7 Tips for Packing for Overseas Travel

By Madison White on August 23, 2017

Image via lifeofpix.com

You may think that packing for overseas travel is easy until you’ve been standing in your closet for an hour and still don’t know where to start. Don’t worry, this list is here to help you know what to pack and how to pack for your adventures abroad. Whether it be for a trip of a few days or a few months, this packing list of tips is universal.

1. Know your weather/season

Nothing is worse than arriving somewhere and realizing you need a jacket and all you packed were shorts. While weather can be unpredictable, it is definitely worth it to check a forecast or at least seasonal averages before packing and leaving. If you’re still unsure about what to pack, just go for things that are versatile in most situations: a good pair of jeans, a short-sleeve shirt, and a comfortable jacket.

2. Pick a color palette

To make it easier to pack, you’re going to want at least a semi-cohesive wardrobe. To avoid clothing frustrations, try and pick one color palette that most of your clothes will match. Some good options would be black, gray, brown, or navy. If you do this, you’ll reduce the amount of time and energy spent just picking out what to wear. When you wake up in the morning, you’ll know right away that what you’re going to wear will match.

3. Skip the special occasion

While you may imagine yourself setting off every night for a fancy dinner, you’re probably unlikely to do anything that fancy on a regular basis. Of course, if you already have an event like that planned, you should pack the proper clothes. However, if you don’t have anything like that planned, you should probably be more realistic about the clothes you bring.

In reality, you’ll likely be doing a lot of walking outside and eating at casual places. Make sure you pack clothes and shoes that you can walk in and wear for hours. You don’t want to spend all of your vacation feeling uncomfortable. Forget the ball gown and leave the high heels at home.

4. Roll your clothes

The easiest way to save space that many people haven’t tried is rolling your clothes. Yes, it is that simple and yes, it really does save space. Make sure that you roll as tightly as possible so that you can pack as much as you need. Rolling your clothes makes it especially easy to play a game of packing Tetris and waste as little space as possible.

5. Stuff your shoes

If you’re packing any shoes on your trip, you may be annoyed about how much space they take up. That space doesn’t have to go to waste! So long as your shoes are relatively clean and don’t smell too bad, it’s a great idea to stuff smaller items like socks and intimates inside them. You can also put a plastic bag around the shoes so that loose dirt doesn’t get on all your other clothes.

6. Pack copies

If you’re traveling overseas, you’re probably going to be traveling with some important documents like your passport, photo ID, and various credit cards. If any of those go missing during your trip, you want to make getting them back or renewed far less of a hassle. You can do this by making copies beforehand and putting them in a different place than the originals. This is also a good rule of thumb if you’re carrying a fair amount of cash with you. It is wise to put it in multiple places so that if one thing gets lost, or worse, stolen, you won’t be completely out of luck.

7. Don’t overpack

The most common thing that people wish they knew beforehand was not to overpack. Of course, it will be tempting. You’ll be looking at that shirt in your closet you haven’t worn in two years and thinking, “Should I pack this?” The short answer: no. You know what you wear on a daily basis so you should probably look to those items first, so long as they fit the seasonal and cultural requirements.

Taking your luggage overseas is notoriously expensive and challenging if they lose it on the way over. It’s also a real pain to lug around your giant suitcase on the subway or narrow city streets when you’re just trying to find your accommodation for the night. Don’t panic; unless you’re going someplace seriously remote, you’ll always be able to buy what you need to survive.

When it comes to packing, less is more. Even though you may think that your outfits will make or break your vacation, in reality, you’ll barely remember them. What really matters is that you’re engaged and enjoying the moment during all your traveling fun. Just don’t forget the phone charger (and the converter)!

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