When planning to leave for a trip, packing is an essential duty. Packing the wrong items or stowing them incorrectly can turn a fun vacation into a difficult ordeal, so pack carefully.
A good list of everything you will need for your trip is necessary in planning. When in doubt about what to bring, a general rule is to pack moderately. A suitcase is not meant to replace everything, so if you can do without for the trip, leave items at home and save space. Write down a list of indispensable things and determine what should go on the trip. Plan ahead and practice packing before it is time to leave.
Keep travel documents with you at all times. Important documents, such as cash, credit cards and paperwork such as travel insurance should be in your carry-on when flying. Never pack these documents in checked baggage, as they are too important to lose. Travel documents can only be used if you have them with you, so set them aside for your carry-on bag and guard it carefully.
Important documents to pack:
- Cash, credit cards, ATM card, traveler’s checks.
- Plane tickets, passport, and visa.
- Travel insurance verification documents.
When planning what clothing to bring on a trip, there are several factors to consider. What types of activities will be done on this trip? Business trips obviously require more formal attire than the family vacation. Check the weather of your destination: will you need shorts or a parka? Some situations, such as religious sites that are tourist attractions require visitors to wear pants. Or perhaps a special dinner in an upscale restaurant will require black tie. Plan ahead for both weather and activities. For longer trips, laundry service is usually available, so pack what is needed for only three days at a time. Pack an extra pair of clothes to go in your carry-on in case your checked luggage is lost.
Clothing to pack:
- Several shirts, pairs of pants, skirts
- Underwear and bathing suit
- Socks, shoes, hats
- Pajamas, coat
Toiletries should go in your carry on, unless you feel you can do without them. All medications as well as a copy of your travel medical insurance policy should stay with you. Airports have limits to volumes of what amount of fluid can be carried on, so bring travel size toiletries if possible. Many hotels offer shampoo, soap, and lotion; so consider leaving some of these behind.
Toiletries to pack:
- Shampoo, conditioner, hair products
- Deodorant, razor, shaving cream
- Hairbrush, clips and styling aids, curling iron
- Makeup, lotion
- Medications
Other items, such as batteries and cell phones are necessary during a trip. Depending on how much room is in your suitcase, some electrical items can be left at home. Consider that when traveling to foreign countries, there can be a change in voltage and a converter may be necessary.
Other items to pack:
- Cell phone
- Travel alarm clock
- Laptop computer
- Sunglasses
- Batteries
