15 Packing Do’s for Overseas Travel

Let’s get one thing straight: if there were an award for World’s Best Over-packer, I’d win!! I don’t think I could EVER survive a backpacking adventure & am not ashamed I began my 15 day NZ/AUS trip with 1 carry-on size suitcase, 1 larger suitcase & 1 over-stuffed tote (I also ended my trip with an additional tote due to souvenirs, ah!)!

A few days into the trip, I began to make a list on my phone of the things I was so thankful I brought, the things that were doing nothing but taking up space & the things I wish I had packed. Over the next week, I’ll be sharing my packing do’s & don’ts & today we’re starting with what I am so happy I packed!!

Before we dive into my personal do’s and don’ts, let me give you the rundown of our trip! I spent 5 days in Auckland, New Zealand & 5 days in Queenstown, New Zealand with 17 photographers. Going into the trip, I knew a rough outline of the itinerary (some hiking, a beach day, some free days) but I didn’t have a full grasp of what we would be doing & therefore packed ALL THE THINGS I could fit (no, really! You should have seen me JUMPING on my suitcase!!!!). After 10 days in NZ, I flew to Sydney, Australia with 2 other ladies to spend 4 nights exploring the city & seeing some real live kangaroos!

I was going to be in a plane for over 45 hours by the time the entire trip was complete, and visit 2 different climates. So, you can see why I struggled with my packing, right? Today is Part 1 in my “what to pack” mini-series. Let’s get started!!:)

15-packing-dos

Swell Bottle: I love my Swell! My SIL/BIL gave me one for Christmas and I am so grateful! It was a lifesaver!! I knew I would need to stay really hydrated throughout the trip & loved saving money on bottled water. Most airports have water bottle filling stations by water fountains, and the water in NZ is so clean I could fill it with tap water before leaving for the day. It doesn’t sweat or leak, so it was perfect in my carry-on tote!

Fedora: I purchased this hat last summer at Target and am so glad I did! It came in handy at the beach in North Carolina and I loved having it on this trip. We spent a few days at the beach, a few days exploring the city & let’s face it, there’s also the occasional bad hair day! This hat was perfect for all of those & more. I liked that it wasn’t a baseball hat, so I could wear it with a cute dress or with my swimsuit.

Satchel: I brought my small, Kate Spade hot pink Satchel with me and I am so glad I did! It was the perfect size for my wallet, sunglasses, phone & chapstick. I didn’t need a lot when walking around town, so I didn’t want to carry a huge tote with me. I packed my satchel in my luggage & used my large tote on the plane.

Black, Lightweight, Rain-Resistant Jacket: This jacket. You guys, I’ve never had a jacket I loved more!!! It was an investment I made in the fall when I was looking for a classic, rain-resistant jacket I could wear on wedding day that felt professional but fun. My sweet friend Ally talked me into it & I’m forever indebted to her!!:) It was wonderful for traveling because it rolls up nicely, worked with every single outfit, could be dressed up or down & kept me dry on our few rainy days.

Bathroom Travel: I have this hanging travel carrier from Vera Bradley in a retired print, and it’s come in so handy! It hangs so you can hang it on the door or towel rack. All but one of the pockets can be easily wiped if something spill’s, it’s roomy, cute & easy to roll-up and pack!

Layers: All the layers, friends! Cardigans, leggings, a scarf or two, tank tops, tunics… think of things you can wear in multiple climates & potentially wear more than once!! I packed a few maxi dresses, 2 cardigans, a few tanks, 2 jumpsuits, 1 pair of jeans, 2 tunics & 2 dresses that could easily be dressed up or down. I also packed 1 sweatshirt for those chilly mornings/nights & a few athletic outfits for our excursions.

Compression Socks: If you’re flying for 10+ hours, I recommend these! I purchase this exact pair and am so glad I did! I had heard horror stories of swollen ankles and calf pain, and didn’t have any issues thanks to these socks. When you’re flying at such a high altitude paired with sitting for such a long time, it’s much harder for the blood to flow down your legs/ankles. These socks help with that pressure so you can relax & enjoy your flight!

Ipad Mini: I’m a big reader & don’t have a lot of time when I’m working. I have the Nook App on my Ipad Mini and stocked it full with tons of books before our trip began. I was able to use it on the plane, throw it in my beach bag & use it for emailing when we had wifi. I also put a few movies on my iTunes so I was fully prepared if I couldn’t sleep one night or didn’t enjoy any of the movie options on the plane.

Noise Canceling Headphones: My parent’s gave me a pair of Beats for Christmas; they were perfect for our long plane ride & really allowed me to tune out my surroundings while reading, etc.. I did bring a pair like this to trade out after a while since I figured after a few hours my ears would need a switch. They are an investment piece, but if you travel a lot they should be your next purchase!

Blanket: I am so thankful I brought my own soft blanket. I really love the comforts of home, so being able to use this on the plane & in each of our AirBnB’s was wonderful! I definitely recommend finding a soft, cozy blanket/throw to take on your next trip! I rolled mine & stuffed it in my carry-on tote.

String backpack: I have one similar to this one; it’s lightweight and very easy to pack in your suitcase. It was perfect for our hiking days & our beach days!

A wide variety of medicine: You think I’m joking, but it’s true! I brought meds for sinuses & indigestion/stomach discomfort. I also had ibuprofen, Advil, Midol and Vitamin C! You’d be surprised how many ladies in the house hit up my little pharmacy!! You really don’t know how your body will respond to the traveling & the different climate/time zone; I put all these goodies in a small zipper pouch in my carry-on tote.

Beach Towel: Obviously this is more important for those of you traveling in the summer or if you’re traveling to a beach destination! It’s nice to have your own beach towel and not have to worry about using a hotel towel. I was so thankful I had mine since we had several days at the beach; I didn’t want to use my shower towel & thankfully I didn’t have to! I laid mine flat on the bottom of my suitcase & packed the cubes on top of it! Easy-peasy!

Sunscreen & Bug Spray: I was going to a part of the world that literally has a hole over the ozone layer! AH! You best believe I packed 50 SPF!! Regardless of where you’re visiting or in what season you’re traveling, it’s important to have both of these items on hand! If you don’t have room in your suitcase, you can always pick this up when you arrive, but it may be cheaper at Walmart or Target. I actually forgot bugspray (annoying!) but thankfully Hope saved the day with that!

Packing Cubes: Caitlin suggested we purchase these before the trip and I am SO glad she did! How did I not know about them before?! They are amazing & I know I’m going to use them so much this year!!! They organize your suitcase, allow you to organize by types of clothing, days of the trip or whatever you may need!! I was able to grab what I needed much easier & repacking wasn’t too much of a nightmare.

What do you think? Was this helpful? Have you traveled overseas recently? Was there something that really helped you that I forgot to mention? I’d love tips for next time!:)

 

xo!! kat

Photography: Natalie Franke Photography

I'm a biz coach and integrator for creatives! My job? To help you dreams & dailys happen every week. Rinse and repeat.

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