For many people, a trip overseas can be the vacation of a lifetime. Packing appropriately for that experience can be a little more complicated. Consider several important items to include in your suitcase before you set out on that luxurious and memorable overseas vacation.
Is this going to be the year you finally do it? Will this be the time you make the leap and plan that long-awaited vacation to a foreign shore? If so, congratulations. You are in for a real treat. Foreign travel can be one of the most enlightening experiences of your lifetime.
Before you go, you might be wise to consider a brief checklist of some essential items you should pack to make your journey, if not completely enjoyable, at least satisfying and tolerable.
1) Of course, you’re well prepared with an up-to-date passport and any other necessary travel documents that may be required by the countries you will visit. But, just to be on the safe side, make sure you carry copies of all those documents in a location separate from your passport. This level of coverage will prove invaluable in the event your original documents are lost or stolen.
2) Make sure every piece of luggage, purse or briefcase contains contact information on the inside of the piece. If your luggage gets diverted to a strange airport or shipping port, the information inside your luggage may be the only way the destination has of returning your belongings to yoli.
3) Carry a variety of forms of payment with you. Take one or more credit cards, but be sure to notify your credit card company of your travel plans and destinations before you go. Otherwise, you may just find yourself without a viable source of payment should your credit card company shut off your account due to purchases overseas that they may view as a sign your credit card has been compromised. A small amount of cash is also not a bad idea to carry. Just be sure to carry it in a secure location, preferably next to your body.
4) When you go on vacation, the last thing you want to spend your time doing is basic laundry. If you’re going on a seven-day trip, pack at least ten changes of underwear. These are compact items that can more easily be stuffed into your luggage without taking up too much room. It should be a foregone conclusion that, on at least a few days of your trip, you will be looking forward to a change of clothing as you prepare to go out for the evening. Don’t let your underwear slow you down.
5) Take along some method of recording the memorable moments of your trip. Your phone or camera will be great for capturing a few visual memories. A journal, notebook or writing app on your devices can be the place where you take note of your thoughts and feelings as you encounter new people and experiences on your journey. There will come a day when those memories will be cherished.
6) While everyone will encourage you to travel light, it’s also important to travel smart. Don’t assume one pair of shoes will see you through every travel experience. Always pack your most comfortable walking shoes to fall back on in a pinch. You want to remember the scenery, not the blisters, when you return from your trip.
7) While many foreign locations will have ample resources for your basic medicinal needs, don’t take the risk of assuming you can get what you need when you get there. Pack more than enough of your prescription items for the trip, as well as any preferred cosmetic items. If you should get delayed overseas, you will be glad you remembered a few extra days of medication.
8) Don’t get too carried away with believing the weather forecasts for your destinations Tropical locations can have a chilly evening or two. Cooler climates can experience a sudden burst of warm weather. Always take at least one sweater or jacket for those warmer locales and a pair of shorts or a light-weight outfit for the mountains.
9) If you’re traveling with a companion, mix the contents of your suitcases together. Pack basic essentials for each of you in every piece you carry. That way, if a piece of luggage is lost or delayed, you will both have some clothing to get you through the days until you and your luggage are reunited. You can sort out your belongings when you reach your destination.
10) Your goal may be to devote all your attention to the experiences of your journey but, in reality, delays are not uncommon in travel. Pack a book or load your device with fresh reading material to see you through the layover’s, lengthy airplane rides or rainy afternoons at the beach. Getting lost in a good book can be another reward of travel time.
Being prepared for your overseas vacation can make all the difference between a truly enjoyable vacation and one spent shuffling around, trying to fill in the missing pieces of lost luggage, inadequate clothing or medications and problems with currency or identification. Try to expect the unexpected and your trip will be that much more fun. Bon voyage!
