Packing for Your Medical Vacation

Packing for trips is a very personal experience, and it’s not really our place to tell you what you should or shouldn’t take.  We can only offer general guidelines.  Some travelers like lots of books, others like lots of gadgets, and still others prefer a more “minimalistic” traveling experience.  That being said, there are essential items that should be part of every packing list. 

Don’t Forget the Essentials

• Passport

• Travel Visa (if applicable)

• Boarding pass/tickets (or confirmation number)

• Contact Information for friends, family, hotels, physicians, embassies, and airlines

• Medications, instructions, and prescription refill forms (if applicable)

• Wallet, money, credit cards, travelers checks

Depending on your gender, age, and medical condition, you might need to expand this list of essential items.  Women travelers can’t always expect to find their usual brands of sanitary products, and those who need walking assistance might want to take spare parts for their equipment.  As you can see, there is a lot of variance when it comes to “essential items.” 

Optimizing the Nonessentials

Once you have the essentials out of the way, you can turn your attention to those items that you’d like to have on your medical tourism vacation. 

For most nonessential items, you can usually purchase them abroad as you travel.  So even if you’ve forgotten a few things while packing (toothpaste, extra film, etc.), you shouldn’t have much difficulty buying them once you land.  But since your goal is to cut costs and become as efficient as possible, consider using online applications like the Universal Packing List or What to Pack.  Used in conjunction with your travel guidebook, you can develop a more accurate idea of what items you need and don’t need.  Again, personal preferences count for a lot here, so feel free to adjust your packing list as necessary.

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