What to pack - Less than 1 week until departure

*Please note that the details provided below are solely for informational purposes.

1 week until departure - planning the packing process:

• Check the weather! - *and continue to check the weather until the day prior to your departure

  • Mentally prepare for the unexpected

  • Some items may be better purchased at your destination or possibly borrowed from your hotel/Airbnb if you need them (ie: umbrella, raincoat, etc)

• What clothes are appropriate based on the weather, insects, type of walking you’ll be doing, etc?

  • Do you need more than walking shoes? Sandals? Shoes for going out at night?

    • Make sure your shoes are broken-in prior to your departure

• Will you have laundry services available to you? - If so, you can pack significantly less and plan to do laundry.

  • Pack staple pieces that can be mixed and matched in multiple ways

  • We recommend buying laundry soap at your destination rather than bringing it from home OR you can get wash and fold done at a local laundromat

    • You can also use the service provided by the hotel, if you are staying at one, but you will pay significantly more for the service

• What to bring vs what to buy there? - Will you have easy access to stores?

  • Bug spray

  • Sunscreen

  • Laundry detergent

  • Diapers

  • Umbrella

Packing list - prior to your departure make a list of everything you need:

• Documents (passport, yellow fever card, driver’s license, etc)

• Wallet/purse, including debit card (to easily access local currency via ATMs) and an international credit card (ie: one with no foreign transaction fees)

  • Crossbody purse or fanny pack style to avoid issues with theft

• Outlet adapters

• Devices + Chargers (phone, computer, tablet, earbuds)

• Clothing - weather and activity appropriate

  • Make sure your clothing choices are culturally appropriate as well!

• Shoes

  • Sandals for beaches or long walking

  • Evening shoes

• Medications - daily prescribed by your provider and also any travel specific medications needed for your trip

  • These should always be in your carry-on!

• Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, hairbrush, toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, hair ties, lotion(s), sunscreen, razor, shaving cream, bug spray, etc.)

• Dryer sheets if doing laundry

• Plane needs (book, ear plugs, eye mask, neck pillow, snacks, empty water bottle, wipes, kleenex)

• Kids stuff if needed (car seat, car seat cover if checking, stroller/carrier, sound machine, toys/sleep blanket, art supplies that travel well, games, diapers + wipes)

  • For kids carry-on, include a set of pajamas and an extra set of clothes as well

Separate what will go in in each bag - carry-on luggage vs under the seat bag vs checked (if you plan to check)

• Carry-on luggage should always contain anything that you cannot risk losing

  • Documents

  • Medications

Not yet at this point in the process and still in the planning stages? Check out “Checklist for planning International Travel.”

(c) 2023, TripMedRx, Inc.