One of the most useful pieces of advice I ever got about packing for travelling is that you should . . . → Read More: Bags]]>

One of the most useful pieces of advice I ever got about packing for travelling is that you should decide before you leave what kind of trip you are going on. This may seem obvious but there are some items that you simply don’t need on certain types of travel.

For example, an extended vacation to the less developed parts of the world should not be considered as a camping trip. You take a backpack with you as your would when going hiking in the woods or camping, but the similarities pretty much end there.

You won’t need a tent, stove, pots, freeze-dried foods, sleeping bag or a rolled-up sleeping pad.

Certainly, in Europe you can save some money by camping out and cooking your own food on a stove, but this isn’t necessary in other parts of the world where accommodation and food is cheap.

For the cost of a good tent and sleeping bag you can live for months (including meals and accommodation) in the less developed parts of the world.

Plus, if you do take loads of gear there is always the temptation to try to use it all just because you brought it with you, camping out and cooking where it isn’t necessary (outside hostels, for example).

This way you tend to isolate yourself from the locals, trying to reproduce your home life, instead of finding out what it is like to live in the country in which you are staying.

You can always rent, borrow or even buy camping equipment if absolutely necessary or if you find you need it when you arrive, but for the number of times you will actually use it it is just not worth bringing it from home and hauling it around the whole time.

And anyway, you won’t find many designated camp grounds in the less developed parts of the world, plus, you can’t just leave a tent around to go exploring the cities (as you would in Europe) as it probably won’t be there when you return.

As well as the possibility of having it stolen, there is also the problem of losing or breaking something. You may spend hundreds on equipment you won’t use, have to carry around for months, and then leave it somewhere and never see it again, or it breaks when you most need it.

Additionally, the problem with a lot of camping gear is that whilst it will last for the few weeks every year when you go on vacation, it won’t last so long on an extended trip. Hard use and the passage of time will take its toll, and if it isn’t up to the job it may need repairing or even replacing.

All that said, if you are going trekking in remote areas, far way from shops and villages, then there is certain equipment you will need, good hiking boots, waterproofs, emergency gear, etc. And for other types of trip (e.g. mountaineering, climbing), good, reliable, functional (and heavy!) gear is essential. Look for items that are made from sturdy materials that are easy to maintain (with locally bought parts, preferably).

You won’t need as many things on a business trip where you will be staying in hotels and eating out in restaurants. You can leave behind universal sink plugs, shampoo and soap, hair dryers, etc., as you can find all of these at the hotel and, if not, within a short walk at the local store.

And on a two-week beach holiday you really just need swim suits and flip flops, plus a few outfits for the evenings. For both business trips and short holidays you won’t be doing much walking around with your bag either, maybe from the train to the plane then from the airport to the taxi, then into the hotel, and you can always get someone to carry it for you in all these cases (if you can afford it!).

Selection criteria

All of the above considerations will determine what kind of bag you will want to take.

They fall into a few categories; backpacking (including mountaineering and hiking), business and urban travel (including 1-2 week beach/resort vacations), and world/extended travel.

You can get one bag to cover all of the above but you will always end up compromising (I have three bags, one for each kind of trip I go on).

When buying a bag for long-term travel you should consider the following criteria:

Size

The size of the bag you buy will determine how much weight you will be carrying around for your whole trip.

You should buy the bag first then decide what to take, not the other way around.



A good idea is to try to buy one that is ‘airline carry-on’ size. You may never travel on a plane with it but you will find that it fits under seats in buses or in the luggage racks on trains and other small places.

They say that there are two kinds of luggage: carry-on and lost. So if you do end up taking your bag on the plane you will also ensure that you save time at the airport, plus it is far more secure (and convenient) to keep your bag with you at all times.

The emphasis, however, should be on trying to travel light, not to avoid checking bags on flights. You are not trying to pack as much as possible into one small bag, rather to learn to manage living with the things you can pack in a single bag. Also, airline carry-on is probably the maximum size you should consider carrying (smaller is better).

Finally, you will be the one who will carry it most of the time so buy it according to your needs, not the airlines’.

The official FAA carry-on size is 45 linear inches (115 cm), determined by adding the height, width and length. So a bag that is 22 x 14 x 9 inches or 56 x 36 x 23 cm (equal to 2880 cubic inches or 47 liters) should qualify.

It should be no larger than this, which means no pockets sticking out further, no other bags hanging off, and no big bulges in the middle or top.

Airlines are constantly changing the carry-on restrictions, so check before leaving.

Here is a rough guide to various restrictions on carry-on bags (number of items allowed (the second item usually being a purse, camera or laptop), size and weight). This list is probably out of date so check with airlines first and don’t rely on it, it is just used as an illustration of the variation in airline allowances.

TOD = ‘Total Outside Dimensions’

Also these things also dependson who you deal with at check-in and what mood they are in, so even if your bag complies with the regulations you still may not be able to carry it onto the plane. Smaller planes may also make you check your bag due to limited cabin space.

Construction

There are two basic types of luggage construction; soft-sided made from high-tech fabrics (an example of which is shown left), and hard-shelled made from fibreglass, hard plastics, or even metal (shown right).

The soft-sided bags are usually made of industrial nylon, such as ballistic nylon or Cordura. You can get cheaper nylon bags made from inferior fabrics but they will be heavier or thinner and less durable.

Both Cordura and ballistic nylon have their advantages and disadvantages. Cordura is more abrasion resistant, while ballistic has higher tear strength. Ballistic is smoother but doesn’t dye well so usually comes in black. Cordura has the rough feel of cotton canvas and can be dyed easily and therefore comes in different colours. Cordura also make a ballistic nylon.

Hard-shelled bags are heavier and, surprisingly, are not as good at coping with long trips. They are however, more secure as there are no zips to break into and they can’t be slashed with a knife.

A soft bag will not get damaged by bumps and knocks as much as a hard bag, and because they yield (even a small amount) they can also be squashed into smaller and more uneven spaces.

Make sure the zips are good quality. There are two types; chain and coil. Chain-type zips are stronger, keep out dirt and sand better, and are harder for prying fingers to break into, but they are more expensive as a result (but worth it). Look for bags with YKK brand zips if possible.

Design

Try to get a straight-sided bag instead of one with curves, as the former gives a greater internal volume.

Compression straps are very useful (both inside and out). External pockets can either be useful (for quick access to small objects) or a security risk (when in crowded train compartments).

Carrying straps need to be comfortable and sturdy but unless you are hiking or walking long distances you won’t need anything too complicated.

Wheels are not usually a good idea for bags for long-term trips, the mechanism that allows a bag to be wheeled is very heavy (a few pounds minimum), and unless you spend all your time in airports and hotel you will never use them.

Appearance

This is a purely personal choice, but remember that an expensive looking pack may attract unwanted attention in poorer countries, whereas a plain looking pack may not attract a second glance.

Choose dull or neutral colours if you can, and don’t hang loads of expensive gear on the outside.

Facilities for keeping clean while travelling vary greatly. Guesthouses and hotels may (or may not) have showers, sometimes you . . . → Read More: Keeping Clean]]>

Facilities for keeping clean while travelling vary greatly. Guesthouses and hotels may (or may not) have showers, sometimes you may get hot and cold running water, sometimes it may be just a tap and bucket of hot water. There is no guarantee that the water you use is clean either.

Keeping your hands clean is probably the easiest way to keep healthy in some countries, although this can be hard to do if you aren’t close to fresh water and soap for most of the day. Keeping your hands away from your mouth and eyes will help (especially after handling well-thumbed bills), as well as stopping any nail-biting habit.

Some countries don’t use toilet paper in the toilets, they just aren’t designed to handle it. If you use it you are supposed to put it in the bin provided. Locals use a tap, a bucket, and their left hand. Whichever method you use, it pays to keep a bar of soap handy wherever you go.



A better way to keep clean is to keep a bottle of hand sanitizer gel with you (and use it) at all times. If you use gel you don’t need soap or water so is really useful where both of these are scarce (you can also use hand wipes but you will go through these quite quickly which can get expensive).

Sanitizing gel should be used before eating and drinking (or after touching suspect surfaces). To be effective gels require a 60% minimum alcohol concentration to kill most harmful bacteria and viruses.

You can carry a small bottle around with you (they come in travel sizes), either in your pocket or clipped to your belt or bag. These clips can be bought anywhere, for example, here.

A far better solution is to buy a purpose-built hand sanitizer gel dispenser (shown right). These are the ones used in hospitals and contain 50ml of 70% ethyl-alcohol gel and are refillable so you can use your own gel if you prefer.

They are light and compact, are easy to carry and use, and are always on hand. You can carry them on a lanyard or clipped to waistbands, belts, bags or pockets.

They can be very hard to get hold of, however, and can be expensive if you want to buy just one. If you can’t find one then email me as I can get hold of them in the US or the UK.

You use them as illustrated below. Just flip the dispenser and push, and a small, measured dose of gel comes out, then rub your hands together for a few seconds and the gel evaporates and that’s it.

Waterproof bags

Used to separate and keep various items dry in your bag. Good for keeping valuables and electronics. . . . → Read More: Miscellaneous]]>

Waterproof bags

Used to separate and keep various items dry in your bag. Good for keeping valuables and electronics. Simple Ziploc style bags are good for this. However, much better are the plastic bags made by Aloksak.

These are very strong but lightweight, transparent storage bags. They come in four sizes: 7 x 4.5 inch, 6.75 x 6 inch, 9 x 6 inch and 12 x 12 inch.

They are made of a patented, super-stretch plastic, and very puncture-resistant. They close easily and are Waterproof to 200 feet.

Gifts

A final suggestion is to think about taking along some small items that you can present to people you encounter along the way. There is no faster way to endear yourself to the families you meet.

The colourful (economical, flat) press-on stickers you can generally buy near gift wrapping supplies are appropriate for many ages.

Another good idea is to carry a supply of the balloons used to make animals, hats, and the like. You’ve almost certainly seen this done, and perhaps never realized how easy a skill it is to learn (at least for simple items). T. Myers Magic will provide the instruction – including how to blow up the balloons without popping your eyeballs – and the supplies.

For adults in less industrialized areas, inexpensive (but not cheap, throwaway) ballpoint pens are a good choice. They also make good bargaining chips at markets.

High quality fish hooks will be very scarce in poor fishing communities, making them excellent gifts and trade goods (especially for fish!); make sure you get the flat variety.

Bandanas, not widely available outside North America, are another good choice.

Other adults may appreciate a souvenir (perhaps a small flag pin) of your home country, or maybe a interesting coin of your own currency.

Camera

There are two types of camera (apart from a camera phone) you can take travelling. Either an SLR . . . → Read More: Gadgets]]>

Camera

There are two types of camera (apart from a camera phone) you can take travelling. Either an SLR digital with a selection of lenses, or a point-and-shoot camera. For the difference in quality and performance you get between both, you are better off taking the point-and-shoot.

I am a photographer and regularly use both types of camera, but if you don’t believe me or want a second opinion, read more about it here on Ken Rockwell’s excellent photography site.

Personally, I have been using an Canon PowerShot S95 (shown here) which gives great results.

The only thing you really have to worry about is batteries. Some cameras use standard batteries, such as AA size. If you you can’t find one of these then you will need to take your charger (plus a spare rechargeable battery).

The size of memory card to take depends on the megapixel count of your digital camera and how many photos you normally take.

As an aside, 6 megapixels is more than enough resolution for pictures. Higher resolutions are just wasted, it is just a way for camera manufacturers to make you buy the latest model. And anyway, larger pictures are always reduced for printing, emailing or displaying on the web (and you can print excellent 12″ x 18″ prints from a 3 megapixel camera). I use the 5 megapixel setting on my 10 megapixel camera.

If you intend to keep all your photos on your card for your entire trip then a larger card is best, but if you take a laptop or can upload them to the Internet at any time then a smaller card will suffice. Remember to take the camera/laptop adapter/cable.

To give you a rough idea of how many pictures you can fit on one card, an 8 megapixel camera taking JPG images at full resolution will fit just over 300 pictures into 1GB of card space.

Many photographers keep at least two high-capacity cards with them, not only for the extra capacity but for the security too. That way if they lose a card, or if it becomes corrupted, they have another one on hand.

Cell/mobile phone

Having your phone with you is useful for emergencies or business trips but not for the kind of travelling where you are trying to get away from it all.

If you do take one you need to make sure it will work in the places to which you will be travelling (also make sure the charger will work), and that you won’t get charged a fortune to make calls.



A phone can be used for other things too, which can make them worth taking, even if you don’t make any calls. Some have alarm clocks and calculators, your phone’s address book can be packed with useful numbers before you go, and in some cases you can record addresses (geographical and email), even websites.

In the same way that you do at home, your phone’s LCD screen can also be used as a mini-torch/flashlight in emergencies.

Most cameras these days have both still and video options. They won’t replace a good point-and-shoot (yet), but they can be used as a kind of ‘visual notebook’.

You can browse the Internet for travel info on the road with some phones and plans, but this can get expensive (especially overseas).

One feature you may not think of immediately is that because most phones can accept memory cards you can use these for storage, not only of pictures, but of any other type of file you can copy from/to a computer. Such uses may include storing financial details, scanned documents (all encrypted, of course), maps, guidebook pages, etc. See the Papers – Security page for more ideas.

This is also true for camera memory. You will take away space that could be used for images but text files are very small so this shouldn’t be a problem.

iPods can also be used in this way as storage devices but this is a little more tricky and you can sometimes overwrite the information you have saved when adding songs to them if you aren’t careful.

If you are worried about losing the card/phone/camera or memory card and someone finding your files, then (again), make sure that the data is encrypted. You can also hide files in various ways (consult an expert!)

Laptop

Having a portable computer when you travel has its advantages and disadvantages. They are heavy and can be bulky, fragile and tempting for thieves, but they do have their uses.

I carry an Asus EeePC 1005HA which has a 10″ screen and is thin and light. I have been using these small laptops on the road for a while now (way before the MacBook Air came out!). It is as small as a piece of standard letter/A4 paper.

Remember, you will also have to carry the power supply and cord, plus adapters and any other accessories, which adds to the total weight.

For the number and types of use you get out of it, however, it may be better to use Internet cafes.

If you carry a flash drive you can keep data (and some applications) on this and use the computers you find overseas to get to it. Also, if you keep your data on a server or in your email then you can get to this too.

Be careful when using any computer that isn’t your own, as some could have viruses or password stealing programs loaded on them.

Calculator

Some watches and phones have these but if yours doesn’t you can buy one, they are cheap and light. You can use them for currency and tip calculations and some come with language phrasebooks built in.

Alarm clock/watch

Watches with batteries will eventually run down, so make sure that replacing it is easy and cheap, not as easy as you might think (find out how to do it before you leave).

Cell phones (and some cameras) have built-in clocks too.

Phones and watches both come with alarms but sometimes it is useful to have a separate alarm clock.

Torch/flashlight

Always a very useful piece of equipment. Good for reading, finding your way, and exploring at night.

There are really two choices, either a Mini Maglite or an LED flashlight or headlamp, such as those made by Petzl. I personally use a Petzl Tikka XP LED Headlamp (shown here).

Modern LED flashlights have different power settings, some flash for emergency signalling.

Hands-free operation is a bonus, a lot of LED lights come with a headband. You can also buy adjustable headstraps for Maglites and other AA-battery-sized lights.

Other things to consider are battery life, availability of batteries, bulb life, and brightness. Whichever you choose it ultimately comes down to personal preference.

Multi-tool/knife

Another useful item to have while travelling. Carrying one these days, however, is complicated by airline rules as knives of any kind are banned from carry-on luggage.

The options are to leave your multi-tool at home or to check your bag. You probably won’t be travelling on planes that much, so having such a useful tool with you is worth the extra hassle of the odd checked bag.

You can also put the tool/knife in your day sack and check that instead (bulked up with laundry or newspaper), thereby keeping your valuables with you in your main bag.

I carry a Leatherman Wave multi-tool (shown here) with a leather sheath (sold separately but sometimes they come bundled together), both of which you can buy in the US here or in the UK here.

Eating utensils

Buying food in supermarkets and local shops is a good way to cut down on expenses. You will need something to eat it in and with, however.

You don’t need to take plates and cutlery with you, you can always improvise, often using the containers in which you buy the food.

One useful item to take, though, is a cup. There are a number of collapsible cups designed for travelling, some better than others. I use one made by Flatterware.

It holds both hot and cold liquids (about 12 fl.oz), and come in a variety of colours. They collapse into a convenient size for travel. I carry mine in my day pack.

If you carry a multi-tool you should already have a knife, so all you need is something to use as a spoon and fork, or the two combined into one, i.e. a ‘spork’.

In the past these were a bad compromise between the two implements, but these days you can buy a better version, for example, a Light My Fire Spork (shown above).

Fire Steel

Another great tool made by Light My Fire is the Swedish Firesteel (shown here).

This is not an essential item for travelling around the world (and would probably not be allowed on a plane either), it is more of an item for camping or backpacking. You can always find a lighter or matches wherever you are in the world. But if you are miles from nowhere, your lighter runs out and your matches are wet then this is very useful.

When struck it makes a 3,000 degree spark which ignites many different types of tinder in any weather and at any altitude. I have the Scout model on a leather lanyard which I wear around my neck.

Compass

Another useful item I keep on the lanyard is a compass. These are good for hiking but also for finding your way in unfamiliar cities.

If you have a city map, then it is even more useful. Just stepping out of a subway onto the street can make you feel disoriented, so this is good for finding your bearings.

I have a tiny Silva Caribiner 28 compass (shown here). This is from a quality manufacturer but is small and light (and works just as well as a larger model).

If you can’t find any of the Caribiner range then another good model is the Silva 1-2-3 compass, which measures just 2″ x 3″.

Whistle

The last item on my lanyard is a whistle. This is lightweight and emits a 100+ decibel sound.

It has multiple uses (mainly security related). You can use it to deter muggers, or avoid other unwanted attention in the street, as an alarm, say in a hotel room at night if someone breaks in, or as an emergency signal if you are lost somewhere.

Rubber door stop

Another good security device to have when travelling is some kind of door stop which can be used to wedge a door firmly closed at night. Some come with alarms built in which activate if disturbed. You can buy these online (here, for example).

Write lists of phone numbers and addresses of emergency contacts, friends you will be visiting, numbers to call if . . . → Read More: Contact Information]]>

Write lists of phone numbers and addresses of emergency contacts, friends you will be visiting, numbers to call if you lose things and need to cancel services or get replacements sent to you (your cell phone and credit cards, for example), phone numbers and addresses of embassies/consulates, and perhaps addresses of useful travel-related websites.

Similarly, for any hotels or lodging you have arranged in advance, make a note of addresses and phone numbers.

Enter all the phone numbers into your phone’s address book and maybe even email a copy to yourself. Another idea to keep it safe is to print out the list on a small piece of paper and laminate this (thus waterproofing it).

Try to get local numbers. These will be cheaper to call from within the country where you are staying, and besides, most home country toll-free numbers can not be accessed from overseas.

There are ways around this, however. One is to use the AT&T USADirect service, which gives access to a limited number of 800 numbers. Or a similar service from MCI where you can call the number listed for the country where you are currently located and ask the operator to make a collect call to the number you are trying to reach (my bank in the US uses this service, for example).

However, the best way to keep in touch while abroad is to use Skype.

I have been using this service for a few years now, calling between Europe and the States (and occasionally to France and New Zealand), a lot of the time for free, and at other times for just pennies. It is also the best way to call 800 numbers in the US from Europe (and for free).

Click on the ad above to check them out.

Optional, but can be heavy if you do decide to take them. Photocopies of useful pages (or those torn . . . → Read More: Guidebooks, Maps, etc.]]>

Optional, but can be heavy if you do decide to take them. Photocopies of useful pages (or those torn out from the book) can be taken instead and are a lot lighter. You can always buy or borrow these on the way from fellow travellers, or get city maps from tourists offices, or even look up the information in an Internet cafe.

You can also get maps on your phone these days, and this combined with a GPS (on the phone if you can get it), makes it a lot easier to get around strange places.

Some companies, such as Lonely Planet, also make audio versions of their guidebooks for most countries in the world plus the major cities, so you can put these on your phone or iPod too. With the right phone you will never have to carry a book with you again (apart from those you take to read, although I listen to audio books a lot anyway).