by Julian Smith
Published Mon, Dec 26th 2016, 11:29 | Travel
Although your personality, destination, purpose of travel, companions, and lifestyle will determine what you put in your luggage, certain items should be considered as being indispensable for any trip. Here's a list of items you should strongly consider packing:
- Travel Documents
If you don't have a travel pouch to carry important documents, you may want to invest in one before your departure. Preferably, this pouch should be the type you can wear around your neck or slung around your shoulder, and it should be large enough to hold your passport, tickets, credit cards, money, copy of your birth certificate, important addresses and phone numbers, USB drive, and other legal documents.
- Personal Technology
In addition to your smartphone, you should also pack an extra feature phone, preferably a basic GSM model with a prepaid international SIM card that you should pack in a separate bag in case of emergencies. Instead of bringing a work laptop, try to upload important files to the cloud and pack a budget Android tablet with a travel keyboard instead. Don't forget universal adapters for your electronics and chargers.
- First Aid Kit
In addition to your regular medications along with stamped prescriptions, you should invest in a travel first aid kit that includes bandages, analgesics, antibacterial ointments or lotions, anti diarrhea medicine, laxatives, sleeping pills, and eye drops.
- Disposable Camera
You generally do not want to be overly reliant on your smartphone or tablet for your photographic needs. Disposable cameras are very affordable, tend to last for a while and will rarely let you down.
- Laundry Bag and Clothesline
If you are a backpacker or if you intend to travel across various destinations over a few days, you are bound to run into laundry related situations. Travel laundry bags that isolate your soiled clothes from your clean garments are essential, and you should also pack a travel clothesline that you can hook up to furniture or fixtures in case you need to wash your underwear in the sink and let it hang dry.
- Personal Keepsakes and Comfort Items
If you are traveling with young children, you know that they will need their teddy bears, special blankets or favorite toys. Adults who have items that they hold dear to their hearts should pack them along as well; such items may include photos, a family keepsake, a book, a puzzle toy such as a Rubik's cube, and others.