Jun 18, 17, 4:17 pm
Last edit by: EmailKid
Best items to have for Budget Traveler:
Unlocked SmartPhone with local Sim card with data (not all countries have addresses posted)
Extension cord with multiple outlets (some budget hotels have exactly ONE electrical outlet)
Free local maps that you might pick up at tourist information places (the more the better - different versions seem to list different streets depending on what printer considers important)
USB battery pack for when you are lost and mobile is running low on juice and you need Google maps
Unlocked SmartPhone with local Sim card with data (not all countries have addresses posted)
Extension cord with multiple outlets (some budget hotels have exactly ONE electrical outlet)
Free local maps that you might pick up at tourist information places (the more the better - different versions seem to list different streets depending on what printer considers important)
USB battery pack for when you are lost and mobile is running low on juice and you need Google maps
Favorite budget travel items?
Aug 8, 13, 11:00 am
#226
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: Tri-State Turducken, Keisei Skinflint, KCR Headphones, Kopaja Platinum
Posts: 6,369
Since I started checking out the NH lounges at NRT, I've been taking packets of benishouga (red pickled ginger), red shiso dressing and wasabi for the same reason.
Aug 8, 13, 4:23 pm
#227
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 468
FYI, Amazon has an Anker power bank marked down to $33. I have always used the cheap "lipstick" size ones of ebay but this supposedly can handle tablets fine. I think they're indispensable and the markdown puts it in budget item range.
http://gizmodo.com/dealzmodo-anker-a...130-1069025726
http://gizmodo.com/dealzmodo-anker-a...130-1069025726
Oct 29, 13, 8:07 pm
#228
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,039
Prescription bottles are awfully useful space savers for dry powders like Tide or tea powder. I travel with a virtual medicine cabinet in one large prescription bottle consisting of a few each of various pills like Cipro, amoxicillin, lomotil, cold tablets, aspirin, Valium and others, with a small card tucked inside listing the pills and a description of what they look like. Everyone should travel with a few Pedialyte packets for rehydration in case of food poisoning or the flu, probably the most important first aid for travellers there is.
A space saving idea for liquids is to reuse hotel shampoo bottles and free sample containers, which are smaller than 3 ounce bottles sold for travel. I'm able to fit all my make up and toiletries both wet and dry into a one quart zip lock (311) bag this way.
In another zip lock bag, there will be plastic utensils, some favorite tea bags, Starbucks instant coffees, some nut bars or nabs, maybe sardines, and definitely a couple of packs of lemon juice for the purpose of cleaning the coffee machine. Always, always wash it with shampoo, mouthwash or whatever is available, and then run a pot of hot water with lemon juice through to clean it out. And pack a little supply of food just in case you arrive too late to get anything to eat.
A space saving idea for liquids is to reuse hotel shampoo bottles and free sample containers, which are smaller than 3 ounce bottles sold for travel. I'm able to fit all my make up and toiletries both wet and dry into a one quart zip lock (311) bag this way.
In another zip lock bag, there will be plastic utensils, some favorite tea bags, Starbucks instant coffees, some nut bars or nabs, maybe sardines, and definitely a couple of packs of lemon juice for the purpose of cleaning the coffee machine. Always, always wash it with shampoo, mouthwash or whatever is available, and then run a pot of hot water with lemon juice through to clean it out. And pack a little supply of food just in case you arrive too late to get anything to eat.
Jan 24, 14, 12:07 am
#232
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: AAdvantage, UA Mileage Plus, IHG Rewards Club
Posts: 361
External battery packs help a lot of sure. Mine is 20,000mAh and it lasts for quite a while. I happen to use a GPS logging app on my phone when I'm travelling, so the external battery pack helps tremendously to keep it active always.
Feb 27, 14, 3:58 pm
#233
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AC SE100K, AA EXP, SPG Plt, HH Dmnd
Posts: 1,504
A paperclip for the regular switching of iPhone sims, condoms, a good book(s), and noise-cancelling headphones. I'm always surprised how few people are willing to shell out the $ for headphones that dramatically improve your ability to travel by not killing you on an airplane or when the roosters decide sunrise is 3AM.
Mar 17, 14, 1:13 am
#234
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 461
Prescription bottles are awfully useful space savers for dry powders like Tide or tea powder. I travel with a virtual medicine cabinet in one large prescription bottle consisting of a few each of various pills like Cipro, amoxicillin, lomotil, cold tablets, aspirin, Valium and others, with a small card tucked inside listing the pills and a description of what they look like. Everyone should travel with a few Pedialyte packets for rehydration in case of food poisoning or the flu, probably the most important first aid for travellers there is.
A space saving idea for liquids is to reuse hotel shampoo bottles and free sample containers, which are smaller than 3 ounce bottles sold for travel. I'm able to fit all my make up and toiletries both wet and dry into a one quart zip lock (311) bag this way.
In another zip lock bag, there will be plastic utensils, some favorite tea bags, Starbucks instant coffees, some nut bars or nabs, maybe sardines, and definitely a couple of packs of lemon juice for the purpose of cleaning the coffee machine. Always, always wash it with shampoo, mouthwash or whatever is available, and then run a pot of hot water with lemon juice through to clean it out. And pack a little supply of food just in case you arrive too late to get anything to eat.
A space saving idea for liquids is to reuse hotel shampoo bottles and free sample containers, which are smaller than 3 ounce bottles sold for travel. I'm able to fit all my make up and toiletries both wet and dry into a one quart zip lock (311) bag this way.
In another zip lock bag, there will be plastic utensils, some favorite tea bags, Starbucks instant coffees, some nut bars or nabs, maybe sardines, and definitely a couple of packs of lemon juice for the purpose of cleaning the coffee machine. Always, always wash it with shampoo, mouthwash or whatever is available, and then run a pot of hot water with lemon juice through to clean it out. And pack a little supply of food just in case you arrive too late to get anything to eat.
Mar 17, 14, 4:48 am
#235
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 439
I can think of a few countries where entering you need to carry perscription or a pharmacy bottle with your own name on for some of the drugs listed there. You can get done for drug trafficking otherwise.
Mar 17, 14, 1:05 pm
#236
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,039
No trouble so far. It is a prescription bottle with my name on it that is about 3 inches tall and the little card describes what each pill looks like so I can know which is which. It would be a far stretch to get into trouble for 4 Cipro, 4 Amoxicillin, 4 Valium, a few Tylenol, etc.
Mar 18, 14, 4:36 am
#237
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 439
You should check rules on entering countries, medicines vary quite a lots.
If you are stopped, the Valium could be an issue without a prescription/dr letter.
Also, anything not in original foil and easy to id will be an issue in AU/AZ/UK.
If you are stopped, the Valium could be an issue without a prescription/dr letter.
Also, anything not in original foil and easy to id will be an issue in AU/AZ/UK.
Apr 13, 14, 7:40 am
#239
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: everywhere
Posts: 55
Prescription bottles are awfully useful space savers for dry powders like Tide or tea powder. I travel with a virtual medicine cabinet in one large prescription bottle consisting of a few each of various pills like Cipro, amoxicillin, lomotil, cold tablets, aspirin, Valium and others, with a small card tucked inside listing the pills and a description of what they look like. Everyone should travel with a few Pedialyte packets for rehydration in case of food poisoning or the flu, probably the most important first aid for travellers there is.
A space saving idea for liquids is to reuse hotel shampoo bottles and free sample containers, which are smaller than 3 ounce bottles sold for travel. I'm able to fit all my make up and toiletries both wet and dry into a one quart zip lock (311) bag this way.
In another zip lock bag, there will be plastic utensils, some favorite tea bags, Starbucks instant coffees, some nut bars or nabs, maybe sardines, and definitely a couple of packs of lemon juice for the purpose of cleaning the coffee machine. Always, always wash it with shampoo, mouthwash or whatever is available, and then run a pot of hot water with lemon juice through to clean it out. And pack a little supply of food just in case you arrive too late to get anything to eat.
A space saving idea for liquids is to reuse hotel shampoo bottles and free sample containers, which are smaller than 3 ounce bottles sold for travel. I'm able to fit all my make up and toiletries both wet and dry into a one quart zip lock (311) bag this way.
In another zip lock bag, there will be plastic utensils, some favorite tea bags, Starbucks instant coffees, some nut bars or nabs, maybe sardines, and definitely a couple of packs of lemon juice for the purpose of cleaning the coffee machine. Always, always wash it with shampoo, mouthwash or whatever is available, and then run a pot of hot water with lemon juice through to clean it out. And pack a little supply of food just in case you arrive too late to get anything to eat.
It is very similar to what I do. Its not even about "budget", you can bring me a box full of funky expensive travel gear and I would still not use any of it unless it was far superior in terms of being lightweight, compact, and functional to the reused household items. In fact I do have tons of expensive travel gear that is now collecting dust because I just don't find it all that useful. I'd be happy if someone took it all and had use for it. Because there is also a personal satisfaction in not owning more junk and adding more waste to the world.
Small prescription bottles are great and I've found them to be lighter and more robust than travel cases. Even better for many things, I always keep the tiny ziploc bags used for packaging small parts with things you buy, those bags are great for carrying little things like pills/vitamins without adding any weight or bulk.
If you look around your house and especially the packaging you get with things you buy you will notice all sorts of really cool little containers that you can repurpose for travel.
Hotel shower caps make great shoe covers when you're putting shoes in your luggage. They cover shoes perfectly and add no weight and take up no extra space unlike most shoe covers you would buy.
