No travel will be complete without the right travel documents. For local travel, that would be a state-recognized form of identification or, if you expect to drive to or at your destination, a government-issued driver's license. For international travel, an international passport, airline ticket (or ticket confirmation number for electronic tickets) and visa are often required. Give yourself a few months to a few weeks before the departure date to obtain a visa as some consulates have longer waiting times than others.
Travelers should create a reasonable budget for a trip (with some allowance for unexpected expenses) and prepare to have some local and some foreign cash funds ready. When traveling to a foreign destination, it is important that they do research to determine what means of payment are acceptable in the places they will be visiting. Travelers are advised by the U.S. department of state not to take more than a few credit cards on a trip.
Toiletries can sometimes be difficult to obtain in an unfamiliar environment. Travelers should ensure that they have all of the toiletries that they need for their trip. Essentials like medications for headaches or fevers, phone and laptop chargers, extra socks and underwear, and a list of important contact addresses, phone numbers and e-mails should be kept handy. Travelers should tailor the contents of their suitcases to the purpose of the trip and pack accordingly to avoid unpleasant surprises at their destination.
