I am soooo excited for my dream vacation, a month in Europe!
As I’ve assembled items for my trip, I thought it might be helpful for anyone traveling internationally for the first time to see some of the items I pack. The good news is, most of these are one time purchases.
Here are some of the items you HAVE to have:
- Passport – make sure it doesn’t expire for 6 months from when you leave.
- RFID Wallet – helps prevent identity and credit card information theft. I purchased my pacsafe RFID wallet from REI. It’s compact, yet has sufficient space for my needs.
- Money belt – To keep some of your money and passport on your body where nobody can see it and steal it.
- Backpack – Some women don’t like to carry a backpack because of the weight. Honestly, I don’t carry mine every day, it depends on what activities I’m doing that day. But I love it for the airplane ride because I’ve got everything I need for my 5-10+ hour flight handy. I purchased my Adidas backpack from Costco several years ago and it’s held up well.
- Purse – Always use an across the body purse for safety reasons. There are many different kinds, some have lots of pockets, some are just big and roomy. Pick what works for you. BTW, if you are a backpack gal, then you probably don’t need a purse, or you may opt for a smaller one to be used at night.
- Sturdy Suitcase – I can’t tell you how many suitcases I’ve gone through, mainly because the zipper breaks, or the handle jams and won’t operate anymore. So you can either buy a hard shell suitcase or soft leather or fabric suitcase. Here’s my own pet peeve with the hard sided suitcases – they open like a book, so they take up more space in your hotel room, and they usually don’t lay flat on the suitcase stand provided. If you’re cruising, you already know you don’t have any extra floor space to spread your suitcase out on. Therefore, I opt for the soft sided suitcases, because I can unzip and just flip open the top. It’s totally a personal preference. BTW, I bought another American Tourister. My friend swears by Samsonite. Measure your carry-on to make sure it meets the airline requirements, as they have recently reduced the acceptable dimensions. What I used to carry on I can’t anymore 🙁
- Packing Cubes – My friend turned me onto the Samsonite Compression Packing Cubes. I bought a set on Amazon and like that they’re clear so I can easily see what’s in them. The idea is that you compress them so air doesn’t take up space in your suitcase. Of course this means you can pack more and your suitcase will weigh more! Don’t go over the pound limit set by your airline. AND check your international carrier, as they may have different weight limits and dimensions for your suitcase.
- Suitcase Locks – If your suitcase doesn’t have a locking mechanism, buy locks that are TSA approved.
- Headrest – This is to support your head while you’re sleeping on the airplane, unless you splurged and bought Business or 1st Class tickets. I’ve also tried several different head rests. The first couple were just too thick and actually pushed my head forward. I just bought a “BCozy” head rest because it’s thinner at the back, but supportive on the sides and front, so your head doesn’t drop down to your chest when you’re snoozing.
- Headphones – Buy good noise canceling headphones. I have a pair of Sony that I’ve used many times and really like. They do a good job of muffling the outside noise and I can listen to music, movies, or just sleep with them on.
- Eye Mask – For those longer flights you want to sleep, and using an eye mask helps put you in the zzzzzone.
- Electronic chargers – Don’t leave home without these!
- Battery Pack – I love my Freefun battery pack with 2 USB ports. I make sure it’s fully charged before I leave home so I can plug my electronics into it when they run low. This also comes in handy if the airplane seat doesn’t have a USB charger.
- Converter/Adapter – Depending on where you’re traveling, you may need a converter and an adapter. I’m traveling to 5 different countries next month and had to get 3 different adapters so my hair dryer and electronics will work in the outlets. I purchased a Geargo adapter and converter that came with all but one adapter, which I purchased separately. You may want to get a converter that has a surge protector built in, too.
- Water Bottle – I have a lightweight metal one I bring everywhere. It fits in the outside pocket of my backpack or inside my purse. I always fill it up just before getting on the airplane, so I don’t get dehydrated. Tip: Drink at least 8 oz of water for every hour you’re in the air.
- Snacks – Bring some of your favorite HEALTHY snacks, because you’ll get served junk in the air!
- Airline App – Download the airline app so you get up-to-date notifications about your flight status, gate changes, etc. Also see what in-flight entertainment is available and how to access it.
- Weather clothing – Depending on the weather where you’re going, you may want a sunbrella hat, or hat with SPF to keep your head and face from burning. Also don’t forget the SPF suntan lotion. And consider a light rain jacket with a hood or a small foldable umbrella that fits easily into your backpack or purse.
For those of you who are pros at international travel, please hit REPLY and let me know some of your tips and required items you won’t leave home without! Happy travels!