Travel Safety Packing List

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Packing for your next trip and wondering what you’ll need to keep yourself safe?

Make sure you’re fully prepared to protect yourself – your body, mind, and belongings – on your solo travels with your ultimate travel safety packing list. I’ve organized this packing list into categories for easy navigation and checking off. So dive on in and happy packing. Your next adventure awaits!

Travel Research

One of the first key travel safety steps is to thoroughly research your destination before you go, and then continue doing so while on your way there and even after you arrive. In order to do this, you’ll need to bring along with you some means of conducting and continuing that research, such as any of the following: 

• Good old fashioned travel guide books (but be mindful of how much space and weight these will take up)

• Other research notes from travel advice sites, blogs, friends’ tips, etc.
• Language translation dictionary, notecards, or app (e.g. Google Translate)
• Map of your destination (paper or digital) with notes on your key travel areas, accommodations, attractions, activities, reachable places of safety, etc
• Map of the transit system at your destination (if applicable) and local transit pass (if you already have one)

Travel Documents

Possibly the most crucial thing to pack and prepare are all of your travel and identification documents. If you must bring along the official version (like your actual passport), you’ll want to keep it in the safest place available. Then make copies of each, give at least one to someone you trust back home, and keep others stored safely with you in your various bags and on your person as backups, just in case. These documents include: 

• Your travel itinerary
• Your passport or ID
• Your international drivers license (if have one)
• Your flight/train/transport tickets
• Any needed travel visas
• Any helpful emergency contact info
• Proof of any needed vaccines or prescriptions
• Your health & travel insurance (e.g. World Nomads)

Travel Monies

The best things in life are free, but travel unfortunately is not. There are certainly ways to travel inexpensively, but you’ll still need a little money with you. So make sure you bring along some means of funding yourself on your trip. This could include: 

• Cash in the local currency of your destination or research on the best places to get cash (with good exchange rates) at your destination if needed
• Credit cards, ideally with good travel perks such as earned miles or other travel points, no ATM fees, no foreign transaction fees, etc.
• Inform your bank of your travel plans
• Pro Tip: $20 bill (or equivalent in local currency) folded up and tucked away hidden somewhere on you, such as in your bra or sock, in case of an emergency

Travel Electronics

You’ll also probably have some electronic items with you on your travels. If you don’t, I highly commend your discipline. But if you do, then it’d be good to consider all of the following aspects of those electronics for your packing: 

• Laptop, tablet, mobile phone, etc and all the associated chargers and adapters. (Cables don’t take much space, so go ahead and pack that USB or HDMI adapter you’re not sure you’ll actually need. You might.)
• Plug adapters and power converters that fit the country you’ll be visiting

• Plans to swap a local SIM card into your phone (or make sure your current phone plan won’t charge you roaming fees in your destination)

Travel Accessories

Traveling requires carrying many valuable things on you, like the passport/ID, cash and credit cards, and electronics mentioned above. So it’s crucial that you have ways to keep all of these items safe and secure, and ideally hidden, while you’re traveling with some handy safety accessories. My list of top picks to have would include: 

• Money belt, hidden wallet, hidden pockets, or other means of keeping your travel documents, cash, and other valuables concealed on your person

• Portable safe if you have too many items to conceal under/in your clothes but still want to keep these items safe and portable
• Small travel-friendly locks to lock up your luggage, bags, etc when leaving them unattended
• Crossbody bag or purse so your belongings stay safe while your arms & hands remain free
• RFID blocking wallet, purse, or larger travel bag to keep your ID & credit cards safe from digital scammers

Travel Clothing

Probably the most space-consuming items you’ll pack are your clothing, so this is one of the areas where it counts most to be economical and efficient with your packing. I’m always amazed by how much I bring with me that I never end up wearing. So don’t be afraid to err on the side of less, instead of more… as long as you cover these key items: 

• Pashmina or large scarf that can serve multiple functions as warming neck wear, various clothing configurations, towel, blanket, pillow, or shoulder/head covering where local customs dictate.
• Destination appropriate clothing items in basic colors and styles that will blend in comfortably with the local customs and culture
• Fewer interchangeable clothing items that are hand-washable (no dry clean only!) and wearable in a variety of combinations & situations throughout your trip
• Spare clothing for 2-3 days in your carry on just in case (especially socks & underwear!)
• Travel detergent or other means of washing your clothes mid-trip, so you can feel safe packing less

In Your Carry On

Among the many valuable packing items above, some are especially essential to keep on you in your carry on or most accessible bag as you travel. Of course, if you only carry on and don’t check anything, this is a moot point. But if any of your bags or luggage will be out of your reach for a lengthy period of time on your travels, it’s vital that you keep at least these essential items with you in your carry on: 

• Water, dry food snacks, and 2-3 days of clothes
• Extra pair of glasses, any medications or prescriptions, and a basic first aid kit

• First aid kit items: face mask, sanitizer, antibacterial & antiseptic wipes, band aids & gauze, antihistamines, decongestants, aspirin & ibuprofen, thermometer, hydrocortisone cream, antibiotics, antidiarrheals, antacids, laxatives, sunscreen, aloe vera, insect repellant, tweezers, etc
• Travel-friendly self defense keychain, tactical pen, or other portable weapon

• Any personal valuables (best to keep these with you)
• If you’re flying, all liquids in containers no bigger than 3.4oz (100ml) ready to easily take out for airport security (if you don’t have TSA Precheck)
• If road tripping, carry on in your car a few road necessities like registration & other vehicle documents, jumper cables, spare car battery jump starter, spare tire and jack, flares, flashlight, tire air pressure gauge, car manual, and AAA (or other roadside assistance) membership card.

Your Ultimate Travel Safety Checklist

Want an even more in-depth checklist for what to pack and prepare before you go, while on your way, and once you arrive on your next trip to stay safer and stronger in your adventures?

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