Eight Things To Pack For Your Next Trip
Whether you're traveling to a nearby state or a new country, it’s essential that you pack your things accordingly. As some people are over or under-packers, it’s often hard to decide what to pack and what not to pack. Hopefully, this brief list gives you ideas for your next trip. As different locations will need additional traveling items, here is a small list of things you didn’t know you needed when exploring the world.
As an overall precaution, the first things you need on any trip are your important documents. This would include your ID, passports, visas, covid vaccination card, boarding pass, etc. It is vital to keep these documents in a safe place during your trip so designate a safe place in your bag or hotel lockbox. While you can still bring your debit and credit cards, make sure to bring a wallet that can hold cash and change as some countries use mainly cash.
Charging our devices is something we do every day, so it’s natural that we do it when we travel. However, many travelers find it challenging when they travel abroad due to the several amounts of charging outlets in the world. With over ten different charging outlets in the world, type A and B are most commonly seen in North America. To combat this, an international travel adaptor would be a very useful tool while traveling as these blocks can adapt to all universal outlets and are relatively inexpensive. Even as the world becomes more modern and type A and B outlets are more commonly seen throughout the world, these blocks are always useful in case of emergencies.
When traveling, keeping our belongings safe is the most important. Using luggage with locks can help prevent theft in airports and hotels. In countries or areas where theft is prevalent, it is important to lock your items securely. As important items and documents should be carried on yourself, securely locking up your other items will ensure a worry-free trip.
Packing your medicine and a first aid kit during a trip is a no-brainer, but one thing to bring when visiting exotic countries with new foods is travel pills. When introducing your stomach to so many new foods at once, unknown bacteria can sometimes make it inside your body. This can happen anywhere, but it is always a good idea to plan a backup in case it happens. Over-the-counter medications such as loperamide, Pepto-Bismol, and Azithromycin can help relieve temporary sickness and bacterial infections. Keep your stomach healthy during your trip so you can continue to enjoy the amazing food your travel destinations have to offer!
It is vital to pack your wardrobe based on where you are traveling and what you’re doing there. When traveling to colder regions, make sure to pack layers as bulky clothing will take up too much space in your suitcase. Pack any other accessories such as hats, scarves, gloves, and weather-resistant shoes to keep yourself warm. When traveling to hot and humid areas, it is vital to pack loose clothing to battle the heat. However, it is also important to pack loose but covered clothing, the reason being many countries, many Asian and Middle Eastern countries, are relatively conservative so it’s best to dress modestly as a traveler. If traveling for a sporting event, make sure to pack all your essentials and equipment to perform your best. One more thing is to pack extra face masks to keep yourself safe while traveling.
Another item that would help make the packing process easier is using packing cubes and compression sacks. Packing cubes usually come in sets and are used to organize your clothes, toiletries, shoes, and other suitcase items for more convenient and organized transportation. They are relatively inexpensive and available online and in stores. To go along with those, compression packs are a great way to travel if you pack an abundance of clothes. These packs suck the air out of bags and compress the size of them down to provide more space in your luggage. They are a great way for saving space and can be used over and over again!
Mosquito spray and medicine are vital products on any trip to the wilderness or humid countries. Often in camping grounds or forests, there will be a large number of bugs and mosquitos which can really mess up your plans. In tropical areas of the world, especially in the summertime, mosquitos thrive in these humid environments and often can carry stronger poison and new diseases. It’s important to attack the problem from the source and carry repellent in mosquito-prone areas.
If traveling to tropical areas, be aware of monsoons, typhoons, and hurricanes. It is important to bring an extra umbrella, poncho, or rain combating accessory. Rain is often unpredictable in the tropics and can come out of nowhere, so having a handy umbrella would do you a lot of good since it sometimes pours heavily. Watch your step and enjoy the beautiful rains that nature has to offer! On the other hand, umbrellas serve as excellent sun protection. UV rays in tropical areas can be high, so having a portable shady area is always a plus.
Hopefully this list gave you a few ideas on what to pack for your next trip! Remember, traveling is always about learning, so forgetting some things is all part of the learning process. As you travel more, your list will become more solidified as you learn what you need and don’t need. What are some must-haves on your packing list?
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