Are you ready for your next adventure? Here are a few tips to prepare.

Check out my Travel Happier shopping list and contact me at suzi.beerman@fora.travel for help planning your travel anywhere in the world.

• NEW – Travelers through or to the UK now need a Visa. Review the requirements and application process here.
• NEW – In 2026, US citizens must have an ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorization System, to visit any country in Europe. Review the requirements and application process here.
• NOTE that travel to Europe doesn’t currently require a Visa but that is being considered for the future. The requirement has been delayed multiple times over the past couple of years. Be sure to check the US State Department website for updates.
• Check that your passport is valid for at least six months after your return date.
• Consider applying for Global Entry, a US government program that prequalifies US travelers for expedited reentry to the United States. It can save a huge amount of time when returning from an international trip.
• For easier domestic travel, consider applying for TSA Precheck. The shorter lines and fewer restrictions on how you move through TSA checkpoints can save a lot of time.
• CLEAR uses biometrics (eye and fingerprint scans) instead of a government issued ID to get you through to your airport gate, and usually is a much shorter line than regular TSA lines. It is also being used for entry to some stadiums. It is available and many domestic airports and an increasing number of international airports. Your credit card may have a benefit where CLEAR is free or discounted.
• Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for free to receive travel and security updates about your destination, and to help the consulate reach you in an emergency.
• Buy international currency at your local bank in advance. You will want to have some cash on hand for tips and incidentals, and exchanging money at the airport or in the country is more expensive than ordering from your local bank.
• Check your cell phone plan to learn what international options are available to you. You may need a temporary upgrade to a plan that includes the country where you are travelling. Or you may want to buy a local SIM when you arrive in country.
• Download your airline’s app to keep track of flight arrivals/departures and gate changes in real time. Set the app to send you alerts. You may also need it for lost/stolen/damaged baggage claim.
• Add a tracking device to your hand luggage and your checked luggage. I use the air tag. You can find a link to it and other things that make Travel Happier on this page.
• Download WhatsApp to be able to text for free without an international phone plan.
• Take a photo with your phone and also make copies of important documents. This includes your passport and the front and back of the credit cards you are taking with you. Put your copies in a place different from where the originals are. If you are traveling with someone close to you, you could exchange documents so that one person is carrying the other person’s documents.
• Download offline maps of the area where you are travelling.
• Download any digital entertainment before you leave for the airport.
• Check the 10-day weather forecast the week before you leave and pack accordingly.
• Pack light. Take a good look at where you will be staying, and determine whether or not that big 50-pound suitcase is a good idea. You may be staying in an area that has cobbled streets and upper floors only accessible via stairs.