One of the smartest things I’ve learned to do over the years is to have one go-to packing list for all of my trips. The list contains nearly everything I would need during my travels, whether I’m headed to Berlin, Bangkok or Bangalore.
I print out my packing list, cross off the items I don’t need for that particular trip and then start making piles of items until I’m all packed up.
For the clothes, I leave a line next to the item so I can note how many of each I need to pack.
For specific suggestions, you can browse through my gear recommendations.
And you can download my travel packing list here. Here’s what you’ll find on it:
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Clothes Blouses____ First aid kit
Toiletries
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Electronics
Miscellaneous items
Food
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Best Packing Tips
** Pack as little as possible and bring only one carry-on if you can manage. Wear your heavier clothes and shoes on the flight.
** Dress in layers when there’s a wide range of temperatures at your destination.
** Educate yourself on what’s appropriate to wear at your destination. For women, baring your shoulders, knees and elbows might not be appropriate in some countries. For men, shorts might not be appropriate. The more you can blend in with the locals, the more you’ll be accepted and respected.
What’s missing from the list? What do YOU carry with you that you don’t see here?
Travel Well,
Off the top of my head, I would add a refiilable water bottle, travel mug (if you have room) and cash (small bills for tips, inexpensive purchases). As a hiker, I always bring a sun hat, polarfleece headband and gloves. Also on my list – health insurance card, cards for all my doctors and dentists, AAA road service card, small flashlight, nail clippers, tweezers, laundry soap, sink stopper, washcloth.
Joy – these are great additional items!
I do always carry a water bottle but completely forgot to add it to the list.
And the insurance items are a must as well. Oh, and sink stopper. I always forget my sink stopper. Thanks for the reminder!
I feel this is a good list/strategy for domestic travel or return trips abroad.
I don’t feel it works on a first time group trip to India. Everyone bought something. So where did the folks who arrived with jam packed carry on put it? Where ever they could. After several days into a group trip there was quite a pile of shopping bags next to our luggage to be loaded into the bus and it was added to almost daily. Things fell out of bags, got lost or left behind. Then near the end there was a scurry to buy a cheap bag to take purchases home, some of which seemed to be of dubious quality. Some bought a bag made in the U.S. for 2 to 3 times the price they would pay at home.
I feel a better strategy is to bring a modest sized checked suitcase one half full. Lots of room for purchases, no trail of shopping bags to keep track of and and no cheap luggage to buy. Thanks.
Good point, Jane. I often purchase a second bag at my destination and check a bag home that has my souvenirs.
The problem with checking a bag TO your destination (especially on a group trip) is that your bag(s) can get lost or delayed.
That happened during our South India tour and one gal’s luggage arrived about 30 minutes before we had to leave Chennai for our next city. She spent 2 days in Chennai with the same clothes. It was very stressful and there were hours spent on the phone trying to find out from the airlines and airport what the status of her luggage was.
Pretty comprehensive packing list. I also always stick my Longchamp Lepliage bag into my carry-on. It folds up into a nice compact bag that is easy to pack and I have it in case I have souvenirs to bring home or just need a second bag for some reason.