essentials for international travel
1. passport
This one may seem a little obvious, but you should always check the expiration date on your passport. Some countries will not let you enter or issue you a visa if you do not have a certain amount of time on your passport left before a renewal is required.
Which brings us to visas. Some countries, like Turkey, require your visa be purchased before arriving to immigration (unless you’re arriving by cruise ship and staying a maximum of 72 hours, see how this gets tricky quickly?), while other countries, such as Japan, issue tourist visas on arrival, but require you have a return or onward flight in order to get one. There are also countries that require neither visa nor proof of flight, but require proof of immunization. There are even countries that do not require proof of immunization unless you are traveling from countries where communicable diseases and endemic. For example, you may enter Namibia without proof of immunization, unless you are entering from, say, neighboring Angola, where yellow fever is endemic, in which case you must show proof. Needless to say, there are no immunization offered at most immigration offices.
So you’ll need:
2. WHO card
The World Health Organization issues passenger health locator cards that you can take to your
doctor, or a travel clinic for more specialized shots, to keep track of all your immunizations. These
can be shown at immigration as proof of inoculation, as well serve as your own records to keep
track of when you need booster.
Check www.travel.state.gov for up to date visa and immunization requirements.
3. Extra passport photos, like a comical, uncanny amount
These are especially important if you plan to visit multiple countries. Many countries that issue
tourist visas on arrival require extra passport photos to process the paperwork. Also, if you plan to
extend your visa, it’s often easier to print extra passport photos than to have them printed in your destination country, especially if you are not a proficient speaker of the language.
4. ziploc bags
These are not only handy at the airport, but are also water proof all other situations as well. Keep them in your bag or purse to slip your phone in if caught in the rain, to put liquid toiletries in if busing across high altitudes, or have them ready for any adventures that take you out on the water.
5. charger adapter
Few travelers leave home without at least one electronic device. You don’t want to arrive in country and be unable to access the travel info, contact info, or maps you saved on your phone or be unable to take pictures. You can buy all purpose adapters online through amazon, or even find cheap ones at dollar stores.
6. tampons
In many countries, tampons are like specialty items. In Thailand they’re at the supermarket, but often not the pharmacy. You can find them more easily the closer you are to large numbers of western tourists, but they are not a guarantee in the toiletries aisle. (Also, they can be ripped and opened to serve as an impromptu gauze for a wound.)
A great alternative to to disposable tampons is a keeper, or Diva Cup. This is a silicone cup that is inserted similarly to an o.b. tampon but it lasts much longer. For most people, the cup isn’t even half way full after 12 hours. This can make a long bus ride much more comfortable knowing that you aren’t going to leak and have an embarrassing accident to deal with. You can purchase these at most natural food stores, some regular grocery stores, or online. They generally need to be replaced once a year.
More information here: http://divacup.com/how-it-works/your-first-questions
7. extra batteries for cameras and phones, extra memory cards
If you don’t want to carry around a phone adapter and pop into coffee shops all day, it’s easy to purchase a spare battery for your phone online. You can charge one battery while you’re out sightseeing or adventure-having, and charge the other while you sleep. Bring both batteries on days you know you’ll be out all day or will be loading lots of maps or using other high energy apps. Bring an extra memory card so you don’t have to upload all your photos or bring along a laptop to make room on your card.
8. a scarf
A scarf is such a multi-purpose item. It can be a blanket on a cold plane or keep the sun off you in a hot climate. It can be wadded up and shoved in a t-shirt as a pillow or used as a cover to show modesty for respect at a religious site. Or throw it over a plain outfit to look a little more fierce with, like, zero effort.
9. tissue packs
Tissue packs are easily portable and many countries don’t use toilet paper. Wadding up bits of toilet paper from the hotel and shoving them in your purse before you leave will end up disintegrating in your bag by then end of the day.
10. medications
Depending on the country, some medications are cheaper abroad than they are in the States. But I like to spare myself a trip to the apothecary’s for the little things. Therefore, I always bring a stash of basic meds for things I have needed before: antihistamines, hydro-cortisone topical cream, birth control, aspirin, antacids, Immodium (I could not have gotten in a truck from Namibia to Zambia without that one), and even, I’ll admit, stool softeners (go ahead–eat all the foods. Just make sure at least one contains a vegetable). That sounds like a long list, but pills take up very little space.
As for prescription meds, the TSA does not require the original prescription bottles, but each state has its laws in regard to this. Just make sure you stock up on prescription meds to get you through your travels.
Bon Voyage!
What are some essentials that you never leave home without when traveling abroad? Share your comments below!