After several International moves and traveling around the world (with a 1-year-old!), I’ve become a bit of a packing pro. From vacuum bags to special folding techniques, I tried them all :-).

I know packing for your overseas move can be tiresome and stressful, but I also learned that packing the right items can make a huge difference and make your life a lot easier.

To help guide your packing woes, here are some of my favorite items that have traveled with me around the world:

Moving Abroad Must-have #1: Luggage

When previously I was all about traveling in style, over the years my traveling style is all about comfort and convenience. Easy to carry, Easy to clean, Easy to store (under a bed), and of course, lots of pockets to organize my things.

These are some of my favorite luggage items:

Trolley Eastpak Tranverz L

The ultimate suitcase that has accompanied us on every move and holiday around the world is the Eastpack Tranverz. It’s easy to store, has two big compartments that fit a LOT of clothes and it is super easy to walk around with.

My Weekender Tote from Canvelle (previously Logan + Lenora )

Another new favorite is the My Weekender Tote from Logan + Lenora bag (now called Canvelle). The bag has lots of pockets, and most importantly, the inside and outside are super easy to clean (which, as a mother of two, is a lifesaver). They come in lots of colors and prints and are the ideal travel companion.

Moving Abroad Must-have #2: Electronics

The number of electronics we bring is sometimes laughable, especially when you know we have a separate bag to keep all our cords and chargers in one place. But apart from our ‘standard’ electronic devices, we also have other gadgets that we always bring with us. Here they are:

My e-reader

My e-reader is one of my favorite gadgets that I always carry with me, I love the fact that you can bring lots of books with you wherever you go. Plus mine has a light which makes reading in the dark (or on the beach) much better.

External hard drive

When moving abroad, one of the things I always carry with me is our external hard drive. I actually have two, one we bring with us and one that I have stored securely with my parents. Why? Because one of the worst things you can lose is all your documents and photos. My favorite brand is LaCie, but there are many other alternatives out there.

All-in-One Universal Travel Adaptor

This is another personal favorite that we bring with us, wherever we go. It has 4 international plug adapters and several USB outlets – which makes it so easy to charge all our different devices at the same time.

Travel voltage adaptor

Voltages differ per country, and it can be useful to bring a travel voltage adaptor with you. There are many available on Amazon, but this is the one we have.

Moving Abroad Must-have #3: Organization

As you might know by now, I like to be prepared and organized when traveling and moving abroad. Being organized helps with the unavoidable bureaucratic hassle, and having everything in one place gives me peace of mind. Here are some of my favorite items that help me with getting organized for a move abroad:

Expandable folders

I love my expandable folders. I seriously do! I have one for each family member and ALWAYS have one with me when we travel to a new host country. All our most important documents, like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and insurance policies, are stored here, making visits to government institutes much easier.

Travel wallet

Oke, I think that it becomes pretty clear that I’m a nerd when it comes to organizing my documents, and yep, I carry a travel wallet with me all the time (LOL). I have a really cute one, but after more than 10 years of loyal duty, I think I might need to get a new one. I think this one on Amazon sure ticks a lot of boxes.

Moving Abroad Must-have #4: Miscellaneous

On to some more random items on my list of things to pack when moving abroad. And these items are all about making your move and especially traveling to your new host country a lot more convenient and comfortable.

Items for traveling

• Reusable water bottle
• Little notebook and pen
• Luggage locks
• Ziplock bags (for everything really – snacks, legos, you name it ;-))

Items to make your first weeks abroad a bit more comfortable

• Your favorite blanket (yes, it takes a lot of space, but it makes me feel at home instantly)
• I love to listen to music and always carry a portable speaker with me
• A few pictures (I always take pictures and fridge magnets (some with pictures) – the kids really enjoy seeing the pictures of family and friends, especially when they are a bit homesick)
• Books & toys for the kids (again, this does take up some space (we brought a whole suitcase with just toys and books with us, but it really helps the kids settle in)

Moving Abroad Must-have #5: The Moving Abroad Packing List

Last but not least, make your life just that little bit easier by downloading my FREE Moving Abroad Packing List. It includes everything you need to travel to your new host country so that you can travel with ease.

 

That’s it! I hope I’ve helped you prepare for your big move today. And don’t forget, if you have any questions about packing for your own move, please feel free to leave your questions in the comment box below.

 

 

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