From my traveling experiences, I
have compiled a list of 7 things that were the most important and useful things
that I had the pleasure to travel with.
1)
A Kindle (or any E-book for that matter) preferably
with 3G
This is number one for a reason. Traveling and getting to see these
beautiful sites has a price to pay: sitting for long periods of time in lines, unsightly
airports, trains, planes, and automobiles. Really anywhere. Travelers don’t
have the luxury of being able to carry around heavy, chunky books. The Kindle charge
holds for a long amount of time and you can pass the time very quickly by going
through a book or two. It’s also great when you want to read on a beach or
other odd locations. I recommend the 3G specifically because when I traveled
outside of Spain, my phone did not work. Through the Kindle, you can access
e-mail, Facebook—the entire world wide web—so I was able to contact friends
from other countries who I was meeting up with without stressing about having
to find a computer with WIFI. (I think my parents also appreciated it too when
I got to shoot them an e-mail after landing safely in whichever city I was off
to that weekend) The 3G is also great when you’re in the middle of nowhere and
have suddenly finished your book. Hop on your 3G, browse the selection and get
a brand new book delivered to the palm of your hand in mere seconds!
2)
An inflatable pillow
This one I also really have to
insist on (trust me on this… this will be the best $20 you’ll spend). Think
about all those trains, planes, and automobiles that you’ll be using to get to
and fro. Now think about the discomfort of trying to sleep on them as well as
airport floors. Waking up in a beautiful new location feeling like my neck
muscles just went through a brutal WWE fighting match is a major travel buzz
kill. My personal recommendation is one by REI. I preferred simply pressing the
air out to make it flat like a pancake instead of trying to roll it up (the
former took up a lot less space).
3)
A good pair of walking sandals
Yes, you can do with a good pair of walking sneakers too but sandals, in
my opinion, are far more versatile. Get a good pair of sandals that can be worn
with shorts, dresses, jeans, during day and
night and packing will be much easier. My recommendation is the Gizeh sandal
from Birkenstock. These go with almost any style of dress. They have great arch
support and walking around all day in them doesn’t put too much of a toll on
your body. Sorry guys, these are ladies shoes but any type of Birkenstock is
highly recommended! Mine are in Antique Lace, though the color isn’t the
important thing ( I loved them because they went with everything and you couldn’t
tell if they got a little dirty)
4)
A pair of
ear plugs
Ya never know. Those trains,
planes, and automobiles can get noisy especially if you’re tired, cranky and trying
to get some shut eye. You also never know who is a snorer in any given hostel.
They’re cheap and tiny so grab a pair and bring them along just in case.
5)
Lightweight
underwear that dries quickly
Many homes don’t have dryers so
you shouldn’t count on them while you travel either. You can re-wear the same 2
shirts and pair of jeans for days but clean underwear is a must. Pack a little
container of Woolite or any type of detergent and you can wash up a pair or two
in a sink, hang them to dry, and they’ll be ready by the next day!
6)
A sturdy
water bottle
Staying
hydrated is very important especially when you’re traveling. Your body probably
isn’t ingesting the healthiest of foods nor are you probably getting enough
sleep. My personal favorite is a Nalgene wide-mouthed water bottle. You can
drop those things all over the place and they’ll never crack. They also hold a
nice 32 ounces of water. Along with the water bottle, I’d recommend a
splashguard. There were countless times that my body got a drink of water before
my mouth did. Spend the extra 6 bucks and save yourself the unexpected shower.
7)
A good rolling carry-on bag
Originally,
I stuck to using my NorthFace backpack to travel with. It worked just fine and
had plenty of room (with careful packing of course) but then I discovered the
rolling carry-on. There is more room, less back pain, and more ease. Gals, just
pack a purse inside and once you get to your destination, use the purse to hold
your things to get around. Another plus? It’s easier to secure with a little
lock to protect your things while you’re in a hostel.
My
luxury item: A journal
Now this
one isn’t officially on the list because it’s not something that is absolutely
positively necessary in my eyes but it’s a personal recommendation. I was
gifted a journal before I left by a dear friend and I used it throughout my
trip to record thoughts, feelings, drawings, everything! Even if you aren’t a
huge journal writer, it’s really cool to look back after traveling at different
entries from different trips. A plus? This isn’t one of those Language Arts journals
from high school being graded. Huge long essays aren’t necessary—no word
count, double-spaced requirements whatsoever. Like I mentioned before, draw a picture or simply jot down a
few words that summed up that trip or day. If you have the spare room, I’d
bring one along.
Un beso
x
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