If you are planning to go abroad for study, for travel, for business meetings, for any conference or for any other reason. In this blog post, I am sharing a list of items that you need to buy before going abroad.
There are always a few important items that could slip your mind when packing for a bag when you were travelling abroad. While you were choosing your trendiest outfits to fit in with the locals, you probably forgot to pack a universal adaptor to use when you travel on the weekends; forgetting that not every country in Europe takes the same type of plug. Here’s a list of smart things (items) to get for study abroad that you’ll be happy you picked up before you hopped on your flight.
Things that an Indian student should carry while moving to Germany for studies
Items that you’ll be glad to buy before Going Abroad
1. Portable charger
Let’s face it, no matter how little we try to use our phones while travelling there is usually a need for them somewhere down the road and that need usually comes when our battery hits 10%. With these portable chargers, all you do it charge the extra battery before you leave and it will provide you with about 20 hours of extra charging time, and there’s no need to run around the airport looking for an outlet that might not exist.
Click here to buy a Portable charger from Amazon
2. Hair-dryer and flat iron with dual voltage
Girls, nothing is worse than plugging your straightener into a converter and all of a sudden seeing the red light turn off. Yes, you can buy a travel-sized hair dryer that will take 30 minutes to dry your hair, but I found that the most efficient hair electronics are the ones either with the correct plugs or that are dual voltage. Electronics that operate with dual voltage can be used abroad with just an adapter and not a converter.
Click here to buy Hair-Drayer and Straightner Combo from Amazon
3. Journal
A journal is a necessary item for all travellers. You can write one interesting thing that happened each day, you can write down funny quotes, or you can have friends you meet along the way write down words of wisdom. There is no better souvenir than a collection of your own stories.
Click here to buy Journal from Amazon
4. Neck pillow
Neck pillows are a traveller’s best friend. We all will at some point take at least one long bus/train ride during our travels abroad and what better way to spend those long hours than having a comfy place to sleep and rest your head. I recommend getting a neck pillow that has a hook at the front like this Memory Foam one. That way, it can conveniently hang on to your bag and you don’t have to worry about carrying it.
Click here to buy Neck Pillow from Amazon
5. Raincoat
Whether we want to admit it or not, it rains in every city around the world. Would you rather walk around in Florence looking like a tourist in a plastic poncho, or wear your stylish raincoat? Raincoats don’t take up much room in your suitcase and even if it just rains once, you will be happy you brought one. If you’re not a raincoat kind of person, at least invest in a travel umbrella. Yes, there are many people on the city streets selling umbrellas, but these last for a total of five minutes before disintegrating into at least two pieces or more. Other than these cheapos, it’s very difficult to purchase a decent umbrella for under ten euros, so buy one before you go and pack it.
Click here to buy Stylish Rain Jackets from Amazon
6. Ready to eat Food
As much as you are excited about indulging in the delicious Italian pizza or Madrid’s famous churros, there will come a time when you’ll crave your favourite Indian snack. It doesn’t hurt to pack some Ready to eat Food or to put some packs of maggi in your suitcase. They might add a couple extra pounds to your bag but just think– after you eat it all, you’ll have some extra room to bring home all of your souvenirs.
Click here to buy ready to eat food from Amazon
7. Swiss Army Knife
A Swiss Army Knife has all of the essentials items a traveller could need to be built into one little gadget (i.e. corkscrew, scissors, knife, nail file, and bottle opener). Remember to pack this in your checked luggage so it doesn’t get taken away at security. If you forget to grab one of these before you fly, it’s the perfect excuse to get to Switzerland and purchase one from the source. In Switzerland, they even sell them at hostels, from key-chain sizes to the heavy-duty ones. You can get them engraved – so they’re a perfect souvenir for the guys (or girls!) at home.
Click here to buy Swiss Army Knife from Amazon
8. Books
Reading is the perfect way to entertain yourself, whether that is on a long bus ride or on the beach. If you enjoy reading from an e-reader check out the Kindle Paperwhite from Amazon, it’s one of the easy to travel items because it’s so small and lightweight. If you prefer old-school paperbacks, it’s a good idea to bring one or two books to start your trip with and then you can use those books to exchange with travellers you meet along the way. Most hostels also have a book exchange shelf somewhere so if you can’t find it, ask the front desk. You can drop your already-read books there and pick up a new one someone else has left behind– for free! Here are some travel-themed books to get you started.
Click here to buy Kindle Paperwhite from Amazon
Click here to buy Books from Amazon
9. Universal Adapter and Converter
It’s important to do your research about which plugs the country you are going to uses. It’s also important to know which electronics you are bringing require a converter. It is better to be safe than sorry when dealing with electronics.
Are you from India and visiting Europe? You might want to know if you need a power plug adapter or power converter when travelling from India to Abroad? Check below to see if you need an adapter or converter and which power plugs and power sockets are used in Europe compared to India.
In India they use the following plug and outlet types:
- Type C
- Type D
- Type M
The voltage is 230V and the standard frequency is 50Hz.
In Europe they use the following plug and outlet types:
- Type C
- Type F
The voltage is 230V and the standard frequency is 50Hz.
Power plugs and sockets in India and Germany
The power plug types in India (Type C, Type D, Type M) and in European Countries (Type C, Type F) could be the same in some areas. Unfortunately, too many plug types are used. You cannot be sure your power plug from India will fit the sockets in Europe. We advise you to buy a world universal travel power plug adapter. Find the perfect adapter with the link below.
Click here to buy Universal Adapter and Converter from Amazon
10. Reusable Water Bottle
If the tap water is safe to drink where you are visiting, you can save money and stay hydrated by using a reusable water bottle. Water bottles also have many purposes; you can store many things inside like your toothbrush when travelling or they can make a great flask. You can also buy a plastic foldable bottle if you want to save the suitcase room.
Click here to buy Reusable Water Bottle from Amazon
11. Go-Pro Camera
GoPros are one type of camera that we suggest items getting before going abroad. These wide-angle cameras are small and waterproof, which can take awesome pictures and videos of your intense whitewater adventures or your bike ride down through that rainforest.
Click here to buy Go-Pro Camera from Amazon
12. Portable Speakers
Your music can follow you wherever you go with portable speakers. They are compact and light, which make them very easy to travel with but they can also be very loud. If you are at a house party you can easily whip them out and plug them into your computer or cell phone and be DJ for the night. Beaching it on the Amalfi coast and need some good vibes, no problem! If you’re looking for a recommendation, I prefer the JBL speakers Portable Speakers.
Click here to buy Portable Speakers from Amazon
13. Medicines or Multi-Vitamin
If you are used to taking a lot of Advil to cure your hangovers or Nyquil to fight a cold, do not forget to pack those. It can be hard to find exactly what you are looking for in foreign pharmacies, and especially while travelling, as communicating needs in Croatian or Swiss German may be a tad difficult. Get the pill form whenever you can to minimize weight and you’ll be very happy when that cold hits and you still have your go-to medicine to make you ready to take on another day of travel. They even have travel medicine kits that would be perfect for a semester abroad.
Click here to buy Multi-Vitamin from Amazon
14. A Deck of Cards
This is among the simplest and cheapest items you can bring, but I promise you will not regret it! A deck of regular cards provide for easy entertainment while travelling anywhere and can be used on planes, trains, and buses. Plus, they always come in handy when you are playing drinking games with your friends.
Click here to buy Cards from Amazon
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