The Unsung Heroes of Travel Gear: Simple Items You Wish You Had Packed
It is the age-old problem of packing; whether the world is your playground or you have to settle for the campsite eight miles down the road, you are forced to pick up your life and take it with you. And even with fancy technology and neat gadgets, many travelers end up kicking themselves for the lack of logic they used when packing. Forgetting something necessary or something that would have saved you from a lot of trouble can end up ruining a day of your precious vacation. That extra pair of socks or the hairdryer you forgot, however, is not the ruin of your vacation. Rather, those things you never would’ve thought of in the first place are the ones that will drive the mood of your vacation down. Thus, here are those things that are cheap, lightweight, and infinitely useful for such a wide variety of reasons.
Plastic Bags:
So, you have a $300 hard-shell suitcase, do ya? So what? Shake it around and smash in underneath masses of other bags (i.e. the cargo hold of a boat or plane?) and see whether or not your shampoo or bug spray has leaked. I can tell you from personal experience that the last thing you’ll want when first arriving at that ritzy beach resort is to seek out the over-priced laundry service to clean up your fancy clothes, now covered in a mixture of conditioner, toothpaste, hair spray, and hand lotion. Even if your bottles don’t tend to leak, individually wrapping each one will cost little and offer you a piece of mind (and when traveling, confidence is priceless). And if your bottles end up leaking, you will be so glad you agreed with your cautious side.
Recommended: Most plastic bags are similar, but it is best to get bags that seal. Zip-lock or Hefty bags are easily accessible and cheap.
Baby Powder:
For those humid, sweaty countries, deodorant simply doesn’t cut it. Believe me on this one-unless you plan on covering your whole body in a layer of deodorant or antiperspirant, your going to get sweaty and smelly. An easy, cheap, and easily ‘pack-able’ solution is a bottle of baby powder (be sure to use one of your plastic bags discussed previously to wrap the bottle). Covering your body in a thin layer will not only keep you feeling dry, but you’ll smell nice. Baby powder comes in a variety of smells, as well, so you can pick and choose your favorite. It is long lasting and comfortable; plus, baby powder leaves your skin feeling silky smooth.
This item also has another practical use. If you are traveling on a budget in a hot and humid place, you will likely be living without the benefits of air conditioning. If you come from a cold or dry climate, you will probably have to experience what is called “prickly heat.” Sweat becomes trapped underneath the skin, causing an itchy rash. Baby powder not only reduces the likelihood of the bothersome ailment, but it helps the itchiness and actually speeds recovery (by keeping your skin dry).
Recommended: Like plastic bags, baby powder is generic. Soft and Precious: Baby Powder ($2.99, 20 oz.) and Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder ($2.49, 9 oz.) are both good selections, though anything will do.
Hand Sanitizer:
This is commonly overlooked, yet it can save you from many travel disasters. Even a common cold can take you out for a week, and the time you will be spending in bed could have been used at the water park, right? Many common illnesses are transmitted via your hands. And, not surprisingly, very few people wash thoroughly before they eat, especially the kids. But when you have a bunch of hungry mouths to feed, who has got time to seek out a sink and soap? A small bottle of sanitizer costs less than a dollar and fits in your pocket. No washing necessary, just wipe it on and you’re clean and ready to go. It is the perfect way to protect anyone on any sort of trip from the sniffles.
Recommended: This, like the others, is very generic. Purell is a very well known brand, and you can get a variety of sizes depending on your need. ($5.99, 12 oz.) Be sure to purchase one with a clip-top rather than a push-top, as clip-top bottles are much less likely to leak.
Photocopies of Important Travel Documents:
Back-ups of plane tickets, medical insurance cards, ID cards, and passports can save many hours and a lot of Advil that would have been used on the ensuing headaches. Having documented proof that you were in possession of whatever document has been lost or stolen allows you to skip over the process of convincing whatever institution you need to convince (an embassy, a bank, etc). It also eases the process of replacing these documents, as it allows easy access to the information needed by these institutions (passport numbers, medical plan numbers, serial numbers, etc.). This is especially applicable to international travelers with passports and visas. A lot of time and money is saved with a 10-cent photocopy (and in the case of a lost visa, it can save you from potential legal trouble, such as fines).
Compression Bags:
This particular item has been my savior. Not only does it allow one to fit a larger quantity of, say, clothes into a suitcase, it also allows one to compartmentalize. The latter is especially important, or at least very helpful, to the backpacking crowd. Long travels and dirty clothes do not mix well, and I know just how long it can be before one reaches a laundry facility. Compression bags allow you to keep your clean clothes clean, and if necessary, can seal off the putrid odors of those pants worn a few more times then would be idea.
Recommended: Marsee Compression Bag ($15.99, 8 Liters, compresses to 3 Liters) and REI Tuff Lite Compression Bag ($19.50, 7 x 17 inches)
These are just a few of the vast number of little things that solve the problems that life throws your way on vacation. We all know to pack our clothes, our toiletries, our shoes, and all those sorts of things, but just remember-if you have a feeling that you should pack something, but are not sure, it is always safer to pack it. You can always toss it away later if you end up not needing it.
And in that vein, here is a list of those things that you should pack and those things that are just excess weight.
Quick List of Must-Haves:
An extra pair of eye-glasses or contacts, and/or your eyeglass prescription- To lose or break your glasses and lose your ability to see clearly can cause a big problem. If you have only one pair of glasses, bring your prescription. It is relatively easy to find a place to get a new pair if they are broken, even internationally. It complicates things if you must get an entirely new prescription (especially internationally). If you use reading glasses as well, bring them.
Medical History- On extended travels or international trips, it serves well to pack this information along. Knowing your drug allergies is especially important (again, this advice is based on personal experience).
Earplugs- You know those times when you just can’t make someone shut up? This common-sense item has slipped my mind on numerous occasions, and I have smashed my face between pillows and mattresses far too many nights. Don’t forget this one. (Eagle Creek Travel Ear Plugs, $5.00, One Pair)
A Day Bag– A large suitcase or giant backpack serves well when traveling, but when on day tours or stomping around a theme park with the kids, two hands aren’t enough. A small backpack you can lock is a cheap and very useful solution. It allows you to pack all the essentials and provides room for those little luxuries (candy bars?)
(PacSafe Daysafe Secure Daypack, $99.95, 1,500 cubic inches)
Those Things You Don’t Really Need:
Power Converters/Plug Adapters: If traveling abroad, it might serve well to pick up adapters or converters once you arrive. This especially holds true outside of Europe. I purchased a Malay adapter on arrival for less than $1. Radio-Shack, if they even have it, would charge far more than that.
International Phone Cards: This one pertains solely to international travelers. In every country I have traveled, from Europe to Asia, it has been much more economical to purchase international phone cards on arrival. There is a big market for cards you buy in the U.S., take abroad, and use to call home. These are more expensive and more complex (often you need to seek out a local access number and then you must talk to operators to enter your card numbers and pin. Many foreign cards are simply swipe and dial).
CD Player: If you still have one of these, throw it away. They are bulky and their batteries don’t last long. In addition, you must pack each CD you want to listen to. Instead, bring an MP3 player. There are many cheap models (under $100) that hold much more music than you could pack in your bag efficiently.
Extra Batteries: Extra batteries, in almost every case, are readily available. All types of batteries are easily found, including more obscure watch or camera batteries. This holds true for most foreign countries. Many batteries are also cheaper abroad.
