Check List: Time Frames –

One year prior to travel
• Establish destination contacts
• Define purpose of travel
• Request time off from work, if applicable

Six months prior to travel
• Confirm work time off, arrange coverage if required
• Purchase airline tickets
• Confirm lodging
• Arrange house sitter-pets, plants, mail, lawn, newspapers
• Confirm passport will be good for at least six months after trip
• Renew passport if necessary (or obtain one)
• Get application in with deposit to confirm registration to go
• Begin learning essential basic phrases in the language of the culture visited

Six weeks before travel
• Schedule vaccinations and order foreign currency
• Obtain gifts, wrapping paper
• Practice language skills, music for destination, review cultural information
• Arrange for mobile phone service
• Prepare travel guide
• Refill medical prescriptions
• Order foreign currency from bank

Four days before travel
• Begin malarone (anti-malarial) treatment if indicated (Start two days before departure)
• Begin Argonne Jet Lag diet (if desired)
• Pack bags to go, and take bag to local park and drag it for one mile
• Notify U.S. Embassy of your visit and how you may be reached in an emergency
• Notify post office to hold mail
• Make final arrangements for pet car, plant care
• Pre-pay essential bills that will come due while out of town
• Pick up travelers checks,
• Photocopy passport, eyeglass and medication prescriptions
• Consume perishable foods in refrigerator-vegetables, cheese, items that will spoil

Just before leaving home (If no one is covering for you)
• Arrange transportation to airport
• Minimize wallet/purse – Take only what you absolutely need
• Minimize key chain – Take only the key(s) you need
• Be sure electrical appliances, lights are turned off
• Set electrical timers to activate lights, radios, TV
• Turn down thermostats
• Rinse garbage disposal with lime or orange peel
• Flush toilets
• Empty trash
• Insure all doors and windows are locked
• Leave key with relative, neighbor, or trusted friend
• Leave emergency contact information with friend or relative