ISE participants are permitted one suitcase and one carry-on in order to accommodate group travel on trains and in chartered motor coaches; luggage racks on trains and luggage compartments in buses are very limited in size.

Please see airline websites for the most current luggage weight and size limits; oversize and overweight luggage creates extra cost that must be paid by the passenger at the time of check-in. Please visit the Travel Security Administration web-site; www.tsa.gov to review current limitations for items allowed in your carry-on. Your carry-on must fit under the plane seat. Both bags must be marked inside and outside with your name and home address - including "USA."

Before you leave for the airport fill out and attach your ISE colored luggage tags securely to your bags.

Pack less than you think you will need. An experienced traveler always travels light. Remember, you will be the one carrying your luggage! Don’t worry about wearing the same clothes several times. Only your bus companions will know and they will be doing the same thing. Items like valuable jewelry should be left at home!

Items you may want to pack in your carry-on include:

• digital camera
• foreign language dictionary, things to study on the plane
• essential medications (carry along a generic prescription for all medications)
• toothbrush and toothpaste
• a change of clothes
• eyeglasses, contact case and solutions
• female sanitary products
• anything else you would not do without in the event that your suitcase is lost and catches up with you a day or two later

Suggested Packing List:

This may vary depending on the length of your stay abroad.

• 3-4 changes of clothes (mix and match for variety).
• Nice jeans are okay.
• Girls should bring at least one skirt or dress
• Boys should bring at lease one fairly dressy pair of slacks, dress shirt and sweater
• Rain gear – coat, hat, umbrella and/or poncho
• Two pairs of comfortable shoes
• Underwear & socks
• Slippers or flip-flops
• Swimsuit, sunscreen & towel
• Toiletries (travel size soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc.)
• Gift for your host family

Tips for Packing & Other Handy Items:

• Dress in layers to be best prepared for possible extremes in weather.
• Spring and even summer can be very damp and cool in Europe.
• Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Mexico & Peru’s daytime temperatures may be warm, but many areas cool down quite a bit in the evening.
• Most groups travel to Costa Rica during the rainy season – be prepared for rainy weather and cool nights. You may also want to bring comfortable hiking shoes/boots, binoculars, a rain poncho and bug spray with you to Costa Rica.
• It is not suggested to wear shorts in Mexico City.

Other Handy Items

• Money belt or neck pouch
• Plastic bag for dirty clothes
• Band-Aids and Kleenex
• Travel alarm clock
• List of addresses for correspondence
• A copy of your birth certificate, extra passport photos and a copy of the 2 inside pages of your passport that show your picture, date and place of issue. (This information can be very helpful in the case of a lost or stolen passport).

Voltage/Electrical Appliances:

Europe: The electric current is Europe is 220V and will quickly burn out any 110V appliance. Bring dual voltage appliances with adaptor plugs.

Mexico and Costa Rica: The electrical current is 110V – the same as in the US.

Before leaving for the airport:

• Make sure you have your passport with you.
• Make sure you have your debit/credit card.
• Make sure to leave a copy of your final itinerary with your parents.
• Fill out and attach your ISE colored luggage tags securely to your bags.