My duffel and my backpack. That’s it when I travel. Everything has to fit inside one of the two. And then I carry it all on board with me. My new duffel (on the left in the picture) is tall, rather than long. Most duffels tend to be longer and not so tall. For whatever reason, I think my things fit better in a bag of this shape. Of course the most important thing is that it is no bigger than what’s allowed for carry-ons. Thanks to my Foolproof Trip Inventory, I never have to worry about forgetting to pack anything. My list is obviously tailored to my specific needs. You can tailor it to yours.
[*Starred items and what I bring along with me in my backpack for a day of sightseeing. Everything else stays in the hotel room.]
Travel Needs
- Passport* (In some countries, you are required to carry your passport with you at all times.)
- Travel binder* (Where I keep printouts of itineraries, e-tickets, train reservations, attraction reservations, hotel reservations, etc.)
- Travel guidebooks*
- Phrasebook*
- Foreign language dictionary*
- Pen* (I always want to have a pen handy on the plane for filling out customs/immigration forms.)
- Flashlight*
- Camera*
- Camera manual*
- Camera batteries*
- Camera battery charger
- Phone*
- Phone charger
- Adaptor
- Alarm clock (anything that has an alarm function)
Helpful Items
- Tissues*
- Hand wipes* (It can get sticky out there.)
- Sunglasses*
- Eyeglasses
- Contact lenses
- Hearing aid*
- Hearing aid batteries*
- Reading glasses*
- Headphones
- Moleskin* (I always carry this with me since I got horrible blisters around Brussels. Unfortunately, the tiny scissors I got to cut it down to size got confiscated at the airport in Singapore and I still need to replace them.)
Toiletries
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Floss
- Deodorant
- Razor
- Razor blades
- Hair trimmer
- Contact lens solution
- Eye drops*
- Contact lens case
- Antacid
- Bandages
- Prescription medications
- Cotton swabs
- Lip balm
- Nail clippers
- Nasal spray (I use this on the plane about an hour before landing to help with my blocked ears.)
- Ibuprofen
- Pseudoephredrine
- Baby powder
- Antidiarrheal (Fortunately I’ve never had to use this overseas, but it’s best to be prepared in many foreign countries.)
- Sunscreen*
- Bug repellent* (depending on the destination)
Weather Needs
I’ll pack these items based on the latest forecast for my destination’s weather.
- Umbrella (I usually always bring an umbrella. I left it at home for Dubai as I figured I could trust the forecast that showed no rain in sight.)
- Scarf
- Hat
- Gloves
- Rain jacket
- Backpack cover
Happiness is a Quart-Size Baggie!
Nothing gives me joy like packing my travel liquids into a quart-size baggie. It means I’m getting ready to go somewhere! I usually keep it in a side pocket in my bag so it’s easy to pull out at the security check. You might have noticed above that I don’t bring my own shampoo or other personal products like that. I’m happy to use what the hotel provides. And it’s not like I have a whole lot of hair to worry about anyway.
What About Clothes?
Good question! I don’t have clothes on my list because it will of course depend on the climate where I’m going and how long I’m going for. I usually dress pretty casually when I travel. (I admit, sometimes I show up somewhere and I feel woefully underdressed.) Here’s in general what I plan on bringing, including what I wear on the plane:
- 2 pairs of sneakers or good walking shoes
- 2 pairs of jeans (maybe shorts, depending on where I’m going)
- A little over a week’s worth of t-shirts or casual shirts, socks, and underwear
- A decent pair of pants, long-sleeved shirt, and pair of loafers if I know I will need to be a little better dressed for a nice restaurant or a conservative house of worship
- Something warm to wear on the plane or other chilled transport (I froze during a 4 1/2 hour ride on a very A/C’d bus from Kuala Lumpur to Penang. I won’t make that mistake again.)
As I mentioned in How I Travel, I plan on doing laundry at the hotel about a week into my trip. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s so worth it compared to checking a bag (and having more luggage to lug around).