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Get Packing!

"Anyone who needs more than one suitcase is a tourist, not a traveler." - Ira Levin, Rosemary's Baby

We hope the following Checklists and Advice are helpful as plan/pack for your trip.
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Documentation

Required

Passport
Student Picture ID
Medical Waiver
Student Code of Conduct
Travel Insurance Agreement

Funds

Required

Lunch Cash

Medications

Required

Prescription Medications
Prescription (Refills)
Inhalers
EPI-Pens

Luggage

Required

Carry-on sized suitcase
Daypack

Personal Care

Generally Recommended

Contacts / Eyeglasses
Spare Contacts / Eyeglasses
Band-Aids / Blister Guards
Food Powder
Deodorant
Toiletry Kit
Sleep Mask
Headphones/Earbuds

Recommended for China Trips and Summer Trips to Europe

Sunblock / Aftersun Lotion

Recommended for Costa Rica & Puerto Rico

Sunblock with Picaridin (not DEET)
Bug Spray with Picaridin (not DEET)

ADVICE

Electronics

Consider

International Data Plan
Camera
Spare Memory Cards
Dual-Voltage Hair Iron

ADVICE

Clothing

Generally Recommended

Watch
Small Umbrella
Casual/Day Shoes
Socks (2 pairs for each day)
Underwear
Long Pants (1+)
Rain Jacket
Dress/Evening Outfit(s)

Recommended for Costa Rica & Puerto Rico

Hat
Sunglasses
Short Pants (2+)
Bathing Suits (2+)
Rashguard
Sandals (Closed toe)

Recommended for Iceland & Winter Trips to Quebec

Warm Hat w/ Ear Protection
Waterproof/Insulated Gloves
Spare Hat and/or Gloves
Scarf
Waterproof/Insulated Boots
Waterproof Pants
Thermal Top & Leggings
Hand & Foot Warmers

ADVICE

Documentation Advice

Being super careful with your passport. We have had students leave their passport in on their kitchen countertop, in the car, and on the bus that brought their group to the airport, between the check-in decks and the security line, and between security line and the gate.

These students ended up waving to their classmates as they were left behind, their trip over before it had begun. We've also had students lose their passports while on trip, which can sometimes mean they AND a chaperone end up stuck abroad.

Because it's such an important document, each day of the trip your Program Director will let you know if you can get by with a copy of your passport. On those days leave your official passport at the hotel, either in the room safe or in the hotel safe. Typically you will only need your official one for transfer days (flights and trains).

Consider a Travel Wallet. Ideally one that can hang around your neck, or be strapped around your waist, in either case underneath your clothing. Most Travel Wallets also allow you to keep your cash and credit/debit cards safe, some even accommodate a cellphone.

Note: By using these links to make a purchase you are supporting our scholarhip fund.

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Funds Advice

Lunch/Shopping

Many students prefer to snack throughout the day (visit museum cafés, nibble on local street food, etc.) and go shopping during the free period we designate for lunch. So we decided to take lunch out of the Program Fee and provide some guidance to help each student and their parent/guardian(s) decide on an appropriate lunch stipend.

We suggest a $20 stipend per day (convert to local currency) for most students. This will cover a couple of quick café stops and a sandwich. Foodies should bump up the stipend.

We don't make any recommendations for shopping money, other than bring some!

Cash or Card?

We recommend bringing your lunch money and a portion of your shopping money as cash (in the destination's currency) then using a card for most of your shopping. Use your cash whenever a vendor won't accept a card.

Withdrawing cash from an ATM while abroad

You can withdraw cash from any Credit, Debit, or Pre-Paid card with an EMV chip.
If there's no EMV chip the ATM will report that you entered an invalid PIN.
This is especially important with Pre-Paid Cards, as many do not have an EMV chip.

Greenlight Kid's MasterCard

Designed to help manage your kid's chores around the house, this chipped smart card is perfect for kids traveling internationally.

The idea behind the card is quite clever. You order your kid a card, it arrives with his/her name on it just like an adult one (because it is, in fact, a fully functional MasterCard with an EMV chip), and you can set it up to move money from your checking account to the card at the end of the week if your kid completes all his chores (the parent app asks you to confirm before making the transfer).

You can also simply move money to your kids card (no strings attached) and it's super easy for your kid to send money back to you. These two features is what makes it particularly attractive for use as a travel card.

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Medications Advice

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Luggage Advice

How many suitcases can you bring?

You will be traveling with 2 pieces of luggage:

Your carry-on luggage
Your personal item

Your carry-on luggage

Although the rules vary by airline, a common sized bag for carry-on luggage is 22"x 14"x 9" and most airlines have a carry-on weight limit of 40 pounds.

The most popular choice here should come as no surprise - it's the roller suitcase. These come as hard or soft shell, with the hard shell typically being lighter while providing more protection for the contents, and the softshell typically having more externally accessible compartments and pockets. The additional protection of a hardshell can be important on the way home if you picked up fragile and/or important gifts, and it's lighter weight can help you stay under the weight limit when it's stuffed. However, most are a clam-shell design that require some space to open. The externally accessible compartments of a soft case are handy for ready access to passports, phones, tablets, wallet and tickets, you don't need as much space to open one, and they can flex a bit to accommodate the contents, but they tend to be heavier.

If you're purchasing a suitcase we recommend: (1) Unique color - This will make it much easier to spot your luggage if it's gate-checked (because the overhead bins are full) and ends up coming out on the checked-luggage carousel at your arrival airport; (2) Beefy wheels - Losing a wheel will mean you need to carry it which is exhausting, especially for a young student. We regularly see wheels bounce off suitcases as their owner "rolls" the suitcase up and down steps. Although more time-consuming to assemble at the factory (and thus slightly more expensive) a wheel installed inside a swivel is much stronger than two snapped on the outside of a swivel; and (3) Expandable/Compressable - This feature allows you adjust the depth of the suitcase with a zipper.

Note: By using these links to make a purchase you are supporting our scholarhip fund.

Especially popular with intrepid travelers is the duffel bag, particularly those with compression straps and padded shoulder straps. These are the lightest option, and also the most flexible (literally and figuratively). When the overheads are starting to get filled up a duffel bag can be squeezed into spaces that wouldn't accommodate a suitcase, especially if the compression straps are cinched down. Like the soft suitcase these typically have externally accessible compartments. One of the big benefits of the duffel is you can travel silently (it's difficult to blend in as you walk along with a roller case trundling along behind you) and with the duffel on your back you can efficiently negotiate the stairs, escalators and aisles of air and ground transportation systems.

Note: By using these links to make a purchase you are supporting our scholarhip fund.

Your personal item

This should be a daypack.

While transferring between countries/cities it should contain all your important/expensive items, so it should never be a size where you may be asked to check it. Checked luggage occasionally gets "misplaced" by the airline, so we recommend your daypack as the place where you stow your important documents, funds, electronics, at least one set of your medications, your personal comfort items, a change of underwear, and your water bottle.

Once checked into your hotel your daypack switches role. As you explore the city your daypack should contain: any important documents, funds, medications, and personal items you will need that day; cellphone/camera; water bottle, and depending on the season/location any protection from the elements you might need.

If you're purchasing a daypack we recommend: an easily accessible pocket for quick access to your documents, funds and cellphone; side pockets are useful for ready access to your water bottle and umbrella or sunscreen; a padded and waterproof bottom will protect stuff when you take the daypack off and put it down (perhaps too fast, or on a wet/frozen surface); your shoulders will appreciate a padded/mesh back and padded straps; and a waist strap will keep the daypack snug against your body during activities where it might bounce around (riding bicycles, hiking, climbing, ziplining, horseback riding, etc.)

Note: By using these links to make a purchase you are supporting our scholarhip fund.

Your Liquids

The TSA has what's called "The 3-1-1 Liquids Rule" (pronounced three-one-one) which restricts the liquids you can carry onto a plane. The "three" is a simplified way to remind you that no container in your carry on should have more than 3.4oz of liquid. The "one-one" is a simplified way of reminding you that all of your liquid containers (irrespective of size) should fit inside a single 1 quart bag.

It is worth noting that although there are many commercially available 3-1-1 compliant "toiletry organizers" available, a re-sealable quart-sized fridge/freezer bag stuffed with travel-sized liquid toiletries is just as compliant.

Note: By using these links to make a purchase you are supporting our scholarhip fund.

Water Bottle

You can safely drink/fill from the tap in Canada, Puerto Rico, Europe, and Costa Rica. In countries where we recommend purchasing distilled water there are signficiant savings to be found if you group up with other students to purchase it in large jugs and then fill your bottles. Either way you're helping keep plastic out of the oceans.

If you're considering purchasing a water bottle we recommend an insulated metal one.

Note: By using these links to make a purchase you are supporting our scholarhip fund.

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Personal Care Advice

Sleep

On most trips you'll be flying through the night and arriving for breakfast. If you manage to get some sleep on the flight it'll make a huge difference to your first day abroad.

Our advice: Catch up on your sleep in the week running up to the trip so you're starting with a "full battery" then get as much sleep as possible on the flight rather than trying to watch as many movies as possible!

Note: By using these links to make a purchase you are supporting our scholarhip fund.

Most days start around 7am and end around 11pm, so getting a good sleep every night is also super important. Considering a 9 day trip to Europe had only 7 days abroad, it would be a shame to be in a zombie state for any/many of those days.

Our advice: Agree on a morning alarm time with your roommates (remember there's only one shower) and set an alarm clock; Agree on a curfew with your roommates (there's usually lots to chat about every night!) and turn off the lights.

Note: By using these links to make a purchase you are supporting our scholarhip fund.

Blisters

First - Prevention: Avoid traveling with new shoes (break your shoes in over the weeks up to the trip), wear well fitting socks that allow your feel to breath (ideally a fabric that wicks, avoid cotton), and use plenty of foot powder every time you change socks/shoes.

Note: By using these links to make a purchase you are supporting our scholarhip fund.

Second - Treatment: Even the most seasoned of us have developed an occasional blister. We recommend 3M Nexcare's Blister Cushions, they have great staying power, and have "saved the trip" for many a student/teacher who developed blisters in the first few days of travel.

Note: By using these links to make a purchase you are supporting our scholarhip fund.

Sunblock

Because of the TSA's 3-1-1 Liquids Rule students should purchase (and share) large bottles of sunblock/aftersun on arrival at their destination.

We highly recommend sunblock for trips to the Caribbean, Central America, or South America, and also for summer trips to China, Spain, and other Mediterranean countries (without sunblock you will quickly be sunburned and will regret it for the rest of your trip).

We encourage sunblock for spring trips to Spain and other Mediterranean countries.

Typically sunblock isn't necessary for trips to Iceland, Ireland, or other northern destinations in Europe.

Insect Repellent

For trips to the Caribbean, Central America or South America, please avoid products where DEET is the active ingredient. These destinations exhibit extraordinary biodiversity and tourists using DEET cause significant, and unnecessary, harm to the eco-systems they visit. Instead, opt for products which use Picaridin as the active ingredient, it safely repels insects for a much longer period of time while being safe for the habitat you're exploring.

Note: By using these links to make a purchase you are supporting our scholarhip fund.

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Electronics Advice

You're not taking any AC-powered devices

If you're only packing USB-powered devices (Tablets, Cellphones, etc.) we recommend a Multi-port USB Charger. This allows you to leave your USB blocks behind and just pack the cables. It also means you only need 1 outlet, which is great at departure gates, on airplanes and trains, and when you're sharing a room.

If you are purchasing a Multi-port USB Charger we recommend a dual-voltage one (they can handle 110V-220V electricity) so you can bring them anywhere in the world.

Note: By using these links to make a purchase you are supporting our scholarhip fund.

You're taking an AC-powered device to Canada or the Caribbean

If you're packing an AC powered device (Hair Iron, Laptop, etc.) and traveling to Canada or the Caribbean then things are easy. The power is the same, and the outlets are the same. Still, we recommend a power strip as many hotel rooms have limited outlets.

If you're purchasing a power strip we recommend one with USB ports. This allows you to leave your USB blocks behind and just pack the cables. It also means you only need 1 outlet, which is great at departure gates, on airplanes and trains, and when you're sharing a room. Look for one with high-speed USB ports (so your phone charges quickly, especially important when you're moving around a lot) including at least one USB-C port (most recent devices are charged with USB-C, so you'll have a power strip that's relatively future proof).

Note: By using these links to make a purchase you are supporting our scholarhip fund.

You're taking an AC-powered device to Europe and beyond

If you're packing an AC powered device (Hair Iron, Laptop, etc.) and traveling outside North America and the Caribbean then you'll need to pay attention to whether your device can handle 220V electricity. Look for "Input: 110-220V AC" on the device. If you can't determine whether your device can handle 220V then you would be wise to leave it at home. If your device can handle 220V then all you need is a power adaptor for your destination.

If you're purchasing a power adaptor we recommend one with USB ports. This allows you to leave your USB blocks behind and just pack the cables. It also means you only need 1 outlet, which is great at departure gates, on airplanes and trains, and when you're sharing a room. Look for one with high-speed USB ports (so your phone charges quickly, especially important when you're moving around a lot) including at least one USB-C port (most recent devices are charged with USB-C, so you'll have a power strip that's relatively future proof).

Note: By using these links to make a purchase you are supporting our scholarhip fund.

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Hair Appliance Advice

If traveling to destination with 110V then your only issue is whether you want to use up valuable packing space with appliances. We recommend you chat with your friends if you're seriously planning to bring these as you may find that you can team up, with one person bringing a curler, another the flattening iron, et cetera.

If traveling to a destination with 220V you should check that your applicance can handle 110V (most home ones cannot, but lots of good "dual voltage" travel ones are available). If your applicance won't accept 220V then you have the choice between a step-down transformer (220V down to 110V) so you can take along your existing appliance, purchasing a travel one, borrowing a friends, or deciding you're good without it while traveling. We've had really bad luck with step-down transformers, we're bring them up here in order to make a point of recommending against them. There are some nice dual-voltage appliances available, and they're surprisingly affordable.

Note: By using these links to make a purchase you are supporting our scholarhip fund.

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Clothing Advice

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