What and How to Pack

an A to Z packing list for your trip to the Middle East.

Pack light. You don't need five books–you won't have time to read them. You don't need every article of clothing in your closet–you'll be able to do laundry once you're here. When it comes to packing: when in doubt, toss it out.

Pack the Essentials:

a) Passport
b) A photocopy of your passport (in a separate place)
c) Airline Tickets
d) A photocopy of your airline tickets
e) Visa and/or Mastercard
f) Phone numbers of your embassy in the country you will visit
g) Any needed/prescribed medications

Make sure these essentials are in your carry on luggage. There is always a chance the airline will lose your luggage–better safe than sorry!

The Right Clothes for the Occasion

How conservatively people dress varies from town to town and village to village. In general, it's better to dress slightly more conservatively than you might back home. Shorts (except for swimming) or very short skirts could be avoided and sleeveless tank tops should probably be left at home. On the other hand, the Middle East in the summer is hot–so don't pack a lot of heavy, long sleeved black shirts either.

It also might be smart to bring:

h) A headscarf (for women). Not necessary for everyday wear, but a headscarf will be needed, for example, when visiting a mosque or holy shrine.

i) Warm clothing for the cold evenings (one long sleeve sweater should suffice).

j) One set of more formal wear. Something you might feel comfortable wearing at a wedding.

k) Sunglasses. They're not just aesthetic–these really do help protect your eyes.

l) A light, waterproof jacket.

m) Swimsuit/swim trunks. You'll like have at least one opportunity to make use of it.

o) a towel–also for swimming.

p) A wide brim hat. Good for protecting against the summer sun.

Packing for the Plane

If you're flying from the United States, the trip to the Middle East is a long one. If you have trouble sleeping on long flights you could consider pack

q) One good book.

r) A water bottle. Part of jet lag is dehydration. They'll probably serve drinks in flight, but bringing your own bottle can keep you extra hydrated.

s) Anything that will help you sleep–ear plugs. An inflatable neck pillow, eyes shades–whatever works for you.

Tools / Electronics

t) Voltage converter. If you bring U.S. appliance or electronics you will at least need to bring a plug adapter–most plugs in the Middle East have two round prongs. Or, depending on the appliance, you may need a voltage converter. If your appliances do not accept 220 volts AC at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter (check to see if it's written on the device itself or in the manual).

Google “voltage converter” for places to purchase your own.

u) Laptop. These days, a lot of people can't live without it–if so, bring it. Note that if you're going to be staying in a town like Bethlehem or a city like Damascus, internet cafes are widely available.

v) Digital Camera. You'll probably want photos. If you have a camera, bring it.

w) Paper and pen. A low tech solution to the task of journaling and note taking. A good idea to bring this along even if you bring everything else. Laptops crash–pen and paper don't.

Stuff you Can Bring or Easily Purchase Here

x) Sunscreen. Again, protect yourself from the sun.

y) Toiletries. Toothpaste, shampoo, soap–all easy to find items. You can pack them or, in all likelihood, buy them more cheaply once you've arrived.

z) Gift for your Host Family. If you're staying with a host family for any portion of your trip, it's a nice idea to bring a small gift. Sweets always do the trick. Or something meaningful to you might also be a nice gesture–for example, a T-shirt that's related to the city that you're from or something you can only get in your area and not in the Middle East. You can also wait until you arrive to pick up a gift–the advantage of this is that you can meet your host family first, get a sense of what they like, and then buy it.