Travel Checklist for Personal & Business Trips (2024 Edition)

Pre-Trip Preparations

[ ] Update voicemail and email auto-response at work
[ ] Set Slack status and provide alternate contact
[ ] Delegate scheduled tasks to alternates
[ ] Download offline maps for destination(s)
[ ] Plan itinerary and confirm meetings (including personal visits)
[ ] Contact family and friends at destination(s)
[ ] Back up and secure laptop and smartphone
[ ] Review and update emergency plans and important documents
[ ] Notify bank and credit card companies of travel plans
[ ] Attach item trackers to main luggage and key items (Apple AirTags)

Carry in Person (Personal Items)

[ ] Smartphone (iPhone)
[ ] Smartwatch (Apple Watch)
[ ] Main wallet with essential cards and some cash
[ ] Keys (to be stored in backpack during travel)

Clothes Worn While Traveling

Choose appropriate items based on the following tags:

Items

[ ] Comfortable pants [🌞H], [✈️S], [💤L]
[ ] Business slacks [💼B]
[ ] Casual shirt [🌞H], [✈️S]
[ ] Business shirt [💼B]
[ ] Sweater or light jacket [❄️C], [💤L]
[ ] Warm coat [❄️C]
[ ] Comfortable shoes [🌞H], [✈️S], [💤L]
[ ] Business shoes [💼B]
[ ] Warm socks [❄️C], [💤L]
[ ] Scarf or neck gaiter [❄️C]
[ ] Hat or cap [🌞H], [❄️C]
[ ] Minimalist belt with carbon fiber buckle [🌐A]
[ ] Compression socks [💤L]
[ ] Eye mask [💤L]
[ ] Noise-cancelling headphones [💤L], [✈️S]

Packing Essentials

Casual/Workout Attire: in packing cubes

[ ] Casual pants/jeans (1 pair per 1-2 days)
[ ] T-shirts (1 per day for workouts)
[ ] Fitness pants or shorts (1 per day)
[ ] Merino wool socks (1 pair per 3 days)
[ ] Undergarments (1 set per day)
[ ] Minimalist belt ( Grip6 belt with carbon fiber buckle )
[ ] Casual/business casual shoes ( VivoBarefoot Ababa II Men’s )
[ ] Cloth laundry bag

Formal Attire (if needed): in packing cubes & garment bag

[ ] Suits (1-2, depending on trip length)
[ ] Dress shirts (1 per day)
[ ] Ties (1-2)
[ ] Formal minimalist shoes ( Vivobarefoot Ra III Men’s )
[ ] Spare shoelaces

Cold Weather/Hiking Attire (if needed): in packing cubes

[ ] Cold weather/hiking shoes ( Vivobarefoot Tracker or Magna series )
[ ] Insulated jacket or coat
[ ] Thermal base layer (top and bottom)
[ ] Fleece or wool mid-layer
[ ] Waterproof outer layer (if needed)
[ ] Warm hat or beanie
[ ] Gloves or mittens
[ ] Warm socks (extra pairs)
[ ] Scarf or neck gaiter

Swimwear (if needed): in waterproof packing pouch or cube

[ ] Swim trunks
[ ] Swim shirt (if desired)
[ ] Swim cap / hair cover
[ ] Waterproof sandals
[ ] Beach towel

Toiletries: in toiletry bag in waterproof packets

[ ] Toothbrush and toothpaste
[ ] Comb or hairbrush
[ ] Hair product
[ ] Travel razor
[ ] Razor blade cartridges
[ ] Shaving soap bar
[ ] Bath soap bar
[ ] Deodorant
[ ] Nail clipper
[ ] First-aid kit
[ ] Sunscreen ( Elta MD )
[ ] N-95 masks

Fitness Equipment: in dedicated drawstring backpack

[ ] Portable suspension trainer ( Pocket Monkii and Outdoor Anchor 2 )
[ ] Portable pull-up handles ( Duonamic Eleviia )
[ ] Jump rope ( WeckMethod RMT Rope Premium )
[ ] Workout gloves ( Barehand Minimalist gloves )
[ ] Knee pad for workouts ( Lepfun S9000 )
[ ] Collapsible wooden pushup paralletes ( YinYang Bars by Kensui Fitness )
[ ] Muscle stimulator ( PowerDot ) for long flights
[ ] Stainless steel insulated water bottle/shaker ( BlenderBottle Strada Shaker 24-Ounce bottle with whisk and Silicone Straw )

GoPro Kit: in GoPro Case

[ ] GoPro Hero 11 Black
[ ] Spare batteries
[ ] Charger
[ ] SD card
[ ] GoPro tripod/selfie stick

Health Supplements: in packing cube

[ ] Daily supplements in pill containers (from Bryan Johnson’s BluePrint )
[ ] Daily health drink mix powder (Brian Johnson’s Blueprint Longevity Mix)
[ ] Protein powder
[ ] Melatonin (for sleep aid during travel and at destination)

Technology: in tech organizers

[ ] Laptop with charger (MacBook Pro, with item tracker)
[ ] Tablet (optional, for note-taking) (iPad, with item tracker)
[ ] E-book reader (optional, for reading in sunlight) (Kindle Scribe)
[ ] Smartphone charger
[ ] Wireless earbuds (Apple AirPods Pro, with item tracker)
[ ] Power bank
[ ] Charging cables (Lightning and USB-C)
[ ] Power strip with surge protector
[ ] Spare item trackers (Apple AirTags)

Documents and Essentials: in travel wallet

[ ] Driver’s license
[ ] Health insurance card
[ ] Business cards
[ ] Travel insurance information

Miscellaneous: in packing cubes

[ ] Eyeglasses (backup pair)
[ ] Eyeglasses cleaning cloth and solution
[ ] Travel pillow and eye mask (for long flights)
[ ] Portable umbrella ( Davek New York )
[ ] Shoe bags
[ ] Card magic trick kit (for entertainment)

International Travel (if applicable): in passport wallet and dedicated compartment

[ ] Passport and Global Entry card
[ ] International power adapter
[ ] Foreign currency
[ ] Travel vaccination records (if required)
[ ] Printed copies of important documents (passport, visa, itinerary)
[ ] Language translation app or pocket dictionary

Digital Preparations

[ ] Save digital copies of important documents
[ ] Download entertainment (books, podcasts, movies)
[ ] Install relevant travel apps (e.g., airline, hotel, translator)
[ ] Set up international data plan (if traveling abroad)
[ ] Ensure item trackers are properly linked and functioning

Post-Trip Tasks

[ ] Reset voicemail and email auto-response
[ ] Update Slack status
[ ] File for expense reimbursement
[ ] Unpack and laundry
[ ] Review and update checklist for future trips
[ ] Check and recharge item trackers as needed

Notes

Use packing cubes and dedicated compartments to organize items by category
Pack for one week and use laundry services for longer trips
Leave space in luggage for items acquired during the trip
Consider local regulations and cultural norms when packing
Adjust packing based on specific trip requirements (business, leisure, or mixed)
Regularly check the item tracker app to ensure all tagged items are accounted for
The Formal Attire, Cold Weather/Hiking Attire, Swimwear, and International Travel sections are optional and can be skipped if not needed for the trip
Store keys in the backpack during travel to avoid misplacement
The Fitness Equipment drawstring backpack allows for easy transport to workout locations during the trip
Use the emoji tags in the Travel Clothes section to quickly identify appropriate items for your specific travel scenario: [💼B] Business, [❄️C] Cold, [🌞H] Hot, [💤L] Long flight, [✈️S] Short flight, [🌐A] All scenarios

Remember to review and customize this checklist before each trip, as needs may vary depending on the destination, duration, and purpose of your travel.

This 2024 edition of my travel checklist replaces the previous checklist that I have been using and updating since I was a teenager.