For example, I'd spent 75 hours on overnight Amtrak trains before my most recent adventure aboard the California Zephyr, a double-decker train that runs from Chicago to Emeryville, California, in about 53 hours, making it the longest train ride in the US.
We had spreadsheets, backup plans, a carefully managed budget, and, as two adults in our 50s, decades of experience behind us. What could go wrong? Turns out, plenty. Over the past two and a half years, we've lived in more than a dozen countries and traveled thousands of miles. We've hiked to waterfalls in Bali, wandered the streets of Barcelona, and eaten our way through Thailand.
Packing electronics in your checked bag is a mistake due to the higher risk of theft and damage during international flights caused by increased handling.