I pack light and always travel hand luggage only. But there are some packing essentials that I always include.
I’m not a perfect packer. I definitely can’t do a two week trip with a carry-on like I’ve seen suggested many times on Pinterest, but I’d say I do an alright job of travelling light.
Whether I’m leaving for a weekend city break or 6 months of backpacking, there are a few items I could not imagine leaving home without.
1. Journal
When you go away anywhere new, so much will happen all the time and it’s impossible to remember everything. By the time you’ve eaten in 20 different places and survived endless transport fiascos, that cute little lady that sold you a pineapple on the beach will be a faded memory. When I’m travelling, I try to write once a day, all the random little details that are easy to get lost in the big picture. Sometimes it’s not realistic and I’m too tired or busy, so I just bullet point a few highlights before going to bed or writing a memo to myself on my phone, and then on a quieter ‘chill day’ I go back and fill in the details in my notebooks.
Be disciplined with yourself, you’ll be grateful 6 months later when all you can remember about Nha Trang is the horrific sunburn.
2. Camera
This goes without saying really… But take lots of pictures! Be it the camera on your phone, a GoPro, super fancy DSLR or a disposable film camera, whatever your budget make sure you bring it with you and USE IT! Take the time to frame a nice shot, get some different angles, put yourself in the picture (use a selfie stick!) and then put it away. As much as I am a massive advocate for taking lots of snaps, you don’t want to leave somewhere and realise you only saw it through a 3×4″ screen. Once you have your memories captured, put down the devices and take a (long) moment to capture a mental image as well.
3. Battery pack
There’s not much use for your phone or a camera… if you can’t turn it on! Invest in one of these, MAKE SURE YOU CHARGE IT, and you’ll find yourself spending more time enjoying the city you’re in and less time using the remaining 2% in your phone to hunt for the local Starbucks to plug it in again!
4. Cash
Depending on the country you’re in, ATMs or cash machines may be a little scarce and hard to find. Don’t leave yourself stranded unable to catch public transport or a taxi or just buy a bottle of water because the local shop halfway into the mountains doesn’t accept Visa! Even if you’re in a big city, being abroad usually means using foreign currency and charging everything to plastic can certainly be an expensive way to do things. Coins and notes make life simpler and quicker, just be careful not to carry too much cash on you, and certainly don’t let people know you’ve got a wad of notes in your backpack!
5. Comfortable shoes
This one, like all of them really, is fairly logical. The last thing you want is to be in a fascinating location but unable to explore it because you’ve got blisters everywhere. When I go away I always pack a pair of running shoes, they’ve got decent support, they’re light weight and they’re designed for long days on your feet. A full day of walking in cute fashionable pumps- forget it! To each their own, but for me comfy feet means I’m likely to walk further, explore more and be all around happier! If I’m somewhere that’s going to be cold, rainy or muddy I’ll always bring my hiking boots. A long time back I stopped caring much about what I look like and prioritised dry toes over style! And if it really bothers you that much, crop your pictures at the knees and it’s a win-win!
