Packing for an overseas trip that involves a transcontinental flight, whether it be for vacation, work, or a missions trip requires a different perspective from your every day road trip. Going through the funnel of airport security, plane changes, customs, and unfamiliar forms of public transportation presents unique stresses and strains to the traveler. Here are five guidelines that I use when traveling abroad to help make my trip easier and more enjoyable.
The typical trip that I am referencing is from 10 to 14 days, but I would use these tips for longer itineraries.
- Pack only what you can carry
The first time I went overseas was for a trip to Hungary and Italy. I didn’t know what to expect and I made the classic rookie mistake of packing way too much. I only had two pieces of luggage, but one was a hulk of a rolling suitcase and the carry on was a larger sized backpack. Subconsciously I probably was thinking “There’s extra space – use it.” While this approach made sense at the beginning of the trip, two weeks in after making multiple city stops and sometimes staying in a room with four other guys where space was at a premium and I didn’t have access to any furniture but a bed, the behemoth suitcase became an albatross that needed constant care and would hinder me while I tried to nimbly negotiate a busy train platform or street intersection. Rolly luggage is no friend of ancient cobblestone lined streets. I quickly adopted the tenet of only packing what I can carry easily and even then keeping it very light so that I can have the freedom to pick up things along the journey.
One personality profile that I learned about in missions training was the Crisis Oriented vs. Non-Crisis Oriented person. The crisis oriented person is not necessarily always looking for or always involved in a crisis, but they desire to be prepared for each an every situation that they may encounter. On a trip this translates into rigid time schedules, and packing for every possible problem. Conversely the non-crisis oriented person is not necessarily flippant and unprepared, but simply takes more of a laid back approach to things. Not every contingency needs to be covered and prepared for and a certain level of pleasure can be taken in the unknown. Related with my dismissal of heavy baggage has been my realization that people in other parts of the world have toothpaste. I know that may come as a shock to some people, but it is a certifiable fact that people around the world lead long and fulfilling product-filled lives. What I’m trying to say is: If you need something while on a trip, more than likely you will be able to find a store to sell it to you whether it be baby wipes for your infant or a beach towel to sunbathe on Lido beach.
- Plan on doing laundry while on the trip
Wearing a piece of clothing once and then carrying it with you for the rest of the trip is just plain impractical. Doing laundry on a trip has taken three forms for me: hand washing in a bathroom sink in China, a public laundromat in Italy, having my clothes laundered for me in the Philippines. A laundry stop allows you time to relax and journal, pack less clothing, and get a glimpse of a non-tourist part of your destination. When Amanda and I were doing our laundry in Venice we met a couple from, of all places, Austin, Tx. I have a super non-clothespin laundry line that is made of braided elastic bands which helps in the event of washing clothes by hand.
- Don’t be afraid of the paper
In my every day life I try to be as paperless as possible. Emailed bank statements instead of mailed. Google Calendar instead of paper planner. iPhone with Bible app vs bringing a paper Bible to men’s study. But, on a trip I make it a point to bring a small notebook that fits into the pocket of my cargo shorts. In the notebook I’ll put pertinent information like travel itinerary, flight numbers, hotel addresses, and bus schedules. I’ll also use it at each meal to record everything that I did since the last meal. At lunch I’ll write down what I did in the morning, anecdotes that can’t be reflected in pictures, or a quote that wouldn’t be funny or make sense at any other time or place (“All we are saying is give llama’s a chance”). At dinner I’ll do the same, and at Breakfast I’ll fill in any notes from the previous day. You can also use it to write down what you ate – Charlotte Marscapone, Lobster flavored corn puffs. In the hustle and bustle of a trip so many details can be lost if left up to memory or “I’ll write it down later”.
Finally, bring one comfort item that you pack no matter the impact on space or money. My splurge item when traveling is a good pair of sunglasses. My current pair of Oalkey’s is beyond my normal $10 sunglasses budget and their case is big and awkward to put in a carry on, but they are comfortable and protect my eyes while in a sea of humanity at the Spanish Fallas or on a boat in the middle of the Bohol sea.
What are some tips that you follow to pack for traveling overseas?
First, let me say that this post is not a ploy to get you to wish me a happy birthday in the comments. I merely want to share how excited I am about my birthday. 
