Packing for a Trip

The number one advice for packing for a trip is: If in doubt, leave it out. Scan through the packing list for travel below. With airlines charging fees for every piece of luggage, you want to pack light. You won't need to take everything on the list, but it includes practical items you may not have thought of. TIP Even if you're planning to carry-on your luggage, the airline may require you to check it in for various reasons. Now, suppose you luggage gets lost... What are the most important items you must keep with you? Money/ATM/credit card Travel Documents Tickets Prescription medications/Glasses or contacts A change of clothes I'm sure you have your own longer list of must-have items, but these are the minimum you'll want to pack in your carry-on luggage and keep with you wherever you travel. Packing for a Trip TIPS Carry your documents, tickets and money in a money belt ON you. If you don’t like wearing belts, there are travel pouches with a long strap that you can either hang across your chest, or hook around your waist. Either way, keep it hidden under your clothes. Don’t take anything on the trip that you can’t live without. That goes for clothes, jewelry…anything can get lost or ruined. Spread out everything you plan to take. Then, leave out 1/3. Remember: when in doubt, leave it out. Don’t worry about forgetting or leaving something out. You can always find what you need locally. Packing for a Trip Basic packing list for travel Documents TIP Scan important documents and email them to yourself. That way if you loose anything, you can always recover it. Passport Visas Immunization card US & Int’l driver’s license Airline/train tickets Medical and optical prescriptions Emergency contact info Proof of ownership for laptops, etc. Luggage Main luggage Daypack Money belt or pouch Combination locks Money Foreign currency (arrive with at least $50) Credit card & ATM card Prepaid phone card Blank check for emergencies See our tips on traveling with money Clothes TIP Choose quick drying materials. You can rinse them out in the sink and dry them overnight. Merino wool is the newest favorite fabric for travel. It is soft, light, low bulk and quick drying. It moves moisture away from skin and is odor resistant. You can hand or machine wash it. Windbreaker/jacket Hat Long sleeved t-shirt Pants/skirts/dresses 2 Shirts/tops 4 Socks 5 Sturdy walking shoes & sandals Swimming suit Toiletries Favorite cosmetics Toothbrush/toothpaste/floss Shampoo/conditioner/ Travel towel Shaving cream/razors Deodorant Moisturizing lotion Comb/brush Sunscreen Insect repellent Sewing kit Health Prescription medications (enough to last the whole trip) Contact lens spares and solution Contraceptives Condoms Pain reliever Stomach medicine Anti malarial prophylactic medication Motion sickness medication Water purification supplies Bandaids Antibiotic and hydrocortisone cream Safety pins Insect repellent with 30% to 50% Deet Sunscreen at least 15, and lip balm Toilet paper or tissues Miscellaneous Guide books Phrase books Travel journal Ziplock bags Camera/memory/batteries Flashlight/batteries Watch with alarm Mini blowdryer/ adapter Bungee cord Sunglasses with UV protection Hand sanitizer Umbrella Earplugs/eyemask Inflatable pillow/neck rest Safety pins Odds and Ends These are things you’ll find useful during your trip: Ziplock plastic bags are the best when going through customs. Universal sink stopper. You can rinse out your clothes in the sink. Door Stopper. Specially if you’ll be staying in hostels. Packing for a Trip Check-in or Carry-on? Airline rules keep changing, and the rules that apply on flights to/from the US, aren’t always the same in other parts of the world, even on the same airline. Verify the rules with the different airlines you’ll be flying with BEFORE you depart. The best advice we can give you is to check in your luggage. I know it takes longer to get out of the airport when you check in your luggage, but getting to the airport in time for you fight, is more important than leaving the airport quickly. Even with the extra fees for checked in luggage, it may be worth it because: It gets you through security faster. You avoid the hassle of verifying airline rules for carry-on luggage You will be more comfortable and relaxed not having to lug your stuff around and guard it at every moment. Before you start packing for a trip, invest in: Luggage This will depend on your physical condition, and where you plan to travel. In the First World an upright rollaboard with a study frame handle is great. But in Third and Fourth World countries there may not be many smooth surfaces, and you’ll need a backpack, And that’s a bit more personal. Go to a luggage store and try out different styles, walk around in it a bit. Make sure it’s comfortable. Once you have a brand and style you like, then you can shop for the best price. Buy the best quality you can afford, especially if you’ll be doing a lot of hard travel. Unless you’re planning on getting around in limos, you’ll be glad you did. Choose luggage that does not call attention to itself. Anything with crazy colors, or an expensive look will attract thieves and the attention of customs officers. You can mark plain luggage with tape or a marker so you can spot it easily. Get combination locks for your main luggage and daypack Good shoes. Buy these before your trip. Make sure you wear them and ‘break them in’ before you go. Quality, comfortable shoes are more difficult to find locally than clothes. Bring a pair of sturdy walking shoes and a pair of sandals. Camera. Unless you’re into professional photography, bring the lightest, smallest, simplest camera you can find. Digital cameras have many advantages, they are lighter, smaller, last longer, and you keep your pictures on memory chips that take up less space than film. Pack enough memory chips. You can also transfer your pictures to a CD on the road, at a cyber café for about US$5. Emailing pictures is slow, and internet fees can get expensive. Audio and Video players. During long trips or waits, you can watch any video you want! Unbox Videos, is a video download service from Amazon. You can buy or rent any video or TV show. And, you can transfer your videos to a compatible portable device so that you can watch your videos while you are on the go. Here's how it works. If you like to read and don’t want to carry a bulky book, try wireless books, a device to which you can download any book or magazine you want, instantly. To Pack or Not to Pack Video cameras. People get so focused on getting the whole thing on film, that they end up missing the whole thing. If you decide to take a video camera, great! just don't forget to look around you once in a while. Laptop computers. The only reason to bring a laptop is if you MUST access secure or private information. You can stay in touch by email, search the web, and look at your photos at a cyber café. With most banks, you can access your account over the phone. Weigh the pros and cons of how much will you use it vs. carrying it around, worrying about its safety, and the consequences if it’s damaged, lost or stolen. The Blackberry is a great alternative to a laptop and cell phone. Packing for a Trip Round the World There are people who plan their itinerary around the world to only warm or only cold weather destinations, so they don’t have to pack too much. Now, why would you want to limit yourself to only places where you can wear the same clothes?! If you didn’t bring enough clothes or the right clothes, you can always find what you need locally. Even in expensive places like London, I was able to find warm clothes and boots for reasonable prices at Camden Market, a fun, weekly flea market, which is also a great place to eat and people watch. Even if you decide to go only to countries where the weather is hot, remember that not all hot weather is alike. The same silk shirt that works so well in Australia, where it's hot and dry will stick to you like a wet-t-shirt contest in Thailand where humidity is 100%. Explore around and you'll find open air markets, beach stands, and thrift shops that are fun and interesting, and you can find what you need at cheap prices.