“International Travel Packing List” will get you on the road with a feather light full backpack. You’ll have all the top quality gear you need. From the Serengeti to the streets of Paris, you’ll be comfortable, confident, and prepared for anything.
My #1 International Travel Packing List rule is PACK LIGHT.
You will be very unhappy carrying 40+ pounds of stuff. I’ve seen couples walking through airports with a massive 80 liter backpack on their back, with hiking boots and rolled up sleeping mats dangling off the top, AND another bursting-at-the-seams 30 liter backpack strapped to their chest. They look very sad and confused. It doesn’t have to be that way!
I recommend limiting yourself to a backpack of 45 liters or less, with a small, foldable 10-18 liter daypack, and a maximum of 25 pounds of total weight. I recently traveled comfortably for five months, through all types of weather, with 22 pounds of stuff. Every year I take less and less. This International Travel Packing List will help you minimize and comfort-ize.
Think carefully about each item you pack.
Do you really like that shirt? Have you used it often on past trips? There is nothing more regret-inducing than re-packing your bag at the end of each stop, and seeing some heavy object that you still haven’t used. It is a waste of your limited packing space, wasted physical effort to jam that thing in there, and wasted effort to drag it all over the world.
Weigh everything you plan to take.
This forces you to evaluate the “energy expenditure cost“ of bringing each item. That extra pair of shoes are nice, but do you really NEED them? Especially now that you know they weigh 2.3 pounds? The 22 pound international travel packing list below had to get me through 95 degree afternoons in summertime Africa, as well as 25 degree mornings in wintertime Germany. I had to have clothes for European coffee shops, and for days on Madagascar beaches. I needed to survive a 46 hour journey from Hawaii to Addis Ababa, and a 16 hour day on Mozambican buses.
Take the international travel packing list “Proper Packing Test”.
Put all your gear in your backpack. It should fit with a little room for a few more things (that you’ll want to buy on your trip). Now put the backpack on, click the waist-belt shut, cinch the shoulder straps. Put your choice of walking shoes on. Go walk around your town…at noon…for two hours.
How do you feel? You should feel hot and tired, but not in pain. Your back should not be hurting, your shoulders should not be chafed. If you feel just plain tired, you have achieved success. If it was absolutely miserable, then it’s time to re-evaluate. Backpack a bad fit? Too much weight? Find the answer BEFORE your trip. You can replace a lot of stuff on the road, but there is no REI in Lesotho.
Travel is not a fashion show.
Unless you are Insta-famous and making big bucks from your Taj Mahal photo-shoots, it’s just not practical or necessary to lug around piles of clothes. You need to become comfortable with wearing the same clothes. Besides, if you are moving to new locations every three or four days, no one at that location will get to see any more than your three core outfits. So pick three outfits you really like, and be prepared to do some hotel sink/shower washing every three days.
I highly recommend investing in some merino wool. Merino wool is a magical fiber that really, truly does not stink. You can wear a merino shirt for three days and it will not smell. YOU might smell, but the shirt will not.
On your international travel packing list, there are some things you CANNOT forget and must not lose:
These would be: your passport, 2 ATM cards, 2 credit cards, emergency cash stash, smartphone, and any critical uncommon medications. These items must be secure at ALL times. They should never be tucked away in the bottom of your backpack. When you are moving between locations, they should be kept securely ON YOUR BODY, in a zipped pocket, or in a well hidden travel wallet.
Additionally, these things should be duplicated, and placed in separate locations. Location A has one ATM card, one credit card, half your cash, and your passport. Location B has one ATM card, one credit card, half your cash, your cell phone, and a laminated photocopy of your passport. For more on this, read my post How to Access Your Money in Foreign Countries.
You should also have scanned copies of passport/atm/credit cards kept in your email inbox, or google docs, or anyplace you can easily retrieve from any computer. Generally, you should leave the items in location A in your hotel when you are settled in a place. Even in countries that legally require you to have your passport on you at all times, I would still leave it in the hotel, and keep the laminated copy with me.
How much do I need to spend on stuff for my trip?
The short answer is nearly nothing. Almost everything on this international travel packing list are items you’ll already have. You don’t need to buy special “travel-size” things. However, if you have a little money to spend there are some things that can really improve your travel experience.
Remember that you can buy just about anything you need on the road. Surprisingly, people wear clothes pretty much everywhere. In fact, they wear interesting, different clothes, which you’ll want to buy. So leave some space in your bag. And every place on earth has cell phones. That charging cord you lost? You can buy a new one in Uganda. If you didn’t bring the correct electric plug converter for Myanmar, I guarantee you can pick one up in the local market for a couple bucks. Prescription antibiotics can be purchased over the counter in most countries, and for much cheaper than in the USA. SIM cards, camera memory cards, earbuds, all that stuff is available wherever you are going, probably for cheaper than at home.
Why should you trust me?
- I chose the stuff on my International Travel Packing List by searching trusted review sites like The Wirecutter, Outdoor Gear Lab, and others. I’ve spent hours and hours choosing the BEST item for my personal international travel packing list. I have learned through trial and error. I’ve lost money through many pairs of uncomfortable shoes, and wedgie-producing underwear.
- I paid my own hard-earned cash for all of these things and I use them on every trip I take. That includes a five month around-the-world trip in 2017/2018 through freezing temperatures in wintertime Europe, scorching heat in summertime Africa, through 40 countries, and dozens of airports, buses, trains, vans, taxis, bicycles, and one camel. I used every item on the list, and I’ve ONLY listed items that YOU will be glad to have with you.
- I have not been paid to endorse, nor been provided, any product by any of these companies.
The Ultimate International Travel Packing List:
The Stuff I ALWAYS Pack:
CHECK ON AMAZON At 56 ounces, the Osprey Farpoint 55 Travel Backpack is my top choice for a travel backpack today. (Full Disclaimer – I’m currently using an old no-longer-available REI Ruckpack 40L, but when it dies, this is my pick) My factors in choosing a backpack are – airplane carry-on-ability, durability, weight, comfort, price. This one ticks all the boxes for me. It is durable enough to last years of travel without a single rip. It’s comfortable and light enough that you could walk 10 miles with all your stuff in it. It’s really only 40 liters, with a detachable 15 liter day pack, which is all the space you need.
It meets US carry-on baggage requirements. This is critical as it allows me the flexibility I need to change itineraries, drop segments, accept bump vouchers, avoid bag fees. Is it possible to travel with a rolling suitcase? Yes, but only if you are limiting your travel to first world countries, and mostly in cities. A rolling suitcase is going to be a real bummer the first time you have to walk a mile down a dirt road or broken sidewalk to get to your hostel from the bus station.
CHECK ON AMAZON 40oz The ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3 is the smallest, lightest laptop I can find
that does everything I need it to do. (Full Disclaimer – I’m currently using an older ASUS Flip C302A, but when it dies, this is my pick) It weighs only 2.51 pounds, and fits easily into my Atom day pack. I can manage Worldwide Wilbur through the WordPress site, watch Netflix, and quickly and responsively surf the web even with 30 tabs open at once. It has a 360 degree hinge, a back-lit keyboard, and a full aluminum case. It is a Wirecutter pick for Best Chromebook and Best Laptop Under $500. In their testing, they found it to have a brighter screen, more responsive trackpad, and a more comfortable keyboard than its competitors. It’s battery also lasted over 8 hours under heavy use. I love this little Chromebook!
CHECK ON AMAZON 17.2oz Osprey Daylite 15 Liter Day pack. (this is effectively the attached 15L day pack that comes with the Farpoint combo pack. Now that I lug a laptop with me, I decided to upgrade from a squishy cheap day pack. The Osprey Daylite feels light and comfortable, yet bulletproof with a durable water repellent exterior. It has a side-entry zipper located by the padded back panel to inconspicuously hold a 13″ laptop. I especially like this, as I can lug my laptop while still looking like a broke backpacker. On the front of the pack, a long zip-closing stash pocket keeps small important items handy. The shoulder straps and back padding are much more substantial and comfortable than the average day pack.
CHECK ON AMAZON 11.1oz The Tribit StormBox Micro 2 Portable Speaker is the best small, light, yet powerful Bluetooth speaker. It pumps out 90 decibels and weighs only 11 ounces. There is no speaker lighter or smaller with as big of a quality sound. I love having music wherever I am, and this is the top choice for portability versus volume. It’s water resistant, can be paired with another one for stereo sound, charges quickly with a USB-C input, and has a 12 hour long battery life. It has a strap to attach it to a bike or belt loop, or tree branch. It has a huge 120 foot Bluetooth range, so you can walk away from it with your phone in your pocket and it keeps going.
CHECK ON AMAZON 9.5oz The PackTowl Personal Quick Dry Microfiber Towel is the fastest drying, most absorbent lightweight travel towel made. I love this towel. With it, I can jump in the ocean anytime, anywhere. I can turn a bathroom sink into a full shower. I get the largest size (Beach 36″ x 59″), as even that size folds small enough to pack easily in the zip bag the comes with it. It can be used as an extra blanket, or folded up as a pillow. It doesn’t smell bad when wet, and dries very quickly. There is an even lighter version called the Ultralight, but it isn’t as absorbent.
CHECK ON AMAZON 8.5oz (including case) Google Pixel 7 – 5G 128 GB Unlocked Your smartphone is the most powerful travel tool ever created. You need one to book flights, hotels, translate languages, convert currencies. I switched from an iPhone to a Google Pixel. I had two main reasons. The Pixel takes the best pictures of any smartphone on the market, and I need to start taking better pics for the blog. Secondly, I wanted to switch to Google Fi, the absolute best phone service for frequent international travel. For more specifics, please check out my post on how to Get Cheap Mobile Phone Service Worldwide. Also, you should always download an offline map of your destination onto your phone BEFORE you travel. With Google Maps, you can download a local map, and then even with no cell service, you’ll be able to navigate a city with only your GPS signal. I got this lifesaving trick from the helpful Backpacking Europe Packing List.
CHECK ON AMAZON 6.9oz (with two cords) The Nitecore NB 10000 Gen II Ultra-Slim Power Bank is my pick for best travel battery backup. I used to carry a 20,000mAh battery bank that had twice the battery power, but was also twice as heavy and bulky. It was great for recharging on plane flights and bus rides, but it had a major flaw. Often I found myself heading out to walk around town all day and needing a battery backup, but not really able to fit it in my pants pocket. The Nitecore easily fits in any pocket, right next to my phone. A Pixel 7 can recharge 2.4 times at a blazing 20 watts through a USB-C cord. I love this thing. It is a huge upgrade in portability.
CHECK ON AMAZON 6.0oz The Zendure Passport III Universal Travel Adapter is by far the best travel adapter on the market today. It has US/EU/AU/UK wall plugs. It can charge up to six devices at once, at a combined 65 watt output. It has four USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and one universal multi-prong power cord port. If you have an old adapter with just USB-A ports, it’s time to upgrade to something like this that can charge your phone twice as fast. I chose the bright blue version, since I already have lots of stuff that’s plain black or white floating around in my bag.
CHECK ON AMAZON 5.6oz Kindle (11th Generation) I can’t carry 10 books along on my travels, but I can load thousands of books on this very easy to use device. It’s 6″ display is easy to read in bright sunlight, which is critical to me, as I like to read outdoors. You can even read in the pool as it is waterproof to 6 feet and up to an hour! It’s worth investing in one even if you don’t have time for pleasure reading, because all major travel guides are available in fully searchable e-book formats now. And did you know that Lonely Planet guides are available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers? The battery lasts up to six weeks, and fully charges in just two hours with a USB-C cable! It really has no competitors, other than battling with screen glare by reading a book on your phone or tablet for free. I chose this version over the Kindle Paperwhite as it is the smallest and lightest (and cheapest)!
CHECK ON AMAZON 4.3oz Zero Grid Travel Security Belt. I call this “The Magic Belt”. I love it. It is one of the most valuable items on my international travel checklist. It is a great place to hide that $200 in emergency cash you need to carry. I fear the day will come when I get robbed of everything, but at least I will still have cash thanks to this belt. It also serves as extra walking around cash. Many times I’ve been out on the town and down to my last dollar, when it was not convenient to go find an ATM, and I remembered “Hey! I have $200 around my waist! Yay!” Then I just find a men’s room stall where I can inconspicuously remove my belt and pull a couple twenties out. If you don’t like the casual nylon look of this belt, try the Leather Boss Leather Money Belt.
CHECK ON AMAZON 3.5oz Clear Travel Toiletry Bag I used to have a really nice super-lightweight toiletry bag with separate pockets and zippers and whatnot. But TSA insists on seeing what liquids are in my bag, and I’m sick of sourcing a one liter zip-lock bag for that absurd security theater. This bag is see-thru, and while it’s larger than one liter, I’ve never had it rejected by TSA.
CHECK ON AMAZON 3.3oz Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry Sack 13 liter. You want this for a couple of purposes. First, when you’ve just completed a muddy, rainy 5 hour hike, your clothes are disgusting, and you just have enough time to shower and change before you catch the bus to your next stop. What do you do with those clothes? You need a waterproof bag to separate them from the rest of your belongings in your backpack. Second, let’s say you are on an all day rafting trip. You want to bring your phone, camera, a dry change of clothes, maybe a book. A dry bag is the only safe place for that. I chose this one for its light weight and size.
CHECK ON AMAZON 2.3oz The Sea to Summit Ultra-SIL Compression Sack 10 Liter can squish your puffy jacket, fleece, and rain jacket all down to the size of a softball. I put all my winter clothes in it when travelling in warm areas. I put in my swimshorts/towel when in winter areas. The Sea to Summit version is as lightweight as it gets. If you have a puffy jacket, you need one of these.
CHECK ON AMAZON 3.2oz Marathon Basics CL030010WH Simple Travel Alarm Clock. I like this simple, reliable little alarm clock. I sleep better knowing it will work. Somehow my phone alarm is unreliable, other app functions get in the way, volume controls, battery issues etc. This alarm has never failed.
CHECK ON AMAZON 2.6oz The Black Diamond Spot 400-R Headlamp is the greatest travel headlamp you can buy. It is bright at 400 lumens, light at 2.6oz, durable, waterproof, and can be charged by a Micro-USB. Some of the world has no streetlights, and bad sidewalks. You’ll want a headlamp.
CHECK ON AMAZON 1.4oz The Shacke Hidden Travel Belt Wallet w/RFID Blocker is where I store all my absolutely critical stuff on the international travel checklist. Passport, cash, credit cards all go in here. It hooks through a belt loop, and you tuck it inside your pants. The felt backing is comfortable against your skin. It has three pockets to separate things as needed. It is RFID blocking to protect your credit cards. It works for me, but I recommend checking out all the options and picking out the perfect hidden travel money belt that fits you best.
CHECK ON AMAZON 1.4oz NecTeck Car Charger USB Adapter You might rent a car where you’re going right? Better bring this adapter. It has a fast charging USB-C and an old school USB-A slot.
CHECK ON AMAZON 1oz The Nidra Sleep Mask is simply the most comfortable eye mask out there. Way better than the one in your free airline care package. A must have along with foam earplugs.
CHECK ON AMAZON 0.7oz OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 Earphones. I love my Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones, but they take up too much space. I also can’t do the individual earbuds because one of them inevitably falls out of my ear into the depths of the plane seat while I’m sleeping and then is gone forever. Get some nice connected earbuds. These sound great, wont break the bank, and have a 30 hour(!!) battery life.
0.4oz Ink Pen. Bring three pens. You’ll need them to fill out customs forms at each new country. Be the hero who has one to share with your fellow traveler.
CHECK ON AMAZON 0.2oz Carbon Fiber Money Clip Lightweight packing means no thick leather wallet weighing you down. When I walk around a sketchy Latin American city where I could get mugged (as I did in Quito, Ecuador) I want to be carrying only the minimum needed; a little cash and one or two ATM/credit cards.
0.1oz Small Paper Clip This is actually a really important item. You need one of these to pop open your phone to change out the sim card. I once wasted an hour asking people to borrow one in Japan.
CHECK ON AMAZON 0.1oz the Flight Flap This thing is brilliant. You squeeze one end in between the tray table and the seat, and bend the bottom, and it holds your phone so you can watch that movie you downloaded onto Netflix.
CHECK ON AMAZON 0.1oz Macks Slim Fit Soft Foam Earplugs are a CRITICAL item in every backpack. They will get you through flight announcements, snoring hostel roommates, and blasting music videos on buses. In the hellhole of beeping car horns that is India, I wore them 10 hours a day. Bring a bunch. They disappear quickly.
Men’s clothing Packing List:
Guys, here are my tips on choosing clothes for long-term travel:
Pack lightweight clothes.
Consider the weight of each item you pack. Travel pants weigh half that of a pair of jeans. Sturdy hiking boots can weigh as much as all your clothes combined! Go light with every item.
Pack LESS clothes.
You don’t need more than two of anything (except underwear). Pack only clothes that you REALLY like. Don’t bring that shirt you don’t wear much, but you kinda think it might be good on a rainy day. Nope, it will just sit in your bag and haunt you. Bring that one shirt you think you looks really good on you, and wear it every damn day. Also, be willing to do some sink scrubbing every three days.
Embrace Merino Wool.
I know $50 for a tshirt sounds crazy, but when you wear it you’ll see why it is worth it. Super lightweight, cool, non-smelly, and saves you frequent trips to the laundromat.
Here is what I wear:
CHECK ON AMAZON 14.9oz Royal Robbins Alpine Road Pants These are my go-to evening wear pants. They are sooooooo comfortable. Though technically “hiking pants” they look like any normal dressy pants you’d wear to the office. Especially in the darker colors like charcoal, no one will notice that these are made of a stretchy, lightweight, technical material. I travel with two pairs of pants, one light colored for walking in the sun, and one darker, for looking presentable at dinner. But, these pants would also be perfect for a long hike on a cloudy or rainy day as water just rolls off them.
CHECK ON AMAZON 13.0oz Saucony Kinvara running shoes in black. These are my all around active shoes. These super-lightweight running shoes are made for fast training sessions. But they are sturdy enough for non-technical hikes, walking around town, and in the all black color, you might even get away with wearing them out to dinner. I don’t think you can find a better combination of light weight, durability and support in a running shoe.
CHECK ON AMAZON 12.8oz The Marmot Reactor Jacket fleece in gray is a lightweight, breathable fleece that is form fitting, with two useful zippered pockets in front, and one on the chest. Its really comfortable, and is my go to chilly weather pull-on. I bring it on airplanes, and anywhere air conditioning can be turned a little low. When paired with my SmartWool sweater, my Ghost Whisperer down jacket, and my rain jacket, I have a layered fortress of warmth and dry that can tackle temps down to zero Fahrenheit.
CHECK ON AMAZON 12.2oz Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants in Tapenade. These pants are simply the lightest, most comfortable hiking pants around. They are made of a thin material I can only compare to those 1980’s parachute pants with all the zippers. Despite being so light and thin, they seem durable and sturdy, and look like normal pants not made for breakdancing. I wear these throughout the daytime, and they stay cool in hot sun.
CHECK ON AMAZON 10.9oz Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic rain jacket. This is the best deal in lightweight athletic rain jackets right now. It’s stretchy, breathable for running and hiking, yet waterproof. (Full disclosure- I’m currently getting by with an old North Face rain jacket that is no longer available. I keep spraying it with water repellency chemicals, and it’s still working. But when it fails, this is the jacket I would buy).
CHECK ON AMAZON 8.3oz The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket is truly the Rolls Royce of down jackets. You will not believe that something that weighs 8.3 ounces, and stuffs to the size of a softball can keep you soooo warm. It is a miraculous piece of equipment. This is my single favorite item in my backpack! I love the look of it. It’s not cheap. But it is worth it. You have to try it on to believe how amazing it is. It is an Outdoor Gear Lab’s top pick, and the lightest down jacket currently made.
CHECK ON AMAZON 8.0oz Smartwool Intraknit Merino 200 Pattern Crew. This medium thick long sleeve shirt/sweater is made of soft merino wool, and can be worn as a single layer during cool temperatures or a base layer in the cold. It is form fitting and soft against your skin. And the best part is that merino wool is a naturally antimicrobial fabric, which prevents accumulation of odor-causing bacteria. You can wear this for a week (as I did on Mt. Kilimanjaro) and it WILL NOT SMELL.
CHECK ON AMAZON 7.8oz Quiksilver Amphibian Hybrid Shorts. I’m a big fan of Quiksilver products. These shorts are comfy to wear around town, AND you can swim in them! They are quick drying, lightweight, stylish. What’s not to like.
CHECK ON AMAZON 6oz Wooly Clothing Merino Crew Neck Tee Shirt. Merino Wool! You gotta get this stuff. This tee is light, cool, and does not collect odor. You don’t need to wash this shirt more than once a month. Just soak and lay flat to dry. Wooly Clothing brand makes inexpensive (by Merino standards) shirts that fit well and look good. These shirts will snag and wear out more quickly than some others, but at half the price.
CHECK ON AMAZON 6oz Wooly Clothing Merino Ultralight Polo Shirt. This polo shirt is made out of an even lighter thinner wool than the Crew Neck Tee. It’s soft and cool. Saves me from doing laundry. I like it.
CHECK ON AMAZON 3oz Wooly Clothing Merino Wool Ankle Air Socks. These socks go well with my black Saucony Kinvaras and stay odor free for multiple days.
8.6oz The Reef Phantom sandals just fit me best, and are very cushiony and light. They don’t last all that long. They did survive two months of everyday wear in Africa. Most long term travelers will prefer sturdier sandals like Chacos or Tevas. A serious travel minimalist could do an entire warm weather trip with no other shoes but Tevas. I prefer a casual, super lightweight, slip-on sandal like Reef.
3.3oz Banana Republic boxers. I bring 5 pair of these plain old cotton/poly boxers. They just fit me best. I have tried merino boxers and Ex Officio briefs, and they just don’t work for me. Nothing special about these, undies are certainly a personal choice.
CHECK ON AMAZON 1.6oz Two pair of Smartwool Womens Everyday Spruce Street Crew Socks. By now, you’ve figured out that I really, really like merino wool. Doing laundry is a time consuming task when traveling. With merino wool, I can triple the days I can go in between doing laundry. And these socks are my go-to dressy evening socks. I’m not sure why these are considered women’s socks. I think they are plenty manly enough for me.
International Travel Packing List – Toiletries / Medical Packing List:
This is the stuff that gets jammed into my see-thru bag. Most toiletries can be replaced on the road. Some of the medicines are actually much cheaper and easier to buy abroad than in the USA’s bloated medical system. If you need very specific medication, be sure to bring it with you.
- Toothbrush (cut in half to save room)
- Travel size Toothpaste
- Dental Floss
- Hairbrush
- 3.4oz sunscreen tube (expensive to buy in places with no indigenous pale people!)
- Carmex lip balm
- Travel size Deodorant stick
- Solid Cologne (for when deoderant just isn’t enough)
- Razor with replacement blades
- 3.4oz Shaving gel
- Macks Slim Fit Soft Foam Earplugs
- Ibuprofen (great for swelling, and my nightime pain reliever)
- Excedrin (my morning pain reliever as it has caffeine. The best hangover cure on Earth)
- Eyedrops (for dry eyes)
- Antibacterial wipes (to clean cuts and scrapes)
- Antibacterial gel (to put on cuts before applying a bandaid)
- Bandaids
- Tweezers
- Mosquito repellent (at least 40% deet)
- Hydrocortisone cream (for allergic skin reactions, poison ivy)
- Cough Drops
- Azithromyacin Z-PAC (this is the universal tool of the antibiotic world. It cures traveller’s diarrhoea, as well as killing multiple bacterial infections. You can get it over-the-counter nearly everywhere outside the US. Keep at least 4x250mg tablets on hand. It could save your life.)
- Malaria pills (if needed for your destination. These are NOT cheaper to get abroad. You defenitely want to get these before you go.)
International Travel Packing List – Documents:
I keep all of this inside my Shacke Hidden Travel Belt Wallet w/RFID Blocker.
Passport with at least 6 months validity and no ripped pages or damage (confirm this before you fly)
Two laminated color copies of your passport (to carry with you everyday, and show to corrupt police, instead of your actual passport)
Yellow Fever proof of vaccination (Some countries won’t let you in with out this yellow card)
Two Debit/ATM Cards (in case one gets lost/stolen/ has banking account issues) For more on this, read my post How to Access Your Money in Foreign Countries.
Two Credit Cards that get you travel rewards (in case one gets lost/stolen/shut off) See my post: Free Flights Worldwide in Nine Steps to choose the best card for you.
At least $200 cash in US Dollars or Euros
US Drivers license (in case you might rent a car)
International Drivers License (This is required to rent a car in most countries that do not use the Latin Alphabet, and you can get this by mail from AAA for just $20)
Ten passport photos for visas-on-arrival (these are becoming less needed as countries switch to e-visas)
I keep this stuff printed out with a paper clip:
Flight itinerary both into and out of the country (some airports won’t even let you in the door without proof of a booked flight, and some countries won’t let you on the plane without proof of an exit flight booking! I once had to book a one-way flight out of South Africa on the spot at check-in to avoid being denied boarding.)
Booking of your first hotel/hostel (even if it’s fake. Some countries won’t let you in without proof of lodging.)
World Nomads Travel Insurance policy info (If you can’t afford Travel Insurance, you can’t afford to travel!)
Digital Packing List:
There are some things you need to have “packed” digitally in the cloud. You need to be able to access these items even if every physical object you have is gone. Keep these in your Google Docs, or email account, or anywhere you could access from an internet-connected device.
Picture of your passport ID page (to get a replacement if lost, and to be able to fill out forms with your passport info even if it is not on your person)
Pictures of each current/future visa (in case passport is lost)
Picture of all your credit and debit cards, front and back (if you lose them, you’ll know the numbers, and who to call.)
A time-stamped photo of your bag and all of its contents (If anything is stolen, you’ll have proof of ownership for your World Nomads Travel Insurance)
A picture of any prescriptions for critical medication (to get refills, though most meds are available without a prescription outside the US)
Things that do NOT make it onto my international travel packing list:
- Several pairs of shorts. – Quite simply, grown men do not wear shorts in most of the world. Even when it is 90 degrees out, adult males do not wear shorts in pretty much all of Africa, the Middle East, and much of Asia. If you want people to laugh at you behind your back, wear your Gap cargo shorts across Africa. You could even be arrested for wearing shorts in some muslim countries.
- Zipoff pants. – The look stupid as pants. They look stupid as shorts. You wouldn’t be caught dead wearing them at home. That’s a false economy of utility for me.
- Packing cubes – If you need ways to organize your stuff into smaller bags of stuff, you brought too much stuff.
- A DSLR camera. I’m not a pro photographer. My Pixel 3XL takes really good pics and I have it with me at all times. A big camera is a flashing red light that screams “I am a tourist, and I have expensive things” I like to be able to walk down any dusty dirt road and say hello to people, and look like I am carrying nothing of value. Maybe I actually have the equivalent of 6 months wages for a Zambian in my pocket, but my sandals, t-shirt, and carefree smile says “broke backpacker”.
- An umbrella. I find that rain is often accompanied by wind. Wind is the enemy of the umbrella. A good rain jacket like the Marmot Precip works much better then an umbrella, and is lighter and smaller.
When you are ready to book your trip, be sure to use the best booking sites:
Book Your Flight:
Find your flight using Momondo.com. It is the best airfare search engine, as it finds the cheapest flights, and will find ALL the flights. (Here’s the proof.)
Book Your Accommodation:
Choose your lodging using Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)
Get Travel Insurance:
You can’t afford to travel without travel insurance. Car accidents, illnesses, and theft do happen. It could save your life. I never travel without it. I use World Nomads.
THANKS FOR READING
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