Traveling abroad always takes a bit more planning and preparation than domestic travel. Whether this is your first international trip or your tenth trip out of the country, here are 8 international travel essentials.
8 International Travel Essentials
As you plan your next international trip, add these essentials for international travel to your packing list.
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Passport with an expiration date of at least 6 months AFTER your return date
Before booking your international trip, check your passport to make sure you have at least 6 months past your travel dates before expiration. Many countries enforce this 6-month rule. Don’t risk being denied boarding or entry at your final destination.
Universal Adapter
Because plug types vary from country to country, make sure you pack a universal adapter.
However, if you’re traveling to Europe, make sure you have a voltage converter. European countries use a higher voltage than the U.S. and while some of your electronics can handle this voltage with just an adapter, many need a voltage converter. Things like hair dryers, curling irons, camera battery chargers, steamers, etc. are not usually dual voltage and will need to be plugged into a converter (or they will not work anymore). We’ve taken this voltage converter on all of our Europe trips and love it. It even comes with Type C, G, L, and I plugs, so you won’t need to pack an adapter too.
Travel Insurance
If you’re traveling internationally, travel insurance is a must. While some policies cover delayed and cancelled flights, lost luggage and delayed luggage, travel insurance policies can also cover emergency medical and dental care.
We won’t share how many international trips we took without any kind of coverage, but after a pretty bad fall and fainting episode in England, we won’t travel without it. Many travel credit cards (another essential on the list) include travel insurance as a complimentary bonus. However, make sure you are familiar with your specific card’s policy before deciding you don’t need additional coverage.
eSIM
Using your cell phone carrier’s data roaming plan when traveling internationally can be expensive. A better option is purchasing an eSIM from Holafly or Airalo before your trip. We have used both eSIMproviders, and they have one major difference.
Holafly
Holafly allows you to purchase an eSIM with unlimited data for the duration of your trip. You pay a per day price.
Airalo
Airalo allows you to purchase an eSIM with a set amount of data.
Holafly is great for longer international trips, while Airalo is a cost effective option for shorter international trips.
Travel Credit Card with no foreign transaction fees
When traveling internationally, you’ll want to have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Our favorite travel credit cards are the Capital One Venture card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Additionally, you can use these travel rewards credit cards to earn points and miles to offset the cost of your next trip. When given the option to pay in local currency or USD, always pay in local currency to avoid additional exchange rates.
Read More: The Travel Rewards Credit Cards to Apply For First
Get unlimited miles on every purchase with the Capital One Venture card.
Cash in Local Currency
Okay maybe not an essential, but it is nice to have just in case. In some countries, tourist tax must be paid in cash at your hotel or Airbnb. Additionally, you may need coins or cash to pay for the use of public restrooms. It’s really easy to order foreign currency online from your bank; just make sure you do this well before your departure date. If you forget to do this, skip the airport exchange kiosks and find a local ATM once you arrive at your destination.
Read More: 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Visiting Italy
Phone Power Bank
After my phone battery went from 96% to 17% on one short hike in Switzerland, a power bank is now on our list of international travel essentials. Our return gondola tickets needed to be scanned from my phone, and we had to pick up the pace to avoid getting stuck at the top of the mountain.
We rely on our phones for many things: Google Maps, messaging, translation, accessing mobile passes for transportation, taking photos, etc. A power bank ensures your phone stays charged when you’re on the go.
AirTags
In 2025, 24 million bags were mishandled by airlines. While most of these bags were delayed and not completely lost, a mishandled bag can significantly impact your trip. Putting an AirTag in your luggage allows you to see its location at all times.
In June, we flew to Paris and checked one bag. Due to a completely full flight and our boarding group, our carry-on bags were checked at the gate. When we arrived in Paris, not a single suitcase had made it. We spent hours at the bagagge service desk at the airport, paid for Metro tickets to pick up two of our bags the next day and did not receive our final bag until we had been home for over two weeks. This was after 12 phone calls to customer service…and we had to go back to our home airport to pick it up. After this luggage mishap, we ordered a 4-pack of AirTags for our next trip.
Put an AirTag in your checked luggage and carry-on luggage, so you know where your luggage is. Airline bag tracking systems are not always accurate. Knowing the location of your luggage can also help customer service agents recover your luggage quickly if it was mishandled.
We hope this list of international travel essentials was helpful as you plan for your next trip. Tell us anything we missed in the comments below!
