What items are needed for travel?
Now that travel has returned after a long wait through the covid pandemic, and if you are lucky enough to have found tickets and hotels, then you need this travel packing list to ensure your plans run as smoothly as possible (at least from a packing perspective)!
I have started to put to good use all those frequent flyer points I accumulated and have scored myself free first-class tickets to Europe. I have been equally lucky to fly on my favourite airlines.
Having recently come back, I was reminded not to overpack (as I barely use half the things I carry around) and, simultaneously, of the simple things I should be packing that can make all the difference. Being organised is equally important; that’s why I am a fan of packing cubes that separate your belongings in an easy-to-find manner. You can pick up a pack of 9 or 10 different-sized cubes from eBay or amazon for around $25.
Travelling light has massive bonuses; if you can master this, you could even aim at hand luggage only. This reduces the risk of lost or delayed baggage, which can lead to missing connecting flights. There is no better feeling than disembarking, heading straight to the taxi rank, and getting on with your holiday plans. Furthermore, carrying big bulky luggage can become tiresome and a nightmare when dealing with small hotels that don’t have elevators. Solo travellers with anxiety would avail from packing light. If you intend to rent a car, you will have to fork out even more money to get a vehicle that can fit all your luggage.
I am yet to master hand luggage only, but I reckon I am almost there. On my 20-day trip to Europe from Australia, I tested the theory of packing half of what I thought I needed, and I still came home with unused items. I am now about to test the carry-only luggage on my next trip, which is 4 weeks in Europe. Take as less as possible and wash as you go. It beats an overloaded suitcase, half filled with smelly dirty laundry, towards the end of the trip.
How Do I Make a Travel List?
It will differ for each person as we have different needs, but a travel list will be somewhat similar in the main things you would need to have. People often ask, what do I need for a 7-day trip or what do I need for a 10-day trip? What items are needed for travel?
If you are travelling with kids you will probably need an additional list which would cover essential and non essential items. You can take a look at the top 20 tips for a stress free journey when travelling with kids.
The main items you require are irrespective of the days you travel. For example, a charger will always be part of your holiday packing list whether you travel for one day or two months or whether you travel domestically or internationally. It will also be part of a backpacking packing or a ski packing list per sae. But let’s break it up into categories to make things easier and more organised. Remember that there may be many things you can buy whilst overseas and dispose of before you come home. Things like shampoo & conditioner or sunscreen lotion, which are heavy, bulky items, are things I generally buy overseas. This will reduce the amount you carry from the get-go.
Travel Abroad Packing List (and to-do list)
Travel packing list template – Downloadable Version Available Here:
Documents
. Passports
. Visas
. Tickets/Boarding Passes (hard copies as well as digital) Note: NEVER post your boarding passes on social media channels as there are great risks in doing so.
. Hotel reservations (hard copies as well as digital)
. Driver’s License (including international driver’s license if you need one)
. Transport bookings & information
. Travel Insurance (hard copies as well as digital) keep the phone number handy and easy to access
. Medical prescriptions & doctor’s letters
. Vaccination certificates (some countries may still require proof of vaccination)
Finances
. Cash / Currencies
. Credit Cards (I always take at least 2)
. ATM Cards
. Any bank tokens or net codes to access your bank accounts whilst travelling
Gadgets
. Your phone
. Airtags to keep track of your luggage
. Chargers
. Adaptors for different countries
. Battery packs
. Headphones / Air pods
. iPad /Tablet
. Laptop (download your favourite shows to watch onboard your flight or during downtime overseas. I spent a 14-hour flight watching my favourite TV series)
WiFi ( Sapphire, formerly WifiVox)
Check if your mobile phone plan allows you to roam overseas. This would be particularly important as part of a business travel checklist. Whilst I enable my $ 5-a-day international roaming with Vodafone, some countries are exempt from the list and cost a fortune to switch on your phone. One of those countries is the United Arab Emirates, which also bans things like WhatsApp Video Calling.
I use Sapphire (formerly known as Wifivox) – a pay-as-you-go service that allows you to switch on your phone and connect to their Wi-Fi through a small pocket size device.
If you don’t care to have your phone number switched off whilst overseas, then the better and cheaper option would be to buy yourself a local sim card. These are generally available at airports around the world. In fact, on my recent transit through Dubai, Immigration/Passport Control handed them out to passengers as they entered the country.
Medical
. Prescription Medication
. Pain Relief
. Hay fever / Allergy relief
. Vitamins
. Sunscreen
. Insect Repellent
. Small first aid kit
. Anti-Nausea pills for sea sickness or air sickness
Travel Preparation Checklist Covid Related
I was lucky enough to get Covid at the end of my trip. The same night I returned home, I started showing the first symptoms. I can’t imagine the dampener it would have placed on my vacation, given that my trip was 20 days, as it took me three weeks to recover. I had only packed masks, wipes, and sanitisers. I thought prevention was the way to go. Planning for my next trip, I would pack essential items that helped my recovery from Covid. Given the sudden onset of symptoms at 3:00 am, I want to be able to reach out for relief immediately. Here is a list of those items that would be part of my international travel packing list:
. Oximeter
. Thermometer
. RAT Tests
. Codral Night & Day tablets
. Sanitiser
. Anti-bacterial wipes
. Masks
. Tissues
. Tea Bags (Ginger, Lemon, Honey)
Toiletries
. Shampoo & Conditioner
. Hairbrush
. Hair Dryer
. Toothpaste / Toothbrush
. Tissues
. Nail Clippers
. Shaver/shaving cream
. Night Guard
. Deodorant
. Perfume
. Makeup
. Earbuds
. Pads/tampons
Clothes
Essential Items
. Underwear
. Socks
. Bras
. Sleepwear
Casual
. Tshirts
. Shorts
. Skirts
. Swimsuits / Bathers
. Jeans
. Shirts
. Activewear
. Puffer Jacket / Vest (if heading to cold areas)
. Scarf/gloves (if heading to cold areas)
Formal / Evening Wear
. Pants
. Dresses
. Shirts
. Ties
. Shawls / Wraps
. Blouse / Cardigan
Shoes
. Running Shoes (the most comfortable you can find, suitable for walking also)
. Ugg Boots (if heading to cold areas)
. Sandals
. Thongs/flip flops
. Hiking Boots
. Casual shoes
. Formal Shoes
Extras
. Reading glasses
. Jewellery
. Belts
. Sunglasses
. Laundry Bag
. Fluffy Dryer Sheets (to place in a laundry bag for odours)
. Waist pouch (to carry valuables/passports when out and about)
. Books/Magazines
. Apple TV (can hook up to your hotel TV)
. Hot water bottle (not a wheat bag as they may not be permitted in some countries)
. Neck pillow
. Flight Socks
Travel Preparation Checklist – BEFORE You Leave!
Subscribe to the smart traveller
This was very reassuring. Subscribe / Register to smart traveller and keep up to date with any issues that may develop in your visiting countries. Remember that in Australia most travel insurance won’t cover you if a “do not travel” warning is issued to the country you are travelling to. Therefore, taking a screenshot of the current travel advice at the time of booking is essential.
Similar services can be found in the USA by visiting the smart traveller enrollment program.
In the United Kingdom, you can visit travelaware.
Your house & Car
Keep your house safe, locked and a key with someone you trust in case of emergencies. If you have plants that need to be watered, arrange for someone to water them.
Leave your car in a secured area (preferably a garage) and away from falling branches, easy-to-flood areas, and rain/hail damage.
Mail redirection
Either have someone collect your mail or head down to your post office and have it redirected for the time you are away. It’s peace of mind.
Out-of-Office Response
If you do not intend to look at work emails whilst on vacation, setting up an out-of-office response would be a good idea. I found that a simple message letting people know that I was away from my desk taking annual leave was enough.
Your bills
Opt-in for electronic bills so you can pay them when they are due. Ensure you can log in and make transfers whilst overseas.
Social media
As tempting as sharing your vacation and all those fantastic photos might be, wait till you get back. Don’t become a victim of home invasion and theft by sharing your vacation information socially.
Credit Cards
Let your credit card provider know the countries you will visit, so they don’t block your card, as it will look like unusual activity on your card.
House Keys
Leave a key with someone you trust, and don’t forget to take a set of keys with you!
Carry-On Luggage
If you are checking in baggage and taking carry-on luggage, ensure you are within the airline’s limits. Check-in staff weigh all carry-on luggage now.
Don’t attempt to hide any pieces at the check-in counter because you will get pulled up at the gate. Your essentials may quickly be taken away and placed into cargo before you can blink an eyelid.
It’s essential to be courteous to other passengers as well. There is limited space in overhead luggage compartments. If you need two for yourself, you are taking from someone else. I can generally fit my carry-on luggage into half of one overhead compartment.
Your carry-on luggage should contain essentials and items that cannot be replaced easily. These would include medications, laptops, some toiletries needed throughout your flight and a spare change of clothes. Ensure to check the rules of carrying liquids, including how much per bottle and what kind of packaging is required.
This should give you an idea of what to pack when heading overseas. If you need guidance on which airlines to travel with, you can head on and read about the best airlines to fly and which aircraft to look out for when travelling intra-Europe or domestically in the USA.
If you are heading over to Europe, don’t forget to familiarise yourself with getting compensated by airlines for delays and cancellations. This is information that you need to know.
Happy holidaying😊
