There is a moment in travel planning where excitement takes over.

The cruise countdown timer is ticking. The airfare is looking decent. The hotel has that rooftop pool you absolutely plan to “accidentally” spend too much time near.

And then you click purchase.

I have learned to pause right before that moment.

Because travel problems rarely start at the airport. They start weeks earlier, when we assume we are ready.

Let’s walk through the real checklist. Not the cute Instagram one. The one that keeps you calm when things shift.

1. Your Passport Expiration Date

If you are traveling internationally, your passport should not be “technically valid.” It should be comfortably valid.

Many countries require six months of validity beyond your travel dates.

I recently renewed mine and opted for expedited service. It arrived in plenty of time before my next trip. That small fee bought peace of mind. Worth it.

Check it before you book.

2. Known Traveler Numbers and TSA Status

If you have TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, confirm your Known Traveler Number is attached to your reservation before you finalize.

And if you require airport assistance, call the airline before booking to understand what support is available at your departure airport.

Blind and low vision travelers should confirm:

• Escort service to the gate

• Pre-boarding options

• How service animals are handled

Call before you pay.

3. Accessibility Apps Loaded and Updated

Before booking, confirm you have:

• Aira or your preferred remote visual assistance app updated

• Airline apps installed

• Hotel apps installed

• Rideshare apps tested

Do not discover login issues in a boarding line.

4. Offline Access to Everything

Download:

• Offline maps

• Audiobooks

• Boarding passes

• Hotel confirmations

• Cruise documents

Airports and ports are not where you want to rely on strong signal.

5. Backup Charging Plan

Travel eats batteries.

Bring:

• Battery pack

• Extra charging cable

• Wall adapter

• International plug adapter if needed

Your phone is navigation, boarding pass, communication, and in many cases independence.

6. Headphones Charged and Ready

Airports are loud. Planes are louder.

Download your audiobooks before departure. Charge your headphones fully. Bring a wired backup if you can.

Silence is sometimes the best travel companion.

7. Hydration Strategy

Dehydration sneaks up during travel.

I always pack Liquid IV. Not sponsored. Would love to be. I genuinely use it because airports and airplanes dry you out fast. Powder packets are easy to carry and take almost no space.

Also pack a refillable water bottle.

Hydration affects mood, energy, and decision making.

8. Basic Medications

Before booking, make sure you have:

• Ibuprofen

• Anti-diarrheal medication like Imodium AD

• Any prescriptions in original bottles

• A small first aid kit

• Blister care

Travel is not the time to discover you ran out of something essential.

9. Service Animal Planning

If traveling with a guide dog:

• Confirm airline paperwork requirements

• Bring extra food beyond expected duration

• Pack collapsible bowls

• Bring vaccination records

• Attach a “Do Not Pet, Working Service Dog” sign

Yes, people still try to pet. The sign helps. Not perfectly. But it helps.

And always bring a backup white cane, even if Fauna is traveling with me. If she gets sick, I am still mobile.

Redundancy equals independence.

10. Backup White Cane

Even if you travel exclusively with a guide dog, pack a cane.

Even if you always use a cane, pack a second one.

Things break. Luggage gets delayed.

Preparedness removes panic.

11. Small Bills for Tipping

Five dollar bills matter.

For airport escorts. Shuttle drivers. Hotel staff who help navigate unfamiliar spaces.

Accessibility support is often a human being doing real work. Plan for that.

12. Sun Protection Strategy

If you are headed somewhere warm:

• Hat

• Sunscreen

• Lightweight long sleeves

• Sunglasses

Sunburn on day one ruins the rest of a trip.

13. Plastic Laundry Bag

Always pack one.

Wet swimsuits. Damp hiking clothes. Unexpected spills. It weighs nothing and saves everything.

14. Tape

A few small pieces wrapped around a pen or tucked in a bag.

Tape fixes:

• Torn luggage tags

• Broken packaging

• Loose cables

• Shoe sole emergencies

It sounds silly. Until you need it.

15. Plane Snacks

Bring snacks.

Airline schedules shift. Delays happen. Blood sugar drops.

Accessible travel is harder when you are hungry and irritable.

16. Travel Insurance

Not a deep dive here. That is its own article.

But before final payment, consider whether insurance makes sense for you.

17. Financial Backup Plan

Before booking, confirm:

• You have a backup credit card

• Your bank knows you are traveling

• You understand foreign transaction fees

• You have small bills for tips

Money problems are preventable.

18. Digital Copies of Important Documents

Store securely:

• Passport photo page

• Driver’s license

• Hotel confirmations

• Cruise tickets

Email them to yourself if needed.

Redundancy.

19. Luggage Tracking

Consider:

• AirTag or other luggage tracker

• Distinct luggage identifier

If you are blind or low vision, identifying your bag quickly matters.

20. Layering Strategy

Airplanes are unpredictable.

Pack:

• Light jacket

• Compression socks

• Comfortable footwear

Circulation matters on long travel days.

21. Emergency Contact Card

Carry a simple card in your wallet listing:

• Emergency contact

• Medical conditions

• Service dog information

It takes minutes to create.

22. Communication Plan

Before booking, ask:

How will I navigate the arrival airport?

Do I know the layout?

Does the hotel offer accessible check-in support?

Will I need rideshare or shuttle?

Preparation reduces uncertainty.

23. Weather Check

Not just average temperatures. Look at:

• Seasonal storms

• Hurricane windows

• Heat advisories

Weather shapes accessibility.

24. Cruise Specific Planning

If cruising:

• Lanyard for key card

• Magnetic hooks

• Motion sickness medication

• Printed embarkation documents

Cruise cabins are small. Organization matters.

25. The Pause

Before final payment, pause and ask:

If something shifts, am I prepared?

Do I have the redundancy I need?

Have I thought through independence, not just itinerary?

That pause has saved me more times than I can count.

Preparedness is not about fear.

It is about freedom.

When you handle the practical details early, you travel lighter mentally. You adapt faster. You recover quicker when plans shift.

And when you are blind or low vision, that margin matters even more.

Before you click purchase, run through your readiness.

Your future self, standing calmly at a gate instead of scrambling, will thank you.

Until we explore again.

See you at the Gate

Ted and Fauna