From passports and visas to restaurant bookings, airport transfers and travel insurance, here’s my ultimate overseas holiday planning checklist — including the little details that can make a huge difference to your trip.
I absolutely love travelling. The planning, the anticipation, researching beautiful hotels, finding incredible restaurants and discovering experiences that I know we’ll remember for years.
But there’s also a lot that goes into organising an overseas holiday, particularly when you’re travelling with children or visiting multiple destinations.
As I write this, I’m busy finalising my itinerary for an upcoming trip to Phuket, Thailand.
I’ve been checking restaurant reservations, researching activities, working out travel times and making sure everything fits together properly.
And it’s reminded me just how many things there are to consider before leaving Australia.
Some are obvious, like passports and flights. Others are the little details that are so easy to overlook until you’re already overseas.
After years of planning international holidays, I’ve developed a system that helps me keep everything organised without making our trips feel overly scheduled.
Because although I love having a plan, I also believe holidays should leave plenty of room for spontaneity.
Here are the 15 things I always recommend checking before travelling overseas.
This is always the first thing I’d check, ideally before booking anything non-refundable.
Many countries require your passport to have a certain amount of validity remaining when you arrive or depart. Six months is a common requirement, but the rules vary depending on your destination, nationality and itinerary.
Some countries also require blank passport pages.
And don’t forget to check the children’s passports too. Australian passports issued to children generally have shorter validity periods than adult passports.
My tip: Set a reminder well before your passport expires. It’s much easier to organise a renewal at home than discover a problem shortly before departure.
For Australians, I recommend checking the official Australian Passport Office website and the entry requirements for every country you’re visiting.
Having a valid passport doesn’t automatically mean you’re allowed to enter another country.
Depending on your destination, you may need a visa, electronic travel authorisation, arrival card or other entry documentation.
And sometimes these requirements apply even when you’re only visiting for a short holiday.
When I’m planning a trip, I check the entry requirements for every destination on our itinerary, including any countries we’re transiting through.
I also make sure I understand the difference between visa-free travel and being exempt from completing other entry paperwork.
My tip: Use official government or immigration websites rather than relying solely on social media advice or third-party visa websites.
If you’re planning to work, undertake paid content creation or carry out commercial filming while overseas, check whether your activities require additional permission. Tourist entry conditions don’t necessarily cover business activities.
Travel insurance is something I would never intentionally leave off my overseas travel checklist.
Even the most carefully planned holiday can be affected by illness, cancelled flights, lost luggage or unexpected changes.
When comparing policies, I look beyond the headline price.
I want to understand what’s actually covered, particularly medical expenses, cancellations, baggage, rental vehicles and any activities we have planned.
For example, a family ski holiday may require different cover from a relaxing beach getaway.
I also check whether pre-existing medical conditions need to be declared and whether the policy covers everyone travelling.
My tip: Consider arranging insurance as soon as you’ve made significant non-refundable bookings, so you can check what cancellation protection applies from that point.
And always read the Product Disclosure Statement rather than assuming everything is included.
Health preparation is another important part of international travel.
Depending on where you’re travelling, you may need to consider recommended vaccinations, destination-specific health risks or entry requirements relating to vaccination certificates.
It’s worth speaking with your GP or a travel health professional well before departure, particularly if you’re travelling with children.
If anyone in your family takes medication, check whether it’s legal to bring it into your destination and whether you need a prescription or doctor’s letter.
Some medicines that are common in Australia are restricted in other countries.
My tip: Keep essential medication in your carry-on luggage, in its original packaging, and carry the supporting documentation required by your destination.
I also like to pack a small family first-aid kit with the basics we regularly use.
This is one that I think deserves much more attention.
Every country has different laws, cultural expectations and rules around what visitors can and cannot do.
Something completely normal in Australia might be restricted somewhere else.
Before travelling, I research local customs, dress expectations, photography restrictions, rules around drones and anything else relevant to our plans.
For example, if you’re visiting religious sites, you may need to cover your shoulders or knees. Certain attractions may also have specific photography rules.
It’s also worth checking local laws around vaping, alcohol, prescription medicines and other restricted items.
My tip: Read the destination advice on Smartraveller and check official local sources for anything that could affect your activities.
Booking the flights is one thing. Understanding the finer details is another.
Before travelling, I go through every flight and double-check the departure airport, terminal, baggage allowance and check-in requirements.
I also check whether we’ve booked seats together, particularly when travelling with the children.
If we have a connecting flight, I want to know whether our luggage will be checked through, whether we need to change terminals and how much time we’ve allowed between flights.
For international connections, it’s important to consider immigration, security and the possibility of delays.
My tip: Add your flight numbers, booking references, departure times and arrival times to your itinerary.
And remember to check the local date of arrival. Overnight flights and time-zone changes can make this surprisingly confusing!
After a long international flight, the last thing I want to do is stand outside an unfamiliar airport trying to work out how to get to our hotel.
This is especially true when travelling with children.
I like to research our transfer options in advance and compare hotel transfers, private drivers, taxis, ride-share services and car hire.
I also consider how much luggage we’re travelling with and whether we’ll need child restraints.
A transfer that looks inexpensive for two adults may not be the most practical option for a family of five.
My tip: Check the exact pick-up location, contact details and what happens if your flight is delayed.
If you’re booking a private transfer, confirm that the vehicle can accommodate all passengers and luggage comfortably.
I love researching beautiful hotels, but I always make sure the practical details work for our family too.
Before departure, I double-check our accommodation dates, room configuration, number of guests and what’s included in the booking.
This is particularly important when travelling with children because hotels can have different occupancy rules.
I also check whether breakfast is included, what time we can check in, whether there’s a resort fee and if the hotel requires a security deposit.
If we’re arriving early in the morning or late at night, I’ll contact the hotel to find out whether early check-in or luggage storage is available.
My tip: Save your accommodation confirmation, address and contact number somewhere you can access without internet.
This is something I’ve been doing a lot while planning Phuket.
I love finding experiences that make a holiday memorable, but I don’t like arriving somewhere only to discover that an attraction is closed on the day we planned to visit.
Before adding an activity to our itinerary, I check opening days, operating hours, ticket availability and how long the experience actually takes.
I also look at age restrictions, height requirements and whether the activity is suitable for everyone travelling.
If we’re visiting a theme park, for example, I want to know whether younger children can enjoy enough of the attractions to make it worthwhile.
My tip: Check the attraction’s official website before booking and again shortly before your visit. Opening hours and schedules can change.
I also make sure I understand whether tickets are refundable or can be moved if our plans change.
Food is such an important part of travelling for me.
I love discovering beautiful restaurants, whether that’s somewhere with an incredible view, a special tasting menu or a relaxed beachfront lunch.
When I’m researching a destination, I save restaurants that catch my eye and then work out which ones I’d genuinely like to visit.
I check menus, opening hours, reservation requirements and whether they’re suitable for children if we’re travelling as a family.
For particularly popular restaurants, I recommend booking ahead rather than hoping for a table on arrival.
My tip: Look at where restaurants are located in relation to your hotel and planned activities.
There’s no point booking a beautiful dinner if it means spending hours travelling across a city unnecessarily.
This is one of the biggest mistakes I see people make when planning holidays.
A destination might look small on a map, but travelling between attractions can take much longer than expected.
Traffic, mountain roads, ferries, unfamiliar transport systems and the time it takes to get everyone ready can all affect your day.
When I’m building an itinerary, I look at the actual journey between each activity rather than simply listing everything I want to do.
I try to group experiences that are located near one another.
For example, if we’re visiting an attraction in one part of Phuket, I’ll look for a nearby restaurant or another activity we can enjoy on the same day.
That way, we’re spending more time enjoying our holiday and less time sitting in traffic.
My tip: Check journey times at approximately the time of day you plan to travel, then add a little breathing room.
Before travelling, I make sure we have a plan for paying for things overseas.
I look at which cards we’re taking, whether they charge foreign transaction fees and whether we need some local currency.
It’s also worth researching how widely cards are accepted at your destination.
Some places are almost entirely cashless, while others still rely heavily on cash for smaller purchases.
I also like to understand the local currency so I can recognise whether prices are reasonable.
My tip: When a payment terminal offers to charge you in Australian dollars or the local currency, compare the conversion arrangements carefully. Paying in the local currency will often avoid an unfavourable merchant conversion rate, although your card’s own fees still matter.
I also recommend having a backup payment method in case one card is lost, declined or temporarily blocked.
Having reliable internet while travelling makes everything easier.
From checking maps and confirming bookings to contacting drivers and finding restaurants, I use my phone constantly when we’re overseas.
Before leaving Australia, I compare international roaming with a travel eSIM or local SIM.
I also check that my phone is compatible with the option I’ve chosen.
Some useful things to prepare include offline maps, airline apps, transport apps and any messaging platforms commonly used at your destination.
My tip: Download important booking confirmations and maps before departure.
And don’t forget to check whether you’ll need mobile data immediately after landing to contact your airport transfer.
I don’t just look at the average temperature when packing.
I also consider humidity, rainfall, how much time we’ll spend outdoors and whether we’re visiting different climates on the same holiday.
For example, packing for a tropical beach holiday is very different from preparing for a European winter itinerary.
I also research practical things like power plug types, baggage restrictions, appropriate clothing for cultural attractions and whether our accommodation provides items such as beach towels.
When travelling with children, I find it especially helpful to plan outfits and essentials ahead of time.
My tip: Check the forecast again a few days before departure and make any final packing adjustments.
And always leave a little space in your suitcase for anything you might buy while you’re away!
This is probably my favourite part of planning a holiday.
Once I’ve researched our destination, chosen the experiences and made the bookings, I bring everything together into one organised itinerary.
I like being able to see exactly what we’re doing each day, where we need to be and how everything fits together.
It helps me identify problems before we leave.
Perhaps I’ve accidentally booked two activities too close together. Maybe a restaurant is on the opposite side of the island from our hotel. Or perhaps I’ve forgotten to allow enough time for an airport transfer.
Seeing the whole trip laid out makes those little details much easier to spot.
But I don’t believe in planning every minute.
I always try to leave space for slow mornings, spontaneous discoveries and simply enjoying the destination.
Because I spend so much time organising our family holidays, I know how valuable it is to have everything in one place.
That’s why I’ve created a travel itinerary resource for This Sweet Life readers who want to make their holiday planning easier.
Rather than keeping flight details in one email, hotel confirmations in another and activity bookings scattered across different apps, an organised itinerary gives you one central place to plan your trip.
It’s a simple way to feel more prepared before you leave and spend less time worrying about the details once you’re away.
Want to organise your next holiday with less stress?
Plan your next getaway with clarity and ease.
This beautifully designed travel itinerary and trip planner helps you organise every detail of your trip — from flights and accommodation to daily activities — so you can travel confidently and stay fully present for the moments that matter
Whether you’re planning a weekend away, a family holiday or a multi-country adventure, a little organisation before departure can make the entire experience feel so much more relaxed.
Before leaving for the airport, I like to run through one final checklist.
I also make sure someone at home has our essential travel details, particularly if we’re visiting several destinations.
As much as I love the excitement of booking an overseas holiday, I genuinely enjoy the planning process too.
I love discovering new places, finding beautiful hotels, researching restaurants and putting together an itinerary that gives us the opportunity to experience the best of a destination.
But after years of travelling, I’ve realised that the best itineraries aren’t necessarily the busiest.
They’re the ones that make everything feel easy.
The airport transfer is organised. The restaurant is booked. The children have what they need. And there’s still enough time to stop for an unexpected coffee or spend another hour at the beach.
That’s the balance I always try to achieve.
As I finish organising our upcoming Phuket holiday, I’m reminded that a little preparation before you leave can make such a difference to the experience once you arrive.
Because ultimately, the goal isn’t to spend your holiday worrying about logistics.
It’s to enjoy the people you’re with, discover beautiful places and make memories that last long after you return home.
Are you someone who plans every detail of a holiday, or do you prefer to arrive and see where the day takes you? I’d love to know in the comments!
For more luxury family travel inspiration, destination guides and practical travel tips, follow This Sweet Life on Instagram @thissweetlife_.
Enjoy!
Travel requirements can change. Always confirm current entry, health, safety and airline rules with official sources before departure.