{"id":30682,"date":"2019-02-04T20:37:07","date_gmt":"2019-02-04T15:07:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.thomascook.in\/?p=30682"},"modified":"2026-03-18T12:58:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T07:28:24","slug":"handy-packing-list-for-international-road-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thomascook.in\/blog\/international-holidays\/handy-packing-list-for-international-road-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"A Handy Packing List for Your International Road Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"
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To start with and to get you comfortable with the idea of international road trip, I had jotted down a list of countries you could think about starting with \u2013 Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and Thailand – countries that are closer to home. This will give you a feel of a road trip and will also help determine whether you are a true \u201croad tripper\u201d. But as exciting and adventurous as they may sound, road trips are quite demanding and require you to be prepared for whatever comes your way. This could range from car problems to health issues and could just strike when you\u2019re in the middle of nowhere. And then of course, there are the mandatories of visas, travel insurance and foreign exchange, but I just entrusted that part to Thomas Cook so that I could focus on planning the trip. But more about this in the later part of the article.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n

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While you cannot always foresee problems, your best defence is to prepare for them. Which is why, We\u2019ve compiled a comprehensive list of road trip essentials. You might wonder what little things like a jar of petroleum jelly has to do with it, but you\u2019ll be surprised at how handy it can be from calming chapped lips and elbows to keeping the car dashboard shining clean. To make it even easier for you, We\u2019ve broken down the list in different segments to help you tick and take what you need. Not all road trips are the same so only pack what is absolutely essential, as driving an overloaded or overfilled car can slow you down. Apart from charting a route plan, a road trip planner for stuff to pack will ensure you are not left stranded if you need something important.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1. Check your vehicle<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Service the vehicle:<\/strong> The health of your car is as important as yours. If you are driving a brand new car, it is advisable to pack a few kilometres under its belt before the long journey, preferably after its first service. You\u2019ll be more comfortable with the car and also the problems (if any), will reveal themselves and can be taken care of.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The health of your car is as important as yours. If you are driving a brand new car, it is advisable to pack a few kilometres under its belt before the long journey, preferably after its first service. You\u2019ll be more comfortable with the car and also the problems (if any), will reveal themselves and can be taken care of.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Service the vehicle: <\/strong>The health of your car is as important as yours. If you are driving a brand new car, it is advisable to pack a few kilometres under its belt before the long journey, preferably after its first service. You\u2019ll be more comfortable with the car and also the problems (if any), will reveal themselves and can be taken care of.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If you will be driving an old car, get it thoroughly checked, serviced and fixed \u2013 however minor the problem may seem. You do not want to be stranded in another country which does not have the spare parts of your car\u2019s brand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

After you\u2019ve gone under the hood, go outside it and check the tyres and tyre pressure, especially of the spare. Make sure all the lights are working and fill up your tank to full.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

GPS and Maps: <\/strong>This is your best friend on the road. I would suggest installing a separate GPS system in your car if it does not have an inbuilt one. Yes, I know that we typically like to use our phones, but I find the large screens of these external units more convenient to see. If you still insist, a phone mount will make it easier to see the route and drive. If you do want to use your phone\u2019s GPS, make sure to download the route when you have Wi-Fi access as some roads are not network-friendly. And the last thing you want is to be standing at a deserted crossroad wondering which way to go. I also carry physically printed maps as a backup just in case my phone dies out.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Car Documents: <\/strong>Ensure that you have all your documents in original (I would also carry photocopies and scan and upload these documents as back-up). These should include:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n