Knowing what you should and should not pack in your checked luggage can be difficult. Let me help out by removing some of that anxiety so that you can embark on your adventure as stress-free as possible. If you do not have the time or patience to read this entire article, please scan for the underlined words for a general overview.
The most important thing to consider before you put a single article of clothing in your suitcase is where and when you are traveling. Seasons matter unless you are from Los Angeles, California like I am where the weather remains fairly consistent all year round. This means it is imperative to investigate what kind of weather to expect at your travel destination. Sometimes you may encounter all four seasons at your destination, so you best pack for all four seasons. Another thing to consider is wind-chill. This is when the wind can make the outside temperature feel much colder than it is. For instance, I used to live in the Netherlands, the flattest country in Europe. Because it is so flat, it is also very windy and that wind can be very chilly, even when the temperature is comfortable.
Another important thing to consider is bugs and all things that like to bite. If you are traveling to a humid climate, like a jungle, or hiking through meadows or brushy terrain, you will want your skin to be covered as much as possible, no matter how hot it is. There are many types of lightweight clothing materials that you can wear to protect your skin from all the little biting beasties. Do not solely depend on any kind of bug repellent! I have known people who thought they would be safe with their bug spray and returned home with a botfly embedded in their skin.
My travel hack for this topic is to never walk barefoot, even in your hotel room. This is because you are not familiar with the layout of your accommodations. You do not want to find yourself heading to the bathroom in the middle of the night, accidentally wrapping a toe around a chair leg or smashing it against the bedframe, and then having to hobble around on a broken toe for the rest of your trip. Also, you will find it nearly impossible to fit your foot with a newly broken toe into any closed-toe shoe. To avoid this scenario, please pack a pair of wide-brimmed sandals, flip-flops, or something similar and always slip them on before walking around your accommodation.
Things You Should Bring
- A small portable scale. We have a hand scale that I can attach to the handle of my suitcase and use to weigh it when raised. It is quite a useful tool if you are the kind of person who likes to travel with nearly the maximum allotted weight.
- One formal or semi-formal outfit. You should always be prepared to go to a nice place for a meal, even if it is not in your initial plans. My go-to is a sweater, a blouse, and a pair of black leggings.
- Foot powder. If you plan on walking a lot, expect your feet to sweat more than normal, and sweaty feet can cause blisters. Foot powder will keep your feet dry and help prevent these painful sores. To ensure you do not scatter foot powder all over your room by putting it directly on your feet, invert your sock, sprinkle the foot powder on it, roll it up from toe to ankle, tightly tuck it in, and then unroll it again before slipping it on.
- All other medications that you are not compelled to put in your carry-on luggage. I always travel with lots of Ibuprofen (I prefer the liquid gel capsules) because I deal with chronic pain and inflammation. Even if this is not your norm, I would still recommend you bring anti-inflammatories. I also recommend bringing Melatonin or something similar to help you adjust faster to significant time changes.
- Sunscreen with zinc oxide if you plan on spending much of your day outside. Guess what? You can get sunburned whether it is a cloudy or sunny day. Do not be one of those people who get burnt and then wallows around in pain for the rest of the trip. Also, remember, it only takes one bad sunburn to substantially increase your chances of developing skin cancer.
- A hanger. After spending a day in the rain, you will want to have a hanger to dry your coat. Furthermore, an extra hanger or two can be useful to dry your clothing if you plan on washing any of it in the bathroom sink. Do not assume your accommodation will come equipped with hangers for your use. If a hotel does provide hangers, they are often fixed inside a wardrobe or closet so they cannot be removed. You’ll find that a sopping wet jacket will not want to dry in a dark closet.
- An empty trash bag or laundry bag to isolate your dirty clothing from the clean.
Things You Should Not Bring
- A hairdryer, electric shaver, or power strip. This is because the voltage could differ depending on your destination and you do not want to risk blowing a fuse. Also, if this were to happen, the manager of your accommodation could hold you responsible and fine you. Furthermore, regarding hairdryers, your accommodation will most likely have one you can use.
- Too much clothing. No, you do not need a new outfit for every day of your trip. Unless you plan on sweating profusely every day, you can get by wearing an outfit two or more times.
- A new pair of walking shoes. On top of bringing foot powder, you should also bring a pair of well-worn shoes. It takes time to break in a new pair of shoes and you will not want to be doing that on your trip.
- Any kind of fresh fruit or vegetable and absolutely no meat products. Every country might have different regulations, but it is not worth the hassle. I know from personal experience that you can bring cheese from Europe to the United States as long as it is vacuum-packed. You can also bring chocolate, packaged seasonings, jarred or canned foods, even wine. If a product is only legal in your destination, then do not think about bringing it back home. An example of this would be coca leaves or coca products from Peru.
- An overstuffed suitcase. You should always have leftover space and weight in your checked luggage for souvenirs.
Should I Roll or Fold?
You should both roll and fold your clothing. Your thinnest articles of clothing should be rolled. Your thickest articles of clothing, like jeans or sweatpants, should be folded.