So you're going on a trip

Giddy. Excited. Slightly nervous. Something new. Feels like Christmas Eve as a wee lad. Packed bag 3 times. Checklist reviewed 3 times. All that's left is to go explore!

We like to have fun. We like to be social. We like to say, "Hey, I'm going on a trip, and that's all there is to it."

That's great and all, but it's wrong. So much goes into having a successful trip, and if preparing is done right then you can avoid a LOT of headaches later on. Of course, you can keep an exciting impromptu feel to your excursions, but get the basics down and you will thank yourself later.

When going to an NFL game in Europe, a jersey is a must

Bear Necessities:
- Passport, ID, Copies of each
- Form of Currency
- Phone (this can take care of boarding passes, maps, notes, camera, itinerary, and so much more)
- Map (if there is no internet for phone....but let's be real...where are you going, the moon?)
- Neck Wallet to discourage thieves

1. Know your trip

What are you taking? Where are you wanting to go? What to see? What kind of trip are you going on? Business/ leisure? Hiking? Walking a lot? How much money will you need? What to do with pets/kids? Hostel, Hotel, Airbnb, Couchsurf? Will there be power to charge phone and internet to access a map?

Answering these basic questions will help you narrow down what to put on your checklist. Every trip is going to be different and require a different set of items to accommodate the tripee.

2. Make a checklist

After answering your basic questions, make a checklist that will make sense for your area of travel. If you are going on a hiking excursion where you will be staying in tents, then it might be a good idea to bring a tent! Other items to bring would be a sleeping bag, lots of water, boots, and a plan for food (whether your food is pre-made or you will be on-the-go eating).

A site that is very good with coordinating a good trip with proper gear is Outfit Me Hub. You can use it to see what they would recommend on a trip you are considering, then pick out gear from the site or arrange your own.

Regardless of where you are going, you will find out quickly that a little prep goes a long way and it will at least let you get that much further. Of course there are spontaneous adventures that happen that can't be planned for, those just have to be taken as they come!