50+ tips for for first time international travelers and anyone looking to minimize their pack. I'll try to keep this short. :)
Pre-Travel Tips
Tip 1 - Confirm passport AND credit card expiration dates - Often overlooked by those who aren’t constantly on the road, check your passport’s expiration date and renew if necessary. I won’t dwell on this, but it has to be mentioned because it’s often the last thing people remember to check.
Tip 2 - Confirm VISA requirements (long before necessary) - often only necessary for long-term stays, but it’s worth checking out each country's requirements before visiting to be safe.
Tip 3 - Confirm vaccine requirements - Depending on where you’re going, you may need to visit the doctor before you take off. This is not a problem for 95% of travelers, but if you’re traveling long-term and your plans aren’t set in stone, it’s worth looking into it.
Check https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list to see if there are any requirements based on the countries you plan to visit, then it’s as simple as visiting a travel clinic (https://healthandtravel.com/) in your area.
Note: Some shots require multiple doses over multiple weeks, so look into this as soon as possible!
Tip 4 - Consider travel insurance - depending on where and how long you’ll be traveling. Look for a policy that covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, theft, and any specific activities you plan to do. I like World Nomads, but there are lots of options.
Tip 5 - Consider an international drivers license if you plan on renting a car while overseas (and depending on where you go, ex. Italy, Spain, Greece, Japan) - it’s worth the investment $20 investment if you’re traveling long-term.
Check here to see if you need an international license: https://www.usa.gov/international-drivers-license and go here to apply for the license: https://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html.
Tip 6 - Consider a travel credit card with no foreign transaction fees; and while we're on the topic, be sure to pack one or two backup credit cards and keep them separate from your primary card.
Pre-Booking Tips
Tip 7Â - Double check for conflicts of interest - check travel advisories, local climate, holiday conflicts, and potential costs.
Tip 8Â - Decide on your type of stay - Airbnbs, hostels, hotels, etc. I recommend staying at hostels for the social aspect alone - private rooms offer the best of both worlds, they costs a little more but you can shut out the noise when you need down-time. Hostelworld.com and Booking.com are two popular choices for finding accommodations on the road.
If you're working while traveling, look up popular coworking spaces in each city and book a stay within walking distance, or book a hostel that has coworking space.
Tip 9 - Decide on your style of stay- when it comes to hostels, there are chill hostels and there are party hostels, and everything in-between, health-focused hostels, MMA hostels, dance hostels, digital nomad/coworking hostels like Selina, etc . You can usually tell the "type" of hostel by their pictures, check out 9 Tips for Booking the Perfect Hostel for more tips.
Tip 10Â - Choose a neighborhood - Depending on the size of the city, there are usually a number of different neighborhoods to choose from, do some research on what fits your style, are you looking for partying/nightlife, or more interested in history/architecture? Or perhaps you want a relaxing beach retreat away from everything? Do some research before you book.
Tip 11 - Consider fair-weather travel - fair-weather travel isn't just about comfort, it drastically reduces what you need to pack and prep for, check out Fair Weather Travel for more details.
Pre-Flight Tips
Tip 12 - Confirm international cell service and be prepared for roaming charges - or buy a SIM card when you land (see Tip 25); Verizon charges $10/day for international coverage, they get me every time I land in a new country, but it's worth it for peace of mind until I get to a place with WiFi.
Tip 13 - Download popular travel apps and confirm your login/payment information - WhatApp, HostelWorld, Booking.com, Airbnb, VPN apps (Nord or Express VPN), etc. Most of these are optional, but WhatsApp is 100% required.
Tip 14 - Check and download local ride-share apps - Uber works in many (69+) countries, but some regions have dedicated apps, like DiDi for China, Grab for Southeast Asia, and Ola for India; confirm which apps you'll need and confirm your payment information before you leave - this is an important last step in case your card happens to not work when you land.
Tip 15 - Download offline Google maps and destination language packages - just in case your phone doesn't have coverage when you land, or if you unexpectedly lose service.
I once flew to Cambodia, and in my sleepless delirium, got in a TukTuk at 4am headed for the nearest 24-hour coworking space; only after getting dropped off did I realize it was Cambodia's Khmer New Years Holiday - everything was closed, I had no cell service, no internet, and no convenience stores where I could buy a SIM card... and I was 3 miles from my hostel. The only saving graces were, 1) I knew were I was going, 2) I could have asked for directions if I needed to, and 3) working legs.
"No cell service, no internet cafes, and no convenience stores where I could buy a SIM card... and I was 3 miles from my hostel.."
These are rare situations, but they do happen; it's always a good idea to download offline maps and language packages before you fly out.
Check out The 7 Apps You MUST Have for Travel for more app recommendations.
Tip 16 - Call or be prepared to call your bank / credit card company - While this is increasingly less necessary, it's good to call and confirm prior to travel; at the very least, save the appropriate numbers in your phone - you should have them anyway in case your cards get lost or stolen.
Tip 17 - Setup your phone for contactless payments like Apple Pay; it's convenient and it doubles as a backup plan in case your cards don't work or they go missing.
Tip 18 - Get US dollars (in $5/10/20 increments), in case airport ATMs don't work and you need cash immediately - it's not common, but you will run into it; ex., on-arrival VISAs, airport taxis, tips for drivers, street vendor food if you're getting in late, etc.
Packing Tips
Tip 19 - Start with the Necessities - passport, bank/credit card, phone & headphones, laptop & accessories, 1x weeks' worth of clothes - this is ALL YOU NEED to travel, seriously.. check out The Only Things You Need for Long-Term Travel.
Pro Tip: Pack a pen and a marker - a pen is universally useful and a marker is great for marking your food if you're staying in a hostel with a shared fridge.
Tip 20 - Add in the Nice-to-Haves - universal travel adapter, fast charger, split cable (standard, retractable or short), burner phone, packable day bag, portable wash basin, laundry bag, sleep mask, ear plugs, locker padlocks.
Most of these are optional and almost all of them can be easily purchased on the road if you forget them, lose them or break them.
Pro Tip:Â Assume you'll only ever have ONE power outlet to charge everything, how would that affect your packing plans? This mental exercise can help determine what's necessary. I pack a generic travel adapter, an Anker fast charger, and a single 6-in-1 splitter cable, that's it for power.
Tip 21 - Splurge on travel-specific apparel - Specifically pants with zippered pockets, antibacterial/quick-dry underwear and stretchy/comfortable Merino wool or athleisure shirts - comfort is king while traveling, underwear is easily washable in the sink (if you find yourself in a bind), and zippered pocket pants adds peace of mind as your wandering the streets of Rome.
Pro Tip:Â Neutral colors make everything easier, black shoes, gray bottoms, black/blue/gray shirts - you won't get points for style, but no one cares what you look like when you travel.
Tip 22 - Consider one pair of shoes - I wear one pair of black trail-running shoes, but I'm a bit extreme; most people can get away with one pair of hiking shoes, one pair of comfortable/stylish every-day walking shoes, and one pair of sandals. If you're worried about ankle support, consider ankle braces over the ankle-high hiking boots, they perform the same function while taking up less space.
Tip 23 - Consider barefoot sandals, or better yet, just buy a cheap pair if and when you need them - I love my Xero sandals and they do save a small amount of bag space, but I'm a bit obsessive and you're likely to worry less if your sandals cost $2 and you lose them in the sand.
Tip 24 - Pack a padlock for hostel lockers and maybe luggage locks, if you're really paranoid - I don't travel with suitcase locks anymore, because my worry shifted from "someone's going to get in my locker" to "what if I lose my suitcase keys" - pick your poison, I'm a firm believer that less is more.
"I don't travel with suitcase locks anymore, because my worry shifted from 'what if someone gets in my locker' to 'what if I lose my suitcase keys'. - pick your poison."
Tip 25 - Consider a burner/backup phone if you're traveling long-term, buy a cheap SIM card or purchase an eSIM and use your burner phone anytime you go out.
Pro Tip - Limit access on your burner phone - tie it to a backup email address and forward any travel documents as needed - you'll worry a lot less if you lose it.
Note: I double-down on connectivity by using a local eSIM in my burner phone and secondary travel eSIM on my primary phone; backups on backups on backups - ask yourself, what would you do if your phone took a swim, or was lost or stolen while traveling? Make a backup plan and prep for the worst.
Tip 26 - Consider a simple phone/wrist strap and/or retractable cable, this is a simple solution that can add piece of mind when you're out in a crowded city.
Tips for Minimizing Your Pack
Tip 27 - Digitize your most important documents - everything from your passport to your credit cards to your medical cards should be in digital format, stored on a shared drive that can be accessed from any computer with just a password (or if you have 2-factor authentication setup, ensure you can access it with an email link as a backup, in case you lose your phone).
Tip 28 - Commit to audiobooks and small screens - many people debate the need for a tablet or eReader while traveling, and it's understandable, but if you're traveling long-term, consider how much you'll really be using it.. Could you suffer through those few shows on your phone? Could you try audiobooks versus physical books or an eReader for a few months? Check out 16 Things You Should Never Pack for more details.
Tip 29 - Pack fewer clothes - check out 9 Tips for Packing Fewer Clothes for ideas on how to minimize your outfits.
Tip 30 - Consider ultralight/ultraportable travel gear - packable backpacks, packable fanny packs, packable wash buckets, packable puffer jackets, packable rain jackets, packable ponchos. I'll always recommend inexpensive options for everything, but if you must bring it, you might as well make it small.
Tip 31 - Consider vacuum packing, or my personal favorite, a Scrubba wash bag that doubles as a compression bag and a wash bag if you decide to hand-wash your clothes - Nomatic has a nice vacuum seal bag - it's a little too big for me but will likely do wonders for the roller suitcase crowd.
Pro Tip:Â Utilize the rolling method (in addition to vacuum sealing) to pack even more stuff into a small space and prevent wrinkles - I've also used Velcro ties in the past to keep my clothes rolled while packing; they're nice in the beginning, but also easy to lose, so these days I go without them.
Tip 32 - Leave the water bottle at home - this may sound counter-intuitive and environmentally unfriendly, but hear me out - You'll likely be buying bottles or jugs of water in 90% of the places you visit, why not buy one water bottle and refill it as you go? It's one less thing to pack, one less thing to worry about losing.
Tip 33 - Leave the towel at home - hotels have free towels, hostels have towels for rent - you can buy cheap (and beautiful!) beach towels on any beach in the world - why pack it when you can buy local and bring home a piece of your travels? (see Tip 42).
Check out 16 Things You Should Never Pack if you haven't already.
Tip 34 - Review your pack - it should be pretty fairly minimal at this point, but is there anything you can do to make it even smaller? A lighter hoodie? A micro shaver? A thinner toiletry bag? A thinner belt? Less clothes? Brainstorm and research ultraportable travel accessories, and minimize where possible.
Tip 35 - Follow the rules - if you're undecided on something - DON'T BRING IT, this is the simplest and best packing advice you'll ever need to hear, but hard to implement. Remember that you can buy whatever you need, often for very cheap, wherever you are in the world. There are three benefits to this approach, 1) Your pack is lighter if you end up not needing it, 2) You can buy it cheap if you do need (i.e. you get to go shopping!), 3) You won't care as much if you end up losing it or need to donate it.
Packing Tips
Tip 36 - Consider suffering at the airport - If you're traveling from a cold to hot climate, consider suffering those 10 meters from your doorstep to the Uber and from the Uber into the airport - do you really need a jacket and pants for those 25 seconds?
Tip 37 - Utilize the sun! - It's a little acknowledged fact that direct sunlight is one of the best disinfectants in the world, if you're traveling somewhere warm with access to a patio, you can rinse your clothes and put them outside to dry in the sun; odor-causing bacteria will die within a few hours - you have access to the worlds best washer/dryer combo right outside your window, weather permitting.
Tip 38 - Break the stereotype - you can wear clothes more than once.. sweat doesn't smell, YOU smell.. so if YOU shower, YOU won't smell - it's that simple. Check out 9 Tips for Packing Fewer Clothes.
Tip 39 - Consider renting vs packing - if your travel involves a lot of outdoor adventures, it's good to remember that most places have activity-specific gear available for rent, and if you're doing it through a group tour, you'll likely have to use their gear anyway; do some research before you go and save yourself some bag space.
Tip 40 - Consider packing less and buying what you need on the road - this is a great way to minimize your pack while supporting the local economy and gifting yourself some souvenirs.
For every place you visit, there will be apparel and accessories specific to that location, if you're going to Iceland in the winter, you're going to find Iceland-brand clothing made for Icelandic winters; if you're going to the Caribbean, you're going to find cheap sandals and sunglasses every 20 feet.
Buying isn't always the best option, but if you're traveling long-term with open-ended travel plans, you don't need to pack for every situation.
Tip 41 - Utilize the post (office) - this may be a spendy piece of advice, but it's worth noting the option, especially for long-term travelers... but consider mailing stuff home if you have to - if you're traveling for 6+ months from a cold to hot climate, consider mailing home your cold-weather gear once the weather turns.. yes it can be expensive, but it might be less expensive than buying new - plus you'll have a nice little package of keep-sakes and gifts to open when you get back.
Extra Packing Considerations
Tip 42 - Pack a washable laundry bag - this comes in handy when you're heading out for the day and want to drop off laundry at an overnight laundromat - you can throw your laundry bag in with your wash and it's ready to repack when your stuff is clean.
Tip 43 - Consider a washable plastic belt - these are airport-friendly, lightweight and easier to pack.
Tip 44 - Consider a plastic bag for toiletries - this is old school, but a cheap plastic 1L bag is the absolute smallest footprint you can imagine, if you're itching for simplicity and space-savings.
Tip 45 - Consider an inflatable pillow, small pillow sheet, or no pillow at all - most overnight/overseas flights will provide a pillow, but if you're worried about it, pack a small, pocket-sized inflatable pillow.. or my personal favorite, a small pillowcase to wrap around your clothes which can double as a pillow and add some organization to your pack.
Tip 47 - Security belts, pouches and ankle/wrist pockets - these aren't necessary if you have zippered pockets, but they do come in handy if you want to hide extra cash that stays in your bag.
Tip 48 - Consider a cheap backpack - on my first world trip, I bought a brand new $200 Aer backpack that was my pride and joy - until I actually started traveling.. then it became my #1 worry - It was the most expensive thing I was traveling with (aside from my phone), and I worried about it all the time. These days, I travel with a $30 backpack you can find at any supermarket.
Inexpensive travel gear serves two purposes, 1) you don't draw attention to yourself, and 2) you won't worry about losing it... i.e. it's peace of mind.
General Travel Tips
Tip 49- Utilize local ride-sharing apps to negotiate your fair. When you first land in a new country, you'll have lots of drivers offering you a ride, these are normally fine, but it helps to pull up Uber with your destination so you can see what is should cost - use that number to negotiate your fair before you get in the taxi.
Tip 50 - Go grocery shopping - it's one of the most enjoyable things you can do while traveling, and it'll give you a baseline for how much things should cost; convenience stores serve the same purpose, but grocery stores are more fun. Local farmer's markets are even better!
Tip 51 - Prepare for shitter shock. Americans are spoiled, we get to flush our toilet paper down the toilet. If you've never left the country, you're in for a surprise; 1) many countries don't want you flushing TP down and the toilet, and 2) some countries just have holes in the ground. I hate to ruin the surprise, but is anyone even reading this whole list?
"Americans are spoiled, we get to flush our toilet paper down the toilet."
Tip 52 - Don't fear the language barrier - Luckily for us monolinguist Americans, English is the universal language, so you won't have many issues while traveling, but even in the remotest of places, you'd be amazing at how far pointing, grunting and miming can get you.
Tip 53 - The best food spots aren't on Google Maps - or listed anywhere for that matter, your best bet is to walk around, away from the touristy spots (within reason) and try different places; or better yet, ask other travelers who have been there for awhile, or ask at the front desk of your hotel/hostel.
Tip 54 - Coming soon!
Phew, okay, I need to stop. My brain hurts.
If you're still reading this, I applaud you, and thank you. This isn't a complete list, but it's a pretty good start, and if you're interested in even more travel tips, feel free to subscribe to my monthly newsletter; where I will be fresh out of ideas. :)
And as always, happy travels.
