7 Essential Things to Pack for International Travel: Ultimate Packing List
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Packing for an international trip? It always seems like we leave the house, feeling like we forgot something. It can be overwhelming and somewhat stressful to get everything ready and packed for a big trip overseas. However, we will break down an essential packing list, including the must-have items, and we will share some additional things that you could bring with you as well to help you with your travel experience!
Essential Things to Pack for International Travel
It can seem like a lot to prepare for everything you might need for an upcoming international trip, but it doesn’t have to be that complicated. Whether you are traveling for vacation, work, or an adventure, this packing list covers everything you need for stress-free international travel as of 2025!
1. Must-Have Travel Documents
You should never leave for your trip without these items! These would risk canceling or seriously impacting your your travel if you forget one of these items! These are the most important international travel documents to remember to bring:
- Passport
- Visa (if applicable)
- Flight tickets or e-confirmation
- Hotel booking reservation
- Driver’s license or some form of ID.
- Copies of necessary vaccination records (if required in the country)
2. Currency & Payment Essentials
Obviously, having the ability to pay for things during your international travel is extremely important! For international money tips, we reccomend the following items:
- Credit card (or debit card) with no international fees if possible
- Local currency (for taxis, tips, vendors that don’t accept card payments)
- Currency converter app (or at least have an idea of the currency conversion)
- Travel-friendly money belt or RFID wallet
Some of the best international credit cards we reccomend are listed below:
Wise is a useful platform if you want to pay or transfer money from your bank account between different currencies to another foreign bank account:
The type of wallet that Harry uses is a slim minimalist wallet that can fit in your front pockets. It is also RFID protected and allows you to carry multiple cards, IDs, and cash:
Travelambo Slim Wallet Front Pocket Minimalist Leather RFID Blocking Medium Size
3. Travel Tech & Electronics
Of course, you will want to make sure you have the best travel electronics that are necessary to make your life easier during your trip! This is a list of some tech essentials for travelers abroad:
- Smartphone with roaming or eSIM
- Universal travel adapter
- Portable charger (power bank)
- Charging cables
- Headphones (for entertainment)
- Laptop or tablet (if necessary for your trip)
When traveling overseas, it is very helpful to be able to have cellular data to be able to look up information, get directions, book rideshare, and more! If you don’t have an international roaming plan with your cellular service and have eSIM capabilities with your smart phone, we reccomend a service called Airalo! You can purchase an eSIM (very affordable) prior to flying across the country, and it will guide you through the installation process! They have plans including separate countries, regional, and global! You will get options for the duration and amount of data you want included in your eSIM with the option to “top-off” more data if you end up going over your plan while you are overseas! Try the service out for yourself:
Here are some of the best travel electronics that we have personally used and always bring on one of our international trips:
Apple USB-C Woven Charge Cable (2 m)
Apple USB-C to Lightning Cable (2 m)
4. Health & Safety Essentials
Even though we hope you don’t use this during your travels (aside from everyday health items), you should not take the risk and should always be prepared:
- Any prescriptions medications (be sure to have documentation, especially for controlled substances)
- Over-the-counter medications (pain relievers, flu medication, motion sickness, etc.)
- Hand sanitizer & wet wipes
- Simple travel first aid kit (bandages, healing ointment, etc.)
- Face masks
- Carbon monoxide detector
- Travel insurance details (if you have travel insurance)
Carbon monoxide poisoning in a hotel or resort is no joke, and this device will give you a peace of mind and may potentially save your life:
One of the best travel insurance out there is VisitorsCoverage! They have affordable, customizable plans, and it is fast and easy to purchase:
5. Clothing & Accessories
When planning travel outfits, pack light but smart, and try to focus on versatility and layering if you want a minimalist packing list. Otherwise, you can always check-in additional luggage for more room if you will be gone for an extended period of time. Be sure to see what type of weather you will be involved with during your stay. Here is what to wear for international travel:
- Weather-appropriate outfits
- Lightweight jacket or raincoat (if it will rain during your travel)
- Appropriate footwear (walking shoes, sandals, etc.)
- Undergarments, socks, and sleepwear
- Foldable laundry bag
- Scarf or sarong (if you are visiting religious sites or for warmth)
6. Carry-On Essentials
While on the plane, you should keep these items on you at all times! We will show you a simple carry-on packing list that includes long haul flight essentials. These are international flight must-haves while on the plane:
- Passport & other necessary travel documents
- Entertainment (headphones, book or e-reader, iPad, gaming device, etc.)
- Snacks & refillable water bottle
- Neck pillow & eye mask (for red eye/overnight flights)
- Mini toiletries (TSA approved: liquid no more than 3.4 ounces)
- Phone & charger
We will typically bring one of these refillable water bottles along with us during our travels. These are two of the best insulated water bottles / tumblers:
YETI Rambler 26 oz Bottle, Vacuum Insulated, Stainless Steel with Straw Cap
7. Toiletries (TSA Approved)
Here are some international travel toiletries suggestions while going overseas! You will need to include TSA-approved liquids if taking these on the plane in your carry-on:
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
- Travel-sized shampoo, conditioner, body wash (if you prefer to pack your own)
- Deodorant
- Razor & shaving cream and/or clippers
- Face wipes, moisturizer, sunscreen
- Makeup
These TSA-approved toiletry bags make organizing liquids in your carry on much less stressful and simpler when having to go through TSA:
8. Bonus Items (Optional But Helpful)
These are some smart travel items that can be optional for some, but we highly reccomend! Some underrated travel accessories are included in the following list:
- Tripod
- Apple AirTags (to put inside your luggage for tracking)
- Decent carry-on luggage for traveling
- Luggage scale
This is something we use all the time to take our pictures when it is just the two of us and don’t want to be burdened with having to ask someone take it for us. This lightweight, collapsable tripod is a must-have for those wanting to take your best pictures:
Apple AirTags can be a very useful tool to keep track of your luggage, especially if it is being checked-in. You can check on the luggage’s location to see if your luggage has made it to your destination:
It helps to have a good carry-on luggage that you can roll easily and transport throughout the airport and the rest of your travels:
Lastly, if you are uncertain that you are compliant with the weights of your luggage before your next flight, it definitely helps to have a digital luggage scale to weigh your baggage:
Conclusion
With this international travel packing list, we hope this made you a bit less anxious with preparation! You will feel better fully prepared with no more scrambling to pack at the last minute, thinking you may have forgot something. Save this post or pin it for your next trip if this was helpful to you!
Pin this post to your Travel Planning board!
