Get organized with a pre-trip checklist

Los Angeles Times
12:00 AM PST, January 22, 2006

OK, we know not everyone is a compulsive list maker, but trip details have a way of spinning out of control. The editors of the Travel section have compiled this general list of the steps you need to take to ensure nothing goes unattended at the last minute.

One year ahead

Start research, using websites, guidebooks, travel agents.

Create a budget. Figure out, realistically, what you'll need per day for room, food, sightseeing, entertainment.

Start saving furiously. Open a savings account just for your vacation.

Consult a calendar of events to see whether there are places you want to be — or avoid — on your trip.

If you're going abroad, consider taking a foreign language course.

Six months ahead

Check your passport if you are traveling outside the U.S. Make sure it is still valid. (Some countries require a passport that's valid for at least six months from dates of travel.) Apply for a new one or renew it, if necessary. (For information, see Page 6.)

Buy hiking or walking shoes, so you have enough time to break them in.

Do you need shots? Check with a doctor or a travel medicine specialist early, because some vaccines require several shots over a period of several months.

Contact destinations from lists in this section (see Pages 19-22) to get information and maps.

Take a look at your camera equipment and consider what else you might need to record your memories.

Request time off from work (Some workplaces may require longer lead times.)

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