Packing Lists – International Travel
Legend:
I’ve added explanations and suggestions on:
-length of trip.
-where (hot vs cold)
-where (poverty level)
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☐ 911: Health insurance papers
(Or email)
****All trips
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☐ 911: Passport
****All trips
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☐ 911: Photo copies of important things
And on USB!
***all trips
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☐ 911: Vaccination certificates
-Yellow fever cert is required for some countries. (And the most stolen thing!)
-tetanus and typhoid are good to know when you need to renew
Things to get before heavy traveling:
-hep a and b
-polio booster
-Malaria meds (I guess? I’ve never done it).
***All trips
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☐ 911: Visas
If e-visa: print out.
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☐ 911: Wristlet/wallet
(Somewhere in bag- not in wallet.
-200$USD- smaller/newer bills
-cards:
-ARC disaster services
-cpr/wfr
-padi cert
-debit card
-credit card (multiple- in different places)
-multiple passport photos
Note: I’m still trying to figure out what kind of “wallet” is best. A Wristlet for my phone and stuff? Or something smaller and more flexible?
****all trips
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☐ Apps to download/update:
Flight apps:
Lodging apps:
Couchsurfing (need to make a profile before hand)
Note: find awesome public transit app(?)!!!!
Trips: if you bring your phone, stock up on apps!
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☐ baby wipes
Used to feel human again after bus/travel/hike
Clean off feet after temples
Wash hands while camping
Emergency toilet paper
Trip: anytime outside, taking public transport a lot, taking 3-day+ trips in developing countries.
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☐ Backpack
I like the side opening one (like a suitcase- not top loading.)
Waist/hip strap.
Lots of pockets on side for organization
Separate shoe/lower quadrant compartment/zip
Adaptations:
1) laundry bag attached to lid
2) money belt attached inside (for currency/bottle caps)
3) laptop bag attached to middle
4) mesh bags inside for clothes/organization/compartmentalizing/weight organizing.
Trips: anything more than 4 days
(Smaller trips- consider just using the day pack)
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☐ Backpack Cover, waterproof (optional)
Trips: anything more than 4 days- and/or being outside for longish periods of time
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☐ Backpack: day pack
Chicobag- with straps sewed into straps
– collapses into tiny fold up zipper bag
Note: my backpack came w a day pack that attached to it. I loved this feature! I used that day pack so much that it fell apart. Now I’m trying to figure out its replacement.
****all trips
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☐ Business cards
I used to carry these- thinking I was saving time of writing my contact info to new friends. But noticed people wrote me back/stronger connections were had when I hand-wrote my contact info.
It may be a good idea, though, if you’re in a country for a mission/work.
Trips: when you’re there for doing business/networking
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☐ Change voicemail message
Update Facebook w flag profile pics!
****all trips
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☐ Clothesline
(Shoelaces- braided together as zipper extender.)
Note: I’ve only used once- while camping.
Trips: camping, long-trips outside
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☐ Clothing – 2 hankies
Wash daily
Has Grammy’s message on them
Trips: 4 days or less = 1 hankie
Longer = 2
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☐ Clothing – Shaw/Sa-right
Good for sun protection,
Belt,
Shoulder cover
Emergency blanket
Emergency towel
Sarong (sa-right!)
Hair cover
****all trips
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☐ Clothing – Travel vest/jacket
Scottevest
Put all electronics/travel shit in this.
Keep warm on plane.
Have all your stuff easy to reach (on body) so you don’t have a backpack/purse.
Harder to mug/pick pocket!
****all trips
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☐ Clothing- 1 – Long Sleeve long-john shirt
(If EVER your trip will be below 50F/ 10C)
Silk = less room in bag
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☐ Clothing- 1 – Waterproof Jacket, breathable with hood
ScottE vest jacket (windbreaker kind)
Main travel thing for flights. Put all important stuff in pockets. Remove jacket through security. (Compared to backpack- Easier to manage, harder to overpack, nearly impossible to pickpocket.
*note: haven’t tried daypack hiking.
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☐ Clothing- 1 tanktop
(Doubles as sleeping shirt/clubbing outfit)
****all trips
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☐ Clothing- 2 – Sport Bras
****all trips
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☐ Clothing- 2 pairs of pants (quick dry w pockets)
Convertible (can become shorts)
——- or- for warmer trips:
1 pair of pants, 1 running shorts
****trips: 3 days or less, take just 1 pair of pants (not including what you wear to the airport)
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☐ Clothing- 3 shirts (2 collarded, one not)
Trips 3 days or less- have1 less. This doesn’t include what you’re wearing to the airport
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☐ Clothing- 6 pairs quickdry underware
No More than 6 pairs. (No matter how long your trip.)
Quick dry, not cotton!
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☐ Clothing- Balaclava, for face coverage (optional)
Doubles as Headband, strapless tank top
****this is optional. Depends on the type of trip you’re taking.
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☐ Clothing- Fisherman pants
Sleeping pants
Knee-covering (for temples/etc)
****all trips
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☐ Clothing- flexi-skirt
For clubbing
knee covering
emergency blanket
Made Of silk/poly. NOT cotton.
****optional- depending on your trip and where you’re going
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☐ Clothing- Gloves, warm
Kilimanjaro, Melbourne winter
****trips- OPTIONAL-
anytime you’ll be somewhere cold- for extended periods of time
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☐ Clothing- Hat (for warmth)
(Totally optional.)
I packed my bear hat. Good for snow hiking.
-can be emergency sling/swath tie
-head covering in Arab countries (hot though)
****trips- optional
For cold- outside trips- extended time outside
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☐ Clothing- Insulated Jacket, synthetic or down
LL bean green pack away jacket
****trips- all.
I actually used this for all my trips- except Balkans 2015 summer.
If your trip is ever to dip below 45- then you bring it. Otherwise- don’t bother.
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☐ Clothing- Long johns pants
Usually only for really cold places.
(For me- totally optional.)
Used on Kilimanjaro, Michu picchu, and Melbourne winter
***trips- any time with significant time in 35degree (or less) temps.
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☐ Clothing- shoes- 5finger vibrams
Place in ziploc bag to avoid smells
Pack w baking soda/baby powder
****trips- what kind of walking will you do? Any running/walking?
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☐ Clothing- shoes- chacos
(Hiking sandals)
***any trips in temps over 50 for significant time.
(I take one pair of shoes for anything 5 days or less)
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☐ Clothing- Workout gear
Running shorts
Wife beaters/tank top/shit t-shirt
Do not care about these clothes. They will be the first thing you ditch if you need space!
**trips- optional
For working out/getting sweaty/gross.
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☐ Duct tape
Wrap around pen
***trips over 7 days
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I had special ones made for my ear canals. Best money I’ve ever spent!
****trips on airplanes, buses, loud concerts/areas, etc.
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☐ Electronics: Adapters
(All the ones you need for the countries you’re going to)
****all trips
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☐ Electronics: Audio gear
Sony PCM -M10 Recorder (tiny!)
Extra batteries*
*depending on the country- may be cheaper to buy abroad…. Note: Central\south America and India has expired/shitty batteries.
Myanmar = best and cheapest batteries! (40usd cents for 9volt!)
(For LN: all trips)
(For you: Probably never)
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☐ Electronics: External battery
Capacity = 15,000mAh/55.5 Wh
(Some airports don’t allow certain things. External batteries is one of those things. Mine has been fine. I recommend this one because:
-it has 2 ports (cell and kindle)
-charges iPhone 4-5 times before it needs a recharge
-charges from a USB chord (same I use for kindle- but reversed). I use my laptop to charge it. Takes awhile- but does it overnight.
I don’t like solar ones because they have to be out. That means you’re showing your cards (belongings) to the world. Never a good idea in developing countries.
***trips: anything over 4 days long. (If I bring my big backpack, I bring this.)
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☐ Electronics: iPhone/smart phone
Unlocked (to use in other countries)
Nice things about phones:
-SIM cards are cheap. SIM cards = 3G! Stop wifi-hopping-use a SIM card.
-Communicate w couch surfers and locals.
Bad thing about phones:
-feeding the addiction.
(Personally- this is my everything. I’ve chased down muggers for mine. It has everything in it!!! Including this list.)
Note: if you’re using an iPhone in some countries you are insta-labeled a target- so using a crappy/throwaway may be better. But if you’re white, you’re already labeled. So whatever.
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☐ Electronics: Kindle
Load it up!!!! Various stuff. Who knows when you’ll have stable internet again???
See book list.
I usually never bring physical books on trips. They are heavy. They get wet. They get lost. Finding (complete) books in English is hard in some places. I’ve had a kindle since hurricane Ike in 2008 ate all my books. Haven’t looked back since.
****all trips over 3 days
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☐ Electronics: Macbook Air
W all connectors and plugs and case
Note: in a lot of countries there are computer stations/Internet cafes to use/rent Internet and computer time.
****trips- all trips longer than 4 weeks.
If doing work while away
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☐ Electronics: thumb drive
A few- Various sizes (used to exchange music, data, gifts, etc)
****trips: if I bring my big bag- I bring this.
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☐ Fix it kit: (wildland)
Superglue
Shoogoo
Safety pins
Repair needles
Kevlar thread
Bailing wire
electrical tape
Mil spec tape
Screws
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☐ Food: Jar of wonders
Dried fruit, nuts, etc.
No apricots- they will make everything else soggy.
****trip- bring on:
Road trips,
anything over 3 days
Spending a while in airports/bus stations
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☐ Food: Knife/fork/spoon/chopstick
Trips: really long camping trips
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☐ Food: marmite
***all trips over 5 days
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☐ Food: Old Bay
****all trips over 5 days
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☐ Head lamp, with extra batteries
***all trips where you sleep in hostels or outside
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☐ Jewelry: fake engagement/wedding rings
Nice to have for some countries if traveling solo.
****all trips as a solo female traveler
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☐ Locker lock
(Have combination somewhere- like in phone)
***all trips with big bag, when sleeping in hostels or camping.
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☐ Med kit: (see separate list)
All trips
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☐ Med kit: rubber ball
(Used for massage/rolling out knots)
And entertainment during long layovers
Trips- over 2 weeks with a lot of moving.
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☐ Med kit: tiger balm
Magic potion for muscles, stuffy nose, itchiness, insect bites, pains, sprains, flatulance (lol)
Trips: any trips over 2 weeks with a lot of movement
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☐ Med kit: Vaseline
For dry skin/climates
Trips: optional
anything over 2 weeks (depending on what’s going on in your trip. This is small and easy and cheap to buy elsewhere. So leave it at home and purchase if you need)
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☐ Micro-fiber towel
A must for camping/hostel stays.
Not needed for Europe/hotels
Trips: Anything over 2 days and towel isn’t provided
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☐ Pencil and Notebook, miniature, for trip log (optional)
Trips: anything longer than 5 days
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☐ Prescriptions (in med kit)
Advil
Anti-diarrhea
Vitamin B
Decongestant
Gravol
Day/night quil
Benedryl
Sleeping pills (Walmart brand)
RU21
Diamox
Amoxicillin (purchase in developing countries over the counter)
Epi pen- if you have someone in group w severe allergies.
***all trips over 5 days- and you’re not with friends in their house.
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☐ Sleeping Bag Liner, silk (optional)
Nice for train trips or additional warmth in sleeping bag.
(Used a lot in Africa, Europe, airports)
Trips: optional.
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☐ Sleeping Bag, warm, 3 seasons OPTIONAL
I used mine a lot! Camping, in airports, in people’s houses that were cold… Etc.
Trips: anything longer than 3 weeks- in any weather colder than 50F.
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☐ Stuff Sacks or Plastic Bags, various sizes, to keep gear dry and separate
Ziplocks! Various sizes
Note: plastic bags are available everywhere. Ziplock bags are not. (Couldn’t find easily in central/South America)
*****trips-‘over 3 weeks
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☐ Sunglasses/ regular glasses
W case
****all trips
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☐ Tent
Sierra designs
Flashlight 2
A lightweight tent.
Easy to put up.
***trips- camping trips
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☐ Toiletries
Toothbrush (w cover)
Soap
Scrubby
Conditioner (bar)
D.O.
Contact case
(Extra contacts)*
Shaver
(Extra razors)
Mirror
Hair things
Ear cleaner thingy
Tweezers
mascara
*you can buy for cheap in some countries! No prescription needed!
****all trips over 4 days.
For less than- I just pack toothbrush, paste, contact solution, DO, and a little hotel soap.
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☐ Toiletries: Insect repellant
Deep woods wipes = no liquids
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☐ Toiletries: Liquid bag
Sunscreen
Toothpaste
Neosporin
Anti-itch (after bite)
Saline solution (refill smaller bottle!)
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☐ Tools: leather man
There are “TSA approved” ones- but this means jack shit outside the USA. Each country’s airport runs on a different set of rules (well- same rules, different interpretations). So “tools are not allowed” could mean Allen wrenches or pocket knives or forks.
If you want to carry on something that is questionable- put it in an altoid tin. (Only tested in Asia/USA so far.)
****trips: totally optional. Depends on the trip you’re doing and what you’ll need it for.
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☐ Trip/flight Receipt
Flight receipt # in tripit
Flag all your receipts in phone (or printout)
Trips: good for all international flights
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☐ Waterbottle (nalgene)
(Personal preference- w splash guard)
Nalgene = won’t melt if you put boiled water in it. Won’t leak. Won’t crack if you freeze.
Bonus: if you have a tea-infuser- you can have flavored water! (Cucumber, lemon, lemongrass, strawberries! Whatever you find! Cool!)
***trips- if you drink a lot of water- every trip.
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…… Go go gadget iPhone!