Before you go
Before you go: make the boring stuff easy.
A few minutes now can save you from making every decision while tired, late, hungry, or staring at a dead phone.
The point
You don't need a perfect itinerary. You need a few useful options.
Check official information
If you're travelling outside Canada, review the Government of Canada's current Travel Advice and Advisories for your destination. Check again if conditions change or your trip is still weeks away.
Check official travel adviceTell one person, if it works for you
Consider sharing your broad plans with someone you trust: where you're going, where you're staying, how you're getting there, and when you expect to check in.
What not to assume. Sharing plans can be useful, but it isn't required for every trip or safe in every relationship. Choose what fits your situation.
Keep the essentials accessible
- Travel documents and copies stored appropriately.
- Accommodation name and contact details.
- Transportation booking or backup notes.
- Local emergency number and official Canadian support information.
- One trusted contact.
- A payment backup if possible.
- A way to charge your phone if possible.
- Any medication, mobility, caregiving, accessibility, or health needs that matter for your trip.
Build your backup
Flights get delayed. Rides disappear. Plans change. A backup doesn't need to be dramatic—it can be a second route, a public place to wait, a person to call, or a little extra battery.
Try this now. Name one public place near your arrival point where you could pause, charge your phone, ask for help, or rethink a plan.
A backup is just an exit you prepared in advance.