Packing List for Parents Visiting USA

Packing of baggage for parents visiting USA is very tough task, especially when you traveling for a long term to stay in USA with your sons or daughters or other family member's living and working in the USA.

Now that you have made your travel plans, flight tickets booked, required visas stamped, necessary visitors insurance purchased, and you are about to start packing.  Planning to pack your baggage for visiting USA can be  daunting task, but with a little planning and a methodical approach, this can be tackled very easily.

Where and How to start with the Packing List for Parents Visiting USA?

 To start with, ask these three basic questions to evaluate and compete your packing list for visiting USA:

1. What should I pack and carry to USA?
2. What would be available to purchase in USA
3. Will my suitcase meet the limits and accommodate?

What Needs to be Packed for my Visit to USA? 

Frankly speaking , everything is available in the US just with some minor price variation. If you start converting USD to INR, then you will find everything too expensive here, but that's a habit you should get rid of over time. It will also depend upon which place you are going to stay and the weight limit of the check-in luggage you can carry. But however these are few of the important things needed especially for elderly parents visiting USA.

• Clothes: You might need warm clothes depending on what time of the year you have been visiting so I would suggest you carry at least one coat and a few woolens. Tip: Wear the jacket in the airport which you are planning to bring. You will save the luggage weight which can be utilized for something more useful. Parents often need to carry some Indian traditional clothes and footwear. There are Indian festivals where you need to go properly dressed.
• Food: you might want to carry some basic spices, although you will find everything in most urban places in America. Most often, as parents you do want to make your traditional Indian flavored foods for your family.
• Medicines: On this one I would suggest, carry your basic medicines and don't forget to carry a prescription from a reputed doctor who would be ready to write some basic antibiotics or medicines for you. Dental is very costly. Get all you dental fixes done in India before flying to US. Specs are slightly costly here, so get 1-2 extra. Lenses are cheap and of good quality, if you have a vision insurance plan. It is very much advisable to take a US Visitor insurance plan after analyzing and reviewing your needs before you board the flight.
• Electronics: You need to get hold of an adapter for US, flat 2 pin plugs, to help you charging your mobile and laptops.

What is Available to be Purchased in the U.S.?

Evaluate the weight limit vs the need of the material. I will not recommend taking decisions based on cost of the item, but rather its availability in US (except medicines, they too are available but at a sky high prices). You need to check if there are many Indians in the place where you are going to stay. If there is a large community, then it is highly likely that there will be an Indian stores where you can buy all your needs. You even get ready made powders by MTR, Everest, etc brands in US, so you do not need to carry. Visitors insurance is very essential for relatives or parents visiting USA, this comes handy to overcome any unforeseen health conditions including when you are in transit and also during your short-term stay in America. Buying coverage lets you be more comfortable, and knowing that you are protected when you take it from a US vendor as you have all the support and immediate assistance.

Will my Suitcase Meet the Airline Baggage Limits and Fit Everything I need?

Most airline baggage limits for Economy class are commonly, the total linear dimension (length + height + width) of each checked in baggage should not exceed 62 inches (158 cm)., and weight of each checked-in baggage should also not exceed 23 kg (50 lbs).  Premium and Business classes may usually allow higher limits, it is always a good idea  to check the airline website for details.

Almost all the airlines allow two checked in luggage and one cabin bag and one laptop bag. But to be on the safer side we should always check this while booking airline ticket. You should also get TSA approved locks for the bags. Sometimes when authorities check your luggage, you may find a notice that your baggage has been inspected. Ensure baggage locked with TSA locks so that the contents are not stolen, broken or mishandled.

Most major cities in the USA have Indian grocery stores. So you should be able to get all the spices and flours and back from home that you want. I would also guess that many of the things from back home that you might want (books, music, videos, etc) are probably available online if not in Indian shops here. So just don’t worry too much, take it easy and go with the flow.

Bon voyage and have safe journey and fun-filled stay in America!

Pack your bags comfortably, and also remember to buy the best visitors insurance for parents visiting USA and have a safe trip. Good Luck!!