Everything replaceable goes in the bag. The irreplaceable goes on the checklist.
By the PacklistPRO team · Updated June 2026
Forget a toothbrush and you buy one for two dollars. Forget that your passport
expires in four months and the trip may end at the check-in desk. International
packing is 20% gear and 80% preparation — so this guide starts weeks before
the suitcase comes out.
Money: cards first, cash second
Bring two cards on different networks, stored in different bags,
and know which one skips foreign-transaction fees. Tell your bank you're traveling
if it still asks. Get local cash from an ATM at the destination
(airport ATMs are fine; airport currency-exchange counters are the worst rates in
travel). A small reserve of home currency hides in the luggage for the trip home.
Power and Phone
Adapter vs converter: an adapter changes the plug shape; a
converter changes the voltage. Phones, laptops, and camera chargers are almost all
dual-voltage (look for "100–240V" on the brick) and need only an
adapter. The classic casualty is a single-voltage hair dryer — leave it
home. One universal adapter with USB ports replaces a bag of plugs; details in our
travel tech guide.
Phone: check eSIM data plans for your destination before paying
your carrier's daily roaming rate — for most countries an eSIM is a fraction
of the price and activates before you land. Download offline maps and the airline's
app while you're still on home Wi-Fi.
Health: keep it boring, keep it labeled
Prescription medication travels in original labeled containers, in
your carry-on, with a few days' surplus. Some common medications are controlled
substances elsewhere — check the destination's rules for anything stronger
than ibuprofen. A compact first-aid kit plus stomach remedies covers the rest; the
goal is to never need a pharmacy run where you can't read the labels.
Turn This Guide Into a List
Open Quicklist with the International / Abroad tag already picked — you land on the matching items and tasks, check the ones you want, and send them straight to a trip.