Packing Tips for International Travel

Few travel plans are more exciting than crossing international borders and visiting a new country. There are many places all around the world with various cultural and local influences that greatly differ from what you might be accustomed to.

For example, you might be interested in the art galleries of London that captivate millions of visitors annually, or perhaps the breathtaking landscape and scenery of Iceland is more your fancy. No matter your interest, there’s sure to be a new location you haven’t visited that draws your interest.

Wanting to go on an international vacation is a good starting point, but you need to be adequately prepared. Expectations and rules can be different depending on where you go and this is something you can’t overlook.

With the right strategy, you’ll have everything you need to focus on immersing yourself in a new culture. We’ll help you do this with some important tips below!

Effective Packing Approach

Preparing for international travel begins with enacting an effective packing approach. What does this look like? Imagine you’re packing for any standard vacation and you want to make the best use of space while ensuring you have everything you need.

A great way to help with this is to create a physical packing list you can check off and reference later. It is easy to get overwhelmed and forget about something important. Taking the time once to create a physical reminder will save you time and hassle later.

This is also particularly relevant for international travel because you’ll need more documentation than you would if travelling within your country. Ensuring you have all this is critical to even getting on the plane!

When you’re physically placing your belongings into your bag, have a plan in mind. Haphazardly throwing everything inside and hoping for the best is a great way to waste space and forget things. 

Instead, stay neat and organized with every item you pack. Roll or fold everything you put inside and try to cushion bulkier items with smaller items that can fill up awkward spaces.

With a good approach to packing, you’ll spend less time repeating and double-checking yourself, meaning fewer mistakes and a better trip!

Prepare for International Differences

Because you’re travelling to a different country, you need to be fully prepared for international differences. This can be as simple as knowing how not to interact with locals, but it can also apply to the process and documentation you’ll need to enter the country.

Your experience will be different depending on where you are travelling from and where you are trying to go. Some countries are more understanding or strict towards citizens from other countries depending on their political standings.

Extending from this, there are places where your safety is in great danger should you visit. The U.S. has a travel advisory urging travellers to avoid certain countries due to the risk of piracy, kidnapping, harassment, or even death.

Without the perspective and experience of visiting a new country, you don’t know what to expect and you are the guest. Being a guest in a country means you will follow their customs rather than expecting them to understand yours.

This comes down to research and learning what makes the specific country you want to visit different. Be sure you read official websites to learn all of the proper documentation to bring and what to leave at home. 

Some items aren’t permitted to cross borders and this isn’t an issue you want to experience first-hand. Also, make sure to buy adapters for any chargers you use because different countries use varying outlets.

When you know what to expect, you can pack accordingly and ensure you’re fully prepared for when border agents are processing your entry!

Consider the Flight

Lastly, you’ll want to think about the physical flight and how you’ll endure it. Most international long-haul flights are upwards of 12 hours or longer, meaning that you’ll have a lot of time to kill.

You likely haven’t been on a flight this long before and this is something you need to be ready for. Having to sit with few opportunities to get up and stretch your legs for extended periods can be highly uncomfortable. You’re also likely to get hungry during the flight and boredom is inevitable if you aren’t planning for it.

Taking this into account, you’ll want to also have a separate packing approach for your flight. This entails what you wear on the plane and also the snacks and entertainment you bring along.

When it comes to clothing, you want to be as comfortable as possible. Avoid jeans and formal wear in favour of loosely fitting clothes like relaxed denim trousers or sweatpants and sweatshirts. This gives you room to stretch a little more while also being comforted as you wear clothes you typically would wear at home.

For snacks and entertainment, bring enough to last for a several-hour flight. Make sure you have a variety to prevent boredom or activity fatigue. Prioritize healthy snacks and entertainment like crossword puzzles, music, or even video games for more options!

While your end destination is the goal, the flight is still a major obstacle on your way there. Remember this and prepare for it well so you can arrive in a comfortable state of mind!

International travel requires you to prepare differently than you would for a more local vacation. The rules are more strict and being properly prepared becomes a necessity rather than a convenience.

Being adequately prepared comes down to considering the key points of packing for an international trip. This includes having an effective packing approach, understanding international differences and working around them, and also being ready for the flight itself.

Travelling so far from home can be scary and anxiety-inducing, so you want to make sure you are as prepared as possible while eliminating any potential issues. Don’t overstress getting ready for your next trip, but ensure you are careful and thorough to give you the best odds of a smooth experience!