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It is never too early to start thinking about packing for your abroad internship. Even for the seasoned traveler, packing for one month or more (and remaining under airline restrictions) can be frustrating. The great thing about packing for study or interning abroad is the knowledge that thousands of other study abroad students have previously managed to accomplish it. Not everyone will pack the exact same way, but we have listed some great general guidelines to help you get started!
No matter where you are traveling to, attempt to keep your luggage limited to one checked suitcase and one carry on. Not only is this cheaper, but it is easier to drag around behind you on your way to your accommodations…. Especially if there are cobblestones!
Clothing
- Leave all of your dry-clean only clothes at home. You won’t want to waste the time or money needed to launder them.
- Leave all the clothes you don’t really wear at home. You won’t suddenly find the urge to wear them while abroad.
- A great rule when it comes to packing an item of clothing is that it has to be able to create more than two outfits. (My personal rule was that an item had to be used in 4 outfits, with one or two exceptions.)
- Make sure everything will be weather-appropriate! Research weather patterns ahead of time.
- If you plan on working out, bring workout clothes. If you don’t plan on it… leave them at home and save space.
- One of the best space-saving tricks is to buy a set of travel space bags - simply roll the air out of the bag after you’ve placed your clothing in and your sweaters instantly take up less space!
Shoes
- 2 comfortable shoes to walk in, because you will be doing a lot of walking!
- 1-2 nice pairs for during the day/work
- 1 pair of flip flops
Tech
- Camera + large and/or multiple memory cards
- Laptop for work and Skyping your family
- 2 + outlet adapters
- Power converter, if necessary. Make sure everything you’re bringing is dual voltage.
- Phone
- Even if you cannot use your phone or a new SIM card in your new host country, you can use it to communicate while still in your home country. Smartphones can still connect to wi-fi to use our recommended apps!
- Chargers for everything
Toiletries
- Buy travel-sized bottles to keep you in stock with shampoo & conditioner until you have time to go to the store
- Only pack full-sized bottles for things you can’t live without, like a special brand of shampoo - otherwise your suitcase will be unnecessarily weighed down
- One use-toothbrushes (Wisps!) and Listerine pocket packs - these are my favorite for long travel days, and make it through security without any problem because they aren’t liquids!
Miscellaneous
- Eye mask - this will come in handy while traveling and in your home away from home - the sun might rise significantly earlier than you’re used to.
- If you need medication, bring enough to last your entire trip
- prescriptions
- over the counter (cold & flu, allergy, cough drops, etc.)
- If you wear contacts, bring enough contacts and solution for your entire trip.
- Photocopies of your important travel documents
- Journal
- Umbrella (especially for London!)
- Headphones/earbuds
- Sunglasses