The Ultimate International Packing List (From People Who’ve Made Plenty of Packing Mistakes!)
Find our curated travel essentials and organization tools here:
👉 Simply Points Travel Travel EssentialsOne of the questions we get asked all the time is:
“What do you actually pack for an international trip?”
After traveling throughout Europe, Costa Rica, Mexico, the Caribbean, and beyond, we’ve learned one important lesson…
You don’t need more stuff. You just need the right stuff.
Packing smart means less stress, fewer expensive airport purchases, and more time enjoying your vacation.
Here’s our go-to packing list for warm-weather international trips.
✈️ Travel Documents
Before anything else, make sure you have:
- Passport (check the expiration date!)
- Driver’s license
- Credit cards with no foreign transaction fees
- RFID-blocking wallet or money belt
- Travel insurance information (if purchased)
- Printed copies of hotel reservations (just in case)
- Digital copies of your passport stored securely online
👕 Clothing
We always recommend packing outfits that can mix and match. For a one-week summer trip, we typically bring:
- 5-6 lightweight shirts
- 3-4 pairs of shorts or skirts
- 1-2 nicer outfits for dinners
- Swimsuit
- Light sweater or packable jacket for airplanes and cool evenings
- Packable raincoat
- Comfortable pajamas
- Undergarments and socks
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sandals or flip-flops
- Hat and sunglasses
Remember, you’ll probably wear your favorite outfit more than once, and that’s perfectly okay!
🔌 Travel Tech
These items have saved us countless headaches.
- Universal travel adapter
- Portable charger
- Multi-head charging cable
- Phone charger
- AirPods or headphones
- Kindle or tablet (optional)
- Portable rechargeable fan
A portable charger is one item we never travel without. Long sightseeing days can drain your phone faster than you think.
✅ Also Don’t Forget
The easy-to-overlook basics:
- Visa or entry authorization (if required)
- Boarding passes / transportation confirmations
- Health insurance card + emergency contact info
- Cash / local currency
- Cell phone
- Keys
🧳 Travel Essentials We Never Leave Home Without
These are the little things that make traveling so much easier:
- Packing cubes (our #1 recommendation!)
- Luggage scale
- AirTag or luggage tracker
- Slim RFID-blocking wallet / passport holder
- TSA-approved luggage locks
- Reusable water bottle
- Crossbody anti-theft bag
- Crossbody phone case / wallet
- TSA-approved toiletry bottles
- Hanging toiletry bag
- Compression bags (great if you’re bringing souvenirs home)
- Travel laundry packets for washing clothes in the sink
- Shoe organizers for dirty shoes and laundry
These are all products we’ve personally used or researched and recommend. You can find our favorites here:
👉 Simply Points Travel Travel Essentials
💊 Toiletries & Health
Don’t forget:
- Prescription medications
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Sunscreen
- Aloe (just in case)
- Deodorant
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Razor
- Travel hair dryer or straightener
- Lip balm
- Small first-aid kit
- Motion sickness patches (if needed)
- Jet lag relief gummies
- Blister bandages
🧴 A Few More Useful Extras
Nice-to-have items that often get left behind:
- Basic OTC medications (pain, allergy, stomach)
- Body wash / soap and face wash
- Hand / body lotion
- Brush / comb + hair ties
- Makeup / personal care items
- Compact umbrella
- Activewear
- Swim cover-up
- Glasses OR contacts + solution
- Snacks for travel day
- Change of clothes in your carry-on
- Dress or specialty shoes (if needed)
- Laptop / camera + chargers (if bringing)
💳 Our Favorite Travel Tip
We also like carrying at least two different credit cards and keeping them in separate places. If one card gets lost, stolen, or flagged for fraud while you’re overseas, you have a backup ready to go.
Make sure one of those cards is not an American Express, since Amex isn’t always accepted overseas, and double-check that the cards you bring don’t charge foreign transaction fees.
Travel Essentials We Recommend
Looking for the travel gear that has made our trips easier, more organized, and less stressful? Find our curated favorites here:
👉 Simply Points Travel Travel EssentialsFinal Packing Advice
The biggest packing mistake isn’t forgetting something, it’s overpacking.
Almost anything can be purchased at your destination if you truly need it.
Pack lighter, leave room for souvenirs, and focus on making memories instead of hauling around a heavy suitcase.
Happy travels! 🌍✈️