Check List

What You'll Need and packing suggestions at the bottom of the page.

Important Pre-Trip Duties

• Review your health insurance and how it covers you in foreign countries.
• Prescription Medications, ask for an extra prescription or have your doctor's information in case your prescription gets lost. (Need original bottles)
• School and/or Activities: you might miss something
• Cell phone (International - contact your provider)

Packing List

Here is our suggested packing list, but it is not necessarily complete. There may be other things you will need based on personal needs. Please remember that you have limited space and have to carry your things many times. There are also some items that you can do without if you so desire.

Neccessities:
Double check 

• Passport and a photocopy of it
• Personal I.D. (driver license)
• Insurance cards/Information
• Travel Information - airlines/train/bus tickets, hotel reservation

Clothing

• Clothing that are weather appropriate. - No one should enter a Catholic Church immodestly dressed. Neither should you wear any immodest clothing at any time on this pilgrimage. (5 shirts, 2 pair of pants or skirts, 2 pair of modest shorts, socks, underclothing)
• Light jacket
• Hat

Footwear

• Pair comfortable walking shoes. (Option: Water proof your shoes. Camp Dry is one product you can use, from Wal-Mart in their shoe department or any other type of water treatment you can find.)
• Sandals are not a good idea but if you must take them make sure they strap on your feet.
• NO FLIP FLOPS except to shower in!!! (average walking is 13 miles per day)

Toiletries

• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet paper - travel size
• Deodorant
• Shampoo
• Bath soap
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Dental floss
• Shaving gear
• Brush (small)
• Towel (sports)
• glasses, contacts, solution

Outdoor Gear

• Back pack (Carry on - plane)
• Shower shoes
• Sleeping bag
• Small pillow
• Air mattress/inflatable raft
• Rescue blanket. Not the cheap pocket sized ones, but the ones that look like a foil backed tarp.
• small flash light
• first aid kit (can make your own)

Miscellaneous

• Trading items - Any fun trinkets you would like to trade with people from other countries. A few ideas - Holy Cards associated with our parishes and discussions of the patron saint of the parish you are representing, hats, pins, key chains, clothes pins with a scripture and parish/location written on the pin, writing pens, bandanas, and other ideas. Note: anything that represents U.S.A.
• Host family gifts
• Medications with written prescription from your doctor
• Am radio – this is in order to pick up the translated Mass during the closing ceremony
• Laundry detergent
• Spending Money ($250-$500 US) - mostly for extra meals
• Money Belt worn under clothing
• Rosary and Scapular
• Bible (travel size)

Optional

• Small umbrella (for sun and rain)
• Tylenol/Advil - Imodium
• Small nylon bag (for dirty clothes)
• Camera
• Journal and pen
• Shaving things
• Ziplock bags (for stuff)
• Sunglasses
• PJ's
• Earplugs (for the ariplane or snorign roommates)
• Sleeping mask
• Swim suit – keep it appropriate for a pilgrimage
• Sunscreen
• Small piece of plastic for ground cloth at closing ceremonies 
• Rain poncho
• Wristwatch with an alarm
• Electricity Converter
• Insect repellant

 

Packing Suggetions:

Suggestion #1: We absolutely recommend that you wear a money belt. In it you can keep your passport, money, plane ticket, credit card and any other very important papers. Never, ever, ever use a purse or wallet. Fanny packs are another favorite of petty criminals. 

Suggestion #2: Backpack (carry-on) recommend the following: Medication (prescribed or over the counter), extra money, toiletries (see above), first aid, one change of clothing and sleep wear - great in case airlines lose your main luggage.

Suggestion #3: Pack a medium sized backpack or a suitcase with everything you think you need. Get on the public transportation in your city, go to the mall and walk around with it for five hours, walking up and down every stairway you happen to see, walk home…then repack with a smaller backpack.

We have seen pilgrims bring everything they needed in a book bag, while others bring huge suitcases weighing 75 pounds. Needless to say the ones who packed lighter were happier campers. Those who bring heavy packs become a penance for the entire group. Quote from Bishop Patrick Zurek, "Pack everything you think you will need, then cut it in half. Lastly, cut in in half one more time and that is what you take"

Idea: your check in backpack or suitcase should be about half empty.

Suggestion #4: Take extra money and buy some of the above items when you arrive at WYD. Know that you could be without for days.