How To Pack For a Vacation

There are some essentials that you absolutely need to pack when it comes to travel especially when it's a vacation.

Documents

Unfortunately, in today's world you can't go far without documentation. Further afield, a passport has always been essential, and many countries require that your passport remain valid for at least six months AFTER your departure. Be sure to check your country's restrictions and your passport's expiration date before you get too far involved in planning your great adventure or vacation.

In addition to your passport, there are few more pieces of paper you may need. If you have travel insurance - and I believe that's often a good idea - take a copy of your policy number and also the insurance company's assistance phone number. Again, a photocopy works, but a digital copy in your email account can usually be accessed easily in an emergency. Some insurance companies provide a small card to take with you and instruct that you can leave the rest of the paperwork at home; take the card, if so instructed.

If you are driving overseas, you may need an International Driver's License. They are inexpensive and easy to get at your local automobile association. It's basically a multi-lingual translation of your local license, which you will need to carry with you, as well.

Reservations and "proof of onward travel" is an interesting one. The irony of the demise of the travel agent and the growth of online bookings is that I now carry more paper than ever before. Checking in online is now the norm for many airlines, and you will need to get a paper print out of your boarding pass in most cases.

Money

Although I rarely carry much cash on me at home, on vacation I will often have a few hundred dollars of the local currency or US$. When the power goes down, ATMs and EFTPOS machines don't work. When your card has been frozen by the bank because you don't normally buy mojitos in Anguilla, cash is a very good thing to have on hand.

First Aid Kit and Sewing Kit

Generally speaking, anywhere with a tourist industry offers local medical services, and you should only carry the medical gear you know how to use. Most people will travel very light in this regard, but if you have had some medical training, then you might choose to carry more.

The basics you might want to carry in a very small pouch are:

• Any pills or medicines that you need to take;
• Remedies for stomach upsets and similar things;
• Some bandages in various sizes;
• Small tweezers for removing splinters.

If you are really short-sighted but love to snorkel or dive, you may want to bring a prescription-lens face mask, if you already own one.

If your passion is photography, then by all means bring your camera(s), even if they are valuable and heavy. (Be sure to inquire about coverage for your equipment if you opt for a travel insurance policy.)

If you enjoy serious hiking, and particularly if the weather may be rough, then you should consider bringing your good gear.

For popular hiking destinations, you may well have the option to rent gear on-location, but otherwise you'll want to consider bringing your good boots, weather-proof outerwear and walking poles (but don't try to carry the poles on your flight).

Okay now we move onto what you need to add to your clothes packing list for your holiday or vacation.  Clothes are of course a travel essential, given that we wouldn't get very far without them.  But what to take and how to avoid taking everything from your wardrobe or closet that you "might just need" is the key.

The inexperienced traveler's usual approach is to add some of their favorite outfits to a pile on the bed, think about it, and then add some more. After throwing in a few more items "just in case," it's pretty obvious why few people think they can travel with less than two large suitcases.

Footwear

Consider shoes first because they are the hardest things to pack. You need good, comfortable shoes for almost any type of holiday, but shoes are expensive, bulky to pack and sometimes hard to find while traveling.

Intimate Garments

Underwear is relatively easy. Basically you need three to five pairs of underpants/panties/knickers and if you wear a bra, perhaps three of those (they are easier to dry overnight).

Bottoms

This includes skirts, shorts or trousers, depending on your gender and the climate. For most people, three different bottoms are plenty. Since bottoms don't get as a dirty as tops, however, you may be able to make do with only two selections. At a minimum, many women choose to pack a pair of shorts and a sarong that can be worn as a skirt.

Tops

Most of my tops are shirts, usually with short or long sleeves. Cotton  or linen are still the best fabrics for a very hot climate - they just breathe so well - and if it's hot, getting it dry won't matter too much.

Women might like to take silk shirts because of course they take the least amount of room. However, they can be fragile (they sometimes really require an iron to look presentable) and the good quality ones are expensive. You might want to compromise on cotton or cotton/poly shirts which are cheap; they roll to a reasonable size and you can buy them almost anywhere.

A Sarong

When going on vacation many women  never leave home without a sarong. It's simply the world's most multi-purpose item of clothing/gear. The list of things I've known people use a sarong for include:

• towel (beach or otherwise)
• beach cover up
• top sheet on a bed
• shawl (sun-protection or warmth)
• head covering (for mosques and churchs)
• shoulder covering for temples (Buddhist and Hindu)
• carry bag for dirty laundry
• picnic cloth

A water-resistant pack cover is sometimes built in to a pack's design, but you can buy them separately, as well. These are great, of course, if you get caught in the rain when out walking, but often in Asia and Africa packs will go on the top of mini-vans and buses (even a small bag) and frequently without the benefit of a tarpaulin. The pack covers will help keep your bags clean, too.

1. Consider buying some more bags along the way rather than making one unit heavier.
2. Safety is more about your attitude and minding some sensible precautions than about gear. If you are not going to wear your money belt 24/7, then don't bother having one.
3. Consider taking: a travel alarm, flashlight, universal sink stopper, travel clothesline, sarong.