Depending on your nationality, you will need visas in some countries, but might receive a visa waiver or visa on arrival in others. This aspect of travel isn’t the most fun but unfortunately it’s also unavoidable. Since many countries require a visa ahead of time, one that cannot be obtained when you enter the country, it’s best to read up ahead of time about each country and its requirements.

Travel and Medical insurance. There were several times on this trip where I got sick, and while some countries are not expensive to find good medical care, others break the budget. Medical insurance is something that you hopefully won’t need on your travels, but if you do get sick, you’ll be relieved to have a policy to protect you. Bootsnall.com has a handy comparison chart for several medical insurance plans popular with round-the-world travelers.

Note that during COVID-19 it is critical that you contact your insurance company to confirm that you are covered before departure. While travel is limited presently, it also needs to be protected by insurance before you leave – especially given the pandemic.

The Broke Backpacker also has a thorough breakdown for the best travel insurance for those of you backpacking around the world, as well as a list of safety tips to be mindful of when traveling.

Yes, you need them. Not all of them, but some basics are important before you head to environments wholeheartedly different from the one your body is used to. Regardless of country, I’ve always made sure I had the following shots up to date:

For diseases borne my mosquitoes, like dengue, chikungunya, or zika, there are no widely used vaccines but they are being developed and some countries like Mexico and Singapore have been offering them. Please see my piece about dengue (which I contracted in Vietnam) for more. Malaria can be mitigated with prophylaxis, depending on where you are traveling. See the maps below for more.

Resources: The Adventure Doc’s vaccination page, CDC’s Malaria Map, CDC Traveler’s Heath recommendations, World Health Organization’s Country-specific Reports.

Ah, the accommodation question. Many a reader email has come about this, and I understand why. It was one of the many things that kept me up at night before I started my travels: what if I can’t find a place to stay? Of course, there are always places to stay, even if they are not what you initially planned. That’s the most important thing to remember. The worst case is often a matter of wasted money, which isn’t ideal – but if it gets you out of a scary or uncomfortable situation, it is simply one of the lessons learned during travel.

These days, there are quite a few options for searching for and booking accommodation. I’ve taken to using AirBnb more, especially in cities, as I like the quiet space. For more social trips, there are hostels and camping options. And of course, hotels and B&Bs still abound.

Additional AirBnb thoughts: If a host isn’t willing to respond consistently to potential guests, I don’t really want to engage with them. If a host has cancelled listings close to their beginning date (these are noted in the property reviews), then I don’t think I’ll book. And finally, if a host has lots of great properties but just listed a new one and THAT place has no reviews, I’ll still take a chance based on their other confidence from travelers.

Keeping budget low is, of course, a bit of a priority for most of us. Other than the usual — eating street food, cooking when you can — there are ways to minimize costs and get creative.

Some options:

Some additional tips for worst-case scenarios.

PDF copies of your things to yourself. Before you leave, PDF yourself (and archive) copies of your passport, your visas obtained in advance and any other documents you might need to show and/or potentially lose on the road.

Consider getting a Google Voice number so you can receive emails of voicemail transcripts or texts left for you while you were on your travels.

Back up your Laptop: If you are traveling with a laptop, consider backing up your photos and computer files online. It’s awful to lose all of your photos and if your computer and backups are stolen, you’re going to be very upset.

Packing tips and Detailed Packing Lists for Travel

1. Choose your bag for travel.

There are so many backpacks, suitcases, and duffels on the market that it is no surprise that the “what bag to use?” question is one of the most frequent that I receive.

My advice: pick your bag based on your needs, and how well it fits.

If you’re looking for a suitcase to check, think about a packing system like Eagle Creek: I use Eagle Creek’s packing systems for packing cubes and toiletry cases for the most part. When traveling with a suitcase, I use bags from their Load Warrior series. I’ve got the Load Warrior 26 for lightweight checked bag.

My bag’s insides are a tetris-like mix of packing cubes and other sachets. After traveling this long, I have a system!

For toiletries I use the Wallaby foldable accessories case — it houses everything from shampoo and soap and face wash and makeup, as well as important medicine and some of what’s in my first-aid kit above.

To pack inside the suitcase I use the full size rectangular packing cubes. I use 3 if I’m checking a bag: one for tops and sweaters, one for bottoms and dresses, and the third for shoes — since I have such small feet they fit.

If space and weight are an issue, the thinner siliconized nylon version are a great alternative to the packing cubes.

If you want a smaller daybag: I went through a slew of different daypack options over my 5 years of travel but have ended up with a 19L Synapse bag from Tom Bihn for the last few years, which I bring with me regardless of suitcase I choose. It’s small but holds more than you would think. It is extremely well built, with strong seams and zips, and has a very useful pocket system that spreads your weight out evenly.

If you want an amazing carry-on suitcase: I now use the Timbukt2 Co-Pilot 20″ suitcase, and I am in awe of it each and every time that I pack it because it’s such a great bag. (I bought it outright – this is not a sponsored message!) It unzips right in the middle of the suitcase, meaning that both the lid and the base can be used to shoulder half your items. Two Eagle Creek full-sized mesh packing cubes fit perfectly in the bottom half, my bathing suit and bras go in the mesh zip dividing the two parts of the bag, and then my Wallaby of toiletries, another packing cube with my shoes in it, and an extra-small siliconized packing cube with socks and underwear go in the lid. The bag has a zip to access the lid, meaning that if you’re traveling carry-on only (as I now do with this bag), you can just quickly unzip and access your liquids for TSA security. If that wasn’t enough the front zip fits up to 13″ MacBook Pro if you only want to use this bag, and the wheels are skateboard wheels (I know) so you can replace them pretty much anywhere if needed. I can’t think of anything else I’d add to the bag, to be honest. Maybe an alpaca photo on the front? That’s about all.

If you want a bigger backpack and you’re a short woman like me: For longer trips where I need a technical pack that fits well, I go with a Gregory packs. They’re one of the few companies that has an XS torso size – LIFESAVER! Try the Deva 60 (this was the bag I used for a few years of my round-the-world travels, or the smaller Jade 38. I’ve yet to find another brand of bag that fits my small torso as snugly for trekking or backpacking. I no longer use this in my day-to-day travels as a back injury has led my doctor to request I stick to wheels for my larger bag, but when needed for camping or short technical trips, these Gregory bags fit to a T.

If you’re looking for a carry-on only backpack that is your only bag: Try the Minaal, which was built by two Kiwis who decided they just couldn’t find the backpack of their dreams and so they needed to make it themselves. It’s got a clamshell packing system, a separate suspended laptop compartment, and the size also fits with those packing cubes I mention above from Eagle Creek.

2. Packing for Medical Emergencies and First Aid

Round out your First Aid Kit. A first aid kit is a must. While I have been mocked for carting it around with me most of the time, the travelers who did fall/break something/tear their calf open while jumping off a boat were among the supporters. Many of these can be purchased and/or replaced from the road, but if starting out in a more remote destination, it’s a good thing to have a more thorough kit from the get-go.

Here is a list of items that I don’t leave home without when traveling to developing countries:

Research your Water Purification Options. Safe water is an important part of travel, and thankfully there are a several options that are easy to keep with you that won’t weigh you down.

The popular SteriPEN, a small wand that you insert in a glass of water, powered by AA-batteries.

For filtering there is the Sawyer Squeeze filter system, which is compact and comes with 3 collapsible bottles. It screws onto the bottle you are drinking from, so it provides fast filtration with no awkward parts you can lose.

Aquamira chlorine dioxide water treatment drops are inexpensive and really lightweight, with two small bottles that require an hour wait prior to use. (Note that these treat viruses as well as filtering bacteria and parasites).

For those looking for a non-chemical filtration and virus elimination system, the Lifesaver 4000UF is another option that protects against bacteria as well as viruses.

Safety Whistle: A safety whistle is small, but important. I wrote a post about how my safety whistle saved me on three separate occasions in Asia. It’s a small piece of plastic, but when you need it, you need it. Highly recommended. You can pick one up from Amazon or at your local outdoor store.

Doorstop. Small and easy to carry but brings some extra peace of mind if you’re staying somewhere and are worried about someone trying to get into your room at night. While not fail-safe (of course!) I’ve used my doorstop several times on my travels and it’s been a small tool I am glad I had.

Waterproof your Electronics. I use Ultra-Sil nylon dry bags to keep my electronics dry and dust-free. If you’ll be headed to the islands or will be on water, I’d recommend a sturdier, more waterproof bag like this mid-weight dry bag from Sea to Summit.

3. General Packing Tips and My “Don’t Leave Without It” Essentials

Don’t forget wool socks. I live in my SmartWool socks, which I’ve been buying and wearing long before I set out to travel. I keep a pair of the expedition weight socks with me because I’ve found that as they are worn, they compress so that they provide a bit of cushion but are still quite warm. Their regular hiking socks work for those who — unlike me — are not freezing all the time. Wool socks! Don’t leave home without them.

Earplugs are your friend. I am a very light sleeper, and regardless of whether I stay in a crowded dorm room or a chaotic city like Saigon, I always have a pair of earplugs with me to quiet noise when I am ready to sleep. I have tried so many different earplugs. So many. The ones I’ve found work the best for me are Spark Plugs, the official ear plugs of NASCAR. If they work for racing cars, they work for me.

Packing Cubes or Compression Sacks. I love the Tetris game that is my packing strategy! For suitcases, I use the packing cubes I mention above, but for backpacks and their rounded shape compression sacks (siliconized nylon and super thin so they don’t take up extra room) are ideal. The compression sacks have the added bonus of being water resistant.

Headlamp: I’ve used my headlamp (I have had the same Petzl Tikka headlamp for years and it’s still kicking!) in a staggeringly broad cross-section of situations, from cave spelunking to reading in a tent to navigating my way to the bathroom in a hostel at 4am. I use a Petzl Tikka Plus headlamp and it has stayed intact over 3 years of travel.

Get a Point It Dictionary: People often write to ask how I get by in places where I don’t speak the language. This Point-It Dictionary is a big help. From a homestay in Siberia to ordering food in China (by pointing to my meat of choice in the book) to entertaining kids in Burma, this dictionary comes with me no matter what. It’s wise to learn a few safety words (“fire”, “thief”, “help” and the like) in the local language to be able to shout at the top of your lungs, should you need to.

Duct Tape: For everything from taping up ripped window screens (Jodi 1; mosquitoes 0), to rips in my pack to a cut that won’t close, I don’t leave home without it. You shouldn’t either. Adventure Medical Kits makes miniature duct tape rolls that are lightweight with no center cardboard, so they are easy to carry in any bag.

Smartphone. I’ve found having a smartphone on the road a very useful thing, especially now that mobile photography has become a fun and interesting way to share stories. If the phone is unlocked, SIM cards are very cheap and easy to procure from the road – in Thailand, for example, my SIM cost me $1.50 and came preloaded with enough to make several calls. In Vietnam, data plans are 70,000 dong ($3.19) for unlimited monthly data. In Greece, it was 15 Euros for 5gb of data on WIND Gr.

Resources: Too Many Adapters rounds up the many SIM card options in Southeast Asia here, and there is a worldwide prepaid SIM card wiki here.

Sleep sheet. I live in mine whenever I’m outside North America, and sometimes within it too. My preference is the Sea to Summit cotton and silk blend sheet — cool, but also stretchy. For those who prefer silky softness only, you can opt for a pure silk liner.

GoToob Travel Sized Containers. I’ve been traveling for over a decade, and let me tell you I have tried many travel sized containers. Many leaked, broke, or were generally too cumbersome to open and close. I settled on GoToob, and I have not been disappointed. They come with a lifetime warranty, are approved for airline carry-on, are food-safe per the FDA, and they’re 100% BPA-free and PC-free.

Thank you cards. A great gesture for anywhere you stay or are invited to eat, bringing a thank you card is an excellent option when you don’t know what to bring but don’t want to show up empty handed. A lovely option here.

Bring business cards for meeting and greeting. Working as a lawyer for several years meant that I was guaranteed a very staid, simple business card. So when I decided to head out and travel, I was excited to get something a little more fun. I ended up with Moo Cards, which allow me to upload my own photos (up to 50 of them per order) to the front of my card, as well as a headshot on the back. I currently use a version of these cards with my Legal Nomads logo on them, and they’re of good quality and durable. People love them.

4. Packing Tips for Women

A Menstrual Cup. For the first two years of my round-the-world travels, I lugged around Ziploc bags of tampons, in case I found myself in countries where they could not be bought. No longer! I now have a reusable menstrual cup. While not necessarily the most popular topic for dinner conversation, I’ve encouraged quite a few female friends and readers to buy one, as it truly has been life changing.

One of the questions I often receive is how to sterilize the cup on the go, especially if you don’t have access to pots/pans to boil it for 20 minutes. What I’ve done is taking denture cleaning tabs — which are available in many countries around the world, though I carry a few. After my cycle is over, I use half a tab inside the cup and the other half outside the cup, and soak for 5 minutes. I then rinse the cup out with warm water, and boil some water to let it sit with a lid for 10 minutes. It’s a lot easier than trying to boil it when you don’t have access to a full kitchen!

I use the Lunette, which was recommended for shorter torsos. On their website, they also sell cleaning wipes, which are useful in between sterilization of the cup.

If you’re in North America, the Diva Cup is likely the easiest to find. Plenty of women I’ve spoken with are equally as happy with their cup as I am with mine. If you are worried about leakage, start using it mid-period, but I promise that I have never had any trouble with it. Because it’s made with medical grade silicon, it can be left in longer than a tampon, and it can be used just before you are due to get your period, in case you’re on a long bus ride and worried about timing.

If you want a more detailed write-up of the Diva Cup, Shannon from A Little Adrift has a review here.

Herbs for your lady parts. With the differences in bacteria, water, and potential for under-hydrating and UTIs, a friend recommended a supplement for lady parts. She swears by this VF10 feminine care supplement, and they are a mix of the norm — Vitamin D3 and Zinc — as well as herbs like oregano leaf, cinnamon bark, and olive leaf. Not for everyone, but if you’re prone to infections this might be a good supplement to lug along with you.

Foldable flat shoes. In my post about 21 tips from four years of travel, I advocate packing jeans as a way to both fit in with others when you’re dining out in a city, and feel like yourself despite being far from home. Another arm of the same advice would be to find a pair of foldable flat shoes you can take with you, which dress up even the most casual of outfits. I’ve never found anything as comfortable as Tieks, since they’re padded and made of leather so they stretch. These were sent to me for review, and they are quite expensive but I stand by the fact that they are very comfortable. I’ve actually never found a pair that fit this well and didn’t give me blisters. Other less expensive options Sidekicks or Dr. Scholl’s ‘fast flats’. Of the two, I’ve found the “fast flats” to be more comfortable, and slightly more padded, but still unwearable for more than an hour or two.

Travelon Classy Cross-Body Purse. It’s hard to find a good cross-body purse that will stand up to long term travel, but not scream “I’m a tourist.” This Travelon travel purse is large enough for airplane trips but small enough to take out every day. The purse has slash proof main compartment that locks, as well as an expansion pocket, and stylish stitching on the front that makes it look more like a regular purse than a travel option. Good if you’re moving around and need something sturdy but elegant. If you wanted a bucket version of a cross-body bag, I’d recommend this one.

If this isn’t your style, Travelon has a huge selection on Amazon. Their more slouchy hobo bag with RFID protection is a very popular option among friends, and a cheaper buy. For smaller bags, I love this floral clutch, also with protection for slashing and theft.

Please see my more detailed Solo Female Travel section for additional advice for women looking to head out alone.

5. Packing Tips for Digital Nomads or Remote Workers.

I write from wherever I am, and that means that I need to build a fairly comfortable workspace quickly, and keep my electronics organized. Here’s what I can’t live without:

Cord Tacos. These little leather moons fold in half around your cords and keep them separate so you don’t have a temper tantrum at the airport. Or at your coworking space. Or even in the privacy of your own home. If you’re like me and all your cords get tangled, this is for you.

The Roost Laptop Stand. Of all the things on this list, the Roost Stand changed my life the most. The first day that I used it was the first day in years that I was able to write on my laptop without searing pain at the end of the day. I have problems with chronic pain, so this was essential – and an amazing change in my work routine. I use it every day and it’s so small it adds almost no weight or bulk to my bag.

To use the Roost you’ll need a keyboard and mouse. I use the Logitech K811 and the UHURU lightweight mouse.

Kenu Highline. For those with an iPhone 5 or below: I used Kenu’s Highline, which is basically a bungee cord for your phone so you don’t ever drop it on the ground again. It’s got a tough safety lock that firmly grips the phone, Kevlar cord. Bonus, in Vietnam people gave me a thumbs up ALL the time because of phone theft being a rampant problem; everyone wanted to know where I got it.

If you are looking to travel and work at the same time, or build a location independent life, please see my long resources page for digital nomads and entrepreneurs page, which includes work and travel visas, further readings, and some words of caution.

6. Packing Lists for Long Term and Short Term Travel.