The bottom line for any trip abroad: Pack light! Keep in mind you’ll be toting your own luggage around at the airports and hotels, so bring only what you need—ideally in one suitcase and one carry-on bag. To sort it all out, see our packing tips below.
Clothing – (Keep in mind that some religious sites require that shirts cover the shoulders and arms, and some do not allow shorts, short skirts or flip-flops.)
Comfortable walking shoes
Shirts (short- and long-sleeved)
Socks and underwear
Shorts/pants/jeans
Pajamas
Bathing suit (if applicable)
Dressier outfit and shoes (reserved for a special night out)
Raincoat and/or umbrella
Toiletries:
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Shampoo/conditioner
Soap
Deodorant
Hairbrush/comb
Sunscreen
Spare set of contact lenses/glasses (if applicable)
Money:
ATM card (call your bank prior to departure to alert them of the trip; foreign purchases sometimes result in a hold on bank accounts)
Personal credit card
At least $50 converted to foreign currency of the first country that you’re visiting
Pouch for storing money and passport under clothing (available at travel stores)
Electronics:
Alarm clock (many hotel rooms won’t have one)
Memory cards
Adaptor/converter (available at electronic stores)
Camera with ample batteries (batteries can be expensive abroad)
Documents:
Passport (required on all Educational Tours Abroad). Remember to bring a photocopy of it (in case it is lost) and leave one copy at home.
Visas (if applicable)
A copy of the tour itinerary
A list of important phone numbers and addresses to send postcards home
Copy of any prescriptions (Customs officials may want to verify that a container’s contents match its label, so all medication should be carried in their original containers.)
Carry-on bag:
A backpack is a perfect carry-on bag! Here’s a short list of things you might need on the first day of the trip. Pack them in your carry-on in case your checked luggage is delayed.
Passport
Money
Airline ticket
Toothbrush and toothpaste (remember, toothpaste needs to go in a one-quart Ziploc bag, and can’t be bigger than 3 oz)
Hairbrush
Contact lens case/glasses (to sleep comfortably on the plane)
A change of clothes
Medication
Any valuables