The best packing lists for Backpacking
Packing list: Backpacking
For Backpacking0/2
Documents0/5
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Your health insurance card, which in the EU usually includes the EHIC on the back. Outside the EU you also need travel health insurance.
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EU citizens can use their ID card within Schengen; everyone else, and anyone travelling beyond it, needs a passport. Check it is valid for six months after your return.
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Phone numbers of family, accommodation, embassy and your bank's card blocking line, also on paper in case your phone fails.
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Travel insurance for cancellation, health abroad or luggage. Keep the policy number and emergency phone number with you.
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Enough to travel within the Schengen area for EU citizens. Check the expiry date before you leave.
Money0/2
Clothing0/12
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A jacket suited to the weather at your destination: light for spring, warm and windproof for winter.
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A warm layer for cool evenings, air-conditioned rooms and flights.
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Shirts or T-shirts for every day. Count roughly one per day, or fewer if you can wash on the way.
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Comfortable clothes for sleeping, also handy in shared rooms and on night trains.
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One pair per day plus a spare. For hikes there are dedicated walking socks.
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Long trousers for evenings, cooler weather and places with a dress code. One light and one sturdier pair cover most trips.
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Underwear for every day plus a spare. Quick-drying fabrics can be washed on the way.
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Keep your hands warm in cold weather. Touchscreen-friendly gloves let you use your phone.
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Keep your ears warm in wind and cold, and are lighter than a hat.
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Protect your neck and face from cold wind. A neck gaiter can also be worn as a hat.
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Keeps you warm under ski or hiking clothes. Merino or synthetic fabrics dry faster than cotton.
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A warm hat for cold days: much of your body heat escapes through your head.
Toiletries0/2
Health & first aid0/2
Electronics0/2
Travel accessories0/4
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Your house keys, and car keys if you leave the car at the station or airport. Leave a spare with someone you trust.
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Locks your luggage or a hostel locker; a cable lock ties your bag to something fixed. US security can open TSA locks without damage.
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A Quick-Drying Travel Towel is very important for travellers. Travel towels are smaller than general towels.
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Protect your eyes from glare at the beach, on water and on snow. Look for UV protection.
Before departure0/1
More ideas (161)
Documents
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Required for driving and for renting a car. Check that it is valid and whether you also need an international permit.
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Your flight booking or e-ticket. Keep it on your phone and as a printout or screenshot.
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Address list of friends/relatives the send postcards from travel destination
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Check in online and keep the boarding pass on your phone or printed. Some airlines charge for printing at the airport.
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Check room quality at the beginning of the entrance.
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Every child needs their own ID card or passport. If a child travels with only one parent, take a consent letter from the other.
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How to get from the airport or station to your accommodation. Download offline maps in case you have no data.
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The full address of your accommodation, for the taxi, the entry form and anyone who needs to reach you.
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Keys or the access code for your holiday home. Note how check-in works if you arrive late.
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International Driving Permit Please remember: many countries do not recognize a non-international driver's license.
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Names of your medicines and doses, ideally in English. Helps doctors abroad and at customs.
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Photocopies of important documents
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Rent a car with insurance in destination.
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Your train or bus ticket, on your phone or printed. Saver fares are often tied to a specific train.
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Proof of your vaccinations. Some countries ask for it at entry, for example for yellow fever.
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Required at police checks and some borders. Keep it with you, not in the glovebox.
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Vignettes / toll tickets for international highways.
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Contact the embassy of the countries, apply several months in advance for visas, if needed.
Money
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Some local currency for arrival, taxis and tips if your destination does not use the euro.
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A flat belt under your clothes for cash, cards and passport, safe from pickpockets.
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Rarely accepted today. Cards and cash are usually the better choice.
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A slim wallet for the cards and cash you need on the go. Leave the rest safely in the accommodation.
Clothing
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Only if your trousers need one. One belt usually goes with everything.
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Light blouses for warm days and evenings out.
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Comfortable bras for every day, plus a sports or quick-drying one for swimming and activities.
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A cap shades your eyes from the sun. Your neck needs extra protection.
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A dress for warm days or evenings out. Crease-resistant fabrics travel best.
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A hat against sun or rain, depending on your destination.
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Hard-wearing trousers for cooler days and evenings. They are heavy and slow to dry, so one pair is usually enough.
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Take only what you wear and leave valuable pieces at home.
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Leggings are comfortable and take little space; tights go with skirts and dresses on cooler days.
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Long sleeves protect from sun and mosquitoes and keep you warm in the evening.
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A light bathrobe for spa hotels, pools and cool mornings. Many hotels provide one.
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Comfortable shoes for every day, for town and short walks. Wear new ones in before the trip.
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Light and comfortable in the heat. A longer skirt is also suitable for churches and temples.
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Warm, light shoes for indoors. Useful in holiday flats with cold tiled floors.
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Light tops for warm days that can be combined with everything.
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Comfortable shoes for sightseeing, sport and long walking days.
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A thin base layer that keeps you warm under shirts or absorbs sweat in the heat.
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A simple watch helps with timings when your phone is packed away.
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Waterproof jacket and trousers for rainy days. Light, packable versions fit in any bag.
Toiletries
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Cleans your hands when there is no water, for example before eating on the go.
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Keeps your beard in shape. Pack the charger or spare batteries.
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A resealable clear bag of up to one litre for liquids in hand luggage, each container usually 100 ml at most.
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Small, handy for make-up, ear care and small wounds.
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Dental floss for daily care. It is small and light.
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Easy to buy almost anywhere. Take a small size or a solid stick if you only travel with hand luggage.
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Your electric toothbrush with charger or spare batteries. A travel case protects the head.
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Pads, tampons or a menstrual cup. Your usual products are not available everywhere.
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A small bottle of mouthwash for fresh breath. Check the liquid rules for hand luggage.
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Hotels often provide some, but bring your own if you need a particular kind. Fill a small travel bottle.
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Razor, blades and shaving foam or gel in travel sizes.
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Keeps your hair dry in the shower. Many hotels provide one.
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A bar of soap or a small shower gel. Solid soap does not count as a liquid in hand luggage.
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Small everyday supplies you might run out of on the way, such as plasters, tissues or detergent.
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For colds, spills and public toilets. A few packs are enough.
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Liquids in hand luggage only up to 100 ml each. Small bottles save space.
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A wash bag keeps toiletries together. One with a hook can hang in small bathrooms.
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A washcloth for showering. Many hotels abroad do not provide them.
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For sticky hands, quick clean-ups and nappy changes. Biodegradable ones are better for the environment.
Beauty & care
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Only if it is part of your routine. A small travel size saves space and weight.
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Keeps your skin soft after sun, sea and air conditioning. A small bottle is enough.
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A brush or comb for your hair, ideally foldable.
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For removing make-up and applying toner.
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For curls on the go. Let it cool down before you pack it.
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Your usual face cleanser in a travel size.
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For a tan without sun. Apply it a day or two before you leave and test it beforehand.
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Clips, slides and bands for your hairstyle.
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Your styling products in travel sizes. Check the liquid rules for hand luggage.
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For straight hair on the go. Check the voltage; a travel model works with several.
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Keeps long hair out of your face when swimming, hiking or in the heat. Pack a few spares.
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Many hotels have one, so check first. Check the voltage if you travel outside Europe.
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For dry hands in cold weather, on flights and after a lot of washing.
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Prevents dry or cracked lips in sun, wind and cold. Choose one with sun protection.
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A small bag keeps make-up together and protects your other things from stains.
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Your everyday make-up and brushes. A few multi-use products save space; liquids go into the clear bag for hand luggage.
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Make-up remover or wipes for the evening.
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A small mirror for shaving, make-up or contact lenses.
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Sun, wind and air conditioning dry out the skin. A small tube is enough.
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Clippers, file and scissors for nails on longer trips.
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For touch-ups on longer trips. Remover pads are easier to pack than a bottle.
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A small bottle of perfume. (Max 100ml if you fly)
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For splinters, ticks and eyebrows. Useful in any first aid kit.
Health & first aid
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Plasters in different sizes for small cuts and blisters.
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A first aid kit for the car is compulsory in Germany, Austria and other countries. Check the expiry date.
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Enough lenses and solution for the whole trip, plus your glasses as a backup.
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Your usual contraception for the whole trip. Time zones can affect when you take the pill.
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Unfamiliar food and water upset many stomachs, especially in warm countries. Add oral rehydration salts.
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Your hearing aid with spare batteries or charger, and a small case for the night.
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For headaches, fever or toothache. For children, pack doses suited to their age.
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If you need them for reading: take a spare pair, they are cheap and small.
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Spare glasses or your old pair in case the main ones break or get lost.
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Help prevent swollen legs and thrombosis on long flights and drives.
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Helps against nausea on winding roads, boats and in planes. Some make you drowsy.
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Only if you take them regularly. Pack them in a small daily box.
Electronics
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Charging cables for all your devices. A short multi-plug cable saves space.
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For filming your trip. Most phones can do this today, so only take it if you need better quality.
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Charges your phone while driving, so the navigation does not run out of battery.
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For better photos than with the phone. Pack the charger and a spare battery.
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Helps with menus, signs and simple conversations. A translation app with offline languages does the same.
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Spare batteries for torch, camera or other devices that do not charge via USB.
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Film for analogue cameras. Ask for a hand check at airport security to protect it from X-rays.
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For music, films and calls on the way. Noise-cancelling headphones help on long flights.
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Spare memory cards for camera or drone, so you do not have to delete photos on the go.
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For copies of tickets and documents, or to print at a hotel or copy shop.
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Music without draining your phone battery. Load your playlists before you leave.
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Only if you need it for work or longer trips. Back up your data and keep it in your hand luggage.
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A local SIM or eSIM is usually cheaper than roaming outside the EU.
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Keeps the navigation in view. Holding the phone while driving is forbidden.
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Charge several devices from one socket. Hotel rooms often have few.
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A small radio for news and music where there is no mobile network.
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For group photos and wide views. Some museums and sights do not allow them.
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Shows the time, messages and steps. Do not forget the charger.
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Lets you plug your chargers into foreign sockets. Check the plug type of your destination before you go.
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Wakes you for early flights, even when your phone battery is empty.
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A small tripod for sharp photos at night, group shots and time-lapses.
Travel accessories
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A daypack for excursions, beach and city. It can double as hand luggage.
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A light blanket for cold flights, night trains and cool evenings outside.
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Block out snoring, traffic noise and engine hum. Take a few pairs.
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Helps you sleep on night flights and in bright rooms.
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Small enough for any bag, handy for shopping and souvenirs.
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A handbag for evenings and city days. A zip closure protects against pickpockets.
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Keeps worn clothes apart from clean ones in your suitcase.
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A small lockable box or bag for passport, cash and cards when there is no safe in the room.
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Sort clothes by type or person and find everything quickly.
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Kitchen roll for cooking, wiping and spills at the campsite or holiday flat.
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Blade, opener and small tools in one. Pack it in checked luggage: knives are not allowed in hand luggage.
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For power cuts, dark paths and searching in your bag at night. A head torch keeps your hands free.
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For business trips or formal events. Many hotels lend irons, so ask first.
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For tea, coffee or baby food in rooms without a kettle. Check the voltage of your destination.
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A small pillow for the journey and for hard hotel pillows. Inflatable ones pack flat.
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For washing clothes in the sink on longer trips, so you can pack less.
Equipment
Books & games
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Dictionary book or app for your destination.
Food & drink
Before departure
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Book a parking space at the airport in advance: it is usually cheaper than paying on the day.
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Get a little local cash for taxis and tips on arrival. Withdrawing at a local ATM is often cheaper than exchanging at home.
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A quick clean before you leave means you come home to a pleasant flat.
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Weather Security Health Traffic
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Note the address/contact details of the nearest embassy or consulate of your country in the destination area.
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Use up or give away perishable food so nothing goes off while you are away.
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Take out the rubbish and organic waste before you leave so nothing smells or attracts pests.
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Get a guidebook about your destination and make a list of places you want to visit . Make sure you know about important local laws, customs and traditions.
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Give keys to friends or relatives
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Suspend or forward delivery You can ask a neighbor to collect it for you. Do not forget to setup the auto-responder.
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Pay bills before traveling to avoid unpleasant surprises.
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Arrange care for pets that stay at home: a pet sitter, neighbours or a boarding kennel. Book early in the holiday season.
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Ask someone to water your plants, or use self-watering pots for shorter trips.
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Charge your phone, power bank, camera and other devices the evening before you leave.
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Keep valuables in a safe place. Burglars come without warning!
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Lower the heating while you are away to save energy, but keep it high enough to prevent frost damage in winter.
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Wasserleitung / Wasser abstellen
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Unplug idle electronic devices: Power strips, chargers, toaster, microwaves, coffee maker, computer, hair dryer, Entertainment system, cable box, modem...
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Check which vaccinations are required or recommended for your destination. Some need several weeks or more than one dose.
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Check whether you need a visa or an electronic travel authorisation, and apply in good time.
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See your doctor or dentist in good time if you need prescriptions, a check-up or travel advice.
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Wash your clothes a few days before departure so everything you want to take is clean and dry.
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