BirdBound Preparation Tips and Checklist

*WAY BEFORE LEAVING:

>STYLE OF TRIP:
First, decide how you will travel:
With a tour / independently / guide / friend / family?
This will dictate how you proceed into the planning stages.
A tour, of course, takes a lot of the prep pressure off. However, a tour is not for everyone, especially if you want to travel with non-birders (or non-whatever your interest).
The next decision then is whether or not to hire a local birding guide. If affordable, this is recommended. A guide can help in both the itinerary planning ahead of time, and of course the travel and birding during. Generally, guides are findable through the internet. Try International Birdguide Register.
Word of mouth is helpful, too - ask around.

>NEXT:
Check Travel Advisories: US Dept. of State
(Note: Ignore generalized cautions. US advisories are notoriously overly wintry).
Check Passport and Visas
(Note: Passport should be good for 3-6 months beyond return date. For Visas, check out country's consulate/embassy website).
Contact Tourist Office
(Again, can be done online. Be sure to communicate
special interest and special destinations within their country. Generally, you will receive maps of parks and all kinds of useful stuff).
Check Medications / Vaccinations: CDC Website
(See more on this in Cautions).
Buy Travel / Bird Books - Study Both
(See Travel Books)
Study Foreign Language
(Common mistake: Don't attempt to memorize complete phrases (as most traveler phrasebooks are set-up). Instead, learn a few words - ie. please, thank you, open?, where is?,
chicken, bottled water, etc. Rely on universal words: hotel, restaurant, taxi, holiday, airport, etc.)
Exercise - Start walking regularly. And do it for life.

>ITINERARY PLANNING:
Warrants its own little section. This is a back and forth, rather messy process. Have each traveler study the country and communicate their 'must-sees'. Internet (look for birding trip reports), travel books, and guide emails are all useful.
Lay out a map of the country and start seeing where all these choices are. Consider how to travel between - internal flights / car and driver-guide / rental car / local public transportation (least expensive, of course).
Next step - lodging in each chosen area. Email is the tool. But don't be afraid to call or fax, if needed. Dial 011-country code-number. Sometimes astonishingly easy and effective.

*JUST BEFORE LEAVING:

stop newspaper
stop mail
stop or rearrange services: maid / lawn / pest control
   (overgrown lawn shouts 'not home!')
call home security w/ dates
watering / place hoses
prepay bills
pet arrangements
check birthdays / anniversaries
clean out frig
last garbage pickup
reset A/C or heat
itineraries to friends / family
computer / electronics unplugged
debit card $ on account
call credit card(s) w/ dates / destination
(or they may 'freeze' your card due to sudden odd charges)