If you’re family is traveling to a foreign country:

• Check Foreign Entry Requirements: http://travel.state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html
  (Note: If Mom and Dad aren’t traveling together with a child, many countries are now requiring a notarized consent from the absent parent for children under 18.)
• Check Travel Health Warnings: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/
• Check for Travel Warnings: http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html
• Check Vaccination Requirements: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/vaccinat.htm

Home Checklist:

• Make arrangements for someone to feed the pets, water the plants, and bring up the mail.
• If there are no pets feed, make arrangements to have your mail held at the post office and stop newspaper delivery.
• Leave contact information and itinerary with a house sitter, neighbor, or friend that wouldn’t mind checking on your property while you’re away.
• Use automatic timers for lights and radio or TV.
• Lock all windows and doors including basements and garages.
• Pay bills or get information to pay bills via phone or internet. (Note: Don't send post dated checks... companies will not wait to cash them!)
• Remove all foods that may spoil from refrigerator.

Airline Travel Tips:

• Check your airline’s luggage restrictions and limits. (Note: The number one most confiscated item is nail scissors. Make sure you put them in your luggage and not your carry-on!)
• Put identification on the outside and inside of all luggage.
• Use locks on all luggage.
• Check FAA regulations for list of what you can’t carry on-board: http://asi.faa.gov/these.asp
• To help with trip planning, the TSA has a web site to check estimated security checkpoint wait times at airports: http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/index.html

Carry-on Checklist:

• Camera, film, video, extra batteries. (Note: Undeveloped film and cameras with film need to be in your carry-on baggage, but high-speed film is still at x-ray risk, so ask to remove it and have it hand checked or purchase a lead pouch.)
• Tickets, ID, passport, itinerary, traveler’s checks, money, maps, keys, medical insurance cards.
• Jewelry, medications, and other important or high value items.
• Cell phone and charger.
• If there’s room, it wouldn’t hurt to have an emergency outfit just in case your luggage is, shall we say… delayed.
• If you’re traveling with children, make room for a change of clothes in case of a spill on the plane!
• Kids get a carry on too! Let them bring their own backpack of toys and books.
• Snacks
• Sunglasses
• If your kids have difficulty during plane pressurization, bring lollipops and let them have them prior to taking off. Gum will work too, they just need to do some extra swallowing!
• Wet wipes
• If traveling with a baby: diapers, wipes, prepared bottles, bib, towel.

Luggage Packing Tips:

• Put all liquids in plastic containers filled no more than ¾ of the way and then place in zip lock bags.
• Bring a plastic bag for dirty clothes.
• Put a unique marking on your luggage for easy spotting.

Family Packing Checklist

Toiletries:

• Sunscreen & Lip balm
• Soap
• Lotion
• Hair Products – shampoo & conditioner, brush, & comb, dryer, & accessories
• Deodorant
• Teeth – toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
• Razors & shaving cream
• Nails – clipper, file, polish & remover
• Q-tips
• Bug repellant
• Eyeglass case / contact lens case and solution
• Mom’s make-up
• Baby’s diapers, wipes, Desitin, powder, shampoo, soap, bibs, changing pad, car seat, pacifiers, plastic bags for diapers.
• First aid supplies – band-aids, disinfectants, sunburn ointment, bug bite ointment

Other:

• Travel Alarm Clock
• Sewing kit
• Laundry detergent

Clothes:

• Underwear
• Socks
• Pajamas
• Pants & shorts
• Shirts & Sweaters
• Skirts & Dresses
• Belts
• Shoes – walking, beach, and dress-up
• Swimsuits