The destination has been chosen, the flight tickets purchased, and the perfect hotel booked. To top it all, you’ve even shortlisted the best bars, restaurants, and must-visit places for prime Instabait photo opportunities. However, the most important task is often left until the end – packing!
Whether you’re a rookie traveller or a seasoned globetrotter, packing is one task most travellers dread. Multiple ‘what-if’ moments tempt them to push unnecessary items into their suitcase, leading to excess weight – and frequent pleas and arguments at the airport check-in counter.
It makes sense to have a comprehensive holiday packing checklist, so you have everything you need (and nothing more) to make your overseas travel memorable and hassle-free. Let’s take a look.
Clothing essentials – to look picture-perfect
Before you begin, log into a weather app and check the detailed weather forecast for your destination on your dates of travel. This will help you plan activities for those days and pack relevant outfits instead of shoving random clothes into your suitcase. Depending on the climate, focus on the type of fabric to carry. Based on the country you are travelling to, it is also essential to keep in mind cultural sensibilities and wear appropriate clothing. Don’t forget to throw in sleepwear essentials. If your hotel has a pool or you plan to visit the beach, remember to carry your swimwear.
Footwear – to suit the landscape (and your outfit)
This forms another part of your foreign travel checklist. No matter how much we deny it, we have all packed heels and formal shoes for a beach holiday, only to never use them during the entire trip. It’s time to free up some space by carrying just area-appropriate footwear. Focus on the type of terrain you will be exploring and pack suitable sandals, patent leather, trainers, or whatever. As far as possible, focus on comfort rather than style to avoid tired and blistered feet at the end of your vacation.
Accessories – to look as cool as ever
The sun shines all over the globe, even in the Alps, so don’t forget those chic sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays. A sun hat might also work as a substitute, especially on beaches. If you plan to walk a lot, it would be a good idea to wear your fitness tracker and chalk up steps, stairs count, and calories as you enjoy your rambles. Avoid carrying expensive jewellery and spend less time worrying about these items.
Toiletries – to maintain hygiene
These are essential carry-ons on any journey away from home. Your hair and skin are used to certain lotions, soaps, and shampoos. Avoid using unknown brands while you’re abroad because you could risk irritating your skin. Make sure your foreign travel checklist includes sunscreen, insect repellent, moisturiser, deodorant, soap, shampoo, and so on. Also, pack a basic first-aid kit for minor injuries.
Tip: To avoid excess baggage weight and to reduce bulk, buy travel-size containers of your favourite toiletries.
Prescribed medication – just in case
While planning an overseas trip, it is vital to access the online database for disease control and prevention and check for comprehensive travel medications, mandatory vaccines, and health advice. Since many vaccines require at least two months’ prior administration, it is best to start your research early. Carry prescribed medicines (and your doctor’s prescription) in case you run out of your regular medication. Other essentials would be pain relievers, throat lozenges, anti-diarrhoea tablets, anti-allergy pills, motion sickness pills a small bottle of hand sanitizer and wet wipes.
Electronics – to stay connected
Ideally, a vacation is an excellent time to stay off the grid. However, these days it’s hard to stay offline for any length of time. Besides, why wait to upload all those cool pics of your holiday? Carry a portable charger for your gadgets and a multi-country adaptor. You can even download books, TV shows, and movies to your tablet or Kindle before embarking on your journey.
Travel smart – to stay safe
Passport, travel tickets, and local currency: without these three essentials you cannot board your flight, let alone explore the country of your choice. A valid passport with necessary visa details, personal ID, travel insurance, hotel address, boarding pass, currency, and credit or forex cards can be carried in a travel document organiser. It is best to email a soft copy of all these documents to yourself, just in case you lose the originals while you are overseas. Here are some more tips that can help you stay safe when travelling abroad.
Seasoned travellers prefer carrying forex cards rather than currency notes for the sake of safety. An excellent option is HDFC Bank’s ForexPlus cards that allow easy online currency management in foreign countries. There are different types of cards you can choose from, based on your requirements. You can even transfer the balance on the card from one currency to another while travelling across borders for additional flexibility. These cards also have zero cross-currency charges on international shopping and can provide cash assistance in the event of an emergency. To make things even more convenient, HDFC Bank allows you to top up your ForexPlus Card on the go, so you never have to worry about running low on travel funds.
One final parting note – remember that forgetting to pack any of these essentials can ruin months of meticulous planning and a much-deserved vacation. So, create a checklist of all the things you need, and tick them off as you pack your bags. This way, you can be sure that you have packed everything you need for a memorable trip. Happy journey!
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