2 weeks left - what should I be doing?

-Do a test pack of ~everything~ on your packing list including clothes, shoes, toiletries, charger cords etc. and this would be both your suitcase and carry-on or purse

-Start printing out your documents/itinerary/reservations/supplemental stuff and figure out how to keep it organized. I use a plastic folder.

-Check your airline to make sure there have not been any schedule changes.

-Notify your credit card companies.

-Notify your bank/credit union so your debit cards are OK to use.

-Order GBP or Euro if you are planning to do that.

-Prepay bills

-Have a copy of critical user names/passwords AND stupid security question answers for any websites you might need to access.

-Notify local police, post office, cancel paper

-Get out your passport (check expiration date) and money belt

-If you have ordered a special meal on your International flight, check to see that that is still in place

-Download guide books to iPad or rip out sections you will need if you are taking paper ones

• Check passport expiry date - a bit late now.
• Check timing of transport to airport.
• Make sure you know the time difference between home and your destination.
• Calm down. You are supposed to be having fun. Relax, and keep cool. Accept that something will go wrong during your trip, but that will not be a problem, it will be a fun experience.
• The best parts of the trip will be the unexpected lucky happen-stances.
• You know a lot more about your intended destination than did Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus and many more travellers before you.

You've been given some good responses already about specific details.

Print out a packing list for your suitcase, so you can check off each item as you pack. The list will also help you NOT add extra items last-minute when you're feeling anxious the last day and start packing "what if" items.

Print out a list of the things that need to happen these last few weeks. Separate the items into Week 3, 2, 1 and add the person responsible to it. If you can show your family the list, it sets expectations for everyone along with a great feeling as you collectively check off items each week. Also, share the excitement; what are you each looking forward to seeing or experiencing?

These lists will help you feel less anxious. Also, consider the critical items you need with you: Passports, moneybelt, ATM/credit cards, itinerary list, camera or phone, prescription meds. Everything else could be purchased or ignored if you happened to forget them.

At this point, give yourself the approval to go with what you've already planned for your trip. I can feel anxious that last month if I think I should still be looking for any options I might have missed earlier in my planning.

"Check passport expiry date - a bit late now."

Actually I was thinking that since OP lives in Indiana if there was a problem that Chicago likely has one of the Regional Passport Agencies that can issue a Passport on an expedited basis.

I can check "check passports" off my list - this conversation got me up to double check - 2018 and 2023. We are good to go!

I do appreciate the good suggestions and reassurance. Chris F, you have the Swiss weather under control for me, yes? :-)

Make a 'last moments' checklist and post in very noticeable place. Things like- be certain you have turned off stove, set thermostats, have house keys, passports and (if needed) boarding passes in hand, if pre-purchasing currencies, they are in your money pouch or wallet, sufficient medications are packed, you have list of emergency numbers (doctor's names and number, pharmacy, family, etc.) or they are in your phone if taking, you have list of medical conditions and surgeries, etc.

As others have said, there are only a few mistakes you can make that are really critical. I, myself, once neglected to check the expiration date on my passport until two weeks before departure. That was not good, and I still have occasional passport-related nightmares.

About 24 hours before departure, I go through my wallet and the other contents of my purse, removing everything that isn't strictly necessary for an overseas trip--things like loyalty cards and library cards. I record any membership numbers I might possibly need (frequent flyer, library for e-book downloads, etc.) on a small card I tuck into my wallet; that's something that could be done earlier.

I post a list of food to be discarded on the front of the refrigerator so I remember to take care of that step on departure day.

Shortly before departure I strip all keys from my key ring except my door keys and remove all US coins from my purse.

Edited to add: Pam's suggestion for test-packing well ahead of time is great. Be sure the purse you are planning to use will hold all things you may want to carry in Europe--perhaps more items than you normally have with you at home. Since I normally just carry a purse (no supplemental tote bag), I want to be sure I have room for a water bottle, a collapsible umbrella, pages from one or more guidebooks, my cell phone, my tablet computer, and local maps and brochures.

Hi Amosk, some additional items that are on my to do list:

• Send e-mails to hotels to re-confirm reservations
• Find someone to mow the lawn
• Pay bills
• Have the mail stopped
• If you are planning to send postcards, print address labels of friends/family
• If you are planning to use a taxi/shuttle upon arrival, make a notecard with the name and address of your first hotel
• Leave a copy of your itinerary, names of hotels, and phone numbers with a family member/friend
• Let a neighbor know that you will be gone until (date)

Have a great trip!

Take care of the "to do" list a little over time so as to keep the burden light. At some point (soon if not now), you should just relax and not think about the trip at all until it's time to leave. Life shouldn't be a continuous do-to list or ramp-up for a future event. It's good to take a total breather and detach emotionally. The excitement will come back but you don't need to be in a constant state of anxiety before a trip. If you forget something, you can buy most things when you're over there so it's not worth worrying too much about.

Besides all of the things listed above we did something advised by this forum that really helped a lot: two days before flying we packed our bags except for electronics that needed last minute charging. The full day before our flight was one of total relaxation - mani/pedis, and meeting with our pet sitters. No last minutes stress. Enjoy your trip!

Not knowing your personal situation but for us we always start a little time shifting to by moving these up an hour every three or four days. We are now able to time shift about 4 hours which is a big plus is fighting jet lag. We are always fully packed by the week before and sitting in the corner. That way we can do all kinds of "what if" mind games without any serious consequences.

What exactly are you worried about? Or is it just general worry about everything.

Thank you all for more good suggestions. Frank, one worry is shoes 😉 - different climates, problem feet and only a backpack. But I think the bigger worry is everything about this trip is different than all other trips I have taken. Our typical vacations are in one location in the US where we settle in for a week or so with short day trips and plenty of down time. I have never been away for three weeks with three different languages and three different currencies relying solely on public transportation. of course, I knew all this when I planned it! I am feeling WAY more excitement than worry and having these good lists to check things off of gives me the illusion that I know what I'm doing. I'm hoping this prep work in advance will help me be relaxed and spontaneous while there with my two college girls!

The night before a trip to Europe, I lighten up my wallet by removing the cards that I will not be using in Europe - grocery store cards, department store credit cards, "frequent flier" cards from airlines, hotels and restaurants that I will not be using on my trip, library cards, voter registration cards, etc. This makes a difference in the weight of my purse and, more importantly, gives me something to do!

I don't think I saw this:

• make photo copies of your passport and make sure you carry each others copy
• email to yourself the customer service numbers for the CC or ATM cards you are carrying
• carry a copy of your prescriptions (glasses, meds, etc.)

Lots of good suggestions, I do not need to repeat them, but here is one not mentioned...starting to adapt your body to the time shift.

I typically am a early to bed and early to rise type person, at work often before 7:00 AM and to bed well before 10:00. But before a trip I will start trying to go to bed even earlier and waking earlier. Shifting your body clock an hour or two earlier helps with the transition.

My guess is that you have over planned and over organized. But you will learn after the first trip. Our fourth or five day is always totally blank. We can either sleep in, do laundry, do unplanned things, catch up on things we missed the first four or five days, do some new planning or go somewhere unplanned. Regardless of our research and advance planning the TI is the first stop when we hit town just to double check everything.

As for shoes, we only take one pair - Ecco city walkers with changeable innersoles. Change innersoles everyday to keep fresh and dry. They are waterproof so wet weather is not a problem.

Here's the one I missed this trip -- check the expiration date on debit and credit cards. I tried out my Schwab debit card locally to confirm that I had the correct PIN number (only use that card when I travel abroad, but it's my MAIN cash card for those trips) and it was no longer valid. Just had time to get a replacement card FedEx'd, arriving the day before flight date.
We cleaned out the refrigerator and treated ourselves to dinner out the night before the flight. Burgers and fries!
Also, don't forget to check in online for your flight, usually 24 hours in advance -- United had a new app which required taking a photo of each passport.

And check the pockets of any carry-on items to make sure you didn't leave a Swiss Army Knife or some other no-fly item from another trip. (Have your students check theirs, too, and remind them of 3-1-1 rules.)