Travel preparations, even for the most experienced travellers going away to resorts and beaches simply so they can relax and break free from routine, can often prove to be hectic and haphazard.
There is so much to do and remember, usually in not enough time, it is easy to forget or overlook the simplest—but often the most essential—of things.
You have tickets and accommodations to book, transport to arrange, budget to plan, activities at your destination to research, sort out everything at home so you don’t return to chaos, and … well, you get the point.
Easy then, to leave the charger plugged in next to your bed, right?
Easier perhaps to add just one more item to your to-do, and create a checklist of everything you absolutely will require on your trip. And then, pack it all up.
Or we can provide the list, and you can simply check off each item as you run around the house, gathering your belongings. Here we go:
Paper You Can’t Do Without
To begin, the obvious … yet quite easily forgotten sometimes.
Passport and Identification: You should always carry your passport, with all requisite visas, with you when travelling abroad, of course. Even when you travel domestic, carry proper identification with you in case of accidents and emergencies.
Travel Insurance: Where possible, you should always get travel insurance, and keep the information on you—physical copies, and digital scans on your phone, tablet, and laptop.
Travel Itinerary: Helps you keep track of your plans, location, schedule, and budget. In case of accidents and emergencies, makes it easier for others to help you if they know where you’ve been staying or planning to go next.
Cash and Debit/Credit Cards: You may come across shops and vendors, small hotels, cabs, and public transport, especially off the beaten path and in remote areas, where card payments are not accepted. Or there might no ATMs. Always buy some local currency, and keeps sufficient amounts on you.
Emergency Contact Information: Always share your itinerary and travel information with someone you trust back home. Carry their contact details on you in case someone finds you injured, ill and/or unconscious and needs to call for help and/or pertinent information [such as your medical history].
Keep your documents, cash, and cards secure but easily accessible at all times. Make copies, physical and digital, of everything. Store the physical somewhere safe, and save the digital to the cloud as well as on your device[s].
To Look and Feel the Part
Layers, or lack thereof, can prove quite important when you travel. Yes, you want to look and feel good, and be comfortable too. But you do not want to be caught out by the weather, and sometimes, needs must.
If you expect wet and cold weather in particular, you must prepare accordingly.
Moist Should Not Be a Word. Ugh!
Right next to your skin, you’ll need thermal tops, bottoms, and socks, for your base layer to keep you warm and dry. Moisture-wicking t-shirts can come in handy if you plan to trek, hike, and otherwise physically exert yourself.
Next, You Need to Think of Insulation
Fleece jackets and/or sweaters offer warmth and comfort in the harshest cold. Opt for down jackets when there’s some chill to the evening but it doesn’t call for bundling up and possibly going into hibernation. Pair either, or both, with wool or synthetic pants to remain warm and yet move around comfortably.
And Then, the Final Layer of Protection
Snow and water are two potential enemies. Wind is your third. You need to protect against all of them. To stay both warm and dry, you should pack jackets which are wind- and water-proof. Pair them with waterproof pants, especially if you’re walking, trekking or hiking.
In our experience, if your head and hands remain warm, you will largely stay comfortable. Nice, warm hats/caps and gloves do help. If you plan on scaling high altitudes, you cannot go wrong with buffs, scarves, and/or neck warmers.
Those Things You Walk Around On
Happy feet, happy … no. But you do need them warm, dry, and comfortable. Multiple pairs of wool socks is where you begin before adding the appropriate foot wear.
Flip-flops and sandals for hotels, beaches, parks, and picnics. Sneakers, athletic shoes or trekking shoes for walking around town or exploring the easier trails. Hiking boots, waterproof and already broken-in, for … well, hiking.
No matter how good you think brand new hiking boots might look on your travels, take lesson from our early misadventures, and break them in before you leave the comfort of your own home.
Nature’s Essential Beauty Regimen
You will never perhaps be as clean, neat, and well-groomed on your travels as you are at home—unless, of course, all you do is lounge around in luxury hotels and resorts—but it does not hurt to try. The following list of items will at the least keep you presentable, and some will even keep you safe:
- Toothbrush, Toothpaste, and Mouthwash [Travel-Sized]
- Soap and Shampoo [Biodegradable, Where Possible]
- Hand Sanitizer
- Small Personal Towel
- Deodorant[s], Perfume[s], and Antiperspirant
- Sunscreen and Lip Balm with SPF
- Wet Wipes, Napkin Tissues, and Toilet Paper
- Insect/Mosquito Repellent
Safety First is Usually a Good Rule
One non-negotiable when you travel is to carry your own, well-stocked first aid kit. For even small cuts and bruises can become major problems if they are not immediately and properly treated. Your kit should contain:
- Prescription Medication, plus Neosporin and Ibuprofen
- Anti-Allergy Medication
- Band-Aids and Bandages
- Pain Relievers
- Antibacterial Skin Wipes
- Antidiarrheal Medication
- Altitude Sickness Medication
- Blister Treatment Medication
The Non-Essential Essentials
There are certain items people take on their trips which, though not important to some, may be crucial for others. You will, of course, want your phone with you at all times, and thus, its charger [which you might also need if you plan to bring along your tablet and/or laptop].
Of the list to follow, pick and choose at will per your taste and preferences:
- Air Pods, Earphones, Headphones, and/or Portable Speakers
- Camera—with assorted lenses, stands, and what-nots.
- Eye Mask, Face Masks and/or Ear Plugs
- Personal Water Bottle
- Book[s] and/or e-Reader
- Playing Cards and/or Board Games
- Favourite Snacks/Candy You Might Not Find Abroad
- Cigarettes, Cigars, Vape/e-cigarettes, and Lighter[s]
Feel free to pack, if the space in your luggage allows, anything else you think might keep you comfortable, safe and/or entertained on your trip.
“When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” — Susan Heller
Travel can be joyous and glorious, and can leave you with memories to last your lifetime. Or it can prove to be horrendous enough to give you nightmares … but only if you are ill-prepared and unbelievably unfortunate. So, why risk the latter at all? It may be cliché but it really is better to have and not need than to need and not have.
