Packing Guidelines:

What to pack.

What you need to pack for the trip depends upon the length of your journey, the climate of where you will be going, and what you will be doing. The best advice is to be practical and pack as lightly as possible. If you think you won’t need it, don’t bring it. If you think you’ll probably purchase a few mementos while you’re abroad, be sure to leave some room in your luggage. You could also pack things that you’re not too attached to, so that you can easily leave them behind if you want to make more room for all the neat new stuff you’ve bought.

Bring clothes that are easy to wash and dry, as you may need to hand wash some clothes during your trip. Try to avoid clothes that need ironing or dry cleaning. Keep comfort and practicality foremost in mind when packing clothes and shoes!

Make a list of everything you’ll need, and pack your luggage several days in advance. Always weigh your luggage well before you head to the airport, to make sure it’s under the specified weight limit. If it’s over the limit, you’ll need to pay extra fees at the airport. If you’ll be carrying a large backpack, make sure you can comfortably carry it on your back. Practice before you leave - go up and down a flight of stairs a few times and see how it feels.

What to carry-on.

There are a few essential things you’ll want to carry on the plane with you. If you require medication or eye drops, bring them on board rather than in your checked luggage. If you wear contacts, bring a contact lens case and drops, along with your eyeglasses. Remember, you can only bring liquids that are 2 fluid ounces or less. You can buy empty 2 fl oz bottles from the travel section of stores like Target.

If you tend to get travel sickness, bring some motion sickness medication.

You’ll be in the air for 8-10 hours, so bring something to entertain you: a book, sketchbook, mp3 player, handheld video game, pack of playing cards, etc.