Packing for Asia doesn't have to be a matter of guesswork. Use this guide for a better experience before you begin stuffing things into a suitcase!
Every traveler overpacks at some point, and doing so will affect your trip in a not-so-good way. If you have to drag around too much luggage, you'll be less motivated about making moves in your new country, especially when crowded transportation is involved. Don't let bringing too much stuff dictate your trip experience!
While your favorite brands may not be available in Asia, you'll often find lower prices on toiletries and other consumables. Consider packing less from home and instead purchasing what you need locally as you need it.
Beach sarongs, rain gear, cover-ups, umbrellas, sandals, hats, shirts, sunglasses, and many other beach necessities can be found for sale in tourist areas. Why carry spare batteries for thousands of miles when you can purchase them just as easily in Asia? Rather than risk your more costly stuff from home, buy what you need to survive in Asia. Not only will you have a good excuse to do some shopping, if your new purchases survive the trip, you'll end up with fun souvenirs later.
Whether your luggage is cooked quietly in the hold beneath of a bus, in the trunk of a car, or ends up stored in the direct sun on the deck of a passenger ferry, it will get extremely hot in tropical parts of Asia. Items that normally handle temperatures at home just fine may melt or break down, creating a sticky mess in your bag.
Culprits famous for melting down include deodorant sticks, lip balm, soap, makeup, facial cream, candles, energy bars, and first-aid items.
Each country in Asia maintains different customs laws; some are surprisingly strict. You cannot just assume that bringing alcohol, electronic cigarettes, or other items into a country is legal. Even certain types of DVDs, books, and magazines may be banned in conservative countries where publications featuring bikini-clad models are considered 'pornography.'
Many items are subject to a duty tax when you arrive, and you may be fined or hassled if you're caught with contraband in your bag without declaring it upon arrival. Singapore is famous in Asia for its tough, draconian import laws. Avoid trouble at the border: study up on what you can and cannot bring into each country!
While bringing prescription medication into new countries is usually not a problem, you should do so correctly just in case your bag is searched. Large numbers of pills -- particularly pain medicine or sleeping pills -- may raise a few eyebrows.
The safest way to transport prescription medication is in the original containers along with a physical copy of the prescription from your doctor.
If you wear glasses or contacts, bring along a copy of your prescription just in case you need to find emergency replacements while away from home.
Bringing sentimental or irreplaceable items with you on a trip is a bad idea for many reasons. A good rule of thumb is to consider that everything you bring along could be lost, broken, or stolen before the end of your trip. Even nice flip-flops may get stolen when you leave them at entrances -- a custom in many parts of Asia.
Wearing a nice watch, expensive sunglasses, or costly jewelry not only gets you higher prices in countries where negotiation is a part of life, doing so may make you stand out as a potential target for thieves.
Despite your best efforts, your luggage will undoubtedly receive lots of abuse while in Asia, and the potential for damage doesn't stop after you leave the airport.
Bags routinely fall from the racks on moving buses, are stepped on, and generally crushed beneath other baggage in piles or in luggage holds on public transport. You can pack accordingly by padding fragile items with clothing and placing them in the center of your bag. Put toiletries into plastic bags in case the bottles are compressed. Glass is both heavy and fragile; transfer contents into travel bottles whenever possible.
There's nothing worse than returning home after dragging a bulging suitcase around and realizing that you didn't use or wear half the stuff you brought along.
Plan your daily attire for versatility. T-shirts can be covered by button-up shirts if temperatures cool or you need dressier attire. Pack lightweight layers that can be worn as needed. Most laundry prices in Asia are based upon weight, so cotton clothing will be cheaper to wash and easier to dry than heavy sweaters or jeans. You can always purchase additional clothing -- stuff that will be unique and not available at home -- as needed.
Bring along only one or two pairs of shoes. Flip-flops are the universal footwear of choice in much of Asia.
Make two photocopies of your passport, any traveler's checks that you'll be carrying, and your travel insurance documentation. You should diversify your copies between your money belt or daybag and your luggage, just so that you're completely covered.
Write down international contact numbers for your credit card banks in case your card is compromised. You'll also want to write down the contact numbers for your traveler's checks in case they are stolen. Having the address and contact information for the nearest embassy doesn't hurt as well.
While hopefully you won't need any of this paperwork, you'll have the tools to get through a crisis situation easily and enjoy the rest of your trip if something goes wrong.
If you'll be carrying a smartphone, record your serial number and IMEI number (some phones can be located or blocked using it) in case it is lost or stolen.
Putting important items (e.g., your phone) in the easily accessible, outside pockets on your daybag is a bad idea. Many petty thefts are crimes of opportunity and the nervous thief has only seconds. Try to pack important items deeper in your luggage so that a deft hand reaching inside won't be able to grab anything more than dirty laundry.
Zippers can be locked together with small luggage locks, or even a simple clip will keep them from being easily unzipped.
Be mindful with your luggage, particularly on public transportation and night buses, places where petty thefts often occur. All important valuables and electronics should be kept on your person, rather than stored in your luggage out of sight.
1. Overpacking is a Bad Idea
Every traveler overpacks at some point, and doing so will affect your trip in a not-so-good way. If you have to drag around too much luggage, you'll be less motivated about making moves in your new country, especially when crowded transportation is involved. Don't let bringing too much stuff dictate your trip experience!
- See these 10 tips to avoid overpacking on trips.
2. Buy Locally Whenever Possible
While your favorite brands may not be available in Asia, you'll often find lower prices on toiletries and other consumables. Consider packing less from home and instead purchasing what you need locally as you need it.
Beach sarongs, rain gear, cover-ups, umbrellas, sandals, hats, shirts, sunglasses, and many other beach necessities can be found for sale in tourist areas. Why carry spare batteries for thousands of miles when you can purchase them just as easily in Asia? Rather than risk your more costly stuff from home, buy what you need to survive in Asia. Not only will you have a good excuse to do some shopping, if your new purchases survive the trip, you'll end up with fun souvenirs later.
- Read about how to take advantage of the cheap shopping in Asia.
- Learn how to survive and negotiate in Asian markets.
3. Items Will Get Hot
Whether your luggage is cooked quietly in the hold beneath of a bus, in the trunk of a car, or ends up stored in the direct sun on the deck of a passenger ferry, it will get extremely hot in tropical parts of Asia. Items that normally handle temperatures at home just fine may melt or break down, creating a sticky mess in your bag.
Culprits famous for melting down include deodorant sticks, lip balm, soap, makeup, facial cream, candles, energy bars, and first-aid items.
4. Know Customs Laws First
Each country in Asia maintains different customs laws; some are surprisingly strict. You cannot just assume that bringing alcohol, electronic cigarettes, or other items into a country is legal. Even certain types of DVDs, books, and magazines may be banned in conservative countries where publications featuring bikini-clad models are considered 'pornography.'
Many items are subject to a duty tax when you arrive, and you may be fined or hassled if you're caught with contraband in your bag without declaring it upon arrival. Singapore is famous in Asia for its tough, draconian import laws. Avoid trouble at the border: study up on what you can and cannot bring into each country!
5. Handle Prescriptions Carefully
While bringing prescription medication into new countries is usually not a problem, you should do so correctly just in case your bag is searched. Large numbers of pills -- particularly pain medicine or sleeping pills -- may raise a few eyebrows.
The safest way to transport prescription medication is in the original containers along with a physical copy of the prescription from your doctor.
If you wear glasses or contacts, bring along a copy of your prescription just in case you need to find emergency replacements while away from home.
- Use this sample first-aid kit packing list for your trip.
6. Don't Bring Valuables with You
Bringing sentimental or irreplaceable items with you on a trip is a bad idea for many reasons. A good rule of thumb is to consider that everything you bring along could be lost, broken, or stolen before the end of your trip. Even nice flip-flops may get stolen when you leave them at entrances -- a custom in many parts of Asia.
Wearing a nice watch, expensive sunglasses, or costly jewelry not only gets you higher prices in countries where negotiation is a part of life, doing so may make you stand out as a potential target for thieves.
- See this list of 10 things not to bring to Asia.
7. Pack for Bag Abuse
Despite your best efforts, your luggage will undoubtedly receive lots of abuse while in Asia, and the potential for damage doesn't stop after you leave the airport.
Bags routinely fall from the racks on moving buses, are stepped on, and generally crushed beneath other baggage in piles or in luggage holds on public transport. You can pack accordingly by padding fragile items with clothing and placing them in the center of your bag. Put toiletries into plastic bags in case the bottles are compressed. Glass is both heavy and fragile; transfer contents into travel bottles whenever possible.
8. Pack for Versatility
There's nothing worse than returning home after dragging a bulging suitcase around and realizing that you didn't use or wear half the stuff you brought along.
Plan your daily attire for versatility. T-shirts can be covered by button-up shirts if temperatures cool or you need dressier attire. Pack lightweight layers that can be worn as needed. Most laundry prices in Asia are based upon weight, so cotton clothing will be cheaper to wash and easier to dry than heavy sweaters or jeans. You can always purchase additional clothing -- stuff that will be unique and not available at home -- as needed.
Bring along only one or two pairs of shoes. Flip-flops are the universal footwear of choice in much of Asia.
- See a list of items you should consider bringing to Asia.
9. Prepare Important Documents
Make two photocopies of your passport, any traveler's checks that you'll be carrying, and your travel insurance documentation. You should diversify your copies between your money belt or daybag and your luggage, just so that you're completely covered.
Write down international contact numbers for your credit card banks in case your card is compromised. You'll also want to write down the contact numbers for your traveler's checks in case they are stolen. Having the address and contact information for the nearest embassy doesn't hurt as well.
While hopefully you won't need any of this paperwork, you'll have the tools to get through a crisis situation easily and enjoy the rest of your trip if something goes wrong.
If you'll be carrying a smartphone, record your serial number and IMEI number (some phones can be located or blocked using it) in case it is lost or stolen.
- See if your smartphone will work in Asia before you bring it.
- See how to choose the best budget travel insurance -- don't travel to Asia without it!
10. Pack for Security
Putting important items (e.g., your phone) in the easily accessible, outside pockets on your daybag is a bad idea. Many petty thefts are crimes of opportunity and the nervous thief has only seconds. Try to pack important items deeper in your luggage so that a deft hand reaching inside won't be able to grab anything more than dirty laundry.
Zippers can be locked together with small luggage locks, or even a simple clip will keep them from being easily unzipped.
Be mindful with your luggage, particularly on public transportation and night buses, places where petty thefts often occur. All important valuables and electronics should be kept on your person, rather than stored in your luggage out of sight.
- See more about keeping valuables secure while on buses in Asia.
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