Planning to travel?
Are you planning to travel soon? Are you afraid of forgetting to pack stuff?
Start early making a list of things you need to pack.
I have made several lists, depending on where I am going, so every time I start packing I take one of the print-outs and cross off the item that is packed. This makes life easy for you and you can be sure not to forget packing important stuff.
Things I will always take when traveling to a country that I want to explore.
1. First aid
You never know what can happen and this kit has saved me or my companions several times. Make sure you have a few essentials, such as bandages, disinfection(!), a selection of medicine (pain killers, migraine (if needed), charcoal tablets, electrolytes and.. let's call them 'corks' for top and bottom) and an emergency whistle.
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2. Items that make life better
Whenever I travel to countries that I want to explore and be a little adventurous I take a few things.
First of all: A hammock. There is no greater feeling than being in the middle of nowhere and putting up your hammock somewhere between two trees and have a nap or simply enjoy the moment.
When you're traveling to places outside of Europe this might come in handy, especially when traveling on a budget: A mosquito net. I have used my net on many occasions when my hotel didn't or couldn't provide one. Especially in Asia I found this really helpful as there are mozzies everywhere and having a good night sleep is essential.
The third item on this list is a sleeping bag. Depending on your budget your hotel might not be as hygienic as you'd hope it would. If I have any doubts, I simply use my own sleeping bag to sleep in.
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3. Tools
There is one thing I always take: A knife. This can be a life saver, trust me. It comes in handy in so many situations and really doesn't take up a lot of space. Just make sure not to have it in your on-board luggage.
Other items that I like bringing are a few meters of rope (being strong enough to support my weight), a few carabiners (useful in many ways!) and again: disinfection (I can't stress this enough).
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4. The fake wallet
I have never needed this but I feel like it's a smart thing to have and I am sure it will come in handy some day. As a guy I usually carry my wallet in my right back pocket. But being in a foreign country you never know about the crime rate. Someone could easily pickpocket your wallet when you're in a crowd, or even worse, you could get mugged. Always carry a fake wallet in an obvious place (such as your regular back right pocket). It should contain some old cards (insurance, bank, etc.. - just make sure they are no longer valid!) and a bunch of cash. I usually carry about 15-20 Euros of the local currency in my fake wallet in small notes so it looks like it's a lot.
Whoever steals this wallet from you will have a brief check if there is money inside. He won't count it immediately. As the fake wallet does look like the real deal he'll be happy and leave. Same goes for the unlikely event of being mugged.
Always carry your important belongings (passport, cash, bank cards) in a very safe place such as a hidden compartment underneath your clothes for example. Always have a copy of your passport in a place separate from your passport! Have a copy in your hotel and one in your wallet. Believe me, this can help you avoid loads of trouble in case you do lose your passport for any reason.
Your carry-on luggage
You should know by yourself that there are a few items you should have in your on-board luggage, such as a book, music, etc. This is general knowledge. But there are two things you should bring if you do not have a direct flight. It happened to me on several occasions that I have missed my onward flight or got delayed for any reason and had to spend many hours at airports. These two tips can make life much more comfortable for you:
1. Bring a pair of fresh clothes (underwear, shirt,socks), a toothbrush and maybe some deodorant. There's nothing worse than being stuck at an airport for hours after you've been traveling for a while. You feel uncomfortable, smelly, bah. A fresh set of clothes and a toothbrush don't take up a lot of space but they can make a big difference to your spirit in case the event does occur.
2. A sleeping bag. Of course you can survive without having a sleeping bag but in case you have to spend a few hours at the airport in the middle of the night it does make a difference. I learned this the hard way :)
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Travel light
First of all I have to admit: I have not mastered this. Definitely not.
I always carry too much stuff, what a waste! Always try traveling as light as possible, there's no need for seven pairs of trousers. If one is dirty, you can wash it - or get it washed for you. Only bring what you really need.
... I will work on that.