Why don’t I follow my own advice, and pack and finish all preparations early? Tomorrow I leave for Mexico in a few hours and I”m still crossing things off my list. Here’s my pre-trip “Don’t Forget To Do” list. 
1. Call my credit card company to add a “Travel Alert” to my account. When they see ATM debits and Credit Card charges from Mexico they’ll accept them. I am careful to give the exact dates so they know when I’ll be home.
2. Call my cell phone carrier and add the International Plan. With ATT it cost $4.99 for a month. The charge can be pro-rated, so I make a note to call and cancel it as soon as I get home. Most importantly, I ask how much each minute will cost if I call from Mexico to the USA. How much will text messages cost? I learn that I should turn the phone off, (use Airplane Mode) or I’ll be charged minutes for every phone message and text sent to me.
3. I go into the bank and get lots of crisp, clean $1 bills to use for tips and shopping (when the vendor doesn’t have change). I also take a couple hundred dollars in US currency, which I keep in my money belt or lock in my suitcase in my room, if a safe isn’t available.
4. Check my list of last minute items I’ve forgotten in the past:
- cell phone charger,
- night gown, toothpaste,
- washcloth (many hotels overseas do not provide them),
- large safety pin or clothespin to fully close hotel drapes,
- a rubber door stopper for added security in hotel rooms.
Good luck. I hope you can learn from my mistakes. Au Revoir. 
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