My #1 advice for packing is to pack light. You probably will not use half the things you bring. Do not fill up your suitcases. You will need plenty of room for all those purchases you make while there. I left half of my bigger suitcase empty and still barely managed to fit everything in by the time I left.
Make sure to check the regulations and restrictions on luggage for the air carrier you are using. Most air carriers are very strict on liquids and anything sharp. You also want to make sure you don’t go over the weight limit and end up paying fines.
Below is a list of things that I recommend to bring:
- 1 week’s worth of clothes
- PJs + travel slippers (you can find some cheap foldable ones)
- 1 nice/dressy outfit (if you think you will need it)
- travel pillow (if you have a long flight)
- bug repellent (I got individual wipes)
- cellphone (one that will work in the country you’re going to – rent one if needed)
- small laptop
- plug converter
- watch
- travel size shampoo, soap, and toothpaste (you can buy more there)
- small face/wash cloth, towel, toothbrush
- comfortable walking shoes
- small can of mace
- keychain flashlight + Swiss Army Knife (or similar)
- money belt (you can get one from Target for around $8)
- packet of tissue
- pen, pencil, eraser (maybe binder and paper if you don’t want to buy it there)
- chargers for your electronics
Clothes
Do not bring too much clothes – you probably won’t wear it all anyways. I would bring maybe around 3-4 outfits that can be mixed and matched. Make sure to research the temperatures in the place you will be staying and bring appropriate clothes. For me, Shanghai in the summer was hot and humid (mostly 90’s and above everyday) so I brought a lot of leggings and dresses. I brought two pairs of jeans and a sweatshirt that I NEVER wore. Infact, the one day I tried wearing jeans, it was so hot and I felt super sticky the entire day.
Make sure to bring comfortable walking shoes. If where you’re going is going to be hot then bring comfortable sandals with good arc support. I brought good shoes but not sandals. I wore my flip flops most of the time since it was so hot and long periods of walking with them really hurt my feet after awhile.
Bathroom Stuff
I would not bring my whole stock of beauty supplies with me. Just bring a small bottle of shampoo and conditioner (if you use it) and a small bar of soap. You can buy more while you’re there if you need it. Travel size toothpaste and toothbrush is ideal too.
I would also ditch the idea of bringing a hair straightener or a hairdryer as even with a plug converter, they could end up short circuiting something (your hair could probably use a break from the heat anyways right?). If you really want one then buy one when you get there. That way you know its safe to use. I was cheap and didn’t bother buying either while I was in China so I just went with air drying my hair.
I like having a small wash cloth for washing my face so I brought one along as well as a mini lofa. These aren’t really necessary but they’re small and easy to fit into a notch in your suitcase. I would bring a towel though since the place you’re staying at might not provide one.
Electronics
If you know you will have access to internet I would bring a small laptop if you have one. I brought my netbook which was nice to have. It’s really small and light and I was able to check my email and chat on AIM while in Shanghai (no Facebook due to China’s firewall :().
I would recommend getting a cellphone that works in the country you’re going to. There are several options to get this. I rented a cellphone from Cellhire since CEA paid the rental fee for me and I only had to pay for my calls. You can also wait until you’re there and buy a cellphone from a cellphone dealer there. China has phones where you can just put money on it and add more money once you run out. You can also change your own cellphone plan to an international or traveling plan depending on which service provider you’re using. That way you can keep using your current cellphone.
There is also the option of using Google Voice. I really wish I had thought of this while I was in China. Though you will need a computer with a mic and internet connection (and a gmail account) for this, but Google Voice is a great and cheap way to make phone calls home while abroad. You can make calls straight from your gmail and even send texts. I would still recommend getting a cellphone for when you’re not near your computer though.
Make sure to get a plug converter and double check that all your electronics accept the right voltage and frequency inorder to work in the country you’re going to. For example, China’s electricity is 220 volts at 50 cycles/sec. Any device used in China must accept at least 220 volts at 50 cycles/sec or else a voltage converter is needed. If your devices doesn’t accept the amount of electricity outputted, then you may end up frying it without a voltage converter.
Here is a list of voltages and frequencies in different countries around the world.
Other Small Things
I find having a small Swiss Army Knife like accessory pretty useful. You might not be able to carry this on the plane with you though. A small can of mace would be nice too (especially if you’re female and traveling alone) if you can manage to get it through security at the airport (my roommate somehow did).
A packet of tissue may seem silly but it can come in handy sometimes… The room I was put in didn’t come with toilet paper.
A money belt is nice to have if you exchanged your money beforehand. This is a small flat belt with a compartment for bills that can be worn under your shirt. I exchanged 3000 RMB (about 475 USD) before I left and I certainly didn’t want to just carry it around in my purse with me. So instead I strapped it to my belly and carried it that way on the plane. The only downside I found to having this was that it can get a bit hot wearing it for a long period of time.