Slim under-clothing money belt — can I take it in the cabin?

Keep it on you (declare over USD 10,000). Declaring on the way out saves proving the export again on the way back

Shampoo, conditioner and moisturiser for hard water — can I take it in the cabin?

Cabin: 100ml or less / checked: no limit. The limit is the container size — a 150ml bottle is taken at the checkpoint even if it is nearly empty

🇪🇺 Europe & North America Packing List

Europe & North America (Paris · London · Rome · New York) — Anti-theft phone tether and a TSA-approved lock

As of 2026-08-19

The most common mistake when packing for Europe & North America (Paris · London · Rome · New York) is assuming you can just buy it there. In practice the local price is often higher, the standard is different so it does not work, or finding a shop eats half a day. To avoid that, this list breaks 11 items into 3 categories. 9 of them are essentials — without them the itinerary itself is affected — and the remaining 2 are optional, to fit the space you have left.

What defines this destination is Anti-theft phone tether and a TSA-approved lock. Reusing the same list for a different country goes wrong exactly there, so it is worth checking per destination.

Essentials at a glance

Passport plus two photocopies
Travel insurance certificate in English
Two credit cards for overseas use (Visa and Mastercard)
Advance authorisation such as US ESTA or UK ETA
Anti-theft phone tether or neck strap
TSA-approved three-dial cable lock
Universal travel plug adapter
Compression cubes and a foldable spare bag
Shampoo, conditioner and moisturiser for hard water

Full list by category

📄 Documents & payment

Passport plus two photocopies Essential
Keep two passport photos and the copies somewhere separate, in case of loss
Travel insurance certificate in English Essential
Some European borders ask for proof — carry a printed copy
Two credit cards for overseas use (Visa and Mastercard) Essential
Use two different networks so a rejected card is not the end of it
Advance authorisation such as US ESTA or UK ETA Essential
Approval must be in hand at least 72 hours before departure

🔒 Theft prevention & safety

Anti-theft phone tether or neck strap Essential
Defeats snatch-and-run theft on the Paris and Rome metro
TSA-approved three-dial cable lock Essential
For securing a suitcase on trains and for hostel lockers
Slim under-clothing money belt Optional
Keeps your passport and larger notes out of sight

✈️ Long-haul flight & packing

Universal travel plug adapter Essential
Covers UK three-pin, continental Europe and North America in one
Compression socks and a sleep mask Optional
Prevents leg swelling and deep-vein problems on flights over ten hours
Compression cubes and a foldable spare bag Essential
For the extra volume you bring home as souvenirs
Shampoo, conditioner and moisturiser for hard water Essential
European hard water leaves hair stiff and skin dry

Category notes

📄 Documents & payment — 4 items

Losing any of these ends the trip on the spot. Keep a copy or a phone photo separately from the originals, and carry the originals in a bag that stays on your body rather than in your suitcase.

🔒 Theft prevention & safety — 3 items

Where pickpocketing is common, the shape of your bag is itself the countermeasure. Avoid back pockets and open tote bags.

✈️ Long-haul flight & packing — 4 items

These decide how well you sleep on a long flight. Take them out before boarding and keep them within reach of your seat.

The order to pack in

Working top to bottom through a list leaves gaps. This order leaves fewer.

Documents and payment first — without these you do not board at all. Check expiry dates and balances at this step, not later.
Anything that needs charging — charge it all the night before and gather the adapters and cables next to the devices.
Separate what you will use in the cabin — once a suitcase is checked you cannot open it until arrival. Pull those items into your carry-on first.
Everything else into the suitcase — heavy items near the wheels keep it stable when you pull it upright.
Re-check only the 9 essentials at the end — going through the whole list again never happens; going through the essentials does.

Items on this list with baggage rules

2 items on this list are governed by airport security and airline rules. Whether something can go in the cabin or has to be checked varies by item, and packing it in the wrong bag means surrendering it at the security lane. Check the verdicts below before you split your bags.

Item	Cabin · Checked
💵 Slim under-clothing money belt	Keep it on you (declare over USD 10,000)
🧴 Shampoo, conditioner and moisturiser for hard water	Cabin: 100ml or less / checked: no limit

Frequently asked questions

Slim under-clothing money belt — can I take it in the cabin?: Keep it on you (declare over USD 10,000). Declaring on the way out saves proving the export again on the way back
Shampoo, conditioner and moisturiser for hard water — can I take it in the cabin?: Cabin: 100ml or less / checked: no limit. The limit is the container size — a 150ml bottle is taken at the checkpoint even if it is nearly empty

Europe & North America travel tips and entry rules

Packing is not the whole job. Pre-registration and local rules can only be dealt with before you fly. Here are 3 guides for Europe & North America.

Packing lists for other destinations

🧳 Check the carry-on and checked baggage rules too · 📰 See all travel tips and entry rules