Paperwork 

• Boarding Pass

• Real ID or Passport - Real IDs will be required for air travel beginning May 7, 2025, so make sure you have the right kind of identification that you need for air travel! Passports are required to travel anywhere outside of the United States, including Mexico & Canada when traveling via flight (a passport card can be used if traveling to Mexico & Canada via land or sea ONLY)

• Visa & vaccine information (if needed)

Logistics

• Phone

• Cards/Cash/Apple Pay

• Packing Cubes - I swear by these because they help me keep my clothes organized & allows me to separate dirty clothes mid-trip.

• Mini-first aid kit/band-aids - I love kits like this because they include moleskin for when you get blisters while traveling.

• Advil/Pepto Bismol/Tums

• Medications

• Hand Sanitizer

• Empty water bottle - I love my Contigo & Phil loves his Nalgene. Just make sure to empty them before going through security!

• Universal power adapter - When traveling internationally, make sure you have what you need to charge your electronics! We have this power adapter that we use.

• Small locks - We have used these Samsonite locks when needed over the years. We rarely need them, but they’re good to have on hand!

• Laundry Detergent sheets - These are so handy when you need to do a quick load of laundry on vacation! Easy-to-pack & no risk of spill.

Luggage

• Carry-on Suitcase or Backpack

  • For backpacking, we use these Gregory packs which we love!

  • For trips that are better for a carry-on suitcase, I have a trusty Samsonite carry-on that I have used for nearly 15 years!

• Personal Item

  • Phil loves this 20L Gregory backpack (notice a pattern?) which also doubles as a day-pack when we’re out exploring!

  • I love this sling bag that keeps my passport/cards/cash/phone secure & easy-to-access throughout our travel.

• Baggage for Checking - I personally do not check a bag, but I would probably stick with a Samsonite suitcase if I needed to purchase one since my carry-on has held up well!

Hygiene 

• 1 quart-sized clear plastic bag containing 3 oz bottles (we like silicone refillable ones like these!) of any liquids including:

  • Shampoo

  • Conditioner

  • Face Wash

  • Body Wash

  • Liquid Makeup

  • Sunscreen

  • Lotion

  • Moisturizer

  • Bug spray (depending on where you’re traveling!)

  • Anti-wrinkle spray (I always bring this when backpacking, but it’s nice for a carry-on, too!)

• Deodorant

• Chapstick with SPF - I have had to buy this on so many trips to the desert where my lips have been sunburned (yes it can happen!)

• Razor (yes, you can travel with these!)

• Comb/hairbrush

• Hair ties/clips/bobby pins

• Hair styling tools

• Hair products

• Tweezer/Nail Clippers

• Toothbrush/toothpaste/floss

• Cotton balls - I always shove a few into my bag in case I need them.

• Menstrual products

• Hanging travel organizer - I use this one!

Clothing

When packing clothing, we like to bring items that are versatile & easy-to-layer, which gives us plenty of options when we encounter unexpected weather or are planning for various activities! We also like to bring clothing that is quick-dry, especially after a recent trip to Costa Rica where our clothes did not dry & we were in a tight spot.

• T-shirts

• Tank Tops

• Overshirts/linen button-ups

• Cardigan

• Nice sweater or top (depending on weather)

• Jeans

• Shorts - I pack both linen shorts & athletic shorts.

• Lightweight dress - I have a button-up linen dress like this that I love to pack because it’s breezy & doesn’t take up much room!

• Travel pants - I like these joggers for air travel days!

• Hiking Pants

• Underwear/bras

• Socks

• Pajamas - I like to bring t-shirts that can double as sleep shirts or a t-shirt to wear on a hike just in case I am in a situation where I need to wear it out in public!

• Bathing Suit (if needed)

• Rain jacket

• Jacket/outerwear (depending on weather)

Accessories

• Glasses/sunglasses

• Hat

• Scarf/Buff

• Jewelry

Shoes

• Sandals - I love these Birkenstocks!

• Hiking Shoes - We are partial to our Chacos hiking sandals, but will also use Columbia boots depending on the terrain.

• Closed-toed shoes - Some activities will require closed-toed shoes, so make sure you have a pair that fits your trip!

Electronics

• Phone & phone charger

• Laptop/tablet & charger

• Headphones

• Camera/batteries

• Universal power adapter - When traveling internationally, make sure you have what you need to charge your electronics! We have this power adapter that we use.

Miscellaneous

• Book

• Pen/Paper or Journal

• Deck of Cards

• Plastic Bag - We like having this on hand just in case you have a wet bathing suit that needs to be transported.

• Guidebooks - We swear by Rick Steves guidebooks for visiting Europe, but Lonely Planet has several great books when visiting other parts of the world!

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