Packing for a long-haul flight can be stressful. Here are our top 10 tips to keep your bags light and organized. Pack layers, use packing cubes, keep essentials in carry-on, and check weight rules before departure.
1. Before packing your Passport, make sure that the expiry date is longer than six months. Some countries won’t let you in if the expiry date is too short. For your specific destination, read their laws for traveler’s passport requirements.
2. Be sure to pack a traveling visa if needed. Some countries require a traveling visa before entry and usually have a deadline for how long you can stay. If you’re a European Union citizen, things are easier for you if you’re traveling to Europe.
3. If traveling with children, get a child travel consent. If a child under 18 is traveling with only one parent, written permission from the other parent will be needed.
4. Print a copy of your travel insurance. If you don’t have one, I highly recommend that you get one, as it’s usually really cheap and protects against medical costs, theft, flight delays, and more.
5. Pack all of your travel documents in a separate bag or a folder and always carry them with you. Never put your documents in your checked bag and always keep an eye on them. Also, it’s better to take pictures of them and email a copy to yourself in case they get lost.
6. Print out a copy of your boarding pass. It will work as a backup if your phone battery dies.
7. Don’t forget other documents: Train, bus, ferry, or plane tickets, hotel reservations, tickets for attractions and museums, a piece of paper with emergency contacts, guides and maps, and local tourist cards.
8. Don’t forget to bring your camera, smartphone, laptop, e-reader, headphones, and a tablet (if you plan on using them.) I usually leave the camera and tablet, as my smartphone and laptop can easily substitute both.
9. Bring dual-voltage chargers for all of your devices. If you’re located in America and traveling to Europe, make sure that all of your chargers are dual-voltage. That’s because the USA uses 110v electricity, but Europe uses 220v. If you don’t have an adequate charger, you will ruin your device. Something like this will be written on your charger: “100v-240v.”
10. Never pack electronics in your checked luggage. Use your hand luggage or carry-on instead. Otherwise, they might get stolen or damaged, and airlines usually don’t reimburse for valuables, such as electronics.