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Air Travel Tips

Basic Vacation Essentials Packing Checklist

Stacked suitcases

Use this cheat sheet to remind yourself of what, beyond clothes, you need to pack.

Accessories

  • Contact lenses and/or glasses, if necessary (consider packing extra pairs, too)
  • Slippers
  • Sunglasses

Equipment

  • Alarm clock
  • Batteries for small electronics and cameras
  • Camera (and film, if needed)
  • Chargers for your cell phone, camera, video camera, and laptop
  • Hair dryer (if your hotel doesn’t supply one)
  • Headphones for watching in-flight movies
  • iPod and iPod dock
  • Tripod
  • Video camera

Health and Beauty Items

  • Antibacterial wipes
  • Body lotion
  • Comb and brush
  • Contact lens solution (if needed)
  • Deodorant
  • Face cleanser
  • First aid kit, including gas-relief tablets, antacid, antidiarrheal medicine, antihistamine for allergies, bandages, candied ginger for motion sickness, mild laxative, non-aspirin pain reliever, and a thermometer in a hard case
  • Floss
  • Insect repellent
  • Lip balm (choose one with SPF 15)
  • Makeup
  • Personal-hygiene items
  • Prescriptions
  • Razors
  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Shaving gel
  • Sunscreen (pack at least one all-purpose sunscreen with SPF 15)
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Travel-sized detergent

Miscellaneous

  • Addresses of friends and family for postcards
  • Healthy snacks, such as chewy granola bars, dried fruit, mini bagels, nuts, and pretzels
  • Cash, ATM cards, and traveler’s checks
  • Maps and directions, if driving (try randmcnally.com for maps, directions, and traffic information)
  • Photograph of luggage contents in case of loss
  • Printouts of reservations
  • Sealable plastic bags for stowing small liquid containers
  • Travel journal
  • Travel pillow and blanket

Did we forget anything on this checklist? What would you add?

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