13 December 2011
I'm back with part two of my packing tips. Here you’ll find the types of extras that make their way into my bags.
Packing Essentials
- Address list and list of important contacts or numbers
- Backpack, suitcase, sports bag (something to pack everything in)
- Paper or Notebook
- Passport (check the validity- you need at least six months from date of return)
- Pencils, Pens
- Tickets and itinerary (airline, train, bus etc.)
- Visa
- Travel Insurance
Finances
- ATM card (Maestro or Cirrus logos on the back are most widely accepted)
- Calculator or currency converter
- Cash in the local currency of your arrival destination
- Credit card (Visa or Mastercard are most widely accepted)
- Money belt (You can't be too safe in some places)
First Aid Kit
I like to travel with a mini first aid kit to tide me over in case of an emergency and there being no pharmacy for miles. Or if there is a language barrier (I remember once asking for headache tablets in a pharmacy in Beijing - let's just say it didn't work out that well).
So I like to have the following in my little 'ouch pouch':
- Plasters (when you do a lot of walking you could end up with a blister or two)
- Anti- diarrhoea tablets like imodium (just in case - nothing ruins a holiday quicker than a case of the 'runs')
- Insect and/or mosquito repellent
- Medicines/prescription Drugs (have a copy of your prescription with you)
- Motion sickness tablets if you suffer from this
- Generic pain tablets (for headaches)
- Replacement/rehydration salts sachets (in case you get a runny tummy - you need to reydrate quickly)
- Small scissors and tweezers (don't keep this in your hand luggage though)
- Water purifying tablets
- Proof of necessary vaccinations (e.g. yellow fever, typhoid etc)
These are some of the other items that generally accompany me on my travels:
- Books or E-books on your Kindle or E-book reader (these are great space and weight savers)
- Camera- Spare flash cards or memory for the digital variety
- Chewing gum or mints - Especially if you are flying chewing something will help your ears unblock as you start the descent
- Combo or key locks (it is wise to get yourself a set of TSA locks that the security people in the US can unlock – you won’t have any broken locks)
- Electrical adapter, charger and plug converter for all your electronics
- Guidebooks and phrase books/dictionaries (nowadays most smartphones allow you to download a host of apps that can replace these)
- Inflatable travel pillow
- International driving license
- Student Identification Card - For discounts worldwide
- iPod/iPad
- Photocopies of important documents in case they are stolen (very important – At Flight Centre we suggest that you leave a copy with a friend or family member back home)
- Ziplock bags
