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• Make sure your passport is valid for six months past your return date. 

• Take all the travel documents required for the countries you are visiting, as well as identification for your U.S. reentry. U.S. citizens need passports to reenter the country by air.  Go to www.state.gov/travelers for destination information regarding Visas and any other items that might be required.

• Check which currency is used in the country you are traveling to and order from your bank before you go, as well as always carry some cash. 

• Make sure to upload photos of all important documents to the cloud (Google Photos, etc.) including passports, insurance cards, and credit cards.

• Get to the airport early.

• Carry a foldable nylon tote bag for emergency carry-on luggage. It'll come in handy for quick trips to foreign supermarkets too, and when the airline says your carry-on bag is too heavy.

• Pack a scarf that works as a blanket on the plane, offers sun protection, works as a makeshift towel, and many more uses.  

• Don't forget your noise-canceling headphones or earbuds. 

• Carry a reusable water bottle. 

• Bring along a plug splitter (power strip) and an Ethernet networking cable. You never know if you'll need more outlets for phones, laptops, and other gadgets or if a wired connection is much more stable than WIFI.

• Bring your charging cables, power cords, etc. 

• Bring a travel laundry bag for that dirty laundry. 

• When packing, try rolling your garments to get more in your suitcase and keep wrinkles to a minimum. 

• Be sure and bring plenty of your prescription medications in case of a delay in returning. 

• Declare everything you bring in from abroad, even if you bought it in a duty-free shop.

• Be cautious when buying something from street vendors. The merchandise may be counterfeit and/or unsafe and you may have to surrender it when you return home.

• Items bought abroad for personal use or as gifts are eligible for duty exemptions. If you are bringing them back for resale, they are not eligible for duty exemption.

• Be aware of U.S. prohibited merchandise, such as ivory, tortoiseshell products, and counterfeit items.

• Slow down and enjoy the trip.