Also - Crystal light drink mix. Can be easily added to a water bottle for a non-alcoholic, caffine-free drink back at the hotel and it is very light weight to pack & carry. Also use Sugar Free Tang drink mix for mornings. When your done, just refill the bottle from the tap and make more.
Of course, you have to be somewhere that the water is safe to drink.....
with "sample size liquid detergent". Saves me from vacuming the inside of my luggage for the powedered kind....don't ask.
I did that for a while, and then discovered a product called "Camp Suds" which is intended for campers/trekkers. The stuff is cheap (1 USD at any outdoors/camping supply), can be used to clean everything from dishes to clothes to dirty hands, and keeps pretty well for use on future journeys. And it is (or at least claims to be) non-toxic and biodegradable.
My pocket sized A-Z for London. It lives in my pocket when I spend time there.
Cost me about 5 pounds 5 years ago.
Also my cellini travel wallet. It was a gift from my aunt about 10 years ago - cost about 99 rand. It however always has my FF card, my year long A+ travel insurance, my O/S bankcard, my passport and my accupressure chart for jet lag. Its got a hand strap and it fits very neatly into my travel hand bag.
As for locks and the TSA - the TSA approved locks are good - have about 4 of them and have yet to have any problems with them (though I have yet to travel to the states with them ;-) ).
Also labels with addresses so that I can send postcards.
I always try to have my Swiss Army knife. Unfortunately this is only possible now on flights where I have check-in luggage. A small flashlight is also a must-have item (especially when returning to a dark hostel room late in the evening when people are already sleeping)
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Also - Crystal light drink mix. Can be easily added to a water bottle for a non-alcoholic, caffine-free drink back at the hotel and it is very light weight to pack & carry. Also use Sugar Free Tang drink mix for mornings. When your done, just refill the bottle from the tap and make more.
Of course, you have to be somewhere that the water is safe to drink.....
Great idea! Try this next time and see which you prefer: There is a product family called "Emergen-C", a powder in a packet double the size of a sugar packet. Several flavours, but all essentially are Vits B+C, + Electrolytes + Trace Minerals. Add the powder to bottle/cup of water and drink away. Within a minute you WILL feel refreshed!
I buy mine at Trader Joe's, pack of 24 I think. Made by Alacer; you can also get via web. [Note: there is another new product being demoed at Costco; it contains bad sugar-substitutes.]
FWIW, at home I add a packet to the mix when I make Jello if my kids are sick. Even sick ones will eat Jello, and this way I can ensure they are getting their electrolytes and BC.
Another travel item for me *used* to be (havent looked in stores since my last move) small packets of miso soup powder, made by Hain Celestials or some such. Organic, all natural, .... Not only can be used as soup when hot water kettle in room (you did bring your immersion heater, didnt you?), BUT also makes a great sprinkle to put on buttered bread for an instant, low cost, nutritious snack or picnic.
Lastly, visit the Food Court at the largest shopping mall in your area. Chances are you will be able to "acquire" a few packets of condiments, e.g. ketchup, mustard, worcestershire sauce, malt vinegar, relish, soy sauce... A couple of each in a ziploc is a veritable spice cabinet.
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One tip I came up with a while ago. In the Frame of your pack these is enough space to hide a photocopy of your passport and a few bucks...just in case. On the back of mine, I have a phone card access numbers for the countries I'm visiting just in case I loose all my cash and need some wired in.
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I used the list at www.onebag.com to pack. I generally only travel with the MEI Voyageur listed on OneBag as a carry-on bag. It costs about $150 shipped so it's slightly cheaper than the Air Boss. I do have a Red Oxx Air Boss as well but the ability to convert from a shoulder bag to a backpack is so much more valuable than 3 separate main compartments.
These are some of the things I took on my last international trip:
waist security pouch: I have one with a metal cable to prevent cutting but if you wear it below your belt line with your shirt tucked in it's very hard to notice that you even have it on let alone reach it to cut through the cable so you may be better off with one without a cable which may be more comfortable to wear
poncho: a bit more bothersome than an umbrella for quick in and outs between buildings or stores but much better for an extended walk around a city while it's raining plus it keeps your hands free
Packtowl: some hostel towels can be downright nasty
shaving oil: this is the greatest thing since sliced bread plus it's much more compact than shaving cream
laundry kit: packets of Woolite, sink plug, flexoline and I can pack only enough clothing for 2.5 days for 10+ days of travel, buy it at Magellans
daypack: in case you need to check your carry-on (god forbid) and good for trips to the grocery store, etc.
blister pads: just in case..
business cards: I've actually started using these on some trips to exchange contact information
storm whistle: just in case you need to draw attention to yourself, also can substitute as a keychain in place of the hostel keychain
compass: useful after you get out of the subway or are trying to navigate roads that aren't quite laid out in cardinal directions
headlamp: I use a Petzl Tactikka+ which has a red filter, 3 settings and a flash setting, runs off 3 AAA batteries and I think is far more useful than a handheld flashlight
duct tape: everyone should travel with duct tape
ziplock baggies & plastic trash bag: I carry 3 in different sizes plus a medium-duty trash bag which can serve as an emergency backpack cover (if you're not using a poncho or need to leave your pack somewhere)
I agree with the duct tape, no end of damaged baggage in transit issues have seen me without the much needed stuff... A bit of duct tape goes a very long way.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by molasis
I agree with the duct tape, no end of damaged baggage in transit issues have seen me without the much needed stuff... A bit of duct tape goes a very long way.
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Yep. It works miracles but there's really no need to travel with a big roll. I like to wind some up on my Nalgene water bottle. A few feet of it around the bottle and it barely increases the diameter of the bottle. Just be careful when you wind it on...don't touch the adhesive or it won't work as well when you need it!
