Packing for an international trip can feel a little different from packing for a weekend away. You can usually buy a forgotten T-shirt when you arrive, but replacing a passport, medication, or the charger you need for every device is another story.

After years of traveling internationally with my family, and working as a travel journalist, I’ve learned to start with the things that are hardest to replace. Then I pack clothes I can wear more than once, shoes I’ll actually walk in, and a few comforts for the flight. This international travel packing list covers what goes in your suitcase, what stays with you on the plane, and the small things that are easy to forget until you need them.

What I Keep in My Personal Item on an International Flight

My passport goes in the front pocket of my backpack. It fits perfectly there, and I can reach it without digging through everything else. When I’m moving through an airport with my family, that easy access matters more to me than any fancy packing system.

I also keep my medication in my backpack, along with the things I’ll actually want during the flight. On longer flights, I clip my J-Pillow to the outside of the bag so it doesn’t take up space inside.

My kids pack their own entertainment. They usually bring their phones, big over-the-ear Beats headphones, and sometimes a handheld gaming device. They make sure they have games or other things to do on their computers or on the plane, and that’s about it for their cases.

My husband takes the opposite approach. He can fit what feels like an entire kitchen into his little backpack, which always makes me laugh. I’d rather keep mine light. If I might need something later but probably won’t need it during the flight, I put it in my carry-on instead of carrying it on my back all day.

How Many Clothes Do I Pack for an International Trip?

I usually pack one pair of pants for every two days and one shirt for each day. I still want my clothes to mix and match, so a T-shirt might work on its own one day and feel like a different outfit with a cardigan over it another day.

I’m honestly more likely to underpack than overpack. I’ve had trips where I realized I hadn’t brought quite enough and ended up at a laundromat. But I’d still rather do a load of laundry than drag a heavy suitcase around Europe or pay for an oversized bag full of clothes I never wear. When I can, I try to travel with just a carry-on.

How Many Pairs of Shoes Should You Bring?

For most trips, I bring two pairs of shoes. If I know we’ll be sightseeing and walking all day, I bring three so I can rotate them. Wearing the same shoes day after day can give me hot spots on my feet, even when they’re comfortable shoes.

For a walking-heavy trip, that usually means two different pairs of sneakers and a pair of sandals. In winter, I swap the sandals for boots.

A Packing Lesson From My Kids

I give my kids my packing list, although what they do with it is sometimes a mystery. Once we arrived in Scotland and discovered that one of my sons had packed seven pairs of underwear—and no clothes. I had been very specific about bringing seven pairs of underwear, and apparently that was the only part of the list that stuck. We had to buy him clothes when we got there.

Now I do a quick check of what they’ve packed, even though they’re old enough to pack their own bags.

The International Travel Essentials I Check Before We Leave

Passports

I keep our passports together in the front pocket of my backpack, where I can grab them quickly at the airport. My kids are getting older and would like to carry their own, but I know my kids! For now, it’s easier for me to know exactly where everyone’s passport is.

At the hotel, I sometimes put them in the room safe. I once forgot I’d done that and we had to drive back to the hotel to retrieve them, so these days I’m more likely to keep them together in my backpack and store it somewhere secure. Before each trip, I also check the destination’s passport and entry requirements.

Money

We rarely bring a large amount of foreign currency from home. We usually use an ATM after we arrive and take out the cash we think we’ll need. Credit cards work for so much of our travel now that cash generally isn’t the big packing concern it used to be.

Phone Service

I sort out our phone service before we fly. We’ve used both Airalo and Holafly for eSIMs, and sometimes we’ve paid for the international add-on from our regular carrier. I’ve had trouble getting an eSIM to work in a couple of countries, but on our recent trip to Germany it worked beautifully and cost very little. More and more, that’s the option I choose.

Charging Everything

Our BESTEK travel converter is one of the oldest things in our luggage—we bought it about 20 years ago, and it’s still going strong. It has five places to plug things in, so at night we set it up as the family charging hub. Everyone plugs in their devices, and by morning we’re ready to go again.

I also bring a few smaller plug adapters and European iPhone chargers I bought at a hardware store while traveling. I often put those in my kids’ backpacks so they can charge their own devices without waiting for a space at our charging hub.

Medication

I pack the family’s medications myself and check that we have enough for the entire trip. Sometimes that means a pharmacy run before we leave. The medication stays with me in my personal item, where I can get to it and where it won’t be separated from us if a suitcase is delayed.

I count out enough medication for every person for the full trip before we leave, and I check whether anyone needs a refill. I learned this the hard way in Scotland when I hadn’t brought enough of a medication I need. We spent part of our vacation getting medical help instead of sightseeing. It’s one of the reasons medication is now one of the first things I check when we pack.

Make sure tha your prescription is allowed in the country you are visiting before you go.

How I Organize Our Suitcases

I’m not the person who opens a suitcase to reveal perfectly arranged rows of clothing. I roll my clothes because they stack well and seem to come out less wrinkled, but after that, I’m mostly trying to make everything fit.

I use compression packing cubes. The rest of my family prefers regular packing cubes, and everyone has their own set. That matters when we share a suitcase: we’ve taken trips with one large checked bag for the family while everyone else carried only a personal item. The cubes make it easy to tell whose clothes are whose—and whose cube is spilling all over the suitcase.

My Very Small Toiletry Bag

The more I’ve traveled for work, the smaller my toiletry bag has become. Mine is about the size of my palm and holds my travel makeup and the other toiletries I need. I don’t bring hair tools; most days a hair tie is enough for me.

We pack the toiletries we need from home rather than planning to shop for them when we arrive. My husband’s bag is much neater than mine, but the best part of our system is that everyone has a toiletry bag that stays packed between trips. We also keep separate electronics bags stocked with extra chargers and the things the kids need. I hate unpacking everything only to pack it again for the next trip, so these bags are ready to grab and put in a suitcase.

 

What I Leave Out of My Suitcase

I think a lot of things get called “travel essentials” because someone wants you to buy them. Most of them aren’t essential to me. I would rather go without something than pay an overweight bag fee or spend a trip hauling things I never use.

I once carried a heavy curling iron all the way to Greece and back. I didn’t use it a single time. On another trip, I brought a cute new pair of sandals to Mexico, convinced I would wear them constantly. They weren’t broken in, they hurt my feet, and they spent almost the entire trip in my suitcase.

Now I pack clothes and shoes I already know fit and feel good. I want to look nice, but I also want to enjoy my trip without sore feet or a bag full of things I brought for an imaginary version of the vacation.

International Travel Packing FAQs

What should I pack in my personal item for an international flight?

Keep your passport, wallet, medication, phone, chargers, and anything you’ll need during the flight with you. I also bring snacks and a layer for the plane. My kids pack their headphones and something to play or watch, which makes a long flight much easier for everyone.

Is it better to check a bag or use a carry-on for international travel?

I prefer to travel light, but we’ve done both. Sometimes I take only a carry-on; other times our family shares one checked suitcase while each person brings a personal item. Check the baggage allowance for every airline on your itinerary before deciding, especially if you have a shorter flight after the international one.

How many pairs of shoes should I pack?

I bring two pairs for most trips and three if we’ll be walking and sightseeing all day. Rotating shoes helps me avoid hot spots. Whatever you bring, make sure you’ve worn them enough to know they’re comfortable—my unworn new sandals in Mexico taught me that lesson.

Do I need a travel adapter or a voltage converter?

A plug adapter lets your plug fit into a different outlet. A converter changes the voltage for a device that needs it. Check both the outlet type at your destination and the voltage information on the devices you’re bringing. Our family uses a BESTEK converter as a charging hub, plus a few smaller adapters.

What is the most important thing to check before an international trip?

For me, it’s our passports and medication. I make sure everyone has the documents they need and enough medication for the full trip before I start worrying about clothes. You can buy another shirt when you arrive; sorting out a missing passport at the airport is a different problem.

Final Thoughts on Packing for International Travel

My goal is to bring the things we’ll actually use and be able to carry our bags without regretting every extra item. Some trips that means a carry-on for each person; other times we share one checked bag and keep our personal items small.

Start with the passports, medication, and things you need for the flight. Then pack clothes and shoes you already know are comfortable. If you forget something small, you can usually work around it. And if you’re packing for kids, take one last look inside their cubes before you leave—I learned that lesson after arriving in Scotland with a son who had packed nothing but underwear.