Travel Checklist for Packing Your Bags

You’re getting ready for a much-anticipated vacation and have prepared your place, checked off your travel essentials, and are ready to – finally! – pack your bags. The fun part, right? Um, wrong. It’s so, so easy to fall into an overpacking trap without considering the repercussions. Repercussions, you ask? Oh yes; I know from experience that over-packing can ultimately be a real pain. I learned many lessons the hard way, and I hope to save you travel headaches with a travel checklist for packing your bags.

Keep It Light

I was traveling to Paris with my mom and my daughter in the spring of one year. Stupidly, I thought Parisians would care more about how I looked than how I spoke the few words of French I knew with such an awful, American accent. So, the big suitcase it was! Also believing that my place of employment would crumple and fall without access to me (mind you, this was in the olden days when laptops were heavy and power converters for laptops even heavier), I packed my laptop and the ridiculously heavy power converter I’d purchased. (Yes friends, I actually believed I would do so work WHILE IN PARIS). Silly, silly girl. My work fantasies aside, the biggest mistake I made while packing was not researching how to get around while dreamily exploring venues to visit in this bucket-list destination. Imagine my horror when the three of us arrived just across the Seine River from Île Saint-Louis via Metro De Paris and had to climb a long flight of stairs (no elevator or escalator!) with all the huge, heavy luggage. Suddenly looking chic and pretending I would work was not very important. At all.

Tip #1 on the Travel Checklist For Packing Your Bags is Keep It Light. Think over your shoe situation carefully. I have a friend who packed an entire extra suitcase full of shoes for a vacation. Sorry, but that’s crazy. Who wants to drag a bag of shoes around? On my last trip (15 days in the fall), I packed comfy walking shoes for day wear, and pairs of dress flats and dress heels for the evening, and not one single person made fun of me. Note that my walking shoes are seriously cute and I was delighted to wear them daily.

Keep It Simple

Tip #2 on the Travel Checklist For Packing Your Bags is Keep It Simple. Realize how little you REALLY need. On a direct flight from Florence, Italy to Amsterdam, Netherlands, Alitalia managed to lose my luggage. For an entire week. Oh, they sent me updates – your suitcase is in Lisbon! Prague! Vienna! (how annoying that my suitcase was better traveled than I!), but did not actually deliver it to me until the day we left to return to the USA a week later. The day we flew from Florence, I wore capris, a tee, and my trusty Birkenstocks. Fortunately, the airport in Amsterdam had loads of shops and I was able to pick up two extra tees, and a couple of pairs of undies. A day or two later, I bought a skirt, a light sweater, a dressier top, and dressier sandals for the evening, making sure to stick with go-together colors. This meager wardrobe got me through an entire week. Again, no one gave me an eye-roll for my wardrobe. Of course, there was hand washing in the evening, but what a great lesson learned! The next time I traveled, I followed the advice of Rick Steves and packed for a 10-day trip with just a carry-on.  I can’t even tell you how liberating it is to travel light! No waiting at baggage claim. No lost luggage. No lugging around heavy luggage (even with spinning wheels, heavy is heavy).  Rick also has a very helpful packing light packing list.

Keep It Organized

This last year, I tried packing cubes for the first time. Game changer! Not only do the cubes help you get more stuff in your suitcase, but they also help you keep your stuff organized when you arrive at your destination. They are especially helpful if you will be destination hopping on your trip. Check out Travel & Leisure’s list of the best packing cubes here, and The New York Times has an excellent article on packing efficiently if you don’t want to invest in the cubes.

Avoid “Just In Case”

It’s a trap! Don’t fall into it just because you “might need it”. Remember you are going on vacation. If you need something you didn’t pack – just buy it. A great way to feel very foolish is to come home from a trip with clothes you never wore – just lugged around.

Must Haves

Aside from clothing, and important travel-related items we check-listed here, there are essentials no suitcase should be without:

  • A bag for dirty garments. A plastic shopping bag works great for this purpose, and you won’t get that used-clothing funk on whatever clean clothes you have left.
  • One or two zipper-locked plastic bags for wet or damp items, or for corralling smaller items.
  • A well-stocked toiletries case. Check to see if the place where you’re staying will provide shampoo, conditioner, soap, Q-Tips, shaving cream, etc. Big box stores have special sections for travel-sized items, or you can purchase a kit with small jars and bottles to fill with your favorite products.
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss, as while most hotels provide some toiletries, you’re on your own for tooth care.
  • Shoe bag/s to keep your clothes away from whatever gunk gets on the bottom of your shoes as you trek about.

Carry On Must Haves

We’ve got you covered with your carry-on bag, too! Here’s more of our travel checklist for packing your bags:

  • If your checked-in bag gets delayed or you want to freshen up upon arrival, having your cosmetics handy is essential.
  • Medications in their original containers.
  • A small case filled with important electronics items such as chargers, noise-canceling headphones (especially helpful for napping!), or earbuds.
  • A few one-use toothbrushes to freshen up.
  • An eye mask is very helpful if you’d like to nap on the flight. Click here for some of the best ones.
  • An empty insulated water bottle. Fill it at the airport instead of paying the exorbitant prices for bottled water at the gate.
  • They don’t feed you on the plane anymore, so snacks like granola bars or nuts can come in handy.
  • Paper and pen. The pen will be helpful for customs forms, note-taking, or exchanging phone numbers with that cute human in the seat next to you.
  • Something to read.
  • A wrap in case it gets chilly or for snuggling up during your nap.
  • If you’re traveling a long distance, invest in a pair of compression socks. Styles are fun and colorful, so you don’t have to worry about looking like a little old person. Here’s why they make a great travel companion.

Okay, kids – your bags are thoughtfully packed, and your vacation awaits! Safe travels!

 

Pre-Travel Checklist Essentials

You’ve scrimped and saved, studied and planned, researched and purchased. You know when you’re going, where you’re going, where you’ll be staying. You have bus/train/plane and motel/hotel/resort/Air B & B reservations, a lighter than usual checking account, and higher than usual credit card bill. It’s what vacation is all about! And you are SO READY to go. But are you really ready? Our last blog contained a handy checklist to help you get your home vacation ready. Now we’ll focus on getting you ready with these pre-travel trip checklists essentials for general travel, international travel, and baggage.

Pre-Travel Checklist: General Trip Essentials

Rx. Make sure you have enough prescription medication to last for your entire trip. It’s a good idea to have a bit more than you need, just in case there’s an unforeseen delay. The Allianz Travel 24-hour assistance hotline can help you refill prescriptions overseas, but you must purchase their travel insurance.

Cash. Always have some cash on hand, and make sure you have some small bills for tipping.

Bank balances. Ensure your bank account and credit card limits are sufficient to handle your vacation spending.

Schedule a ride. If traveling by bus, train, or plane schedule a cab, Uber, Lyft, or ride from a friend/family member in advance to ensure you arrive on time. Downloading the Uber or Lyft app in advance can save time when you arrive at your destination. If you already have one of these apps, make sure your payment method is current.

Check in. Download the app for your airline, train, or bus. Check in online to save wait time at the terminal. Pre-pay for checked bags whenever possible.

Charge. Be sure all your electronics are fully charged as you never know for certain when or where you’ll be able to recharge. Since travel inevitably means waiting, you’ll want fully-charged devices to keep you busy – especially if there are delays. Pack all chargers in an easy-to-access spot like a purse, backpack, or carry-on that stays with you. That charger won’t do you any good if it’s in a checked bag! Consider buying a portable charger if you’re not sure when you’ll be able to plug in. I once had a late flight which allowed me all day to explore the city, but using my GPS (and with location turned on for photos), used up my charge quickly! Fortunately, I found a shop that sold fully-charged portable chargers, but boy did I pay a premium for it. If you’re traveling by car, be sure to have a charger that works in the cigarette lighter (if your car doesn’t have a USB port), and that you have a phone holder if you are the driver.

Download. Download apps for navigation, transportation, and translation.  Apps for guided meditations are helpful if you stress while traveling. Audible has books and podcasts that will greatly help to pass the time. You can even download movies or TV shows from your favorite streaming service for travel amusement.

Clearance. Consider enrolling in a TSA clearance program such as TSA PreCheck ($78 for 5 years. Good for foreign travel originating in the US, but typically not on the return flight. For that, consider Global Entry), or CLEAR (Start your enrollment here and finish at any CLEAR airport location next time you travel—no appointment needed, just remember your government-issued I.D. $189/year. Not available at all airports.)

Pre-Travel Checklist: International Trip Essentials

Boarding passes & itinerary. Double check all dates. Remember that if you are traveling abroad, dates may appear differently: May 12, 2023 could be 12/05/2023 instead of 05/12/2023.

Destination travel requirements. Your destination country may require certain vaccinations, visas, an arrival tax, a specific number of free pages in your passport, or for permissible passport expiration times.  Learn the requirements for your destination here.

Passport. Always keep your passport in the same place. You don’t want to be frantically hunting for it right before your departure. Passport renewals are taking some time these days with seven to nine weeks minimum for expedited and 10 to 14 weeks standard.

Print. Sounds old school, but do print all of your travel info/documents. If you rely solely on your phone or other device for directions, reservations and other crucial information, you’ll be in trouble if the battery dies or your electronics get stolen.

Scan/photograph. Scan or take a pic of your passport, driver’s license, proof of vaccination, and credit cards. Store in the Notes section of your phone, pinned to the top. This can help you get replacements more quickly, should you lose the originals. Carry copies of your traveling partner’s documents as well.

Travel insurance. Consider purchasing to protect yourself and your trip. I’d purchased a cruise for April 2020. Thank goodness I had travel insurance to protect this paid-in-advance trip when it was cancelled due to COVID. The world is a pretty volatile place these days, even in the USA, and travel insurance is a small price to pay for peace of mind.  You can purchase travel insurance any time before the date of your departure, although your plan choice may be limited if you wait until the last minute. If you want a plan that includes valuable trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits, as well as benefits for existing medical conditions, you’ll want to purchase travel insurance as far in advance as possible.

Read. Okay, no one likes reading the fine print, the terms and conditions, or the instruction manual. But you need to know what’s covered and understand how to file a claim.

STEP. STEP is the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, run by the U.S. Department of State. Sign up in order to help the local embassy reach you in an emergency.

Pre-Travel Checklist: Baggage Essentials

Photograph. Take a pic of the contents. This makes it easier to file a baggage loss/delay claim, if anything happens to your stuff.

Tag. Be sure your luggage has a tag and contains the correct info. What should you include on the tag? Travel & Leisure advises to include your name (first initial and last name if you prefer to keep your orientation private), email address, and phone number. International travelers should also include the name of their hotel or residence in case the bag is lost. You can also purchase a smart tag luggage tracker.

Identify.  Is your suitcase easy to spot on the baggage carousel? So many bags look alike! I once saw a woman walk off with my bag and had to chase her down! Her bag was identical to mine and she neglected to check the tag. I was very fortunate to have seen her, or I’d have been without luggage in a foreign city (not that that’s never happened to me before, but that’s a tale for another day). Here are some ideas to make your bag stand out:

  • Tie a ribbon around the handle.
  • Buy a ridiculously large luggage tag.
  • Choose a different color / patterned suitcase. Solid black, navy blue, and red are the most common.
  • Purchase an identifiable luggage belt.
  • Decorate your bag with stickers.
  • Invest in handle grips.

Inspect. Look in all the pockets of your suitcase, carry on, and personal items. A forgotten pocketknife, corkscrew, or “liquid” over 3.4 ounces may mean a TSA delay and/or confiscation. I had a 5 oz. unopened jar of expensive body cream – still in its factory-sealed plastic shrink-wrap – confiscated.  I thought liquid meant pourable. Here’s what TSA thinks are liquids.

Weigh. Weigh your checked bag. If it’s more than 50 pounds (40 pounds on some airlines), you may be charged an extra fee. Check the luggage restrictions for your particular airline.

Spin it. Can you lift your suitcase and lug it upstairs? Test it before your find out the hard way that there is no elevator from the subway to street level. Yep, been there.

Measure. Measure your carry-on. Airlines are strict about size and, of course, they vary by carrier.

This seems like a lot, I know! But being well-prepared is essential for true travel enjoyment. Remember that you can replace almost anything you forget. As long as you have money, identification, travel documents, and travel insurance, you’ll be fine. Bon voyage!