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More Helpful Tips
The following are a list of hodge podge items I have found useful in
my travels. Those with an * by it are ideas I came up with, that you might
not read anywhere else. They might be a little unusual or odd, but I encourage
you to give them a try. Let me know what you think!
Accessories: One of the keys to traveling lightly is to give
the illusion that you have a large wardrobe (although if you are regularly
on the move, you could wear the same outfit and nobody would notice!).
For men, this means taking an extra tie or scarf with you. For women, it
means taking a silk scarf, a simple brooch and some cheap jewelry with
you. Scarfs are incredibly versatile (for thinner folks, it can even be
tied to be worn as a halter top!) and give totally different looks, depending
on how they are worn. Make sure your scarf coordinates with the color scheme
of your outfits.
Camcorders: It bothers me a great deal when people spend all
their vacation time with their eyes glued to the eyepiece of a camcorder,
enjoying their vacation only vicariously through the video they shoot...which
they watch when they get home. If you're going to just watch TV, why don't
you stay at home and watch the Discovery Channel? I make exceptions for
some things, like your baby's first trip to grandma--but I personally don't
think it's worth the added weight and hassles. [However, please don't get
angry at me if you leave your camcorder home after reading this FAQ, and
miss the chance opportunity to record breaking news.]
Over the past year, I have somewhat changed my mind about camcorders.
I now believe it is possible to experience a vacation even with a camcorder
in hand. Some formats are very small and take little more than an SLR 35mm
camera. In addition, these "freelance photo-reporters" have caught
some of the most incredible and newsworthy footage shown on the news today,
because they were there.
Cameras: I used to be a serious photographer, which meant I
carried one (if not two) camera bodies, and three lenses with me. Add a
tripod and a big flash to that, and I had a separate carry-on. I have long
since discovered that unless I am on a photography safari, there is little
reason to lug that much camera gear with me. Instead, I have opted for
the smaller point-and-shoot cameras. Many of them are surprisingly good,
and my current recommendation is for the Yashica T4. Also recommended by
traveler Phil Greenspun, the T4 is a well-built tiny camera that produces
surprisingly nice results. The major benefit of these tiny things is that
they take up barely any room in your bag. The major disadvantage of the
T4 is that is not a zoom camera. If you want close-ups, YOU have to get
up close. Visit Phil's travel photography web site for tips on choosing
a camera.
For some people, "travel" equates "photo opportunity."
If you fall in this category, you might want to take a camera bag as one
of your carry-ons. Travel with an SLR (or medium format) camera, zoom lens,
separate flash, and a tripod (or a monopod). Photography is especially
a great activity for those traveling alone, who have the flexibility to
maintain strange hours (up at dawn, napping at noon, etc.) and solitude.
If you don't want to get caught up in photography, take a little sketch
pad with you! Not an accomplished artist? So what? Doodle some general
impressions anyway. Your other alternative is to keep a travel journal;
techno-minded folks can use a micro-cassette player to record their thoughts.
Check Register*: Those little lined check registers you record
the usage of your personal checks in, make the best little notebooks! They
fit in your belt pouch/fanny pack/wallet, and you can use it to keep track
of traveller's checks, rolls of film, travel budget, and still leave you
with room to write down the addresses of newfound friends! Best of all,
they're free from your bank! What more could you want?
Checkbook cover/check register combo: I carry my check register
in a plastic checkbook cover (again, free from your bank). I found a little
note pad the size of checks that I have slipped into the cover as well.
I now use this to store everything important (except airline tickets, which
don't fit). I keep postcard stamps, pre-addressed self-adhesive labels
for my friends (to send postcards), used airline boarding passes, business
cards, etc. It still takes up minimal space, and the checkbook cover keeps
things like your postage stamps from getting wet!
Coffee Can Lids: Plan to do some of your own picnicking? In
addition to taking your Swiss Army knife, don't forget to toss in a flexible
plastic lid from a three-pound can of coffee! These things take up almost
no room, but come in as a handy plate for those impromptu picnics. The
lip at the edge catches any liquids or morsels from spilling. This tip
is from Rick Steves.
Day Packs: Even the lightest traveler will usually want to carry
an everyday bag. Depending on the size of your carry-on, you can empty
out your stuff and use your carry-on bag. Some travelpacks have daypacks
that zip off the front. I use an expandable backpack from Lewis & Clark:
Made of parachute nylon, it packs into the size of a small coffee mug.
It carries my umbrella, camera, paperback book, and whatever else I want
to carry during the day. I usually leave it pretty empty, since it often
gets used for carrying souvenirs. Unfortunately, there aren't too many
companies currently making expandable day packs--I have an old one from
LL Bean (it's been off their catalog for a few years). Eagle Creek has
one, but it collapses into a stiff fanny pack that I don't really like.
Campmor catalog lists "Camp Trails Packables," a day pack
and a duffel bag - both made of 2.1oz nylon and packable in its own little
pouch. Both of these are priced at $9.99 each. A steal! The product number
for the day pack is 99860-N and unfortunately, it is not yet listed at
their web site.
Dental floss: Don't forget to stick a small roll of waxed dental
floss in your toiletry kit or sewing kit. They not only keep your teeth
clean; they work real well as sewing thread. Embarrassed to use white floss
for sewing? Use a mint green one!
Ditty bag: In addition to my clothes, undergarments and toiletry
kit, I usually have a separate little sack where I keep small miscellaneous
items such as ear plugs, playing cards and a little sewing kit. My ditty
bag also contains an odd collection of things that I have discovered very
handy on my trips, including:
-Coffee can lid, which I use for little picnics as a plate
-A tiny bottle of Ivory dishwashing soap, which I use for cleaning
anything, including washing clothes.
-A flexible twisted rubber line for hanging my clothes to dry.
Fanny Packs/Bum Bags/Belt Pouches: If you would like to carry something
smaller than a day pack, a fanny pack/bum bag is one of the most convenient
ways to go. I use my Eagle Creek Spare Pocket as my everyday purse--it
has a strap that you can wear long as a shoulder bag, or tighten up to
wear around your waist. The Spare Pocket isn't very large, though (it won't
fit a thick paperback book), but there are other bags that are slightly
larger, that will also wear around your waist. They're available again
from places such as LL Bean and Eagle Creek.
Note: Do not refer to them as "fanny packs" in
the UK, where the word refers to a woman's private parts!
Eagle Creek has modified their Spare Pocket and it's now a little roomier!
It should easily fit a checkbook and a paperback book. The seam on the
front pocket now has two darts (gathers--it's a sewing term) that allow
you to put more things in it. The zipper on the front flap is no longer
diagonal, and goes straight across. Everything else is the same. How to
find the right version: Look at the zipper on the front flap. If it's diagonal,
it's the old model. Check the bar code inventory number on the back as
well. The new model is the B4606C. The old one is B4605C.
First Aid kit: My "first aid kit" contains the bare
essentials, and is housed in a little bag the same size as my toiletry
kit. It contains small ziploc bags of things like bandages, antibiotic
cream, antihistamine, anti-diarrheal, aspirin, tweezers, and alcohol wipes.
I also have a tiny Swiss Army knife (knife, file, scissors) that's attached
to a small pair of nail clippers, and a flash light the size of a lighter.
Flat-rate envelopes*: Instead of using a manila envelope like
many travel books suggest, take a few US Postal Service Priority Mail Flat-Rate
envelopes with you. These stiff envelopes work great to hold your travel
papers, have their own adhesive for mailing, and are flat-rated, which
means no matter how many maps you stuff in one, it will only cost you the
two-pound rate (which as of 1996 is $3.00). Although you now have to take
it in person to the post office if your envelope weighs more than 16 ounces
(one pound), you can buy your $3.00 stamps in advance, and just hand the
envelope over to the postal clerk without digging for change. Best of all,
these envelopes are free at the US post office!
Handkerchiefs: Most packing lists will recommend handkerchiefs
or bandanas. Bandanas serve double-duty as a casual scarf, but the one
light hand-towel I use is a "Handi Wipe." These are reusable
disposable cloths marketed for various uses such as cleaning kitchen counters.
The reason I swear by these is that they take up practically zero space
in your luggage, dry in an instant, and are disposable so I can easily
toss them if they get old and worn.
Inflatable Neck Pillows/Back Pillows: If you are planning on spending
long hours on planes or trains, the traditional C-shaped inflatable neck
pillow is indispensable in preventing sore necks. I have also discovered
however, that a pillow against your lower back helps keep your back from
feeling too sore, either.
Mailing Labels: Instead of lugging your entire address book
(and risk losing it), print out a set (or two, if you write a lot) of mailing
labels of your friends for sending postcards.
Money Belts/Security Pouches: So you have a day bag and a fanny pack.
You didn't even dare think you could leave your wallet in them though,
did you? The bulk of your money, passport, credit card and other valuables
should all be kept next to your skin under your clothes. You can wear a
security pouch in various forms--you can wear them around your waist, your
calf, your chest or under your armpit. Regardless of which model you use,
they should lie flat against you, and be worn next to your skin. If you
wish to keep money in your pocket, wear pockets with zippers (or stitch
your own velcro patches on them). Never ever wear your wallet in your back
pocket, the first place a pickpocket aims at. Wear your wallet in your
front pocket, under your jacket or shirt if at all possible. Your wallet
should only contain the day's spending money, and some loose change. For
more information on travel security and scams, Marc Brosius has put together
a document about it.
Rubber Sink Stopper/Jar Opener*: Most people like Rick Steves
will recommend that you take a rubber sink stopper with you, because you
are never guaranteed that the ones in your sink will work. The stoppers
they recommend are round flexible disks, about the size of your outstretched
hand. I have an additional suggestion for you. Instead of a sink stoppers,
go to the kitchen section of the store and buy a rubber jar opener. They
are about the same size, but have a better grip, and are thinner than the
sink stoppers. These will serve dual duty as sink stopper and jar opener.
Try buying a jar of olives for your picnic and struggle to open it! I know,
because I experienced it myself.
Shipping Stuff Home: Whether it be old maps of places you already
visited, or souvenirs you don't want to carry. Make it a habit to ship
some of the stuff home so you don't have to lug them everywhere. You can
take some pre-addressed manila envelopes with you so you can ship things
home easily.
Shoes: More than anything, Wear Comfortable Shoes for your trip!
Nothing ruins a vacation more than blisters and sore feet. Fortunately,
it is getting easier to find stylish shoes that are also very good for
walking. Most men will find that the black leather walking shoes, made
by New Balance, Rockport, etc. are good looking, and comfortable. I don't
know if it's a vestige of the clunky ugly nurse's shoes, but women's walking
shoes in the US are unfortunately often bleach-white. Overseas, these mark
you as an ignorant American tourist--a terrible fate that attracts pickpockets
and behind-the-back sniggers. Avoid white shoes, bright-colored running
shoes and loud high-tech athletic shoes altogether if you wish to blend
in. You can either look around for a neutral beige or black pair (they
do make them), or wear low-heeled comfortable covered shoes such as the
ones from Easy Spirit or Rockport. The added benefit is that these shoes
are often attractive enough to wear to a nice dinner. Make sure your shoes
are broken-in prior to your trip.
If you want to take a second pair (i.e. open-toe sandals), consider
a pair of comfortable Birkenstocks or Tevas. They are cushioned so you
can still walk in them all day. If you want more stylish shoes, take a
pair of EasySpirit or Rockport flat-heeled pumps with you. They are rubber-soled,
but look very nice. I bought a pair of "shoe clips" (they look
like clip-on earrings) that I snap on my pumps when I'm going fancy. Shoe
clips will change any ordinary pair of pumps to a pair of fairly nice evening
shoes. Find them in your shoe department.
Travel Alarm: If you are a light sleeper, you can try depending
on your digital watch. There are a couple of excellent travel alarm clocks
I would recommend. Timex produces one that looks like a wrist watch without
a band. One word: TEENY! Timex also makes Indiglo versions that fit on
your palm. Panasonic produces a travel radio alarm clock smaller than a
Walkman, if you like listening to the radio. In transit and want to nap
for a short while without worrying about changing the time on the clock?
My friend Audrey suggests a digital egg timer, which you can easily set
for certain amount of time (e.g. a two-hour nap).
Wine Box Liners: Some travel places sell inflatable back cushions--however
my little secret is the mylar liner from wine boxes. They can be used as
a portable water carrier as well as an inflatable pillow. They are practically
indestructible, and weigh next to nothing. (Unfortunately, I can't take
credit for this idea--it was originally thought up by Audrey Sutherland,
famous woman kayaker and author of _Paddling My Own Canoe_).
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