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You don’t need to bring as much stuff as you think you do. You will want to save room for souvenirs and mementos! Bring one suitcase and one carry-on backpack or small duffel bag. Remember, any luggage you bring you’ll have to carry yourself through airports, up and down stairs, and around your host country.
In your carry-on, pack the most important items: passport, other important documents you’ll need to go through immigration, money, computer, camera, medication; basically anything you don’t want to risk losing in your checked luggage. Also pack a change of clothes and some basic toiletries in case your luggage gets lost. Keep valuables/keepsakes at home so you don’t risk losing them or getting them stolen.
Clothes for 2-3 weeks should be enough; remember that you can do laundry abroad! Bring clothes that you can easily layer depending on the weather, that are versatile and go with many other items, comfortable, and durable. Clothes dryers may or may not be common in certain parts of the world, so pack clothes that are lightweight and easy to wash and dry.
Be mindful and respectful of what is considered appropriate attire in your host country. Many clothing items Americans wear are not worn in other countries (i.e. hoodies, flip flops, and baseball caps), so do your research ahead of time on what you should wear, and what you shouldn't.
Check out the packing list below for recommendations on what to bring!
The Essentials
The Essentials
- Passport – make copies and store in a different part of your bag
- Plane tickets
- Other important documents – admissions letter, visa letter, etc
- Cash – for the trip from the United States to your destination; keep in a safe place/money belt
- Credit cards – Notify credit card companies that you are going abroad; not all credit cards will work in train stations/stores abroad, or might have international transaction fees; check with your credit card company.
- Debit/ATM card – Also let your bank know you’ll be abroad. Take note of the international fees charged by both your bank and the ATM; consider withdrawing a larger amount of cash at a time and storing in a safe place.
- Laptop – Check your country for whether you’ll need an adapter and/or converter
- Camera – Memory cards, chargers, and adapters
- Cell phone – see detailed tips below
Clothing
Clothing
- Jeans – A few pairs
- Sweaters/sweatshirt
- Pajamas – two pairs at most
- Socks/underwear – enough to get by two weeks
- Swimsuit
- Workout clothes
- Shorts – 1-2 pairs if the weather will be warm
- Light jacket – water resistant is preferable
- Nice outfits – A few pairs of dress pants and nice tops or versatile dresses that can mix and match are ideal
- Scarves – warm and versatile
- Flip flops – Good for showering in hostels; one pair is enough
- Walking shoes – find a comfy shoe – walking is a major part of everyday life
- Running shoes – Good to have if you join a gym, enjoy running outdoors, or go for hikes
- Purse – No more than two; ideally small cross-body bags that are harder to steal
- Money belt
- Hat (packable) – for sun or warmth depending on destination
- If you will be in your host country when it’s cold, remember to bring a warm jacket. Carry this with you on the plane so it doesn’t take up valuable space in your suitcase.
Other Important Items
Other Important Items
- Student ID (for discounted admissions)
- Backpack for weekend traveling and/or daypack for day excursions
- Gifts – It is nice to have a small gift from your home state for your host family
- Pens, pencils, notebooks may be less expensive if brought from home
- Guidebook
- Dictionary – for the language you are studying; cheaper to bring from the United States
- Flash drive
- Pillow case and sleeping sack – useful if staying in hostels
- Travel towel – compact, dries fast, good for traveling and in hostels
- Small umbrella
- Water bottle
- Books – bring one for entertainment
- Sunglasses
- Notebook/journal – to record your experiences
- Headphones – It is nice to have a good pair that cancels out the sound
Toiletries & Medicine
Toiletries & Medicine
- Do not bring hair straightener/blow dryer – American products use a lot of power and can fry circuits
- Prescriptions – Bring enough for length of stay. If longer than three months, you will need to see a doctor abroad to re-prescribe. Speak with your doctor before you leave – prescriptions cannot be transferred
- Glasses/contact lenses and solution – bring extra
- Hair brush/comb
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Face wash and washcloth
- Deodorant
- Razors
- Hand sanitizer
- Travel tissues
- Sunscreen
- Over-the-counter medicines – aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen; Pepto-Bismol and/or Imodium (anti-diarrheal), probiotics
- Band-Aids or small first aid kit
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