Now that we’ve gone on a few multi-week, multi-country trips, I think it’s a great time to share some standard items we pack. Our first trip like that was large backpack-based while our most recent trip allotted for 6 bags between us, so there will be a range of what makes sense to pack into your own luggage. If you don’t want to read our hints, just scroll to the bottom for your shopping list!
Obvious Things to Pack
I won’t waste much time with the obvious, this section is more to show you my thought process when taking on this task.
Adequate Clothing
Adequate here relates to both the amount and the type of clothing you bring with you. If you’re traveling for more than a week total, you’ll have to rewear some items; longer than two weeks and you’ll likely have to launder some items along the way. Even if you’re going to splurge and use large checked luggage for your international flights, I still recommend carefully selecting your items since weight will add up (and you may want some room for souvenirs!). When you book your trip, search online for the average temperature for the time of year you will be visiting- this helps you start to think about the kinds of things you can bring. About 2 weeks out, check a 15-day forecast to get a more precise perception of what the weather is looking like. We had checked the weather forecast for Italy before we left, but by the time we arrived, two weeks after we left, a cold front had rolled in. Thankfully we had cooler temperature clothes with us for London, since we had to rewear them through the 5 days in Italy. Once you’ve determined the likely weather, start to select items that pair together well; this is sometimes referred to as “capsule packing.” The idea here is to pack similar colors and items that are interchangeable and can be mixed and matched into multiple outfits without bringing a lot of unique items. I like to get creative here; think about wearing a shirt over a romper or jumpsuit and you get a new look, same thing for a sweater or long sleeve shirt over a dress. Bottoms can be reworn multiple times as long as you’re not getting too sweaty or dirty. Think through all the types of activities you’ll do throughout your journey, including all the flights, boats, and trains you may take. Pick out your tops and bottoms and then add in the dresses and layers. Roll up items into packing cubes (keep reading for more on those!) for less wrinkles and better use of space. I’m sure you know how to pack in general: pack socks into bras to help them keep their shape, stuff underwear inside shoes to save space, throw in an extra zip top bag or two for anything too wet or smelly, etc. If you’ve packed everything and have determined you will need to do laundry along the way, don’t be intimidated by the cost! Trust me, $7 for having a clean pair of pants for the next week is worth it.
Adequate Shoes
I’ve talked about shoes before, in this post, but here are my general guidelines. Evaluate the activities that you anticipate doing before you decide on which shoes to bring. Hiking? Water activities? Dressier nights out? Lots of walking on cobblestone streets? Once you’ve determined what kinds of things you will be doing, decide which shoes work for each activity. Can you wear your hiking shoes comfortably in the water too? Could your walking shoes double as a dressier option? Now that you’ve decided exactly how many shoes you need at a minimum, see if they fit in your luggage! I always put shoes in towards the bottom, wrapping some heels in bags to keep them from poking anything else, and to keep dirt off any other items in the luggage. If you’re like me, and you dream of bringing every pair of shoes you own…only after you’ve packed everything else in, and started to weigh your bag, go ahead and try to fit more shoes in. I got lucky and was able to squeeze in extra sandals for our last trip!
Appropriate Toiletries
So this category of items will depend on what you truly need in the bathroom..hahaha! Start with shower items (soap, gel, mini loofah, shampoo, razor, etc.), move onto hair items (gel, detangling products if you’re going to be in the ocean a lot, wet/dry brush, etc.), onto your face and body (deodorant, face wash, sunscreen, etc.). I know this is super general, but I’m not going to dictate which deodorant you should take; just take one. Please, please take one! Remember any medicines or “just in case” drugs you might need (your stomach calming, bug bite calming, headache or hangover reducing, etc.). Lastly, keep the climate you will be visiting in mind; emphasizing again the sunscreen and aloe gel if you get burnt.
Passport, Visas, and Converters
Duh. I know I didn’t need to remind you to take your passport with you, but you know, being thorough and all. Depending on which countries you are visiting, make sure you have applied for a visa, or have what you need to apply once you get there. When we went through Cambodia, there was no online process, so you had to bring a passport-sized photo with you. Also, look into what kind of voltage your destinations provide and then decide if you need a converter. We took one on our last multi-country trip and it worked out really well to charge everything! Fun story: on a trip a couple years ago, we ended up going through at least 5 phone chargers because they kept shorting out! The lesson? Get a converter and don’t ruin your electronics or their cables. USB ports typically charge at 5 amps regardless of the voltage, so don’t hesitate to use them if they are in the rooms or around the resorts.
Helpful Things To Pack
Some items that you might not think to bring, but could be useful.
Packing Cubes
I have mentioned packing cubes as being helpful in the past, so I just want to reiterate that again here. They make your life easier while packing, while hunting in your bag for that one item, and when sorting clean and dirty laundry. I recommend at least two different colors so you can keep things even more organized. Get some; you won’t be disappointed!
Packable Raincoats
Even if you’ve done your proper travel homework and checked the destination forecast leading up to your departure date, still throw in a packable raincoat! For something smaller than the size of almost any other clothing item you will take, it will save you so much discomfort should a sudden rainstorm occur during your travels. It packs into its own pocket, so you can’t lose anything. You should definitely consider one for a tropical environment! If you follow our Instagram stories, you’ll see photos of us wearing our packable raincoats. If you haven’t, you can check out the highlights to see how we’ve faired to stay dry in the rain.
Packable Daypack or Tote
This is a nice-to-have item if you’re tight on space. We actually ended up taking these packable bags as regular backpacks on this last trip; they were never packed back into their pockets. Similarly, if you’re going to a beach destination, a tote bag that packs into a small pouch or pocket can be handy for carrying sunscreen, books, and towels to and from the beach. It also doubles as a great bag to bring home additional souvenirs (in the case you have extra baggage allowance!).
Easy-to-wash Undergarments
I give Neil all the credit for these. Before our first multi-week trip, as I was lamenting how to pack into a backpack, Neil came across the Exofficio brand on the recommendation of a close friend. He bought two pair from Amazon and the rest was history. Not only was he in love with the fit (they come in multiple lengths), but they are ideal for travel. Why? Because they are meant to get wet and then dry quickly. To clean them, you take a bit of shower gel and soak the garments in a sink with warm water for a minute or so. Scrub what you need to, then rinse with a lot of cool water. Hand-wring them out, then comes the fun part. Lay out a large towel on the floor and roll the garment up in the towel. Then, stomp on that towel like you’re turning it into wine! Unroll the towel and that item is nearly dry. Hang it up to dry for about an hour and you should be good to go. I have several pair myself, and have even gotten some bralettes and tanks from them in the past too.
Foldable Sun Hat
A sun hat is only needed for the beach-ier destinations, but I just wanted to point out that you don’t have to sacrifice sun protection for limited packing space. I had this hat for our most recent trip and it rolled up nicely into the front pocket of my rollaboard suitcase. You can see more photos of the hat on our Instagram page.
Collapsible Water Bottle
While a collapsible water bottle isn’t anything new, I just wanted to remind you that these are great for travel…when you confirm that the place you are visiting has water that is safe to drink! We visited a few countries on this last trip and only two of them had water that was OK to fill bottles up without filtering first. Also, these bottles held up nicely and I’m now using mine in the gym.
Extra Things To Pack..If You Can!
A few more items to throw in if you have the space (or weight!) in your chosen bag.
Cameras
Ok, ok. Hear me out first! Of course we bring a camera when we travel; we bring more than just one or two, too. But, I think you can suffice with excellent photos from most mobile phones if you don’t have room. Neil is going to do a future post on what he likes to use to take pictures, since this is definitely his area of expertise.
Makeup
Another groan, I’m sure. While I do love makeup, and I’d be sad to not have anything with me for a few weeks, I wouldn’t bring things that are going to break or spill. In all honesty, most trips I overpack in makeup and end up using the same few things repeatedly. Also, whatever items I do bring, I pack in my carry-on luggage so I can make sure it doesn’t get squished, thrown, or laid on its side too much. So find a versatile eyeshadow palette, throw in a great mascara, concealer, and highlighter and you’re pretty much set.
Bluetooth Speaker
Something just for fun, we both love having music going while we’re at home, so if we have room, we love having that capability while we travel too. Yes, again, a phone is fine here too, but it is nice to have extra volume if you have some room.
Battery Pack
This is one of the most important things you need to pack if you take any sort of electronics, and you do, because you have a phone. We always take two of these battery packs with us at all times, on every trip. The nice thing about these batteries is that they have both USB-C ports and USB ports. That means you can charge things like the most recent iPad Pro with the OEM cable. Not all battery packs are created equal. These will get you about two and a half charges on an iPhone XS, which is more than almost any other battery pack this slim size. It’s also really affordable.
I hope this list is helpful the next time you’re packing for a few international travel weeks!
