Packing List for Long Term Travel: The Ultimate Guide (2024)

How do I Pack for an Extended Trip?

Packing for a long trip is daunting but it’s not impossible.The trick to packing for long periods of time is topack one week’s work of clothing. Why? You’ll justdo laundryonce a week!

It’s true. No matter the length of your trip you can pack for one week and have everything you need.Don’t stress!We’ve put together all the best tips from the entire blog so you can easily access everything in one easy location. Follow these tipsfor stress free packing for your vacation:

STEP 1

Start by reading how I pack as along term traveler,blogger, anddigital nomadtoo! These packing tips can help you travel carry-on only if that’s your goal. I do!

To master the art of packing light, you’ll need acapsule wardrobe that is an essential concept to understand in order to create a minimal yet highly functional (and fashionable) travel wardrobe. Read thispacking ebookto help you create the perfect travel wardrobe for your trip.

If you feel extremely overwhelmed at the idea of packing light or have a complicated itinerary,review thispacking coursewhich shows you specifictechniques to plan around limited clothing choices, varying climates, and other unexpected life situations.I walk you through my personal step by step process as I prepare for my own long term travels. Pack like a pro!

STEP 2

Checkweather.com’sextended forecast in advance and 3 days before you leave.Think about how many days you will be in warm vs cold weather.

If you have a10 day trip and will be spending 7 days in the cold and 3 days in warm weather, plan for 70% of your travel wardrobe to be for the cold and 30% to be for the heat.

If you are only spending a short amount of time in cold weather or if you’re unsure if you will encounter cold weather on your trip, pack only the essentials: two outerwear PLUS two additional items: long sleeve top and leggings.

Use any of ourInternational packing liststo find clothing ideastodress appropriately for your destination.You may especially find these regional backpacking packing lists useful:Europe,Southeast Asia,South America, andCentral America. Use the guidelines from TFG’sSignature Packing Liststo help you customize your travel wardrobe.

If you don’t see your destination listed, post a question onTFG’s Facebook Group.

STEP 3

Think you need to pack your entire closet? Take a look at how to create3 weeks worth of travel outfitswith less than 10 pieces of clothing. For more travel outfit ideas including what to wear on flights, visitTFG’s Pinterest Page.

Depending where you’re traveling, you might encounter cold weather even in the summer. Always check the weather for your countries to get the most accurate idea about what to pack.

Because many people visit multiple destinations, it’s very common to experience mixed weather on your trip any time of the year. Or if you’re traveling somewhere like the UK in summer, you might experience all four seasons on the same day!

STEP 4

I’ve created this easy three part guide onhow to pack for cold weatherto help you stay warm while packing light.

Knowing how to pack for cold weather travel can be quite daunting especially if you want to pack light. If you’re traveling in winter, bundle up!

There is one major difference between being at home in the winter and traveling when it’s cold: the amount of time you’ll spend outdoors. When you’re traveling, you’ll likely spend extended periods of time outdoors sightseeing. Don’t be unprepared. Consider layering lightweight clothing such as the ones featured in thiswinter packing listto minimize the need for bulky sweaters and coats.

Avoid bringing a thick heavy coat when possible and opt for apackable down jacketinstead.Thermalsare also key to keeping you warm without having to pack thick sweaters. Don’t skip these!

You can even wearleggingsor tights under jeans or pants for extra warmth. If you’re not used to the climate, add additional layers until you feel warm. Don’t forget essential winter accessories like a scarf, hat, and gloves!

STEP 5

Picking the best shoes for travel will be one of your biggest challenges so start byreading this 10 step guide to packing thebest travel shoesfor any trip.

Choosing the right shoes for a trip is challengingand long term travel makes it even more difficult but it’s not impossible! Review this post on thebest travel shoes for long trips around the world. The main thing to remember is that comfort is king – you can’t enjoy your trip to the fullest extent if you’re in pain and can’t walk. While the ideal shoes will be both comfortable and fashionable, style will have to take a back seat if it means you can’t wear a pair of shoes for hours at a time.

Bring no more than three pairs opting for shoes that match all your clothing.Pack one pair for sightseeing (walking), one pair of any special activities you have planned, and then a third pair to either dress up your outfits or one that’s appropriate for a change in weather.

These are the bestshoes for sightseeing in the coldand these are the bestshoes for sightseeing in the heat. Black ankle boots liketheseare the most recommended shoes when dealing with either cold or mixed weather.

Please note:ballet flatsare a popular travel shoe option when you want a dressier look but they are NOT recommended for long hours on your feet sightseeing.

Choose one of thesecute and comfortable walking shoesinstead – they’re the options most recommended by our readers!

STEP 6

It’s important to note that people in any country generally wear the same things that everyone else does around the world – the only difference is HOW they wear them.People value simplicity, clean styling, and agood tailored fitabove anything else.

In general, day-to-day European style is more dressy than American style. This DOES NOTmean business clothing.Think dressy top (or the type of top you’d wear to work) plus nice jeans (dark colors are always a good choice).

Read thisultimatePacking List for Europe, which is a five part guide offering general packing information for Europe along with what to wear in spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Southeast Asiais an interesting place in the sense that cultural considerations in most countries encourage residents (and visitors) to wear modest attire but some times you will see locals wearing shorts, dresses, and other clothing that doesn’t seem to follow this ideal.

You’ll 100% need to cover your shoulders and knees when visiting temples in all countries, but you don’t necessarily have to do this when you visit other places unless you’re in a Muslim country such asMalaysiaor Indonesia.

Read these tips about choosing clothing forconservative countries.

In any destination, remember to pack for the environment. Are you spending your time café crawling in the cities or getting lost in the wilderness?As with most destinations, practical sense applies. Leave the beachwear on the beach because it doesn’ttranslate well to streetwear in the city.

The same goes for gym wear; unless you’re actually headed to the gym, don’t dress in your gym attire.

STEP 7

One of the most important aspects about packing efficiently is usingluggage organizers.

Watch this packing video to learnhow to use packing cubesto maximize space and never check a bag again. These are the top 12 reasons why I preferpacking cubesto other organizers.

Start with luggage.If you don’t already own a suitcase, choose one wisely. Read these tips onhow to pick a suitcaseand consider one of thesetop brands. Make your life easy with ourbest suitcase recommendations.

For long term trips,backpacks tend to be a better option than wheeled bags. Why? Because the chances are you’ll be traversing through lands far and wide. In fact, many time, the greatest destinations hardly have a path at all! If you’re going on an adventurous trip, learnhow to choose the best travel backpack.

Use packing organizers.Do you want to know the ultimate tool to travel in a carryon?PACKING CUBES! They changed everything for me and thousands of other travelers. Seemy packing tutorialon how to use them! Trust me, they are a must!

Use tried and tested packing strategies.For a summary, read our top75 packing tips.

I’ve recently taken on a few extreme packing challenges to show you that packing carry-on only is possible for any trip. If I can pack like an ultra-minimalist (with style of course) then you can pack more comfortably in a regular carry-on. Watch these packing videos to learn more:

Luggage Free Travel: One Week in My Favorite Purse
What’s in My Bag: 4 Weeks Carry-on Only

Watch all my packing videoshere!

STEP 8

The biggest mistake travelers make with toiletries is not considering how much product they actually use. There are five key steps when it comes to downsizing your toiletries properly for a trip:

Find combination items. You can find two-in-one shampoos and conditioners, body cleanser that can double as shave gel, a foldable brush with a mirror attached on the handle, andmulti-use makeup products.

Purchase empty containersof various shapes and sizes and DO NOT default to choosing “travel size 100ml or 3oz” options. These are thebest travel containers.

Stick to the basics. Simplify your skincare and pampering routine and bring acapsule makeup collection. It’s only temporary.

Replace liquid beauty products with solids.Whilesolid toiletriesmay not help you downsize they will help you meet the carryon3-1-1 liquids rule.

Choose the right toiletry bag.These are thebest toiletry bagsand these are thebesthangingtoiletry bags.

For useful tips such as downsizingtoiletriesand choosing thebest travel makeup, read ourUltimate Guide to Packing Toiletries.It includes a free printable checklist!

STEP 9

Don’t forget about safety:Be cautious about where you stash your cash. The safest place for your passport is locked in your accommodation. Carry a photocopy or other ID when you’re sightseeing or are out at night.

Keep your valuables safe with these anti-theft products:

Money Belts and Anti-theft Accessories
Best Anti-theft Bags for Women
Are these Safe Travel Items Worth Taking
10 Tried and Tested Tips to Avoid Theft While Traveling

Read these tips onhow to keep your passport safewhen you travel!

STEP 10

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BONUS SECTION: TRAVEL TIPS

Accommodation

For accommodation, we loveAirbnbfor accommodation in Italyand other parts of Europe.Sign up herefor a free $40 credit!

I prefer to to book “the entire home” instead of opting for shared accommodation on Airbnb. Aside from safety, I also like to feel like I’m living in the destination. It’s a small taste of local life plus you get more amenities than you would at a hotel such as a kitchen and washing machine.

Read theseAirbnb tipsfor more info!

If you prefer the convenience and comfort of a hotel room, I like usingbothAgoda.comandHotels.com. Tip: Hotels.com gives you a free night for every ten nights you book!

For flights, I like booking throughTravelocityorCheapoair(whichever one’s cheapest). Although I prefer Travelocity because they have a 24 hour money back guarantee.

To maximize your vacation time, fly into the city where you’re starting your trip and out of the city where your trip ends. Many times it’s the same price and saves you from having to spend extra time and money to go back to where you started your trip.

For hostels, we recommendHostelworldandHostelbookers.Always read the reviews before booking to get the best idea if the hostel is right for you. Some are quiet and family friendly while others are known for their party atmosphere.

As a personal tip, if you’re backpacking, instead of booking all your nights in advance, maybe just book one or two so you can first get a feel for the place without overcommitting. Of course, should you be traveling during a special event or holiday, book in advance.

Not sure about staying at a hostel?Read this.

Travel Insurance

For travel, I recommendTravel Guard, which saved me over $800 in hospital bills on my round-the-world trip. As a scuba diver, I also recommend using DAN, which helped me rearrange my and my husband’s flights at no extra cost when we had a dive incident.

Tours

Tours are a great way to travel if you’re not ready to travel alone. A few top choices includeG AdventuresorIntrepid Travel. While I haven’t traveled through Europe with G Adventures, I didgo to South America and Africa with them as a new traveler in 2008 and enjoyed my experiences!

For morecity tours,New Europehas excellent tours and the best part? They’re free! All you have to do is tip your guide.