How to avoid travel stress: The packing list

So you’ve waited months, maybe years for this trip. Hotel reservations are ready, the plane leaves in exactly two hours, there are activities waiting for you, you jump on that taxi, you get to the airport, start getting in line, only to discover that… Damn! You forgot your passport!

Has this ever happened to you? It’s happened to me! Not once but several times! Sometimes it was the passport; other times the cell phone or worse, the camera battery charger! If only I’d had a packing list! A must for planning a trip.

I like my travels to run as smoothly as possible, especially when the trip hasn’t even started yet. So let me share with you my fool-proof packing list which will:

• Make it easier for you to collect your stuff, by means of it being classified in a categorized.
• Allow you to have a visual record of what you’ve already packed.
• Guarantee that you won’t ever forget anything else.
• Free your mind to focus on more important aspects of your trip, which puts you in a mindset of control and peace around your departure.

Ever since I started using my packing list, I stopped forgetting things and I started having more efficient exits.

So without further ado, let me teach you what to pack. Please feel free to add to it or give me your opinion in the comments!

The packing list

And keep on the lookout for a future post on how to pack. Note: I’m a girl, so there are many extra things that guys won’t use, but you get the idea… Also, this list applies if you’re going to the other site of town to visit with your Mom, or if you’re going to the other side of the pond to Paris. You can adapt it any way you like.

Packing List by Cultural Travel Guide

Toiletries

• Conditioner
• Dental floss
• Deodorant
• Epilator
• Facial tissues
• Foot powder
• Hair brush
• Mosquito repellent
• Nail clipper
• Pads or tampons
• Panty liners
• Razor
• Shampoo
• Soap
• Toilet paper (you never know)
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Tweezers

Beauty

• Chap Stick
• Cleansing cream or make up remover
• Cosmetics
• Eye cream
• Hair clips or pins or bangs
• Hair dryer
• Jewelry
• Moisturizing cream for your body
• Moisturizing cream for your face
• Nail file
• Nail polish
• Nail polish remover
• Perfume
• Sun block

Medicine

• Eye drops
• Pain killers
• Mini first aid kit
• Any prescribed medicine

Paperwork

• Credit card
• Debit card
• Driver’s license
• ID
• Passport
• Student ID card
• Touristic information or travel guides
• Vaccination shots card

Clothes (aside from every day)

• Brassieres
• Gloves
• Panties
• Pajama
• Scarf
• Slippers
• Swimming cap
• Swimming suit
• Towel

Technology

• Additional battery for the camera
• Additional card for the camera
• Alarm clock
• Battery charger
• Binoculars
• Camera
• Camera charger
• Cell phone
• Cell phone charger
• Computer
• Computer AC cable
• Earphones
• Headset
• Internet cable
• iPod
• iPod charger
• iPod’s cable
• Mouse
• Pedometer
• Round converter (when going to Europe)
• Tripod
• USB flash drives
• Watch

Miscellaneous

• Batteries
• Big tote bag
• Book
• Ear plugs (can’t leave home without them)
• Flashlight
• Handbag or clutch
• Hat
• Keys
• Matches
• Notebook
• Pen
• Portable clothesline
• Reading glasses
• Scotch tape
• Shoe polish
• Sleep mask
• Sunglasses
• Sewing kit
• Swimming glasses
• Umbrella
• Waist bag
• Ziploc bags

I know, I know, it may look like a lot especially considering it doesn’t include clothes, but believe it or not, this is my standard list and I never check baggage, I have a carry on and a backpack and that’s all I take with me.

I will explain the art of packing light in future posts. Heck, I may even do a video for you! That way you won’t have to be stressed out when leaving for your journey!

Download an Excel file that you can use to print a packing list “checklist”!

All your comments will be welcome and I do encourage you to leave me a reply or a comment with additions or suggestions!