funtotravel.info TIPS: What to pack if you're going travelling

Off on a round the world trip and have no idea on what to pack and what to leave behind? This blog will deal with the bog standard things that you should take away on any trip.We haven't included money (probably the most obvious thing you'll need to take!), as we'll be covering that in a separate blog in the next few days. 

Forget your nail clippers? Don't worry too much - I'm sure you'll find someone willing to help!

First and foremost, let’s not forget the vital things:

• Your passport. Ensure that it has at least 6 months (preferably a year) validity on it past the date you’re planning to return home. Some countries will not let you in if your passport is due to expire within this period.
• Plane tickets/train tickets etc.
  • If you have been issued with actual physical tickets, then you will obviously need to bring these with you, but make sure you keep a photocopy of all the tickets somewhere safe (away from the actual tickets), and a scanned copy in your email account.
  • If you have an electronic ticket, print a paper copy anyway and keep it somewhere safe (handy for confirming flight times if you can’t get online for some reason), as well as emailing a copy to someone else in case you accidentally delete the email.
• Clothes. What to pack depends on where you are planning on travelling and at what time of year, but our golden rule is that you should always pack far fewer clothes than you initially plan. You won’t wear half of them. Bear in mind also that you will no doubt pick up clothes along the way to suit the climate you’re in, and also that you can buy some absolute bargains in markets and shops around the world. Leave space in your bag.
  • It is always worth taking a lightweight waterproof jacket that you can fold up and keep in your daypack, in case you get caught in the rain.
  • If you’re heading to colder climes then remember that the golden rule of staying warm is layering. Having said this, we spent a decent sum of money on a thick fleece lined waterproof jacket to take to Bolivia and Peru in the winter and did not regret it for a second. If the temperatures reach –20°c you will be grateful for the protection!
  • Thinking of the cold, if you’re going somewhere with extremely cold weather (i.e. Russia or Canada in the winter) then it is worth investing in some thermal underwear. They are remarkably thin and will roll up to take up very little space in your backpack.
  • Take a pair of jeans. They are practical for going out, are warm but not too warm to wear out at night in a tropical climate, hard wearing and will help you blend in, believe it or not.
  • We’d recommend buying a Buff – they are so useful and versatile no matter whether it’s hot or cold in that they can be worn as a hat, headband, neck warmer, balaclava, sun, wind or dust screen, bandana, helmet liner, scarf, pirate-style cap or hair band. They are also perfectly fine to just wash in the sink of your hostel, do not lose their elasticity and are pretty hard wearing.
• Shoes.
  • Take a pair of flip flops/thongs/sandals (depending on where you’re from). They are great for when the weather is hot, for the beach and for hostel/campsite showers. Havianas are cheap, durable and eternally popular with backpackers.
  • Take a pair of durable trainers for cold weather, walking long distances and for when it’s raining. If you plan on sampling the nightlife then it makes sense to pick a pair that look ok with your jeans!
  • If you plan on trekking, it’s up to you whether or not you take hiking boots, as they are heavy, take up a lot of space and you will not be using them for most of your trip. We have found that in 99% of places where trekking is popular you can either buy or hire boots there, which seems a far more practical solution to us.
  • When we’ve been away recently, we bought trail running shoes which are perfect for day to day wear, much lighter than hiking boots and did us just fine for treks in Nepal, Peru and New Zealand.
• Towel (travel towel)
  • Definitely take a travel towel since they take up very little space, are super absorbent and dry very quickly. They are not cheap but are worth every penny.
  • We’d advise you not to pack a beach towel. If you really want one you will have no problems finding one at whichever beach town you rock up to first, and probably cheaper than home. A better alternative anyway is a sarong, which is perfect for lying on on the beach and can also be used as a bed sheet, a skirt, towel, headscarf and for covering up when visiting temples.
• Toiletries
  • Try and pack light if you can and avoid taking unnecessary grooming products, makeup etc – there’s even a branch of Boots (the popular British chemist and beauty product store) on the Khao San Road in Bangkok.
  • If you are a girl, and are travelling to anywhere that the average person would not consider to be a fully developed country, then take plenty of tampons with you. For either sex we would advise taking some condoms made by a reputable company with you rather than relying on unknown local brands.

Waterproofs: useful!

Things you should take even if you can’t see why you’d ever need them when you pack:

• First aid kit. We suggest that as a minimum you include the following:
  • Any medication you need personally (including your malaria medication)
  • Plasters
  • Bandages (a small roll should suffice)
  • Antiseptic cream
  • Paracetamol/aspirin
• Sleeping bag liner. This is invaluable in weather too warm for a sleeping bag in hostels or cheap hotels where you don’t fancy sleeping under their sheets! You can buy a cotton one for pretty cheap in most adventure stores. Whether you take a sleeping bag or not is a similar debate to the hiking boots one – we think that unless you are travelling in the winter (when a decent sleeping bag is vital, particularly if you are sleeping in dorm rooms in hostels every night) then just hire one as and when you need it (on treks etc) as this is easily arranged in most touristy destinations.
• Copies of important documents: it is vital that you have copies of your passport, insurance documents, any travellers cheques you are taking as well as your airline tickets, rail passes etc. Store them separately to the original versions obviously!
• Earplugs. Especially useful if you are staying in a dorm and there are snorers in there! They are also brilliant if you are staying in a party destination (like Ko Phangan) and want a night off from the noise. That way you get a decent night’s sleep even if no-one else does.
• Ziploc bag: as stated above these are very useful for keeping shampoo and toothpaste in to stop any spillages from causing damage to everything in your bag.
• Dirty laundry bag: why? You don’t really want your nice clean clothes mixed in with your dirty ones, do you? What would your mother say?! Also useful for carting your dirty laundry down to a laundrette or for keeping clothes together for an in-hostel laundry service.
• Torch: very useful in a dorm at night if you want to avoid waking everyone up by putting the light on. Also useful in locations that don’t have 24 hour electricity.

Others

• Books:
  • Guidebooks: first and foremost, we imagine that you, like us, enjoy the comfort of having a guide book with you when you travel, for times when there is no internet available, or for when you’re on a train or bus. If you are travelling around a number of different countries in different regions then we wouldn’t advocate taking a guide book for all of them from the start of your trip – those guidebooks are heavy! Instead take one for your first couple of destinations and no more – there will be plenty of guidebooks in hostel book exchanges, bookshops and you can also swap them with fellow travellers along the way.
  • Personal Books: whether you’re into novels, history books or biographies, take a few of your favourite books with you or books that you’re desperate to read. They are invaluable for long bus or train journeys, for the beach or even just for chilling out. They are invaluable for people travelling on their own, as reading is obviously a great solo activity. Plenty of hostels have book exchanges and you will find some second hand bookshops wherever you travel. There are though areas where English language books are difficult to get hold of and off-puttingly expensive. It therefore makes sense to have a couple on hand that you can swap with other travellers.

Optional extras

• Universal sink plug: you’d be amazed how many hostel sinks or bath-tubs are missing them. If you do want to save cash by washing your own underwear then this will be an essential purchase, as will a portable clothes line.
• Pacsafe: if you are paranoid and want your bag to be ultra secure then this is a good option. They are designed to cover your backpack or case and protect it from tampering or theft. Made of tough but flexible and expandable stainless steel, you can throw it around your pack, secure it to something fixed and not worry about losing everything. Great for overnight trains and buses and for leaving your bag in a dorm during the day.

Many people ask us about taking electronic equipment like iPods, digital cameras, laptops etc on their trips. We will cover that area in another blog. If you can't wait that long, why not contact us through the website and we will get back to you!