How to Pack for a Long Trip

How to Plan and Pack for a Long Trip

Whether it’s a short weekend getaway or a far off destination, travel needs to be planned. It is a great way to save you time, money, and unnecessary stress.

Take it from me. I recently took a long vacation overseas. The last thing I wanted to do was leave something off my list and end up paying a high price to find a replacement during my vacation. That is just what happened to one of my travel mates. She couldn’t find her Dramamine, so she quickly dashed into an Airport store and paid over double what she would have paid back home. Plus, it was in Europe, so it did not contain the ingredients she was accustomed to.

It’s true, sometimes there will be an emergency, but the more you plan, the less chance you will need to make those unexpected purchases during your travel. I have made it easy for you and created a checklist you can print and use for your next trip. You’ll find it at the end of this article.

Now let’s get ready to travel and talk about what you can do to plan before your next trip.

Set a budget

For any travel, you should always include in your budget:

Transportation costs
Hotel/Lodging
Meals
Snacks
Souvenirs/Shopping
Gratuities/Tips

If you are going out of the country, do you need to convert your currency? Yes. Do this before you land at your destination. It is much cheaper to purchase the currency for your destination at your own bank. Talk to your bank and they’ll let you know the cost and how much time you will need to give them for the transaction. Just to play it safe, do this at least one month prior to your trip. Most banks can get your currency to you within a few days, however, you don’t want to take any chances. This way you have your set budget before you’ve even stepped off the plane.

Money safety when traveling

Keep some money tucked away in your luggage for emergencies.

Only carry credit cards and leave your debit cards at home. Remember, credit cards are the banks money, so the risk is minimal to you. It is much easier to deal with credit cards if it is lost, stolen, or compromised and so dangerous if it is your debit card as this puts your own money at risk.

Plan a wardrobe

One great budget saver is go through what you already have. Look at your itinerary and decide what you would like to have with you on those days. Make a list of what you need to “fill the gaps” in your wardrobe. I highly recommend you shop at thrift stores for your wardrobe. Why spend more money when you’re already paying for your trip? Although, there will be some items you might need to invest in, like good walking shoes, save your money for the fun stuff and shop second hand for clothes.

Borrow travel essentials if you can

You might be able to borrow some travel essentials, like luggage, universal outlet converters, luggage scales, etc. These are things most of us will by for a trip and use them maybe once a year. So, instead of letting it go to waste, you’d be surprised how many people you may know already have these things and would be willing to lend to you. Just ask.