Top 4 Things to Do Before You Go Travel preparations can be stressful. That's why you should tick off these 4 things immediately. (1) Passport and Visas Make sure you have your passport and necessary visas. If you don't have a passport already, make sure you apply for one 2-3months in advance of your trip. Waiting for visa can take up to a month in itself, so get your application in early. (2) Mail Have a friendly neighbor collect your mail or arrange for your local post officer to hold your deliveries for the duration of your stay in Eastern Europe. (3) Contact Information Give contact information to appropriate people. Let others know what email address they can reach you at, what hotels you may be staying in, and the duration of your stay in each location. (4) Someone to Watch Your House If you rent, let your landlord know how long you will be gone. If you own a house, have someone check on your place once a week.