Is this your first trip to another country? Even if it’s not I’m sure you’ve made your lists and checked them twice, or 50 times! Our first vacation of a lifetime was a cruise when we were first married. I copied a list I found online for what to pack and was instantly completely overwhelmed. The list had things I’d never heard of! Papaya enzymes, collapsible coolers (This was a while ago to be sure :)), etc. I am a list junkie though and figured someone else knew better than me so I bought and packed it all. After more than a few other international trips we’ve learned to pair down and want to share a few things we learned along the way that may keep your stress to a minimum. When you’re at the airport, traveling as a family and running to not miss that connecting flight in another terminal you’ll be happy you didn’t bring that “List” believe me! Everyone has specific preferences but here are the 6 that we recommend.
- Suitcase purchase. I bought a clearance set of no name suitcases at AAA for a trip to England a few years back. Spinners and everything. Thought it was the deal of the century. The spinners barely made that trip and maybe 2 trips after. The first sidewalk we crossed with a curb one of the wheels broke and then the others still intact wouldn’t spin across anything after that so I had to haul them like my old set on wheels. I recommend a good amount of research and a decent brand name! Luggage can cost a fortune and that is not what we recommend. But you will not regret the reviews from others and research to still find a discount. The pieces will last years this way with many happy destinations. The the first curb you hit at the airport won’t cause you the aggravation and instant headache we had.
- Overseas means different voltages. I recommend a voltage converter of course for all your electronic necessities but honestly they mostly just work ok. Here is a clever option we discovered and highly recommend using to this day Amazon Bestek Car Converter. (Bestek has a 12v to 220 converter for UK travelers and a model for European plugs as well.) This design allows you to charge as you travel in your rental car. In your room at night we recommend this other converter we also bought on Amazon Bestek Travel Adapter/ Converter. Amazon is not paying us for this recommendation either.
- A must have basic, but has to be said…Rain proof jacket and umbrella. Don’t buy a cheap umbrella at 5 Below or Dollar Tree. Go to TJ Maxx or a local department store. TJ Maxx has great quality travel accessories that won’t break the bank. Nothing can ruin your sightseeing plans more than weather. Now you can keep going no matter what!
- Renting a car. Those guys at the car rental window have all kinds of add on insurance that make your great quote go up, up, and up. Do you have a Visa Signature card? Get one. They cover your car insurance in most countries. Give them a call and verify where you’re going and they will be able to reassure you of your coverage.
- When using VRBO, Homeaway or AirBnB I have one cautionary tale. If it seems perfect and there are no reviews err on the side of caution and choose another one. These companies are on top of things with fraud posts but occasionally one slips through. This happened to us in London. Fortunately VRBO caught it in time but it was only a day or 2 before we checked in so we were scrambling to find anything at a reasonable price. It was a few days of stress no traveler needs.
- Lost? Don’t want to spend the extra on GPS for your rental? Use Google maps on your personal device for no service areas. You can download maps while you have WiFi to be read offline. If you’re on the road in the middle of nowhere with no cell service or WiFi available you can easily see exactly where you are and how to get there with GPS. Check out this link on how to do this on Iphone or Android.
As for the papaya enzymes and collapsible coolers…. unless you’re going to the Congo or Outback I would say don’t sweat it! Aldis and Lidl’s, Tesco and Asda’s are everywhere in Europe and sell all kinds of basics that will save you space in your luggage. Do you really need them? That is the key you will learn as you go. I hope this list of tips helps you in your plans! Whether you’re planning the trip of your lifetime or are an experienced traveler. There are many other tips and tricks to travel we’d love to share in future articles. What are some tricks you’ve found you can’t live without when you travel?
