Should I bring my camera in checked luggage?

No. Camera gear always goes in carry-on. Airlines break things, bags get lost, and lithium batteries aren't allowed in checked luggage anyway. Your camera stays with you.

How many lenses should I bring?

One versatile zoom covers most travel. Add a second lens only if you have a specific need. Most people overpack lenses and end up using one the entire trip. Two lenses is reasonable. Three is the maximum unless you're on a dedicated photography trip.

Do I need a dedicated camera bag for travel?

No, and it's often better not to. A camera cube in a regular backpack is less conspicuous and more versatile. You don't advertise that you're carrying expensive gear, and you have room for non-camera items.

What if my bag gets gate-checked?

Take your camera out before they tag your bag. Put it in your personal item or hold it. Gate agents throw bags. Your camera doesn't survive that. If you're flying a small plane where everything gets gate-checked, transfer your camera to your personal item before boarding.

Should I bring my tripod?

Only if you have a specific shot in mind that requires it. Tripods are heavy and awkward to travel with. A small tabletop tripod or Gorillapod weighs almost nothing and handles 80% of tripod needs. A full-size tripod makes sense for landscape or astrophotography trips, not general travel.

How do I keep my camera gear safe in hostels or shared accommodations?

Never leave it in a dorm room. Use the hostel locker if available, or keep it with you. When you're out, lock your camera cube inside your main bag and use a small padlock. Better yet, take your camera with you. It's worth more than whatever else you're doing.

How to Pack Camera Gear for Travel

Pack your camera gear in a padded camera cube or dedicated camera bag that fits inside your carry-on. Keep your most expensive body and lens with you at all times, distribute weight across your bag, and bring only the gear you'll actually use. A typical travel setup is one body, 2-3 lenses, extra batteries, memory cards, and a microfiber cloth.

Choose your gear before you choose your bag. Decide what you're actually going to shoot. A city trip needs different glass than a wildlife safari. Most travelers overpack lenses. One versatile zoom (like a 24-70mm or 18-135mm) covers 80% of travel situations. Add a second lens only if you have a specific use case—a wide angle for landscapes, a prime for low light, or a telephoto for wildlife.
Use a camera cube in your main bag. A padded camera cube (like Peak Design or Tenba BYOB) turns any backpack into a camera bag. This is better than a dedicated camera bag for travel because you don't look like you're carrying expensive gear. The cube protects your camera body and 1-2 lenses. Everything else goes in the main compartment of your backpack.
Pack your most valuable gear in your personal item. Your camera body and primary lens stay with you. If you're flying with two carry-ons, put your main camera setup in your personal item (a small backpack or sling). This stays under the seat in front of you where you can always reach it. Gate-checked bags get thrown around. Your camera does not go in a gate-checked bag.
Distribute weight and protect the mount. Never pack a camera with a lens attached unless it's a pancake lens. The mount is the weakest point. Pack body and lenses separately in the camera cube with dividers between them. Put heavier items (like a telephoto lens) at the bottom of your bag, closest to your back. This keeps the weight centered and prevents the bag from tipping.
Pack batteries and cards in your carry-on. Lithium batteries must go in carry-on luggage—it's not optional, it's the law. Bring at least one spare battery per camera body. Memory cards go in a small case in your carry-on. Bring twice the capacity you think you'll need. A 64GB card costs $15 and weighs nothing. Running out of storage in Patagonia costs you shots you can't recreate.
Bring a cleaning kit. Pack a microfiber cloth, lens pen, and a blower bulb. These weigh under 100 grams total and save you when dust hits your sensor or salt spray hits your lens. If you're going somewhere sandy or humid, add silica gel packets to your camera bag. Change them out every few days.
Use a rain cover or dry bag for weather. A simple rain cover for your bag costs $10-20 and packs down to nothing. If you're going somewhere wet or sandy, add a dry bag or large Ziploc for your camera. A broken camera ruins a trip. A $15 rain cover does not.
Document your gear before you leave. Take photos of your gear, write down serial numbers, and check your insurance. If you have homeowners or renters insurance, check if it covers your camera gear while traveling. If not, consider a policy from a company like World Nomads that covers photography equipment. A mirrorless body and two lenses easily hit $3,000-5,000.

Should I bring my camera in checked luggage?: No. Camera gear always goes in carry-on. Airlines break things, bags get lost, and lithium batteries aren't allowed in checked luggage anyway. Your camera stays with you.
How many lenses should I bring?: One versatile zoom covers most travel. Add a second lens only if you have a specific need. Most people overpack lenses and end up using one the entire trip. Two lenses is reasonable. Three is the maximum unless you're on a dedicated photography trip.
Do I need a dedicated camera bag for travel?: No, and it's often better not to. A camera cube in a regular backpack is less conspicuous and more versatile. You don't advertise that you're carrying expensive gear, and you have room for non-camera items.
What if my bag gets gate-checked?: Take your camera out before they tag your bag. Put it in your personal item or hold it. Gate agents throw bags. Your camera doesn't survive that. If you're flying a small plane where everything gets gate-checked, transfer your camera to your personal item before boarding.
Should I bring my tripod?: Only if you have a specific shot in mind that requires it. Tripods are heavy and awkward to travel with. A small tabletop tripod or Gorillapod weighs almost nothing and handles 80% of tripod needs. A full-size tripod makes sense for landscape or astrophotography trips, not general travel.
How do I keep my camera gear safe in hostels or shared accommodations?: Never leave it in a dorm room. Use the hostel locker if available, or keep it with you. When you're out, lock your camera cube inside your main bag and use a small padlock. Better yet, take your camera with you. It's worth more than whatever else you're doing.