1. Schedule flights and cities. Travelocity.com
is a great place to check scheduling information. Make sure contacts will
be around in the places you are visiting. I always choose the schedules
(because flights are not always available) and, then make sure people are
around, and then plan the details.
2. Select hotels. Call major chains for travel
agent educational rates first. Fax out travel agent letters for bids on
other hotels. Google.com to get details on the hotels. Keep list of reservation
confirmation numbers.
3. Visas when necessary; allow enough lead time
for your passport to make the rounds of the various embassies. Use priority
mail and the telephone to speed things along here.
4. Cellphone rental. Make sure you know how to
use it and get your voicemail. Take instructions with you.
5. Arrange air tickets; confirm seats, meals and
frequent flyer points.
6. Arrange airport transfers and sightseeing;
know where Internet and laundry will be.
7. Make sure all items on packing list are available
and that luggage is in good condition.
8. Get climate information and dress code information.
Radio frequencies for BBC & VOA (if you will not be in a hotel that
has satellite TV); these days you can count on having CNN and/or BBC World
Television in any good hotel.
9. Pack for as many days between the longest laundry
and plan outfits accordingly. Get shirts folded for easy packing. But remember
that you will never wear as much clothes as you think you will.
10. Confirm all appointments and guarantee all
reservations.
11. Write Vital Statistics to carry on trip with
contact numbers and emergency information:
credit card numbers, passport number, medical
insurance information, doctor contact information, travel agent number,
telecard access numbers and cellphone instructions, all local numbers of
people you will call in a particular city on one page to carry around with
reserved appointments listed; names, addresses and tel. #s of hotels and
airlines and flight numbers to reconfirm flights; radio frequencies, hotel
reservations.
12. Advise people on e-mail list you will be out;
update voicemail and answering machines or call-forwarding; change passwords
if necessary to keep people out of programs that could disrupt you if they
are invaded such as e-mail. Suspend e-mail lists that create clutter.
13. Advise credit cards of your absence; suspend
newspapers and magazines you might rather read while abroad (ie: The Economist);
arrange for mail pickup and prepay bills that must be paid while you are
gone (ie: rent, estimated taxes); prepay credit card balances to have sufficient
credit lines open.
14. Get: Haircut. Medicines. Film. Laundry. Send
items ahead if necessary so that you can carry less with you.
15. Let family and office know where you will
be; make sure emergency transition instructions are current.
16. Review Global Thoughts journals for past visits
notes.
17. Travel Agent Introduction letter and take
your ID card with you.
18. Make notes in your diary planner of things
you have to do when you come back so you can forget about them while you’re
away! |