Have you planned a trip and can hardly contain your excitement? At the same time, are you already dreading packing your suitcase and worrying about forgetting anything? We know the feeling all too well and can put your mind at ease: With our list of travel essentials, you'll keep track of everything you need for your travels around the world. We've spent years perfecting this list. Now is the time for you to download and print our travel packing list for free.
We often get asked what we pack to be able to cover such a wide range of countries. On our multi-month world trips in North and South America, Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region, we traveled as a family of three and four, always with minimal luggage.
Your packing list for traveling around the world
As a family, we travel a lot and in a variety of ways. Sometimes we fly and stay in apartments or hostels. Once there, we get around by rental car and bus. Sometimes we travel in our campervan with our bikes and trailer – we simply love being on the road. On all our family trips, we've discovered that we can manage perfectly well with very little luggage and even cope with significant temperature differences. As a family with children, we've tailored and optimized our packing list for all sorts of scenarios. You can use it flexibly – no matter where your travels take you.
These are the pieces of luggage we take with us on our travels.
As a family of four with two small children and (for almost two years now, also a dog), we usually have so much to carry that we try to keep our luggage as small as possible. This means that on our world trip, we only checked one very large bag for all of us and also have a fairly large piece of hand luggage that is within the specified dimensions.
The following items of luggage and equipment for babies and children travel with us:
- travel backpack or suitcase
- Comfortable backpack
- Small, foldable backpack (can be used as additional hand luggage if necessary)
- Pack bags
- baby carrier
- Travel buggy (we have had very good experiences with the YOYO Babyzen)
- For families with children under 1 year old, we recommend the Doona, a baby seat on wheels.
- Washable changing mat
Less is more: Don't worry about forgetting something.
Keep in mind that even in warmer regions, a cool day or evening can always occur. Nevertheless, our most important tip is: if necessary, you can buy or order absolutely EVERYTHING. Special items, especially those irreplaceable for children, such as their specific children's toothpaste or a particular pacifier model, should be brought along. The same goes for their favorite cuddly toy.
Basically, our packing list differs only slightly between air travel and campervan trips. When traveling by campervan, we bring some additional sports equipment and toys, as well as, of course, kitchen equipment. Therefore, the packing list for air travel is a simplified version of the camping packing list.
Tips for packing your clothes
For everyday clothing, we recommend packing as few white items as possible and focusing on similar colors. Garments should be washable at 30°C and absolutely suitable for tumble drying. In some countries, everything is dried, and regardless of whether you wash your laundry yourself or donate it, it will all end up in the dryer.
Incidentally, washing abroad is often done in cold water and for shorter periods, so some stains don't come out. To prevent this, we like to take a bar of gall soap with us, especially when traveling with small children.
The best clothing items are those that can be combined and are multifunctional, such as boardshorts, which can be used for swimming but are also suitable for social settings.
Roughly speaking, we plan our clothing so that we can last about a week without needing to do laundry. We limit ourselves to two pairs of footwear per person: one pair of sandals or flip-flops that can get wet, and ideally one pair of waterproof hiking/sports shoes. We always take rain gear and rubber boots for the children in the camper, but we don't pack them for flights. On every trip, we also bring swimwear and a towel.
Travel packing list for clothing
The following list of clothing items is taken per person for 7 days:
- 7 Underwear
- 7 T-shirts/tops/short-sleeved shirts
- 1 pair of shorts
- 1 pair of long trousers
- 2 warm sweaters/fleece/cardigan
- 1 rain jacket, possibly rain pants
- 1 scarf and hat
- 1 sun hat
- 1 pair of sunglasses
- 1 set of sportswear: 1 shirt, 1 pair of trousers, 1 long-sleeved shirt
- 1 flip-flops/Birkenstock/sandals
- 1 pair of sneakers or sports shoes for hiking, preferably waterproof
Packing list for toiletries & travel first-aid kit
If you don't need any specific toiletries or medications, there are doctors, pharmacies, and shops abroad. However, it's a good idea to pack the essentials in case of minor emergencies.
- Hygiene products (shower soap, shampoo, etc.)
- sunscreen
- Travel pharmacy
- travel towels
- washcloth
- Gall soap and washing soap
- Twisted clothesline without clothespins
Packing suitcases for the children
If the little ones are traveling with us, clothing, swimwear, and toys go on the packing list . We do the same for the children as we do for ourselves. They bring enough fresh clothes for about a week so we can do laundry together. It's also important to us that all clothes can be tumble dried and aren't too light-colored. We pre-treat the children's clothes with stain remover so the stains come out in the wash. If it gets unexpectedly cold, we use the layering system, putting on several layers to keep them warm. In the camper, we always have rubber boots and a complete rain suit; when flying, we only take a rain jacket.
Packing list for children's toys
Our children can play with so many things that we rarely bring toys with us. Depending on their age and preferences, the games they play with vary greatly. Therefore, this list contains the things our two children (3 and 5 years old) currently enjoy playing with and which have become favorites over the past few years.
- Painting supplies and block
- Small puzzle
- board game
- books
- Sand toys (1 bucket, 2 shovels, 1 watering can)
A basic supply of art and craft materials is always essential. Pens, paper, and scissors are used almost daily. Lately, we've also been doing a lot of gluing, so we always carry a small glue stick. We also have a small jigsaw puzzle, which we rotate from time to time. Since we usually find few books in German while traveling, we always pack a small selection of books, preferably compact ones.
Important personal documents
Besides personal items like passports, ID cards, and vaccination certificates (secured as scans in the cloud), we also carry two credit cards and debit cards. We've often experienced situations where certain credit cards don't work, but the debit card does. If, for some reason, we need to get something quickly, the fees become less important, and accessing local currency is more crucial.
When traveling with children, it's important to check the validity period of children's passports and the acceptable age of the child's photo for each country. In the USA, in particular, it's crucial that the child's passport contains a recent photo. While we also have international driving permits (again, be careful about their validity!), no one has asked to see them so far.
Checklist for organizational & personal documents
- Passports & ID cards
- Store ID copies in the cloud
- Vaccination record & other health documents
- Several credit cards
- Addresses of the accommodations
- International health insurance
- possibly travel cancellation insurance
Practical kitchen utensils to pack in your luggage
We've found that even in great accommodations like Airbnbs, not everything is always readily available, such as laundry detergent or a little salt and pepper. Coffee for the coffee maker isn't always included either. That's why we always bring a basic supply of food, espresso and our espresso maker, as well as a few containers for leftovers. This way, for example, if we arrive late, we can still cook something and make ourselves a coffee the next day, or even do some laundry in advance, even if the supermarket doesn't open until the following day. This might sound trivial or unnecessary at first. However, it ultimately contributes to a relaxed arrival and creates a feeling of security and warmth, no matter how far you are from home.
We always have the following kitchen utensils with us:
- salt and pepper
- Espresso maker
- Small dish soap and dish sponge
- Dish towel (often not provided in Airbnbs)
- Refillable water bottle
- Children's cutlery and plates
This is what I'm adding to my travel list in terms of technology.
Since even a mobile phone can be forgotten, it's naturally on our travel packing list for tech gadgets. While traveling, we want to capture the most beautiful moments not only with our phones but also with a camera. As globetrotters, we often work remotely, so a laptop is essential. To be somewhat independent of power outlets, we always carry a power bank that can be recharged in sunlight.
- Tablet/Laptop
- camera
- mobile phone
- Solar power bank
- hard drive
- Charging cable for all devices
- Not headphones, but noise-canceling earplugs.
- Memory cards
- adapter
Other items on your packing list for traveling
There are other handy gadgets that are useful on the trip and come in handy in unforeseen situations. Of course, we don't want to forgo some comfort either, so we're taking our everyday favorites for sports and leisure. Therefore, our packing list includes a few additional items:
- Sports mat
- pocket knife
- Headlight/flashlight for power outages
- Silk sleeping bag/pillow
- travel blanket
Special things for the dog
Our poodle Wilma also has her own luggage. It's important that she's received all required vaccinations and possibly deworming treatments. We also have her pet passport with us and, of course, a copy of it stored in the cloud. For air travel, we have a wheeled dog crate with a food and water bowl, as well as a leash and collar. Naturally, a cozy dog blanket for the journey is a must. On the packing list are also a brush, scissors, cleaning supplies, and a few portions of her usual food, which we usually adjust depending on the country. Within Europe, several brands like Royal Canin are available. We also take a favorite toy, but again, a reminder: abroad you'll find shops where you can find just about anything for your pet.
Additional items for your campervan trip
When we travel with our campervan, we don't need accommodation, but we do have to take a few extra things with us to make our own living arrangements. This includes additional kitchen utensils, small tools, and other cherished items that make our stay at campsites more enjoyable.
- Driver's license and vehicle documents, insurance details (stored as a scan in a cloud)
- broom
- Bed sheets, bedding and duvet covers or cuddly blankets and cuddly pillows from UNFOLD
- SUP (stand-up paddleboard) and wetsuit or other sports equipment
- Grill and gas stove
- Pots and 1 pan
- Bowls and small containers
- Plates, cutlery and drinking cups/coffee mugs
- Cooking spoon and spatula
- kitchen knife
- Dish soap and cloth/sponge
- dish towels
- Omnia
- Basic tools (universal tool, duct tape)
- Small axe
- Hose
- Camping table and chairs
- Lighter/flint and candles
- bicycles
- hammock
- UNFOLD picnic blanket and travel blanket
- Wine opener
- pocket knife
- Headlight
- bread knife
Make further preparations: Helpful points on your holiday checklist
Once the suitcases are packed, you're practically ready to go. We've found that noting down important contact details and preparing digitally are just as crucial when traveling. Therefore, we regularly check off the following items on our vacation checklist:
- Organize important passwords
- Securely store important documents in the cloud
- Online banking login details
- Insurance details and emergency phone numbers
- For round trips: Visa and entry requirements (e.g., proof of departure)
- Download Google Maps, optionally save offline maps
- Translation program
- No traveler's checks – set up paperless pay via mobile phone.
Your printable travel packing list
To make sure you have everything you need for your next vacation, download our free packing list. This will help you avoid last-minute stress and ensure you don't forget anything. You can print our travel packing list, check off items as you go, and keep track of your luggage. Feel free to use the blank spaces to add your own essential travel items.
Have fun packing and traveling! Best wishes from yours
Lisa from UNFOLD
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