When traveling overseas you will need to carry with you a passport, airline tickets and other forms of identification, such as a driver’s license or state-issued ID card. You may also want to leave your cash at home and use traveler’s checks for purchases while on vacation. Make copies of all documents you are traveling with, including traveler’s checks, and leave one copy at home with a relative or friend and keep one copy in a separate location in your luggage. These copies will make getting traveler’s checks cancelled and new passports issued easier if you lose yours or they are stolen. If you want to bring money with you, try to have some currency for the country you are visiting before you leave on vacation.
Pack any prescribed medications in your carry-on luggage in case of missing or lost checked luggage. Other items to pack include extra contact lenses or glasses and copies of your prescriptions. If you use any controlled substances, obtain a note from your doctor to prove the medication was prescribed to you and not illegally obtained.
Purchase a nice point-and-shoot camera with some extra memory cards so you can take pictures while overseas. A smaller camera will be easier to carry with you when traveling as opposed to a single lens reflex camera with multiple lenses. There is less of a chance that thieves will target you for using a small point-and-shoot camera versus using more expensive camera equipment.
There are a few travel items to pack that are specific to the foreign country where you will be traveling. Bring local travel guides and a foreign language dictionary to help you get around and communicate with the locals. Some other countries use different electrical systems than are used here and may require an adapter be purchased so you can use your personal electronics. Bring a power strip with you so you will only have to purchase one adapter and all of your electric items can be plugged into the power strip.
Select the clothes you will pack based on the weather for the country where you are traveling. Try to find wrinkle-free outfits with comfortable shoes that can be mixed and matched. This way, if available, you can wash your clothes every few days and mix up the outfits so it does not look like you are wearing the same outfit. Bring travel-sized toiletries that can be packed in your checked baggage and then toss containers before heading home. This will free up room in your luggage to bring back souvenirs.
