I love when we hear from our worktrotters (that’s you, our fans)! I recently received a question from one who is planning an upcoming trip to Copenhagen. Chris and I haven’t made it there, yet, but we hear it’s a remarkable place to visit.
This worktrotter is new to travel and needed some tips on packing. Her question gave me the great idea for this post. So, without further ado, here are my top tips for travel packing.
1) Take the important stuff
When traveling abroad, be sure to have all your documentation. We carry our passports, original birth certificates and wedding certificate, important medical records, health insurance cards, credit card and bank contact information, and international driver’s licenses in plastic protectors. It’s also a smart idea to make copies of these documents and load them to a jump drive that you can carry on your person. I have one on a necklace I wear. You can paint a red cross on the jump drive for the international symbol of medical information.
2) Airlines and baggage don’t play nice together
As most U.S. airlines only allow one bag under 50 pounds to be checked free for a Transatlantic flight, we try to pack as tight as possible. Rolling your clothes instead of folding them will save space. Use your shoes to store small items, like jewelry and hair clips. Also, save room in your carry-on in case you need to switch some items out. Be sure, though, your carry-on items meet TSA rules for liquids and possible hazardous materials.
3) Mix and match clothes
There is no need to pack an outfit for each day. Instead, pack a certain amount of shirts and pants that can be worn interchangeably to last the length of your trip. You also don’t need to take up valuable space with too many shoes. I choose a color code for the trip (brown or black), and I take two maybe three pairs of shoes at the most. This usually includes a pair of tennis shoes I can do my walking around in and a pair that can be worn with most anything else, including nicer outfits for evenings out.
4) Take care of yourself
Take any medications you will need. I also like to pack medicine for upset stomachs, as you don’t know how the new food will affect you. If you can also get a subscription for Cipro or another low-dose antibiotic from your doctor, this is good to have on hand in case of emergencies.
5) Plan ahead
Always leave space for items you will bring back as you will certainly return with more than you departed. In his suitcase, Chris likes to pack an extra duffel bag as a carry-on to use on the way back. If you expect to buy souvenirs, bring less with you.
What tricks of packing do you use?
-Monica
Good tips. Many international airlines have a carry-on bag height limit of 20″, so a lot of bags allowed by US carriers may not work. Check your airline. Also, I leave the umbrella at home unless I know for certain that it will rain. Just plan to buy one from a street vendor. They can be quite bulky in your luggage but they’re usually cheap to buy once you’re abroad. Keep all your email travel confirmations easily accessible in a Yahoo or Gmail account. You can usually find an inexpensive Internet cafe or even a computer in your hotel lobby in a jam if you need to print off a boarding pass.
Allison, these are great tips. We do the same with travel documents in email folders, and it has saved us on more than one occasion. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the tips!
Hi. Just returned from a trip in which I had unexpected 2.5 day delay in Chicago due to weather. Newest thing I’m doing: put several hotel chain 1800 numbers into your phone as contacts, just in case you are stranded in a city and need to find a hotel. You may not be able to access the internet or Google to find a local hotel. If you have Westin, Holiday Inn, etc national 1800 # in your phone, you will probably be able to make a call out to them and find a hotel. If a large airport like O’Hare gets shut down for hours, this may help you out in a jam. Otherwise you might find that all the internet service is jammed and all the nearby hotels are booked.
Elizabeth, you’re welcome. Hope they come in handy!
Allison, ouch! That doesn’t sound like fun, but thanks for sharing the tip on the hotel 800 numbers. We’ll have to do that.