23 Reservations You Must Make Before Traveling
Are you wondering how to keep track of all the travel reservations you need to make before you travel? Worrying that you’ll forget to book an essential component of your travel plans?
Yeah, I’ve been there. When you’re trying to plan your vacation, deciding exactly what to do and when to do it can seem completely overwhelming.
Plus, you want a little spontaneity along the way, right?
Of course you do!
Except when that means that you can’t get tickets to the one thing you most wanted to do.
Or you don’t have a hotel booked for the holiday weekend.
Or you can’t get a dinner reservation anywhere good.
Or there’s no parking available at the airport.
I’ve faced all of those issues when traveling, so I’ve put together this great list of all the travel reservations you need to make before you leave your house!
From securing comfortable accommodations to ensuring seamless transportation and gaining access to popular attractions, planning before traveling can make all the difference!
This is especially true if you are:
- traveling during peak season
- traveling with young kids
- traveling with teens
- traveling with anyone who needs assistance
- traveling with a large group
- traveling to places that are always popular destinations
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or venturing abroad for the first time, this travel planning checklist will help you navigate the intricacies of travel planning and ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey from start to finish.
Reservations to make before traveling
1. Make a reservation to update your passport
First, before making any travel plans, check to see that your passport is up to date.
Passports last for so long, it’s hard to keep track of when they expire. For many countries, your US passport has to be valid for six months AFTER the end of your trip.
That means, if you’re traveling in January, and your passport expires in April, you may be denied entry to the country you’re traveling to.
If you’ve already booked a flight and then realized your passport needs to be renewed, you should immediately apply for a new one and expedite the application process.
2. Book your flight
If you’re flying, you know you need to reserve your airline tickets.
You’re more likely to find good deals on flights if you book six months out, but you may be surprised by last minute deals too. I like to use google flights and sky scanner to find the best deals on flights.
If you have a particularly complicated itinerary and don’t want to book the flights yourself, consider using a travel agent to help you find the best flights.
This is an important first step of travel, because you’re choosing the dates when you’ll travel, as well as your travel destination!
3. Book your seat on The plane
Even if you don’t want to pay to upgrade your seat, you’ll need to log in to your flight reservation to choose a seat.
Booking your seat on the plane as early as possible is essential if you want to sit with anyone else in your group or want to be sure you get an aisle or a window seat.
4. Reserve a meal if you have dietary restrictions
If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, you know the sinking feeling when you realize you forgot to reserve an in-flight meal that meets your dietary needs. No? Just me?
If you need a special meal on a flight, be sure to reserve several weeks in advance of your flight.
5. Reserve mobility assistance at the airport
If you or a family member need assistance getting to the gate at the airport, be sure to reserve a wheelchair or cart right after booking your ticket. Call the airline(s) you’ll be flying to make these arrangements.
6. Book your airport parking
Airport parking lots fill up! Go ahead and reserve a parking space soon after you book your flight, so you know you’ll have a place to park.
Booking airport parking is especially important if you’re traveling during holidays or any peak travel season.
And If you’re driving to the airport during the high season for travel, be sure to allow ample time to park, even if you did reserve a parking space.
7. Book your car service
If, instead of parking, you’re using a car service or rideshare to get to and from the airport, make that reservation a few weeks in advance.
Check your airport’s website for drop-off and pick-up tips. When traffic to and from the airport is heavy, it might be faster to be dropped off at a shuttle station on the outskirts of the airport, rather than right by the departures counters. Find out what your airport recommends.
8. Verify your TSA Pre-Check
If you have TSA pre-check, check that your member number is associated with your reservation. it should be printed on your boarding pass.
If not, call the airline right away and get it added. Check that your TSA Pre-Check membership hasn’t expired (and if it has, get it renewed).
9. Book your rental car
Soon after you book your flight, book your rental car.
In peak tourist season and at popular locations, rental cars tend to be more expensive closer to the date of the reservation. In some areas, car rentals can sell out.
10. Make an appointment for an International Driver’s License
Get an international driver’s license if you’ll need one in the country you’ll be visiting.
You can do this at your local AAA branch, but you’ll probably need to make an appointment. Of course, if you’re going to rely on public transit at your destination, you won’t need to worry about this!
11. Book your train tickets
If you’re booking a sleeper train or taking a long train journey during peak times, book your train tickets as far in advance as possible.
This is especially true for family or group travel. If you want to sit together, you should reserve your train tickets in advance.
You may also need to pay to reserve a seat, depending on the country where you’re traveling. If you’ll be on the train for any distance, you will want to be sure you have a seat!
If you are traveling as a family, you will almost certainly want to reserve seats. During busy travel times, don’t expect to find an empty seat to sit in for free. However, you probably won’t need to worry about reserving a seat for trips on slower trains or out-of-the-way destinations.
Also, booking train tickets in advance will allow you to get the best prices, because costs go up closer to the date of travel.
12. Book bus tickets
Same deal – if you’ll be traveling by bus, go ahead and make those reservations.
If you’re traveling on a tight budget, consider bus tickets instead of train tickets, because they’re often cheaper.
Beware that travel by bus tends to take longer than travel by train. But buses will allow you to go places not served by trains.
13. Make Ferry reservations
It’s a good idea to make ferry reservations in advance too, even if you’re just walking on. If you’ll be traveling with a car, ferry reservations are essential.
14. Book tour and event reservations in Advance
If you’re traveling to a popular destination, you’ll definitely want to book tour and event tickets in advance.
If something is important to you, make a reservation, even if you don’t think the destination will be that busy. You may be surprised by how quickly some tickets sell out.
Consider buying tickets for:
- Theatre performances
- Concerts
- Museum tickets
- Walking tours
- Special events
- Day trips
- Spa packages
- Cooking classes
- Wine tastings or brewery tours
- Language classes
- River cruises
- Destination tours (like Hobbiton)
By booking in tickets advance, you won’t waste time trying to decide what to do once you’re at the destination. And you won’t waste time waiting in line trying to buy tickets or waiting for the later entrance time that you were forced to book.
If you want a lot of flexibility in your travels, just book the essential experiences that are most important to you, and be flexible with the rest. When I think about what I should plan before traveling, reservations for our must-see activities are at the top of my list!
For example, when we traveled to New Zealand during our family sabbatical, one of the first things I booked was tickets to Hobbiton. When I was recently in London with girlfriends, we booked theatre tickets right away!
15. Make hotel reservations before traveling
Booking hotel reservations in advance is generally a good idea.
Popular hotels can fill up quickly, especially during peak travel seasons, holidays, or special events. By booking in advance, you ensure that you have a place to stay, and you’ll have a better chance of securing the type of hotel you prefer. You’ll also have a better selection of rooms to choose from.
Hotels often offer better rates or special deals for guests who book in advance.
Having a confirmed reservation provides peace of mind, especially if you’re traveling to a destination where accommodations can be limited.
Knowing that you have a place to stay can reduce stress and keep you from spending precious vacation time trying to figure out where to stay at your next stop.
If you’re going to be traveling for a long time with a flexible itinerary, you might not want to book hotel reservations in advance for your entire trip. However, I recommend booking hotel rooms at least for your first few days and your last night.
16. Book restaurant reservations
If you really want to eat at certain restaurants, you’ll need to reserve a table months in advance. For destination restaurants or dining during peak season, dinner reservations are essential.
For many nice restaurants, even in less touristy cities in off-peak seasons, making reservations a few days or weeks in advance is smart.
Look at OpenTable, Resy, and other sites, or contact a restaurant through their website.
17. Book vaccination appointments before you travel
If you will be traveling anywhere where additional vaccines are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, make an appointment to receive those vaccines.
Allow plenty of time for this, because you may need to see a doctor’s office that specializes in international travel vaccines, the vaccines may need to be ordered in advance, and your body may need time to process the vaccine.
You don’t want to be sick on vacation because you’re recovering from a vaccine or because you didn’t allow enough time for it to become effective.
18. Make a visa appointment
For extended travel or travel to certain countries, U.S. residents will need to have a visa. If that’s the case, look into visa requirements right away.
For some countries, getting travel visas from the United States is easy, and for others, it’s a more complicated process.
19. Refill prescriptions
If you take any prescriptions that will require a doctor’s visit to refill make that appointment now.
You don’t want to be without a needed prescription because your doctor’s office is too busy to see you, and you’ve left it to the last minute to make an appointment.
20. Buy travel insurance
If you’re traveling internationally, consider buying travel insurance that will cover you in the event of an emergency. You can buy this when you make a flight reservations or later on.
I think travel insurance is an especially great idea if you’re taking an extended trip or have booked around-the-world tickets.
21. Request local currency from your bank
Depending on where you travel, you might want to order foreign currency from your bank before you leave. There will be small additional costs for doing this, but much less than you would pay at an airport currency exchange office.
However, if you’re traveling somewhere with plenty of ATMs, you prefer to just take out as much money as you need as you go.
In some countries, you’ll be able to pay for most purchases with a credit card–check before you go to see if your travel credit card charges foreign transaction fees.
How much money you’ll need, and whether you should have it on hand when you arrive at your destination really depends on where you’re going, as different countries are more cash or credit focused.
22. Book a housesitter
Don’t forget about your home when you’re making reservations and planning a trip.
Make arrangements for a housesitter to stay at your house or check on things regularly while you’re away. If you don’t have a house sitter, remember to stop your mail and newspapers, and set up some lights on timers.
23. Book a petsitter or kennel reservations
What arrangements do you need to make before your take trip for your pet? If you have a cat or a dog, you’ll need to arrange for a petsitter to stay at your house or make reservations at a kennel.
It’s always best to book a pet sitter or reserve a stay at the kennel as far in advance as possible, so you don’t have to worry about your pet’s well-being at the last minute. If your pet takes medications, be sure you have enough for the duration of your trip.
I created this checklist of travel reservations that you need to make before you travel because there have been so many times when I’ve almost forgotten (or actually forgotten–oops!) to make reservations for a trip. And I want to help you avoid that experience!
Three Travel reservations tips
1. Double check your flight reservations
Look up your reservation at least a week to three days before your flight.
Check for any changes to flight times that mean you’ll need to depart earlier or later for the airport. Verify that you noted the correct departure date and times in the first place.
2. Download your airline’s mobile app and turn on notifications
If there are any last-minute alerts about a flight change or delay, you’ll want to know about them! Enable the notifications to get alerts right away.
3. Organize all your Travel Documents in advance
A few days before you’re scheduled to depart, make sure you have your passport, visa, and any other required travel documents.
Take screenshots or print copies of your hotel, car, and event registrations, in case you have issues connecting to your email when you’re traveling.
In what order should I make reservations for international travel?
I always start with flights and other transportation, then events and tours, then accommodations, and finally any restaurant reservations.
If you’re hoping to go to a huge event, like a concert that might sell out, I would secure those tickets first, before booking your fight.
Having your transportation in place lets you plan an outline of where you’ll be when.
Then you can choose what activities, sites, and events are most important for you to do.
Once you have an idea of what you want to see and when those events are available, you can finalize your accommodations, so you’ll be where you need to be for the activities you want to do.
Then, you can add on things like restaurant reservations or spa treatments.
Why Should I Reserve Tours and Activities in Advance?
Reserving tours and activities in advance is a smart travel strategy that ensures you get to do the things that are most important to you. Simply put, reservations help you make the most of your time at a destination.
Popular tours, whether it’s exploring historical landmarks, enjoying local cuisine, or embarking on adventure activities, can have limited slots, and they often sell out, especially during peak seasons.
By booking in advance, you secure your spot and avoid the disappointment of arriving at your destination only to find that the experiences you had in mind are fully booked.
Having advanced reservations allows you to schedule your itinerary more efficiently, avoiding conflicts between different activities and ensuring travel plans. This approach is particularly important if you have a tight schedule or if you’re visiting a destination with a high demand for specific attractions.
Moreover, booking ahead can sometimes lead to cost savings. Some tour operators offer early-bird discounts or package deals that include multiple activities.
By securing your reservations in advance, you may find opportunities to optimize your budget and enjoy a variety of experiences without breaking the bank.
How Can I Ensure I Get a Refund if Plans Change?
Understand Cancellation and Refund Policies for travel reservations
Concerns about cancellations and refunds are common among travelers, given the unpredictability of life and potential changes to travel plans. It’s crucial to carefully review the cancellation policy of the tours, accommodations, and other services you’re booking.
When it comes to tours and activities, many operators have different refund policies based on how far in advance you cancel.
Some offer free cancellation with full refunds if you cancel within a specified period. Others may have a sliding scale of refunds depending on when you cancel.
It’s essential to be aware of cancellation and refund policies and choose options that align with your flexibility needs.
Consider booking tours and activities with flexible cancellation policies whenever possible. Some operators provide this option, allowing you to cancel or modify your reservation without significant financial penalties.
While these options may come with a slightly higher upfront cost, they can provide peace of mind and financial protection in case unexpected changes occur.
Consider buying trip Insurance
Additionally, purchasing travel insurance is a wise decision to protect against unforeseen circumstances that may force you to alter your plans.
Travel insurance can cover trip cancellations, interruptions, and other emergencies, providing an added layer of security and ensuring that you can recoup some or all of your expenses in the event of unexpected changes.
Always read the terms and conditions carefully, and if you have specific concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to the tour operators or insurance providers for clarification.
What about making reservations for a business trip?
Business travelers often have specific needs and considerations when it comes to making reservations.
Here are 9 tips about making reservations for business travel:
1. Opt for convenience
For business travel, make reservations for accommodations that are conveniently located near your business meetings or conference venues. This can save you time and make your overall trip more efficient.
2. Use loyalty programs
If you frequently travel for business, it’s worth signing up for hotel and airline loyalty programs.
Accumulating points can lead to free upgrades, discounts, and other perks that can enhance your travel experience. You can even earn points toward a free flight you can use for personal travel.
3. Be flexible
Choose accommodations that offer flexible booking options.
Business plans can change unexpectedly, and having the ability to modify or cancel hotel stays without hefty fees can be advantageous.
4. Use travel management tools
You may be required to use travel management tools and platforms that centralize your reservations, expenses, and itineraries. These tools can help you stay organized and make both the booking process and the reimbursement process more efficient.
If you haven’t traveled for business before, you may need to work with your company’s travel planner to set up a Concur profile and work out your travel details.
5. Be aware of your company’s travel expense policies
Ensure that your reservations comply with the budget constraints and guidelines set by your organization.
6. Look for Wi-Fi and business amenities
Confirm that your accommodation provides reliable Wi-Fi, especially if you need to work remotely.
Additionally, before you book your hotel, enquire about business-friendly amenities such as meeting rooms, business centers, and access to printing services.
7. Reserve transportation
If you’re flying, consider how you’ll get from the airport to your accommodation. Many business travelers arrange for a reliable car service in advance.
8. Reserve a Table for Dinner
Definitely make dinner reservations if you need to entertain clients or colleagues.
9. Know what’s happening
Stay informed about travel restrictions if you are traveling in dangerous areas.
Given the dynamic nature of global events, stay informed about any travel restrictions, entry requirements, or health protocols in your destination. This information can impact your travel plans, so check for updates regularly.
Final thoughts on Reservations you should book before traveling
Making travel reservations is just part of traveling today. Flights sell out, hotels fill up, and events get bought out. So making reservations for your vacation is essential to the success of your travels.
Having reservations in place before embarking on an international trip is a practical and important step that can significantly impact the quality of your travels.
Securing a place to stay, making transportation arrangements, and pre-booking tickets for popular attractions can save you time, money, and potential stress while abroad.
Ensuring that your paperwork is updated and ready will help you avoid unexpected hassles while traveling.
As you plan your next international adventure, remember that a bit of foresight goes a long way towards enjoyable journey. And now you have this travel reservations checklist to help keep track of all the reservations you need to book before you travel.
So, make those vacation reservations, then pack your bags and get ready for a trip that’s not only memorable but also well-organized and stress-free!
Need more tips? Check out these genius mom travel hacks for family travel!
