling without plans. I have done both and know the joys in each style of adventure. If you are planning your tip in detail take some time to review every step of the journey. I find it helpful to write all our plans on my paper calendar so I can visualize each leg. I double and triple check it to make sure I have gotten my dates and times correct and my flights or train trips will deliver me where I need to be on the right days.
Start thinking about luggage. Will you be checking your suitcase? Will you travel with a carry-on? Will the amount of luggage you choose to bring work in various forms of transportation? Are there any luggage requirements where you are going? I often make the decision on what to carry based on how often we will switch locations or how adventuresome our trip is. We have found luggage size and weight requirements on some small planes and safari type trips. (Soft bags transport better in Land Rovers on group Safari trips.) On my upcoming trip I will be getting on and off several trains in Italy and taking a small plane to Greece so I will be traveling with a carry-on. Once you decide what you want to do, assess what luggage you have. If you don’t have the right size bags do some research on what type of luggage you want. Think carefully before you purchase because if you do it right, your luggage can last you a very long time. Read the luggage size and weight requirements for your airline.
Consider the weather. This is a bit more complicated when you travel from country to country. Packing layers is helpful.
Plan out your wardrobe needs. It doesn’t have to be specific but it’s good to know what you are missing. It may sound silly to think about it way ahead of time but it makes the whole process so much easier. We don’t live in a place where adventure shopping is easy. I plan ahead so I don’t have to spend the days before I leave trying to find what I need. There are some really fabulous capsule wardrobe photos on Pinterest. Search for your destination and the season you are going and you will find lots of packing lists. I personally 100% believe in having my laundry done while traveling. There is no way I want to carry around a big suitcase of dirty laundry! Weigh the costs of laundry vs the checked bag fees, you will be pleasantly surprised. Plus there is nothing like getting clean clothes from the hotel laundry while on a long journey.
Evaluate what you need regarding electronics. I know from experience that forgetting a camera charger can be a big nusience in another country, especially if you don’t speak the language. I searched all over Rotterdam for a camera charger. Thank God my son Colin speaks Dutch and could help out. The reality is that searching for the camera charger wasted our time when we could have been doing other things. Don’t forget camera cards!
Plan way ahead for your home, pets, family, work, and other responsibilities. The more you prep ahead of time, the less stressful the days leading up to your trip are.
Consider getting travel insurance. We do it.
If you have new shoes for your trip, break them in. You will be so happy you did.
Start thinking about notifying your credit card companies and ordering any currency from your bank that you might need.
Research and consider how you want to use or not use your phone while abroad. Check out your International travel planes.