Still worried about your semester abroad, even if you’ve read every travel guide there is? Do you feel like every list recommends the same items or that these lists don’t feel tailored to you? What are must-haves for study abroad that you may not have considered?
Enter the Unexpected Must-Haves
While lists won’t completely tame your packing anxieties, this article aims to help fill in the gaps others tend to miss. As someone who has been through the packing process, I can say that all of these items are must-haves for my study abroad in Europe.
This list highlights seven unexpected (but very handy) items that might be worth packing for your time abroad. It includes none of the usual suspects—I hope you already know to bring your passport and water bottle! Instead, I hope to make your time abroad easier with small items worth investing in for your term in another country.
Once you’ve finished reading, I hope you feel like this list provided some helpful ways to keep yourself safe, your suitcase light, and your mind free of worry so you can enjoy one of the best semesters of your life.
AirTags
One of the worst things that can happen when traveling is losing your bag. Tracking your luggage, especially when you can’t keep it with you, is crucial to staying calm on travel days.
AirTags are helpful tracking devices that allow you to see the location of your luggage right from your phone. Plus, once you arrive at your study abroad location, you can continue to use them to keep track of your backpack or purse!
An AirTag can track your purse, backpack, or luggage whenever you need it. Small and easy to pack, these trackers give you peace of mind that will make your travel day much easier.
Grab a single AirTag for $29 or four AirTags for $99 on Apple’s website.
And if you’re not an Apple user (or want a slightly cheaper option), try Tile trackers. They come in one, two, or four packs and have options for different styles of trackers for bags, wallets, and more.
Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
One of my biggest challenges when packing to study abroad was deciding how to pack my shampoo and conditioner.
I have curly hair, so I only use specific shampoos and conditioners. Luckily, a few months before my trip, I found a perfect solution: hair product bars.
If you have specific hair needs (like curly or thin hair), a shampoo bar is a great way to ensure you travel with a formula that works well for you. These bars can save you a ton of space in your suitcase and eliminate the worry of spills while traveling.
An added bonus to these bars is that they are more environmentally friendly than regular wash products.
The last thing you want to do after arriving in a new country is search the stores for a familiar wash product. Shampoo and conditioner bars help you do good for the environment and avoid any mess in your suitcase!
A good site to begin your search is Ethique, which has all-natural options for every type of hair.
Sewing Kit
Picture this: you’re on a day trip in a big, bustling city, and you notice a string hanging from your shirt. There’s a hole!
What do you do?
Instead of ducking into the nearest shop and spending money on a new shirt, you reach into your bag and pull out a travel sewing kit.
A mini sewing kit can fit inside a purse, coat, or backpack. It can be a lifesaver (and wallet saver!) in a place where you already have a limited wardrobe.
I recommend this kit (shown above) from Saylor Sewing for $3. It comes with different colored threads, buttons, scissors, and needles. There are many similar kits online, depending on your preferences.
A sewing kit has everything you need to fix clothes in a pinch and is relatively cheap! It’s the perfect item to pack for any situation when you study abroad.
Portable Clothesline
When packing, consider whether you are bringing clothes that can go in the dryer. Even if you pack a dryer-friendly wardrobe, you may need to find an alternative to your typical washer/dryer situation.
If you know that you won’t have access to a dryer during your travels—or if you prefer to hang dry clothes such as silk and athletic wear—a clothesline is the perfect solution.
Small and compact, a reusable clothesline can be put up anywhere to dry clothes. It can be taken with you wherever you travel, providing a free, easy alternative to finding a laundromat or forgoing your favorite skirt.
Many different clotheslines can be found on Amazon, or you could fashion your own with sturdy twine and clothespins. An ideal clothesline should be approximately 10 feet (3.6 meters) and have hooks on the ends to attach to a shower curtain, wall hook, or door.
Feminine Products
Many women have a specific brand or style of menstrual products that is their go-to, tried and true method. But what happens when you have to go abroad?
If you menstruate, here’s a quick list to determine whether or not you should bring your period products with you when you study abroad.
Yes: Bring your menstrual products!
- If you have particular needs or preferences for your menstrual products, you should bring them.
- If you use reusable products, like multi-use pads or menstrual cups, you should bring them.
- If you take certain medications during your cycle (like painkillers), you should bring those products with you.
No: Leave them at home.
- If you often use many products and don’t care much about the brand, you can probably leave them at home.
- If you are packing very light and worried about space, you can leave your menstrual products at home.
Whether you decide to bring enough for your entire trip or not, it is wise to have at least one period’s worth of products. This way, you are not caught during travel without products before you have a chance to stock up at your destination.
Online Credit Card
Traveling, inherently, means spending money.
If you plan to travel to multiple countries when you study abroad, one of the challenges you will face is converting currency.
ATMs in many cities help you convert your currency from one type to another, but they are often complicated to use and keep a portion of your money as a “conversion fee”. Plus, any cash you withdraw and don’t use needs to be converted back into your home currency, meaning you lose more money.
You should sign up for an online credit card to avoid these money troubles.
An online credit card is handy for a study abroad student, as it allows you to make purchases in many countries without worrying about conversion rates or cash withdrawals. Many of these cards help you convert your money with low fees and are styled like a debit card, so you don’t worry about overspending because of conversion rates.
As an added bonus, many of these cards can be used at physical banks, so if you need cash occasionally, withdrawals come with fewer conversion fees.
Finding the best online card for your study abroad experience and budget takes some time, but there are plenty of options online. Try Wise or Revolut, two inexpensive and well-rounded card options.
City Passes
While studying abroad, you’ll likely want to visit other countries besides your program’s primary location to experience the world.
But many times, you only have a weekend to do so. Many students studying abroad plan weekend trips, leaving after classes on Friday afternoons and traveling back to their city on Sunday night.
One of the best ways to ensure that you see as much as you can during your semester (and not break the bank!) is to invest in a city pass or culture pass. These are crucial for study abroad travelers who are on a budget
City Pass
Many large cities offer city passes for students and young people to use city transportation, visit museums, and access historical sites. These passes help you see the city quickly and fully without worrying about overspending. Many sites and attractions are discounted (or even free!) with these passes.
If you plan to invest in a city pass for your travels, bring your student ID abroad, as some places require your ID to allow entry.
CityPass has extensive information on cities in the United States, and City Passes has information on European cities. Similar sites can also be found for various cities in Asia, Africa, and South America.
Culture Pass
Another option for your semester is a culture pass. These passes are a great way to immerse yourself in the cultural aspects of your city while you are there long term. Often, cities offer culture passes for purchase to students and young people to see the city in a more budget-friendly way.
Often, these passes require a library card for the city or proof you are going to school there. Be prepared and buy the card right as you arrive to get the most use out of it!
Here are the Culture Pass websites for New York, Paris, and Germany to show a few variations of what a culture pass may look like for your destination.
When You’re All Packed Up
At the end of the day, any list you read will not be able to accurately predict what you will need for your semester abroad. However, I hope this list mentioned a few things you haven’t seen anywhere else, and might make your life a bit easier when packing and traveling. Peace of mind is as important as anything in your luggage, so take what will work best for you and leave what will not.
Still, feeling like you need more tips before you set off? Here are nine more things to know about planning your journey abroad and travel during your semester, with some extra ideas on what else to pack.
What’s your unexpected favorite from this list? Are there any other must-haves you couldn’t live without while studying abroad? Leave a comment and let me know!
Happy packing, and have a fantastic semester abroad! Soak it all in, and don’t forget your passport!
