Sunday, 17 February 2008

Essential Traveling Gear

Travel is one of those funny things: sometimes you need a pile of stuff, sometimes you need nothing more than your passport and wallet. Or so it would seem.

There are different kinds of packers, as I'm sure you've noticed. We tend to fall into one of three categories:

1. The Annoying Minimalist: These people pride themselves on bringing the bare necessities, then annoy their traveling companions by constantly borrowing their things.

2. The Over-the-topper: These people would pack the kitchen sink if only they could figure out how to bring the plumbing as well.

3. The Comfortable Mediator: These people bring precisely what is required and not a thing more. They always seem to have space for their purchases in their luggage, and they never look overpacked. They are very annoying to the first two groups.

Whatever category you fall into, there are certain things you must have for extended holidays (I'm talking here on the assumption you'll be traveling beyond your national borders!):

1. Your passport, and a safe place to keep it
2. Enough clean clothing to last until you find someplace to wash it
3. Some sort of traveling wallet you can wear against your skin
4. Materials appropriate to the location (eg: sunscreen, insect repellent, gloves, etc.)
5. Emergency contact information
6. Empty luggage space (let's be honest: you're bound to make purchases)

I often pack a backpack when I travel, but I tuck an additional backpack inside. That way, if I make purchases I can fill the extra backpack and check it on my way home, but I don't have to bother about checked baggage while trying to navigate a foreign airport!

Travel on!

No comments: