Packing to travel to another country can be stressful and difficult at times. Because of the sheer excitement of it, we often forget to take everything we need. With this short checklist of essential travel items, your trip will be easy and enjoyable.
Comfortable Clothes and Shoes
Regardless of the length of your journey, comfortable clothes and shoes are really the number one priority when travelling. You should check the weather forecasts for both the place you are leaving and your destination, so you can plan your wardrobe accordingly. You should always have something warm with you, like a sweater or a light jacket, a hat, and warm socks. Also, a good hoodie goes a long way. It is essential that you have comfortable shoes, since you will be walking much more than usual, and a pair of sneakers would come in handy in these types of situations.
First Aid Kit
You never know what can happen, so it’s best to be prepared for anything. Some necessities are Band-Aids, painkillers for headaches and toothaches, laxatives, something to relieve flu and cold symptoms, antihistamine for allergies, and tablets for motion sickness if you suffer from that. If you are taking any prescription medicines, make sure to take enough of them with you for the duration of your trip. Depending on where and when you are travelling, you might also need to take insect repellant and sunscreen.
Chargers, Batteries, and Electronics
We are less likely to forget our phones, cameras, and IPods than all the chargers and cables that go with them. If your electronics, cameras and other essential travel gadgets require batteries, bring extra ones with you. Bring chargers for everything you are taking with you, your IPod dock, a mini tripod, and even your selfie stick. If needed, bring electrical adapters and converters. An extra memory card for your camera will be great, as well as a USB cable.
Apps and Data
Travelling has changed a lot in the last few decades. Now, we not only have to pack our suitcases, but our laptops, IPads, and cell phones as well – with the addition of all the data and apps we will need. For example, we have to bring our travel itineraries, tickets, hotel reservations, and such. We can download several apps for free and install them on our phones, like maps, cultural guides, currency converters, and translation tools. There is usually Wi-Fi on trains and buses now, so we can kill time by playing online Sudoku games, for example, or watching videos.
Documents and Money
Last but not least, you cannot travel without your documents and some money. As a rule, you will need to check if you have your ID, driving license, and passport on you. Use credit cards or online paying systems if possible and if international charges are not too high. Do bring some cash as you might need it for refreshments, coffee, to exchange it for the local currency, and so on. Bring your credit cards, ATM cards, health insurance, and suitcase address labels.
In addition to all of the above, bring a good attitude and a sense of adventure with you. Even if you forget some of the mentioned items, don’t worry and just have some fun!