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Last year I got to go out of the the country a couple of times while cruising. I learned that what you pack for a trip around the US is not necessarily the same as what you might pack when you are going to another country. Here is what you need when walking around in the other country, a global travel bag packing list, if you will. This would be great for cruisers or those leaving the hotel for the day to roam around the country. We also have a printable cruise packing list, if you need that.

The countries we have visited have all been Caribbean countries and islands, so far, {apart from a short stink in Canada, so far}, so this global travel bag might be a little biased towards sun and ocean. 🙂

First, get the right bag. It’s really important what bag you choose. I prefer the drawstring bags with the cords you can pull to scrunch them at the top. You then put your arms through the cords. The reason I prefer these is that they are difficult to just reach in and grab something out of. I was researching an excursion once and learned that capuchin monkeys will steal your stuff if it’s loose and they can! True to the stories I read, in Honduras, they were reaching their little hands in my bag {how cute!!}, but couldn’t pull anything out since I had the bag pulled tight. Ha!

A drawstring bag also leaves your hands free. So, if you are walking along slick, rain covered terrain, sandy beaches or hiking trails, you have your hands available to hold on or catch yourself if you fall. And you don’t have to worry about dropping your bag or it sliding off your shoulder while doing this.

21 Things To Pack In Your Global Travel Bag

1. Bottle of water – Not all countries have safe water to drink, so you want to make sure that you have your own just in case you can’t find bottled water anywhere. You can also get one of those travel containers that have the hole and hook it to your bag without even taking up space in your bag.

2. Bug spray – When we visited Grenada, the bugs, they were a bitin’. Big time. Grenada is lovely, though, with gorgeous beaches and friendly people! If you get the change to visit there, by all means do, but take the bug spray.

3. Small first aid kit – Be sure to pack pain meds, triple antibiotic ointment, nausea medicine, bandaids or anything else that you might need while in the other country.

4. Hand sanitizer – Most people think about this for food, but what about other things you touch? On excursions, we have gotten to hold and interact with capuchin monkeys, iguanas, sloths, turtles and all other sorts of animals. Some places offer hand sanitizer and some don’t. But clean hands before and after touching the animal are for both your benefit and the animal’s.

5. Tissues – The allergies – they get me. I bet they get a lot of you, too. Make sure you have tissues on hands.

6. Passport and ID – You do not want to miss your cruise and not have your passport and ID. I have never had this happen to me, and hope it never does, but I have heard bad things. Also, you can sometimes get your passport stamped while on the island! I have gotten this done a few times. Also, if you are a citizen of another country besides the US and are looking at this list for ideas for traveling in our country, you might want to pick up a National Parks Service Passport, as well.

7. Sunscreen – I can not express the importance of this enough.

8. Hair ties – If you have long hair, you will want to have hair ties. Some countries get a lot hotter than you might be accustomed to so you might want to put your hair up. Also, if your hair is long, it may just get in your way.

9. Cash – I wouldn’t carry tons of cash, but having perhaps $50-$100 on hand is good. For instance, in the Bahamas, most of the little shops we encountered did not take credit cards so you needed cash to purchase souvenirs. Also, if you don’t use your card, it keeps people from getting your info off of it.

10. Ziploc bags – Ziploc bags are great to store things that you don’t want to get wet, like your passport. Just zip it up and forget it.

11. Poncho or umbrella – I always carry a poncho. They fold up really small and take almost no room in your bag. Maybe you don’t care if you get wet. That’s ok. It rained while we were in Honduras and I used my poncho to protect my camera. 😉

12. Sunglasses – If you did not wear them off the boat, you may want to pack them in your bag. The weather can change very dramatically throughout the day, especially if you are taking a tour and going to different elevations and climates in an area. In Dominica, we started out at a beach and ended up in a rain forest. A couple of people who bought the same excursion as us were complaining the whole trip because it was raining – in a rain forest. Don’t be that person. Be prepared.

13. SD cards & batteries – I forgot my SD card one day and it was a sad day.

14. Phone – This makes a great camera. It also makes a great computer if you get somewhere with free wifi. And, if you get in an emergency situation, you have a way to make a phone call. Otherwise, always keep your phone on airplane mode so you don’t get a bunch of international fees.

15. Lanyard – I love these. You can put your cruise card and ID in them so you don’t have to pull them out every time you need them. That lessens the likelihood that you set them down and forget them somewhere.

16. Credit cards – I rarely ever use anything except for cash on another island. But, if you get left behind or have a medical emergency, you definitely want access to more money.

17. Money holder – I am not really sure what these things are called, but it’s the yellow thing on a strap in the picture. You put it around your neck and store your cash in it to keep it from getting wet. It’s also nice and convenient around your neck {if that is where you choose to keep it} or you can keep it in your bag and loop the big string around one of the cords for your drawstring bag and find it easily that way, too. They are also the right size to store a lip balm.

18. Book – If you like to read, you might want to carry a book with you to read on the ride to excursions or while lounging by the beach. I love to read, but I never do this simply because I like to listen to the tour guide talking while on the way to excursions and I am generally too busy taking pictures while lounging on a beach to even thing about reading. A book can get a little heavy if you aren’t committed to reading it.

19. Feminine products – Because you do not want to get caught unprepared in another country.

20. Insurance cards – If you have a medical emergency, other countries might not take these, but I would want to have them just in case. After all, some Caribbean countries are US territories, so they might accept your US insurance. I have never had a medical emergency, thankfully, to try it out, but I would rather be safe than sorry. You can also check with your cruise line and/or travel agent about insurance specifically for travelers.

21. Cottonelle® Fresh Care* Flushable Cleansing Cloths – I have been in some questionable bathrooms, let me tell you. And lots of them have no toilet paper. So, I make sure to carry these in my global travel bag. They come in a small, cute package that is resealable. Get out what you need, seal it back and throw it back in your bag. Easy peasy.

You can pick up alcohol free Cottonelle® Fresh Care* Flushable Cleansing Cloths in the new Member-Voted Design at Sam’s Club. You can also use the Pick-Up Service or, if you travel as often as I do, you might want to get the subscription service so that you do not run out.

Of course, you do not have to carry all of this, but I generally carry all or most of it. It’s not very heavy at all and gives me a lot of peace of mind.

What Do You Pack In Your Global Travel Bag? Did I Miss Anything In This List?

If I missed anything, or if you have other favorite things you like to pack in a global travel bag, please let us know in the comments below.