Best travel checklist on the web

Here's the best travel checklist on the web: http://www.richard-anderson.org/travelx.html

Bloggers/Webmasters: Please add a link to this page on your web site. This page is only ranked seventh in the Google results for 'travel checklist' and the higher-ranked pages are decidedly inferior.

This is a not-for-profit web site; I do this as a public benefit.

Like you need all that stuff?? 5 days worth of underwear a change of clothes, money, passport, toothbrush.. what else do you need?

why do you need underwear??

I'm not goin commando...

From your website: 'Attach luggage tags with your name, home address and phone number to all baggage, including carry-on items. For extra safety, attach additional tags containing contact information at your next destination before each plane trip. Another good thing to do is to place tags inside your luggage (to facilitate recovery of stolen bags).'

**Never** list your phone number on an outside tag.

Tags can easily become torn from a bag; handles break off.

Before packing any bag, sit down and type up a list containing: Name, address, phone number, date of [first] flight/destintation and flight number, name of hotel or friend/relative's name and address, dates of return travel or ongoing travel & accommodation etc.

Place one of the above on the bottom of each bag before packing. Pack bag/s. Before closing take a piece of paper and list what is packed on top ie: brown and white striped sweater; blue scarf etc. Before closing bag, place another id sheet on top.

Then on same piece of paper you have written top contents of that bag, draw shape of bag and mark down: brand name; colour, where handles are located, if it pullup handle, where pockets/zippers etc are located.

Do this for each bag. Place in a safe place and place in your carryon luggage.

If a bag is lost it makes it much easier for the details of the missing bag to be entered in to a lost baggage report and be described accurately. You have no idea how many people cannot remember the colour of their bag, the shape etc or the contents on top.

Take strips of coloured ribbon and tie onto handles. And/or place a strap around bag - some people have their name painted on the strap.

When you check your bags in, ask to see the bag tags before they are placed on your bag - ensure they have the correct flight number and 3 letter IATA destination code. Most should show your name as well.

Ensure you have the correct bag tags attached to your ticket jacket cover [or whatever e-ticket paper you have].

Surely putting your address on any bag on your outbound trip is simply inviting burglary whilst you are away.

I just insert my business cards into the luggage tags. That way if the bag is stolen the thief don't know my home address. That and their is usually someone at work to take a message if the airline is trying to return a missing bag.

Yes and No. The chances of having your home burgled if you put your phone/address on the bag *vs* the chances of the luggage being misdirected.

IMO, the chances of misdirection are much higher than the chances of burglary. If the luggage is misdirected, and has no contact details, the chances are it will take much longer to get it back to you.

My personal decision is to put names and phone numbers on the inside and outside - but they're not my phone number. One is my mother's phone number in my home town, and the other is my contact details at my destination (where we'll be for a considerable period). Both of those contact people will be in possession of my complete itinerary.

There's not much point in putting your home phone number or address on your bag if you're not going to be there!

I always put the office address and phone number on the bags. That way thieves don't know where I live.