Is there anything called the ‘ultimate’ packing checklist if you’re a traveller? For many packing things is never an organized affair as we always prefer last-minute deals. We love to procrastinate, don’t we? And that’s an undoubted truth. Let’s break down the topic (technically speaking) into packing essentials, health, safety, & security including documents and statutory requirements, though travel planning requires a lot of foresight and patience.

Choosing the right travel bag:
It is important to put the horse before the cart and decide the right type of travel bag that is good enough for you to accommodate all your travel stuff. It should be easy to carry (without turning you into a beast of burden!). What is the length of your trip? Is it an international vacation or a local trip? Is it leisure, business or bleisure trip? What are your primary activities? Does your trip involve custom or special outfits such as business or dinner suits or other travel paraphernalia? Everything is interconnected in travel, so proper travel planning starts with the right bag and case. The most common types of travel bag include rolling luggage, 4-wheels, duffel bag, wheeled backpack, travel backpack and carry-on.

Check if your travel luggage is lightweight, versatile and capacious enough to accommodate all your travel essentials and accessories. Does your travel bag have a warranty in case of any breakage or mishap? Always check for bags with broken wheels, a ruptured zipper or defective handle. These well may be the worst brands possible! Travel bag brands should promise durability built into their product warranty. Sometimes, you may need more than two bags or cases, and therefore, it can be a combination of one or more travel bag types already discussed. You can filter the list of options based on what will fit your momentary needs and your budget of course.

Travel essential needs an organized approach
Because your travel essentials may need greater organization as you stuff them everything into your case or bag, one of the most effective methods is to use packing organizers. For example, the Eagle Creek Pack-it systems keep your suitcase more organized by which clothing can be organized neatly, packed and compressed, fitting it easily into your bag or case. Some of the other packing organizers include packing cubes, such as zippered packing cubes and compression sacs, which make short work of keeping things together without requiring to plan ahead of time.

Packing your Toiletry bag:
Toilet essentials may generally include beauty and hygiene products in the form of gels, powders, liquids, semi-liquids, pastes and creams and weigh from 50gms or 100 ml or maybe even less per pack, and they must be suitably stored in transparent plastic, zip-top bag or pack. If you’re a woman travelling, you may have to pack hygiene products including sanitary napkin pads, tampons, wipes, etc. in a carry-on bag.

Travel Health essentials:
Packing essential health items includes medicines, first-aid kit, prescriptions, sanitisers, face packs, hand gloves, sunglasses and glasses case, etc. With the pandemic still unchecked, it is important to get vaccinated two months prior to travel as many countries around the world follow strict travel protocols post-pandemic. If you are diabetic, ensure you follow travel advice as suggested by your doctor. People suffering from high blood pressure and heart problems and pregnant women must be doubly careful about where they’re travelling and avoid exposure to the sun’s strongest rays of the day as much as they can.

Safety Travel Essentials:
Safety travel essentials including travel lock, Swiss knife, wallets, headlamp, torch, matches, or mini flashlight, money belt, pen, etc. are important to carry from a safety perspective as you may never know when you would actually require them.

Similarly, all travel & insurance documents, tickets, passes, maps, guide booklets, debit and credit cards, identity cards, etc. are to be checked twice before onboarding a plane, train or mode of transportation. Ensure you have them somewhere easily accessible by you especially during the boarding process or while checking in at the hotel or paying bills at restaurants.

Computer and mobile gadgets and accessories are hard to live without these days especially during travel. Though handy, these e-gadgets must be packed safely to prevent common mishaps and thefts.  Equally important is the data stored, as a proper data backup and recovery plan in place using external devices will help maintain sanity both during travel and upon your return back home. Limit their use as much as possible to enjoy your travel experience; business travellers, on the other hand, should plan their daily use suitably. It is best recommended to limit mobile and computer usage at night due to varying light conditions. 

The best travel agency tour packages should help one to plan travel packing and make your trip planning easier without undue stress.