First long haul trip (USA)- what am I missing?

[WiseFinch]

Long awaited trip for DP and I is just a few days away. I am a chronic under packer as is DP- neither of us will be checking in a bag but have a cabin bag each. Never been away for longer than 2 days and never left Europe! So any ideas of things I may have missed for a long haul flight would be so so hugely appreciated!!!
It’s an active holiday (hiking, swimming etc). I’ve got a 20kg case (more than I’ve ever been allowed on budget airlines which are the only ones I’ve flown with before!).
So far I’ve got (excluding clothes shoes etc)

• Travel adaptor
• ESTA paperwork (do I need to print this off or is the email confirmation ok?!)
• little 100ml thingies to decant my liquid into
• noise cancelling headphones
• couple books
• ipad which I’ll download shows onto

Clothes I’ve got 7 days worth as that’s how long we’re going for. Couple of pairs of trainers and a pair of heels I inevitably will not wear. Just seems like I don’t have enough stuff!!!! Just me and DP- no kids. Help me, what have I missed!

Insulated refillable water bottle? You can take an empty one through security with you and fill it the other side. I've done this multiple times on long haul, even if the 100ml restriction is still in place. You just have to demonstrate it's empty. You then have a water bottle for the NP when you arrive.

And def bug repellent and a tick remover (although you could buy them there).

Burner phone to get through immigration

The pillows they give you are pointless but those u shape neck pillows actually give you neck ache. Don’t bother. I’m used to 27 hour trips between UK and NZ 4 times a year and I don’t bother with half of this stuff but a good set of Bose Quiet Comfort are worth the expense.

A cashmere poncho is perfect for planes and as a light warm layer for evenings in hit climates.

Ive done US mountains a few times and my main advice would be Mostquito Repellent of the highest strength. And a shit tonne of it.

Power bank for phone charging.

Heels. God no. Unless you are going to a wedding. Walking boots, flip flops and sandals.

Fast dry hammam towel. Can be used as sarong, head cover, something to sit on, shelter fromthe sun, makeshift bag, a blanket and a towel.

Are you hiring a car? If so, have you got your code from the DVLA?

I always do print out the ESTA and any relevant paperwork, just in case I have trouble accessing it through my phone.

If you have your passport, ESTA documents, driving licence (if needed) and a bank card that's all you really need. You can find a Walmart if you have forgotten anything!

You don't need a ton of stuff without kids! I'd ditch the heels, if it's a hiking area people will probably be pretty casual for dinner. I'd just take a few smart casual (non-hiking) outfits that you can wear, maybe jeans/trousers, a few tops, dresses and a cardigan, some nicer trainers or flat shoes, and a few pieces of jewellery.

I wonder this,,too, when I see those really enormous suitcases. However I have a Singaporean SiL who takes/brings the kitchen sink with her - one enormous case, plus other bags.
One of her dds is the same. Having met her in central London we waited with her for the Uber dh had summoned. A normal sort of car arrived - the driver took one look at all her stuff and said it wouldn’t fit! We had to wait for a bigger vehicle!

My mum overpacks. She takes stuff for every possible scenario, and takes extras that wouldn’t bother with. Eg, someone said flip flops for swimming. I’d just go barefoot over the rocks. I’d take one jumper and just wear that, my mum would have a causal one, a smart one, a light jacket etc.

But I don’t even have a handbag, and mostly carry everything I need in pockets. I have a backpack for when I need to take more, but if it doesn’t fit I don’t take it. Shockingly I also only take enough underwear for the number of days!

@suitcasesarepacked what flight pillow would you recommend?

Are you sure you need to decant your liquids into little bottles?

Don’t buy suncream and mosquito repellent over there. The prices are ridiculous compared to here. Even if you buy it at boots after security it’s worth getting before you leave the uk

“Burner phone to get through immigration “? For straight off the bat meth orders? Or because your socials are riddled with anti trump talk and you think you’ll have to open your linked in at the desk?

I was a light packer until I had kids
I like to think I get it about right now but it's been a process!

Sorry if I'm repeating anything but you will need:

For the flight: light sweater (air con can make it chilly), e-reader (not books), tablet with pre-downloaded stuff to watch, noise cancelling headphones. Depending on flight timings, neck pillow and thin blanket if you're likely to want to nap.

For the holiday: 2 swimsuits (always helpful to have a spare), flip flops, quick drying towel, goggles if you use them. Comfortable hiking boots or trainers (broken in if new!) and plenty of socks. Basic first aid stuff including plasters (regular and blister plasters), antiseptic cream/spray, paracetamol and/or ibuprofen, insect repellent, tick remover, bite relief cream (and in my case antihistamine tablets as I get allergic reactions to bites).

Plus the obvious clothes and toiletries. Maybe a travel-size sun cream in case it's not possible or convenient to buy some immediately. Sun hat and sunglasses. I always take a big tote bag (for swimming stuff in daytime) but you might prefer a backpack if hiking. I also take a smaller handbag for phone and purse in evening. Maybe one light pair of shoes - pumps or sandals - for the evening, but not heels.

Not essential but nice to have: a power bank for charging devices on the go, particularly helpful for travelling as it's not just the flight but also all the time travelling to/from airport and waiting/queuing while you're there, especially if there are delays.

It’s often freezing cold on those flights so I usually wear lots of layers and a coat and scarf.

You definitely don’t need to print ESTA.

Have a great trip.

I have a Trtl neck thing, I really like it but nobody else in my family gets on with it. Check a case in, it’s a lot lass hassle in the airport and on the plane if you just have a small bag you can stick under the seat. The exception would be if you have a short connection in the US, you have to collect and recheck your bags in your first airport, even on a through ticket. Mind you you have to go through immigration as well to that will be the biggest delay.

A lot of hotels and motels in the US have washing machines you can use, National Parks often do too. You won’t need heels, even nice restaurants are pretty casual. My holiday diary from our first camping trip to the US has “take less stuff” double underlined on the last page. I don’t know what people put in their huge suitcases; I went to the US for a year with less luggage than some people take to Tenerife for a fortnight.

Are you taking everything for the week in the same daysack you're taking on the hikes? I would have a 10L at least, probably 15 for the hikes - waterproofs, warm hat/buff, sunhat, suncream, water bottles, space for food etc. so struggle to get that into the bigger bag or fit everything in it. We went to Yellowstone in June and walked in everything from blazing sunshine to snow patches!

If it's 30deg, do you not have any sandals at all with you? What about for after a long hike with hot sweaty feet?

I also go light, but from your list I would add rechargers, medication, moisturiser (I get very dehydrated in flights), a wrap or cardi for the plane, sandals or flipflops (sometimes it is easier than putting on shoes if you are just going for breakfast or to the corner shop).

What code from the DVLA?
never heard of that and I’ve hired a car twice different parts of the US in the past 8 months through Alamo Brits.
OP, top tip buy and bring all your toiletries here; toiletries are SO expensive including sun cream in the States-and all seem to be locked behind bloody cabinets every shop you go in.

+1 for the previous suggestion for an e-sim or similar for your phone.

And for not needing to print the esta.

And for being prepared for freezing aircon in the hotel.

@AmyByTheTrain I can never get American air con to go cold enough, it seems to be limited to 70f. Drives me mad!

Oh and OP, I assume you are going through a big airport to the US, recently I noticed that Heathrow has charger pods at all the departure gates and BA has in seat charging. So you probably could just get a cable.

Hotel room TVs all have USB slots on the back so you can charge your phone from the TV. Some hotels have them in the base of bedside lamps now too.

This is the best I’ve had yet. Be aware it comes in different sizes. I accidentally purchased a large but would have preferred a medium sized. It is still very good. My family think I look ridiculous but I don’t care.

Pack loads of socks and pants. You get sweaty going from cold air con to heat, I’m just back from Nevada and bought more socks out there.

Bug spray and factor 50

I don’t think you need the code anymore (it was introduced after the DVLA did away with paper counterparts).

Haven't needed a code for years.

Also worth checking if you can use mobile passport control - immigration queues can be brutal.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control

Oh wow! This could be a game changer. Thanks so much for this

Oh never mind- on looking closer I think this is for US citizens only :( thanks anyway