Travel Documents
While it is best to keep your cash, wallet, passport, and air tickets on your person, other documents can go in your carry-on.
Important documents include any completed visa applications, extra copies of blank visa applications, extra copies of passport-sized photos, business cards, and insurance information.
Consider bringing taxi fare in the local currency for connection to your hotel, so that you are not at the mercy of exorbitant airport currency changers.
Onboard Entertainment
You are about to spend hours on a plane, with possible delays, so get some work done, or read a book, or both.
Pack your laptop (plus power cable, plug adapters suitable for your destination, and a cable for hotel internet connections). Keep your laptop in a convenient pocket, as it must pass through security scanners separately.
Bring a destination guidebook. You can use the time to plan your trip or study some conversational phrases. Prepare for shopping trips by counting to 1,000 in the local language.
Other good entertainment items include a pen and notebook (for when the laptop battery dies), a novel, a magazine, and your personal media player (and headphones).
Metal Objects
To avoid setting off metal detectors, metal items that you would normally keep on your person should go into your carry-on. These include your keys, mobile phone (including charger), wristwatch, and any other personal jewelry.
Valuables and Delicate Items
There are some things that should never end up at the bottom of a luggage compartment (or in the hands of unscrupulous baggage handlers). Carefully pack your sunglasses, prescription glasses, contact lenses (in cases), fishing rod, diving regulator, and any other expensive equipment that is easily crushed, bent, or destroyed, camera/video camera (including charger, extra batteries, extra memory card, and a USB cable to connect to your laptop), and any jewelry.
Toiletries
Toiletries help you look good after a 10-hour flight. All bottles must be less than three ounces. Place them together in a single, quart-sized, plastic zip-lock bag for easy security checks.
Essential toiletries include a hand towel, toothbrush and small tube of toothpaste, small bottle of mouthwash, deodorant or perfume, compact make-up kit, nausea and headache medicine, and any personal medications (some medications may be illegal without a prescription in your destination, so be sure to bring the original bottle with the pharmacy label).
If you have room, consider bringing an extra shirt to help pad delicate items and in case you need a quick change.
