After preparing all the documentation and studying travel routes, it's time to pack.
For some, it is a fun moment and for others, a sequence of dilemmas. Planning what to take in your international suitcase is ideal to avoid inconveniences, neither with the shipping costs nor with the lack of something important when you arrive at your destination.
How to start preparing your suitcase
After choosing your airline company, you need to check their baggage rules. Nowadays, most airlines set the large, checked bag limit at up to 23kg (including the bag itself) and hand luggage, which goes inside the plane, at up to 10kg. These rules vary according to the airline, with some even allowing 32kgs in the dispatch.
The first step in preparing an international suitcase is to study the climate of the region during the time of your stay. Even for long-term trips, where the weather forecast is not so precise, it is worth basing yourself on the average of other years.
Cold clothes tend to be heavier and take up more space, and when the cold is very severe, it ends up being more worthwhile to buy a more resistant sweater at the destination and come back wearing it, since aeroplanes are usually very strong.
In addition to the weather, consider how long you will spend at your destination and whether you will be doing activities that require changing clothes.
Now that you have defined the type of clothes and how many changes, on average, you will take, it's time to start your list.
Create a list
Have a list ready on your mobile phone or in the notebook in your room to write down everything you consider important to take according to your itinerary.
It is important to think that, even if hotels offer towels and toiletries, for example, it is worth having at least one bath and face towel ready for emergency situations.
Pick out your favourite clothes for each occasion of your trip and separate them into small changes, complete with trousers, shirt, socks and underwear. Create several small changes of clothes and arrange them in the order you will wear them, from top to bottom.
Set aside a space for shopping
If your interest is to visit outlets, buy electronics or souvenirs, do not forget that they will need to come back in the same suitcase, so, if you do not want to leave anything behind, leave a space reserved for your new items.
Remember that it is important to always carry electronics in your hand luggage and properly documented, with a receipt ready to declare them at customs (we have a post here in our blog helping you at this stage).
The dos and don'ts of international travel
Avoid anything that could pose a physical or chemical threat inside the aircraft, such as sharp, bladed objects that contain potentially toxic or flammable chemical components. Aerosols, for example, should only be taken in the bag for checking.
If you are travelling with any kind of technical equipment, such as cameras or musical instruments, the ideal is to keep all components together, so that the agents understand their function, and preferably in the hand luggage you take with you, when possible.
If you are travelling for work, ideally all professional and related documents should also be in your handbag.
Preparing your hand luggage
Be sure to go well prepared for a new environment, with a small pharmacy of medicines for motion sickness, physical and stomach pains. If you take controlled medication, bring a prescription from your doctor, preferably translated and signed, with only the proportional amount for the trip.
Personal hygiene items are important, but they must follow some criteria: nothing liquid should exceed 100 mls, so buy a kit of necessaires that comes with plastic separators and, at the market, look for kits with paste, rinsing and mini-sized brushes, as well as shampoo and conditioner kits.
These items are necessary but should be taken as little as possible, to avoid creating weight with cheap things that can easily be bought at the destination.
In times of pandemic, items such as masks and alcohol gel have become mandatory too, so be sure to buy a pack of disposable masks that meet the airline's criteria and, even if they offer alcohol on the plane, take your own supply.
All your documents should be in your hand luggage, preferably with certified copies to avoid inconvenience if you lose something.
Can I take a backpack on the plane?
Most companies allow you to take one personal item in addition to your hand luggage, such as handbags or backpacks, as long as they are carried along with the passenger. It is important to check this policy individually with the agency so that you do not have to leave your backpack or bag behind.
If you can use a backpack, the ideal is to keep items that you will use during the trip, such as a tablet, wallet, food, masks, make-up and other items.
So, is it easier to pack now? Here at Happy Tours blog you will find the best tips and information to make the trip of a lifetime, subscribing to our newsletter you will receive our publications first hand to help you prepare!
