Skip Navigation

Packing List

Travel Tools > Packing List

We created this packing list with the help of our members - keen travellers who've been there and done that. They contributed their suggestions through our forums, which are a great resource for any traveller.

Of course, no two people are the same, so consider this list a starting point. It has been designed to be useful for travellers of all types: male, female, young, old, short-term, long-term, etc.

If you have any suggestions for items that should be included, contact us with your ideas and we will gladly review them.

Essentials

  • Address list and list of important contacts or numbers
  • Backpack, suitcase, sports bag (something to pack everything in)
  • Paper or Notebook
  • Passport (check validity!)
  • Pencils, Pens
  • Tickets and itinerary (airline, train, bus etc.)
  • Visa

Finances

  • ATM card (Maestro or Cirrus logos on the back are most widely accepted)
  • Calculator or currency converter
  • Cash in the local currency of your arrival destination
  • Credit card (Visa or Mastercard are most widely accepted)
  • Money belt (You can't be too safe in some places)
  • Sufficient Travellers' cheques (and receipts for travellers' cheques)

    • Resource: Money on the Road

Clothes

  • Boots
  • Bra (sports and regular)
  • Dress shirts
  • Dresses
  • Jacket
  • Jeans
  • Jumper, sweater or fleece
  • Light jacket
  • Long or thermal underwear
  • Long sleeve shirts
  • Pants or trousers
  • Pyjamas/Sleepwear (Member's tip)
  • Sandals, shower shoes, thongs or jandals
  • Sarong or Lava lava
  • Shoes
  • Shorts
  • Ski clothes
  • Skirts
  • Sneakers
  • Socks
  • Suits
  • Swimming gear
  • T-shirts, singlets
  • Underwear

Clothes Accessories

  • A good hat
  • Bandana
  • Cotton handkerchief or tissues
  • Eye-mask
  • Gloves or mittens
  • Jewelry
  • Knitted (woollen) hat
  • Raincoat or poncho
  • Safety pins
  • Scarf
  • Sewing kit
  • Ski glasses
  • Suit bag
  • Sunglasses
  • Ties
Toiletries
  • Anti-bacterial cream
  • Comb or brush
  • Condoms or contraceptive pills
  • Contact lens equipment or glasses
  • Cotton buds
  • Dental floss (also great for fixing things!)
  • Deodorant
  • Earplugs
  • Fingernail clippers
  • Hair products (gel, spray etc.)
  • Lip balm
  • Make-up
  • Mirror
  • Moisturiser (face and body)
  • Nail file
  • Razors
  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Shaving cream
  • Sleeping pills
  • Soap
  • Sunscreen and after sun cream
  • Talcum/baby powder - Useful against prickley heat, in shoes, on sticky zippers and more (Member's tip)
  • Tampons and pads
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste

First Aid Kit

  • Band aids
  • Compression bandages
  • Diarrhoea tablets
  • Gazes
  • Insect and/or mosquito repellent
  • Iodine/hydrogen peroxide
  • Medicines/prescription Drugs (Member's tip)
  • Motion sickness tablets
  • Paracetemol, Tylenol etc.
  • Replacement/rehydration salts sachets
  • Small scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Vitamin pills
  • Water purifying tablets

    • Resource: Stay Healthy on the Road

Other Items

  • Backpack rain cover
  • Batteries
  • Books
  • Bottled water
  • Camera, film and batteries - Spare flash cards or memory for digital
  • Carbohydrate snacks
  • Chewing gum or mints - Especially if you are flying chewing something will help your ears
  • Combo or key locks
  • Compass
  • Cup
  • Diary or organiser
  • Duct tape - Fixes everything! (Member's tip)
  • Eating utensils
  • Electrical adapter and plug converter
  • Fishing line - Strongest string in the world! (Member's tip)
  • Flashlight or torch - Don't forget the batteries
  • Frisbee, hackey sack, ball, pack of cards or other recreational items
  • Gifts are always appreciated while travelling (Member's tip)
  • Guidebooks
  • Inflatable travel pillow
  • International driving license - If driving overseas, have your driving license translated
  • International Student Identification Card - For discounts worldwide
  • iPod, MP3 player, Discman etc. - Including music and batteries
  • Laptop - Especially for the business travellers
  • Laundry detergent
  • Maps (incl. small map of the world to show where you are from) (Member's tip)
  • Mini camera tripod - Big is better if you have the space!
  • Mobile phone or SIM card
  • Mosquito net
  • Passport photos
  • Phone card - Both for local and international calls
  • Photocopies of important documents in case they are stolen (Member's tip)
  • Phrase books or dictionaries
  • Pillow or pillowcase to stuff with clothes
  • Plastic bags
  • Recharger for electrical items - Save some money on batteries
  • Resume and work references - Don't forget these if you are planning to work while travelling
  • Skis, ski shoes, ski poles or a snowboard - If you are planning a winter holiday, you want to remember these!
  • Sleep sheet
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping mat
  • Swiss Army knife or Leatherman tool - Don't keep in your carry on as it will be removed
  • Toilet paper (Member's tip)
  • Towels, beach and otherwise - the quick drying versions are very handy!
  • Travel alarm clock
  • Universal sink plug - Squash ball can double as one (Member's tip)
  • Walkman speakers
  • Watch
  • Wet wipes/Baby wipes - Handy for cleaning hands or washing yourself in absense of a shower (Member's tip)
  • Ziplock bags - The freezer ones are usually the best

    • More suggestions: What Would You Pack?

Trip Planning and Packing Tips

Busy packing and afraid it's not all going to fit?

Not sure how to start planning your trip?

Check out our Trip Planning tips and Packing Tips to help you get started and pack efficiently.

Top of page

Download to Excel Download to Word Download to PDF Print

Thank you for printing this packing list from www.travellerspoint.com/packing-list.cfm!