Collect Important Travel Documents, Cash, and Credit Cards
Start by collecting all of your important documents in a travel document organizer (this travel organizer holds a passport, ID, seven credit cards, coins, documents, a boarding pass, and a pen!). This will help ensure everything you need to get from one place to the next is all in one place. Think about including the following documents:

Passport/visa(s)
Personal ID, including a student ID card if you have one
Frequent flyer card(s) and other loyalty program cards such as a hotel or hostel
Cash and credit card(s)
Health insurance cards/document(s)
Travel insurance info
Reservations and itineraries
Hotel and/or tour contact information
Transportation tickets (plane, train, bus, car, etc.)
Emergency contacts and important addresses
It’s a good idea to double-check your passports and IDs aren’t expired. You’ll also want to inform your bank if you’re traveling abroad so they don’t assume fraudulent activity and freeze your card. You may also want to email yourself a copy of your passport, driver’s license, medical cards and itinerary, so if anything happens to them you’ll be able to access them online.

Prepare Your Personal Item Carry-On Bag
The next thing you’ll want to do is prepare your personal item carry-on bag with anything you’ll want with you on the flight. It’s always a good idea to make sure you have an outfit (or two) and a few essential toiletries in your personal item just in case your luggage is lost. If you’ll be traveling around to multiple destinations, make sure this bag has items to keep you cozy on any train, boat or bus rides. It’s always nice to have a bag that’s easy to access so you don’t have to get in your main travel bag each time you need your eye mask. But remember, you’ll be carrying all of this, so keep it light.

We recommend you consider using a small daypack or backpack as your personal item. Here are some good things to include:

Technology

Mobile device and charger
iPad or e-reader and charger
Headphones (consider noise-reducing headphones if you’re sensitive to sound)
Camera and/or a video camera, memory card, and charger
Electrical converters and adapters
Travel Comfort, Entertainment, and Information

​​Travel pillow, blanket, eye mask, and ear plugs
Travel journal and pen
Books and magazines
Games
Guide books, travel guides, maps, language guides, etc. (if you will need any of these upon arrival at your destination, put it in your carry-on)
Health Items

​​Hand sanitizer or wet wipes
Prescriptions in original packaging (you’ll want to make sure you have these in your carry-on bag just in case something were to happen to your checked luggage)
Glasses and case
For more inspiration about what to bring with you in your airplane personal item, read this post from travel writer Kelly O’Reilly.

Choose Your Main Bag
Whatever you’re planning, we recommend luggage that is versatile, lightweight and big enough to hold all your essentials. The most important decision you’ll make as far as luggage is finding a piece that’s versatile and can fit lots of gear while also being easy to carry. If you’ll be going through different types of terrain, or switching from airports to cobblestones, having a bag with the option to roll it or carry it like a backpack or duffel is handy.

For more information about how to pick the right bag, read our buying guide for for luggage, travel packs, carry-ons and duffel bags.

Organize Your Stuff
When you have many different types of activities and a variety of gear to pack in your suitcase, keeping everything organized can be a challenge. One of the best things you can do when you’re packing for any trip, especially one that requires you to pack lots of layers, is to make sure you use packing organizers. Keeping your suitcase organized with packing organizers will make it easy to get from one place to the next without having to rearrange your entire bag every time you reach a new destination.

You can keep clothing organized in compartments based on outfit type or activity type using packing cubes. These are zippered organizers that make it easy to keep your bag organized and neat and provide quick access to all the different things you’ll need during your trip. You can use Pack-It Compression Sacs or Pack-It Specter Compression Cubes to reduce the volume of your clothes by up to 80%. This is especially convenient for bulky items such as sweaters and jackets.

Here are items you don’t want to forget:

The Basics

Lightweight clothing that can be layered
Shirts
Pants and/or shorts
Socks
Sweaters
Jacket
T-shirts
Belt
Pajamas/sleepwear
Underwear
Sunglasses
Comfortable walking shoes (click here for advice about finding the right travel shoes)
Dress(es)
Jewelry
A swimsuit or swim trunks
You’ll want to pack lots of clothing options if your trip will take you to a variety of places. Having options doesn’t mean you’ll need to over-pack. Just pack smart. Include clothing that can be worn on your adventures and then dressed up slightly with a different pair of shoes and a scarf. You may want to try creating a capsule wardrobe – A capsule wardrobe allows you to pick versatile clothing pieces to mix and match so you don’t have to bring separate pieces for each outfit.

Learn more about choosing the right packing organizers.

Pack Your Toiletry Bag
If you’re carrying on, keep your toiletry bag light and TSA-compliant. The TSA’s 3-1-1 rule makes it easy to remember: liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, and pastes must be 3.4 ounces (100ml) or less per container and they must be in a 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag. To make this as easy as possible for you, we have a set that includes four 3-ounce silicone bottles in a quart-sized clear pouch that’s wipeable and has a water resistant zipper. Click here for more info about TSA rules regarding what you can pack.

Don’t forget the following for your toiletry case:

The Toiletry Bag Basics

Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash
Hair brush or comb, hair ties, barrettes/bobby pins Deodorant
Shampoo and conditioner
Sunscreen
Make up
Face wash and/or makeup remover wipes Moisturizer
Lotion
Lip balm
Personal hygiene items
Feminine hygiene products
Extra contacts, solution, and case
Toiletry Bag Extras

​​Mirror
Cologne/perfume
Hair products
Clothesline and detergent
Shaving kit and extra razors
Sewing kit/clothing care kit
Facial tissues
Scissors, nail clippers, and tweezers (must be in checked luggage)
Travel Health

First aid kit (bandages, gauze, adhesives, etc.)
Personal prescriptions (copies of scripts)
Pain and fever relievers (also children’s strength if you are traveling with kids)
Thermometer
Cold medicines and throat lozenges
Diarrhea/laxative medicines
Allergy medicines
Hydrocortisone cream/antibacterial ointment
Multivitamins
Sunburn relief
Insect repellent/mosquito net/sting reliever
Motion sickness pills or bands
Eye drops
Moleskin
Medicines and vaccinations specific to the region/activity
Step 6: Pack Your Day Bag
A lightweight, versatile day bag can be used in a variety of ways and help you stay comfortable and prepared.

Consider Travel Security
In most large cities, travelers should always be on the lookout for pickpockets. The easiest way to keep your belongings safe is to keep them hidden and close to you. One way to do this is to stash your valuables underneath your clothing. You can do this with a money belt, hidden pocket, neck wallet, undercover bra stash, leg wallet, or holster. All of these options let you keep your valuables, such as passports, credit cards, and cash, close to your body and away from prying hands. You can review the different styles here to choose one (or more) that works best for you and the type of travel you’ll be doing. You may also want to consider choosing one that has RFID protection. RFID protection keeps your passports (issued after 2006) and credit cards/debit cards safe while travelling. Identity theft can occur when someone is able to “read” through your purse or pocket, because these items contain microchips with information stored on them. You can learn more about RFID safety from Scott Shelter, freelance journalist and frequent traveler.

Prepare Your Home
Have post office hold mail
Stop newspaper delivery
Set up an email autoresponder
Arrange care of pets, lawn, and plants
Pre-pay bills
Prearrange school absences for children
Empty refrigerator
Unplug appliances
Turn off heater/air conditioner
Turn down water heater
Turn off washing machine taps
Lock all doors and windows
Set up timed light system
Store valuables in a safe place
Leave house key and trip itinerary with a trusted friend Leave flight and hotel itineraries with a relative
Reconfirm/check-in online with airline
If you will be gone for more than 30 days check, it’s a good idea to check with your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance for specific instructions.

Whether you’re a seasoned world explorer or not, it’s surprisingly simple to travel like one. The key doesn’t lie in hush-hush secret spots passed on by word of mouth, but rather in intuitive everyday behaviors that will help you experience the cultures and countries in full. What does this mean exactly? It means ditching the paved road for the dirt track, writing a journal of your adventure, and turning it into a scrapbook with all your treasures and ticket stubs along the way.
Traveling is so much more than just visiting the touristy highlights. While the must-see attractions are always fun, be sure to find the time for some of the little-known or less documented spots too. It’s time to put your explorer’s cap on and get curious. Keen to transition from tourist to traveler? Read on and take note.

It can be all too tempting to stay within the confines of your resort or only hit the top tourist sites in your plans. While keeping your safety in mind, challenge yourself to do…
It can be all too tempting to stay within the confines of your resort or only hit the top tourist sites in your plans. While keeping your safety in mind, challenge yourself to do something—anything!—that requires a little bit of digging. Try talking to locals, asking your concierge for off-the-beaten-path recommendations, or starting your pre-trip research early.

There’s really no better way to get a feel for the full scope of a city than by taking public transportation. Buses especially help you grasp neighborhoods. Just be sure to keep your eyes…
There’s really no better way to get a feel for the full scope of a city than by taking public transportation. Buses especially help you grasp neighborhoods. Just be sure to keep your eyes peeled, bring a map, and be aware of your personal belongings at all times.

Put down the souvenir refrigerator magnet and slowly back away. Traveling is the perfect opportunity to scoop up some truly special items that will serve as mementos of your adventures. So hit the…
Put down the souvenir refrigerator magnet and slowly back away. Traveling is the perfect opportunity to scoop up some truly special items that will serve as mementos of your adventures. So hit the market and buy something you’ll cherish for years (i.e., not the made-for-tourists stuff).

Keep a diary. Take photos. Recap your days with your travel mates. Afford yourself every ability to look back on this trip and remember the most wondrous of details, big and small. Just be sure…
Keep a diary. Take photos. Recap your days with your travel mates. Afford yourself every ability to look back on this trip and remember the most wondrous of details, big and small. Just be sure not to spend too much time on Instagram. You’ll miss out on the adventures you wanted to remember in the first place!

We love Yelp. It’s a lifesaver when exploring a new place. But the real gems—or at least the truly authentic ones—may evade you if you only dine by way of five-star ratings. While you’re…
We love Yelp. It’s a lifesaver when exploring a new place. But the real gems—or at least the truly authentic ones—may evade you if you only dine by way of five-star ratings. While you’re chatting up the locals, ask them what their favorite neighborhood restaurant is. If you’re adventurous, follow their recommendation without a Google search (gasp!)—though we won’t judge you if you do for peace of mind.

If your trip involves one destination city, make a point to arrange for a day trip to a nearby city or town. Often, the most popular tourist destinations—though popular for a reason—overshadow…
If your trip involves one destination city, make a point to arrange for a day trip to a nearby city or town. Often, the most popular tourist destinations—though popular for a reason—overshadow some equally worthy yet smaller nearby locales you may regret missing.

Don’t give legs to the “ugly American” stereotype. Before your trip, read up on essential phrases so you’re not clueless upon arrival. If you missed the study period, pick up a pocket…
Don’t give legs to the “ugly American” stereotype. Before your trip, read up on essential phrases so you’re not clueless upon arrival. If you missed the study period, pick up a pocket dictionary at the airport and try it out—most locals will appreciate your effort, even if you’re struggling.

Spend an entire day with no set plans aside from exploring a neighborhood intimately. Go by foot or rent a bike so that you have optimal mobility. Plus, you can stop and go as you please….
Spend an entire day with no set plans aside from exploring a neighborhood intimately. Go by foot or rent a bike so that you have optimal mobility. Plus, you can stop and go as you please. Don’t set time constraints, and allow yourself to amble about from morning until evening. You’ll be feeling like a local in no time.

Whether or not you’re a night owl, a different energy settles over a city when the sun sets. Depending on the particular flavor of where you’re visiting, the nightlife might consist of live…
Whether or not you’re a night owl, a different energy settles over a city when the sun sets. Depending on the particular flavor of where you’re visiting, the nightlife might consist of live music in bars, huge, pulsing clubs, or candlelit cafés with plenty of wine to go around. Get dressed up and dive into whatever fun awaits.

8 Must-Visit Destinations for Solo Female Travelers

With smartphone GPS systems never far away, the age-old threat of losing your way has been all but erased. Sure, that may save you some frustrating or stressful moments, but so long as you have…
With smartphone GPS systems never far away, the age-old threat of losing your way has been all but erased. Sure, that may save you some frustrating or stressful moments, but so long as you have nowhere to be in a timely matter—and you’re not putting yourself in danger—getting lost is a great way to become familiar with a place and stumble upon unexpected things. Forgo your maps for one afternoon and get lost.

Eat something new. Try something that makes you scared. Resist the temptation to plan, plan, plan. Whatever your comfort zone is, push yourself outside of it—even if it’s just an inch or two….
Eat something new. Try something that makes you scared. Resist the temptation to plan, plan, plan. Whatever your comfort zone is, push yourself outside of it—even if it’s just an inch or two. A truly great and memorable trip will teach you something about yourself—and may even change you a bit. The only way to do that is to shake things up.

You know where you’re traveling to, but the destination is just the beginning of your journey. There’s such a wealth of information online to help guide your planning, so create an inspiration board to keep it organized and in one place.

Pinterest is a great starting point because you can search your destination and immediately have a ton of photos, videos and articles to pin to your board. You can also pin content you find across the Web to your Pinterest board so everything is in one central place you can access from the Web, your smartphone or your tablet (just like TripIt!). If Pinterest isn’t your cup of tea, try using Evernote to create a notebook for your trip that’s full of info you’ve clipped from the Web.

Next add your essential travel information to your itinerary, which includes the following:

Airline tickets
Hotel reservations
Rental car confirmations
Restaurant reservations
TripIt is a great travel itinerary template because you can simply forward all of your confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com, and we’ll automatically make you a free schedule for your whole trip. You can access your plans from the Web, smartphone or tablet—and you don’t even need a Wi-Fi connection.

Now that you have your inspiration board populated full of ideas and all of your essential travel information locked and loaded in TripIt, it’s time to add some activities to your travel itinerary. Viator is great for finding tours, sightseeing adventures, shows, excursions and more. Trover is another great resource to discover off-the-beaten-path gems and can’t-miss sights. Forward any tour confirmations to TripIt, or, for any activities or stops without confirmation emails, you can simply add it in yourself.

Just because you have everything scheduled doesn’t mean you have to follow your itinerary to a T. Your trip will be much more rewarding if you give yourself some room for flexibility. So you didn’t make it to Empire State building on Wednesday. No big deal. Maybe you stumbled across a cool art gallery that wasn’t on your inspiration board. Or what if you missed your noon reservations at the swanky café you booked months ago. Perhaps you got a recommendation from a local you just couldn’t pass up. The lesson is your travel itinerary is there for you when you need it to keep you on track, but it definitely isn’t meant to constrain you.

Ok, so it sounds a little boring, but idiot-proof lists are the gateway to a stress-free holiday. Separate your essentials from your desirables, and be realistic with your luggage limitations. If you need list inspiration – the following might be a good place to start…

We’re not asking you to prepare for ER, just a small bag with the most necessary pills and medicine you might need. After all, nobody wants to suffer a punishing headache, high-climate fever, upset stomach or all three during a holiday. It might be easy enough to pick up a domestic remedy for your ailments at home, but medicines in the country you are visiting may be limited to prescription only. The same goes for allergy meds and asthma remedies – bring them on board!

We all know about it by now, and yet there’s still a mass confusion and hold-up when some chancer tries to sneak a bottle of water past airport security. Much to everybody’s chagrin, pan-European baggage restrictions state that all liquids carried in hand luggage must be no more than 100 ml per item, and must fit into one small and resealable transparent bag (usually available at the airport for a nominal fee). If you’re carrying anything larger, stow it with your checked-in suitcase.

Unless you’re an international man of mystery, you shouldn’t have to worry about travelling incognito. Most suitcases come with name tags fitted as standard, so be sure to fill them in just in case you – or the airline – lose your luggage!

A woman overstuffing her suitcase.
Overstuffing your suitcase is never a good idea. ©: Highways Agency
If your airline says: “23kg”, then they mean 23kg! Weigh your bags before you get to the airport and make sure you are within the restrictions, otherwise you’ll be forced to cough up extra cash at the airport or, even worse, have to say goodbye to that lovely hand-knitted cardigan your grandmother spent so long slaving over. We’ve all tried to squeeze that extra pair of pants in the already overstuffed suitcase, but the restrictions are there for a reason, and that reason is your safety. Which reminds us…

Whether it’s duty free goods or holiday mementos, it’s inevitable that you’ll be bringing more back home with you than when you left – so make sure you have room for it!

The biggest and most frustrating item of luggage. How many pairs of shoes you should take is very much dependent on how long your vacation might be, but we’d suggest that three pairs is a reasonable average for a 1-2 week getaway. More important than volume is versatility, so make sure you’re not stuck hiking in stilettos by bringing a pair of shoes for every realistic occasion of your trip. Wear your most cumbersome pair on the plane – plus, stuff your socks in the rest – and you’ll save even more space.

Unless you plan on travelling to a desert island, it’s likely that you’ll be able to pick up popular shampoo or sun lotion brands in almost any corner of the world. Fewer cosmetics also mean that you’ll be less likely to find an explosion of nondescript gooey liquids spoiling everything in your suitcase when you arrive at your destination. If you really can’t live without that special face cream, try to take only as much as you’ll need for your trip and nothing more. That way you can discard the empties and save extra luggage room for your trip back home.

This tip is certainly up for debate, but we think that rolling your clothes really is the only way to go. Not only will it reduce those pesky wrinkles and creases in your gear, it’ll save you some much needed suitcase space.