The Art of Knowing How to Pack Your Suitcase…

Here's our essential Checklist to not forget anything when departing!

Warning, this list is made to give you ideas and organization techniques, it's not recommended to take everything, take what seems logical based on your destination! We agree that you're not going to pack a heavy down jacket for a club hotel in Greece!

Before leaving…

When traveling far from home, it's important to be prepared for difficult situations, like having your papers stolen or your bank card hacked. There's a good chance nothing will happen to you, but if you become a victim of fraud, you'll be glad you prepared!

• First, before leaving, notify your bank! So they don't block your credit card thinking there's an error when seeing charges in Las Vegas!
• Bring some cash to exchange for the first few days if needed.
• Scan all important documents and email them to yourself and a trusted person (passports, ID card, driver's license, health card, etc.).
• Write down your useful passwords (encrypting if necessary).
• Set up password recovery procedures for Google and your bank by selecting a method other than by phone! Very important if you don't have reception or if your phone gets stolen!
• Update your vaccinations and bring your vaccination certificate.
• Request a European health insurance card from social security (for trips to Europe of course).
• Get an international driving permit from the prefecture (it's free, but be careful, it's only valid when accompanied by your actual driving license).
• Think about your prescriptions and note medication equivalents if you need to repurchase abroad and the brand differs.
• Take out insurance, especially if traveling outside Europe.
• Research exchange rates, tips, tricks and advice for the country you're visiting. The internet is full of comprehensive travel blogs, read them!

There you go, if you've already done all that, you're well prepared to leave with peace of mind. Now let's see how to properly prepare your suitcase.

At the airport…

If you're traveling by plane, there are also a few small things to think about to be comfortable.

• Carefully prepare your carry-on bag. I'm not telling you anything new, liquids and sharp objects (as well as drugs, firearms, plants and animals, etc.) are strictly prohibited on board.
• Bring mini bottles or travel-size or solid cosmetics if you want them in your carry-on bag (or if you don't have checked baggage). Be careful, sunscreen definitely counts as a liquid!
• Also remember to empty your water bottle, this will save you from having to drink a liter of water all at once at customs.
• Also know that you'll have to remove your belt, jewelry and sometimes your shoes to go through security. Think about dressing comfortably, wearing no or very few jewels and wearing shoes that are easy to take off and put on.
• Bring headphones, an eye mask if you want to sleep, a neck pillow or inflatable cushion as well as compression socks if altitude bothers you.

The Suitcase…

Before anything else, let's avoid unpleasant surprises at boarding and check that you have indeed taken checked baggage, that it's paid for and validated and check the authorized weight.

On long-haul flights, most airlines accept 23kg, but with new low-cost pricing, baggage is less and less automatically included and may have weight restrictions. If you have a local domestic flight, also check the baggage allowed on that route. If you left with your 23 kg of baggage and take a connection with only 12kg allowed per person, you'll look silly!

You can find very practical luggage scales to know the exact weight of your suitcase.

Then consider the practical side. Are you going from hotel to hotel by taxi or organized transfers in cities with well-paved sidewalks or are you going to find yourself in the middle of nowhere, reaching accommodations in the jungle, taking boats or packed buses?

The hard-shell wheeled suitcase can become your worst enemy in destinations that are more wild than urban, let's say. Adapt your equipment to your trip!

Also, if you're traveling to a cold country and need to bring a big jacket that takes up half your bag, think about either wearing it or compressing it using air-reduction bags designed for that purpose.

So, what do we pack?

Get hidden belts or travel fanny packs to carry liquid cash and your important documents.

• Passports / ID Card
• Driver's license / International permit
• Vaccination record / QR code for your Covid vaccination (you never know!)
• Money / Credit card
• Notebook with passwords, addresses for postcards (always makes people happy)
• Call center number to block your credit card in case of theft.
• Insurance certificate and number to contact if needed.

Remember to research power outlets beforehand! Make sure your device supports the voltage of the country where you're going to charge it! (Your insurance won't cover anything in case of power surge or misuse of the adapter)

• Phone (but I can't imagine you leaving without it!)
• Universal adapter
• Charger and multi-USB connection
• Power bank
• Solar charger (if you're going on an expedition!)
• Headphones or earphones
• Camera/ GoPro or other and SD card
• Flashlight or headlamp

For transportation

If you like sleeping peacefully during transportation or if you'll be taking many local buses or domestic flights or a long-haul flight, here are some essentials.

• Eye mask
• Inflatable pillow
• Compression socks
• Mini fleece blanket or a comfortable sweater, cardigan, poncho of your choice but AC can be deadly even in summer!
• Headphones and earplugs
• Books or e-reader to save space (remember to download your books before leaving)
• Hand sanitizer gel
• Solid deodorant
• Hand cream
• Foldable toothbrush and solid toothpaste tablets (or mini toothpastes taken from your dentist)
• Motion sickness or transportation tablets, even light sleeping pills for those who have trouble, peppermint essential oil to breathe when everything goes wrong in a bus traveling at high speed in the mountains!
• Small combination lock to close your bag and sleep peacefully.

If you don't have a travel toiletry bag, try to find one that's well compartmentalized and has a hook to be hung anywhere! Very practical in small bathrooms with no space or in unusual accommodation.

Solid cosmetics have existed for a long time, and they're finally in the spotlight, so goodbye shower gel that spills in the suitcase, today we buy solid! It's good for the planet, economical and works just as well!

• So, solid soaps, shampoos, conditioners!
• Toothbrush with interchangeable heads (and one or two replacement heads if you're going away for a long time) + solid toothpaste
• Washable cotton pads
• Makeup remover (also available in solid)
• Deodorant (also available in solid)
• Sunscreen (also available in solid)
• After-sun, aloe vera, Biafine etc.
• Mosquito repellent (available in solid)
• Body cream (also available in solid)
• Pocket mirror, tweezers, nail clippers
• Contraceptives
• Feminine protection
• A little makeup
• A comb or foldable brush
• Razor / shaving cream / wax strips / epilator/ trimmer (if you're going away for a long time obviously)
• Hair elastics
• Mini microfiber towel
• A piece of Marseille soap to do your little laundry
• Avoid hair dryers (and straighteners), hotels will have them and otherwise, you'll survive!

Once again, don't panic, there will be pharmacies, hospitals and doctors everywhere you go. But it's true that it's not always easy to make yourself understood and it's always better to have a basic kit within reach!

If you're traveling off the beaten path and in remote areas of the world, then yes, be prepared!

• Basic kit: bandages, sterile gauze, mini scissors, tape, tick removers, compresses etc. You can buy a complete first aid kit at the pharmacy.
• Disinfectant and Antibacterial: water purification tablets like Micropur, saline solution, healing cream, Mercurochrome etc.
• Paracetamol, ibuprofen, amoxicillin (antibiotic), antispasmodic
• Venom extractor, soothing creams for insect bites or cortisone for more severe bites or skin problems.
• Antihistamine, pills for motion sickness or seasickness
• Medication for digestion and nausea, like Smecta, Imodium, Gaviscon…
• Burn ointment, like Biafine
• Ointment for sore muscles: tiger balm, Arnica, Voltaren
• Your medications and the prescriptions that go with them.
• Your blood group card, health card and mutual insurance or European health insurance card if you're traveling in Europe
• Vaccination record

Again, everything is relative. Take what makes sense!

Try to visualize your vacation or trip! What will you do? Do you think you'll go out every night or rather hike every day in nature?

Regardless, here are the basic items you absolutely need:

• Underwear and socks (5 to 7 pairs are enough. You can hand wash them regularly)
• Pajamas or something to sleep in
• T-shirts and tank tops
• Leggings or sports pants for walking or for the evening
• City pants, jeans etc.
• Shorts / Skirts / Dresses
• Sweatshirt / Cardigan or Sweater (if you're carrying fragile items, you can wrap them in your thick clothes)
• Jacket / Windbreaker / Rain jacket
• Walking shoes / comfortable sneakers
• Dress shoes / sandals

• Bathing suit
• Sarongs / beach towel
• Beach bag
• Flip-flops / sandals
• Open walking shoes
• Hat / cap / bucket hat
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Mask and snorkel
• Mosquito net and anti-malaria treatment in risk areas

• Thermal underwear / Technical and breathable base layer
• Thin fleece
• Ski socks
• Ski gloves and silk glove liners
• Neck warmer
• Sleeveless jacket
• Warm jacket or ski jacket
• Ski pants
• Snow boots (lined, waterproof and non-slip)

• Hiking shoes
• Comfortable, warm and breathable sportswear
• Nightwear
• Windbreaker and rain jacket
• Lightweight and easy-to-set-up tent
• Sleeping bag suitable for expected temperatures
• Ground sheet or thin and self-inflating mattress
• Compact or inflatable camping pillow
• Headlamp / Flashlight
• Swiss Army knife
• Survival blanket
• Mini stove and refill
• Ultra light compact cooking kit
• Eco-friendly dish soap + sponge and dish towel
• Garbage bag
• Toilet paper and lighter to possibly burn the paper if you don't have a trash can

• A water bottle! Essential to avoid buying tons of plastic water bottles and it also keeps water nice and cool all day! I'd like to remind you that it takes 100ml of oil, 80g of coal, 42L of gas and 2 liters of water to make 1 water bottle…(source: France Nature Environnement).
• Travel-sized games
• Playing cards / Dice
• Notebook / Pen
• Coloring book / Pencils

How to fit all that into one suitcase?

Once you've gathered everything you need, you still need to fit everything in your suitcase! One last time, see if you can do without the superfluous and take clothes that go with everything!

You can also get travel organizers. They're very practical to help you see more clearly. These are pouches of different sizes, allowing you to compartmentalize your things and find them more quickly. Keep an empty bag for dirty laundry!

Dive into the art of folding! Rolling your clothes is a good solution to save space. Others prefer bundle packing, stacking all their clothes on top of each other then folding sleeves and other parts toward the center.

You can also compress bulky clothes using vacuum storage bags for considerable space savings.

And finally, optimize space to the maximum! We roll socks inside shoes, stack bras cup in cup, etc. Be inventive!

Last point, remember to save space for the return trip! You'll certainly bring back souvenirs or buy specialties or fall for a piece of clothing! Don't be caught off guard and travel light!