How to travel stress-free Internationally.
Here are my tips for making international travel easy with minimal effort and money.
I’ve done hundreds of trips, my love of culture and travel has changed my life.
It’s given me a deep love for people all over the world.
From the jungle in Asia to four-star hotels in the French Riviera.
But after epic attempts to close my suitcase because I over packed.
And watched friends travel through three international flights with multiple layovers toting a 45-pound duffel bag, why?
Change had to happen.
So, I changed things to make my life easier and here are my tested travel tips to make international travel easy for you.
Please learn from my mistakes and take the easy route so you don’t have to live through the duffle bag shuffle.
First and most important.
Travel tip #1: Take a carry-on with rollers, the correct size
Yes, with rollers, don’t dislocate your shoulder by taking a duffel bag.
Even if it’s the latest travel trend on TikTok, and they make it look effortless.
Duffel bags are not effortless.
Unless, of course, you are traveling first class and your butler is with you.
And don’t buy a carry-on with rollers on only one side.
Get four-way rollers.
Make sure it’s a carry-on standard size.
The airlines sometimes change the size.
The domestic in-country allowance might be a little smaller than the standard carry-on size in America.
Travel tip for carry-on baggage.
Basic Economy: one carry-on item measuring 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm), plus a personal item measuring 18 x 14 x 8 in (45 x 35 x 20 cm). There is no specific weight restriction.
1 larger item of hand luggage, 55 x 35 x 25 cm (21.5 x 13.5 x 10 in), plus one smaller item no larger than 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 in). 12 kg (26 lbs) is the total allowable weight for the two items.
One baggage bag can be 22 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 10 inches thick. These dimensions include wheels, handles, and side pockets. The total weight of the carry-on baggage must be at most seven kg (15 lb)
These dimensions include wheels, handles, and side pockets. They vary slightly, so check with the airline you are flying with. It can save you money and time.
If you are flying a budget-friendly airline, check the carry-on luggage allowance size and amount. Or you could get an unexpected charge.
Some airline fees might be the cost of the ticket for your luggage.
So know before you go!
The next travel tip to make international travel easy is,
Travel Tip #2: Know the weight of your bags.
Each airline is different, and bag allowances are also different.
Check when you book your flight to see the weight allowance for your flight and the continent you are going to.
An example is when I travel to Thailand.
I fly from Dallas to Bangkok, but I switch to Thai Royal and go on to Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai.
The baggage allowance is different in Thailand by 10 pounds, and no one likes an extra charge on their way there or back.
Check the baggage allowance for all flights.
Next travel tip,
Travel Tip #3: Plan your outfits
If you want to make international travel easy, plan your outfits.
Write down your outfit for each day.
You can mix and match, but write it out and take it with you.
This is literally a game-changer.
Instead of, well, maybe I will wear this or that.
No, write it down like you are planning to host the Oscars.
This helps you pack and makes it easier for you.
I like to group my outfits by days.
I know it sounds super anal, but trust me on this one: It can really help you not to overpack, look put together, and feel more confident.
Next travel tip to make your life easier.
Travel Tip #4: Use AirTags or Smart Tags
Get AirTags and put them in your luggage if you are checking bags internationally.
This will make it easy to track them down if anything happens.
You can also put them in your bags once you arrive at your destination for an extra level of security.
Travel Tip #5: Always pack a full outfit in your carry on.
Take one full outfit with you on your carry on.
When I first moved to Eastern Europe I was a size 8.
My baggage got lost and the only size the stores had was size 6. For two weeks I squeezed into jeans two sizes too small.
You might be saying why didn’t you wash and dry the clothes you wore.
They didn’t use dryers and it was winter so it took two days for things to dry.
Many countries sizes are very different than another so you won’t be able to buy once you get there.
Travel Tip #6: Have your Security papers easily accessible at security points.
I have been on a trip where people forgot their passports, eyeglasses, and proper IDs for visas.
I have also been “that girl” who put their passport in a random place in my luggage and got the evil eye as people stepped over my whole face plant into my bag by the side of security.
The shaming!
Not anymore.
Now, I rock travel.
And so can you.
I have a quart-size ziplock with my liquids, then a spacific place for my passport, and ticket (on my phone or app, plus a printout) right where I can put my hands on it in a strategic purse for travel.
This makes it so much easier when you are jet-lagged and worn out from travel.
Travel tip #7: Digital passes.
As a form of insurance, I always have a paper copy when I travel internationally.
But now many are digitalized.
For domestic travel, I use my Apple Wallet on my iPhone.
For international, it depends on where I am going and the airlines I am using.
If boarding passes are digitalized on your phone, it makes it easy to travel and saves time.
Plus some Countries are now requiring digital downloads of an entry visa. Like the UK.
You need to make sure you have the app on your phone before you leave the country.
Travel Tip #8: Know the New documentation for International travel.
Now, in the UK, you need to have an ETA.
You can check out this site for more information. Check if you need a visa or ETA to come to the UK. You must have your visa or ETA before you travel to the UK}
You can’t get it there and must have it before travel.
Europe has not rolled out its new ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System), but it’s expected in 2026.
So make sure you know when they do.
Check the rules of the country you are traveling to and see what you need before you go.
Travel Tip #9: Wear dark colors on travel days.
You’ve probably seen people traveling in all-white outfits.
They look amazing.
I need to find out the first-class seat they sit in to wear an all-white outfit for international travel.
Still, I am confident it’s different from the economy middle seat with connecting flights, trains, and buses that my up my adventure travel.
Let me share one of my experiences.
I like to look put together when I travel.
I dress in business casual clothes because I know that when I do, I generally get treated better at the airport and with airline staff.
I know you might be thinking this isn’t the 1990s.
But it’s always worked for me and actually helped me.
Now there are great outfits that are comfortable and chic at the same time.
Here is why I wear dark colors.
Once, on a short international flight, 7 to 8 hours, this brown stuff started leaking from the overhead.
The flight attendant said it was coffee.
In the overhead, with no bags and coffee pots aren’t allowed?
Um, no!
But there were no other seats, so for 4 hours, that goo dripped on me and the man next to me as we huddled together, praying it would stop and that it wasn’t toxic.
I was very grateful that I wore black. And didn’t get sick.
So wear dark colors on travel days; you don’t know when brown goo will drip on you from the overhead.
This is also not the glossiest travel story of stuff on the plane or traveling.
Bonus travel tip #10
Always have flip-flops or slides in your carry-on.
They are great to have handy in case you need them or in an emergency.
Let me know in the comments if you have any great travel tips or if you use ours and it helps you make travel easier.
Here are some other posts you can check out
“How to get over jet lag in three days “
“Things you need to do before traveling internationally”
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