You booked your flight (and even saved money in the process). You scored the cutest Airbnb or 5-star hotel stay. Now it’s time to pack—oh, crap. What on earth do you bring when you’re traveling outside the U.S.? Sound familiar? Same. Last month, I found myself on a last-minute trip to London…and by last-minute, I mean I flew home from another state the day before my flight out of LAX and packed hours before boarding. (In case you’re wondering, yes, I think I can see some gray hairs from that frightful day.) If you’re a seasoned jetsetter, it probably doesn’t seem like there’s much of a difference from a domestic vacay (aside from that whole passport thing). But if you’ve never traveled internationally, you might feel stressed when traveling with all the specific rules and regulations. That’s where this international travel packing list comes in.

Stuffing your entire life into a stowed bag, figuring out what to pack in a carry-on and remembering to bring a personal item for a long trip can be daunting (what if you forget lip balm?!), but it doesn’t have to be anxiety-inducing. When you’re prepared, know what to expect and what things to pack for vacation, those panic attacks at the check-in counter will become a thing of the past.

I like to think of packing in four distinct steps. Once you break your list into organized segments, packing is suddenly way more manageable. Here’s how I do it:

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