Checklist for a long trip

Medication and backup items

Your regular medication supply should be calculated with a higher margin compared to a short trip, to cover any unexpected events that might extend your stay (here's where to pack them). Bringing backup items, like a second charger or a spare pair of glasses, helps when a device failure can't be quickly fixed far from home.

Laundry and clothing organization

Planning laundry based on washing machines available at your destination, rather than packing one outfit per day, significantly reduces your overall luggage weight for a long stay.

Documents and arrangements left at home

A copy of your main documents, in addition to the originals, provides an extra safety net. It's also worth organizing well in advance the care for plants or pets left at home, and checking upon return that nothing has expired in the meantime.

The most useful tip for a long trip: photograph or photocopy your main documents before leaving, so you have a copy available even if the originals are lost during your stay.