Comments from travellersSome of the comments I have received on The UPL are hard to put down in any of the lists. Below I have compiled some of them. I do hope it is OK for me to quote. Dana MezzinaA friend of mine went traveling without any pictures of her friends and family, because she didn't want to bring anything that wasn't essential. She ended up really wishing she'd brought some for the times she was a bit homesick. (Just goes to show you what "essential" can mean when you're far from home.) She came up with a way to bring many pictures and still keep it light. She arranged a bunch of pictures on a color copy machine (in the States, you can have this done at Kinko's and Staples stores, and some other copy shops - I don't know about elsewhere), and had them printed out on regular paper (thinner than photo paper). In this way, you can shrink down several photos if you'd like, and fit them all onto one sheet as an anti-homesickness collage... then you can roll it into a tube, use an ever-handy rubber band, and stick in into your backpack. It's great to have pictures of people back home to show new people you meet while traveling, and it definitely improves things somewhat if you pin it to the wall of a dreary hotel room. This shouldn't cost too much (usually between $1 and $2 per page here), unless you find that you can't fit all the pictures on the sheet the way you intended and you have to do it a few times to get it right. I think it's well worth it, though. Evelyn C. LeeperWhy bother with a wallet at all? Stick your money in a large paper clip in a front pocket. Much less obvious while you're walking around. It might be worth reminding people to remove everything from their wallet that they *don't* need on the trip. That way, if it is lost or stolen, you don't have to replace everything. For example, I don't carry my driver's license, my library card, my AT&T identification card or more than one credit card. Stefan LundstromNowadays, I always carry my valuable stuff around in a waist bag. This bag is a natural resting place for my hand, and thus no pickpocket can cut it open without my knowing it and being able to do something about it. Nevertheless, I see to it that I always have copies of all important documents tucked away in my backpack. Sometimes I have a round-the-neck pouch too, but it's a bit annoying in warm climate and doesn't hold much. The waist bag at least can be moved from one hip to another relieving the heat. The pouch hangs there and in a few hours you could wring a glass of salt water out of your passport and travellers cheques. On the other hand, I feel very safe keeping my travellers cheques and an extra ID in it, so it's probably not something I'll stop using. I never use a day pack for valuables - I've heard too many stories from people whose day packs have been cut open in open street and they discover five minutes later that they have nothing left. It's too hard to guard in a city with people around you all the time. Keep your valuable stuff in two or three places. Wallet with this day's budget easy at hand (though reasonably safe of course), passport, travel cheques and tickets not immediately needed in a safe place on your body so that they are accessible when needed, and copies of all important documents in your backpack, somewhere deep inside so that backpack thieves don't find them first-hand. I imagine they may be at least a bit valuable to them. If nothing else, the papers describe you very well, and may serve as a come-on for them. My experience of backpack thieves comes from Lisbon, where I had my pack searched in the YH. It seems like they (when pressed for time) go for external pockets and the areas close the backpack openings. Next they feel around the "walls" of the backpack. If you keep stuff you don't want to lose somewhere inside a mess of clothes I imagine it to be pretty safe. (I'm not saying to keep your passport or your camera there, of course). BobA good trick is to stuff everything in the pockets of your shorts, and then wear a pair of trousers (pants) over the top! (Can be kinda hot though.) Jack CampinOne thing left off that list that I invariably take with me: a Palestinian scarf. I've done at least the following things with it:
Thankfully I haven't yet had to tear it up for bandages but I've always had that in mind too. It's the product of thousands of years of design evolution for travelling in hostile environments, so it's hardly surprising it works. (I am told there's a colour code for them in Palestine itself - blue for a King Hussein supporter, green for Islamic fundamentalists, red for PLO and black for the rejectionists - but I don't know how widespread that is and have never had that confirmed). Miriam NadelFor extended trips, I generally take along the clothing that I'm planning on getting rid of and throw it out along the way. This is a good way of getting a last use out of underwear that got shredded in the clothes dryer or a shirt I never really liked much, etc. On a month long trip to Europe, my old raincoat doubled as a bathrobe and got left at my final stop in London. I learned this from my mother who is proud to say she's thrown out clothing in about 20 countries. The main advantage is that you tend to buy things along the way and, this way, you have plenty of room in your luggage for the stuff you bought. For women, it is useful to keep in mind that there are few places in the world where you'll be inappropriately dressed if you wear a basic shirt dress (I prefer cotton knit fabrics). Add a cardigan or linen blazer for chillier days or places where you're expected to have your arms covered below the elbows. Lynn Garry SalmonI generally take along "Camp-Suds". This is basically a concentrated liquid soap that can be used as shampoo, as detergent for washing clothes, or for any other soap needs. It's also supposed to be biodegradable. Svein-Olaf HvasshovdI have used convertibles with success. These are trousers where you can zip off the legs and you have shorts and long legged trousers in one. Saves space. I have used zippers inside in both my front trouser pockets for more than 10 years. Pickpockets have tried to penetrate but never succeeded. In addition I carry a removable pocket tied around my waist and kept under my trousers. The pocket is by my stomach. There I keep all the most valuable documents. This place is not easy to rob. I have heard of a Norwegian girl using this system who someone attempted to rob in Nepal. The robber did not succeed even though the girl was asleep at the time of the attack. I also keep a dummy wallet in my back pocket. This is bait for pickpockets. It contains some large-numbered bills in unusual, low-valued currency (e.g. Polish) and a couple of valueless plastic cards. I am considering using a purse around my neck for almost the same reason. The pickpockets go for these things first. I use a 37 liter backpack. Its advantage is that you can carry it on board every airplane and bus. In this way you have full control over your luggage at all times. I always carry along my luggage. It gives a good training effect in addition. I use jogging shoes (Nike) and have no other shoes or boots with me. They represent a good compromise. Too warm in tropical climate but can be used on snow if necessary. When walking for 8 hours with a backpack on asphalt I have not found anything better to keep the blisters away. I have positive experience with keeping a couple of small pockets outside my backpack. The robbers go for these pockets before entering the main backpack. They tend to give in when no value is found in these pockets. These pockets are also easy to reach when you need fast access to some small items. A (big) fanny pack is also OK to get fast access to e.g. photo/video equipment. I carry a fleece jacket with me even in tropical areas because it is often cold in the mornings. I never carry a sleeping mat. It takes too much space. A (first aid) compress is always handy. Diane Gauvin SamoiloffBungee cords come in several sizes - I prefer the 6 & 10 inches ones. they are made of weaved elastic, usually two-coloured, with a metal hook on each end. You stretch and wind them around what you need them to hold - the tension keeps the hooks firmly in place. I use them to attach all kinds of odd shape or oddsize items to my backpack (stuff sacks, walking stick, umbrella, poster tube, etc. - whatever I happen to be stuck with at the time). Rebecca BurgessRick Steves (of _Europe_Through_the_Back_Door_ fame) recommends wearing a money belt under your clothes, and keeping that day's cash in your pocket. If you carry your money in your pocket, put a strip of velcro at the pocket mouth. It's easy for you to get in and to reseal it, but if a pick pocket tries to get in, you'll hear it. Robert ClaesonEstimate about how much film you'll need at the most and round upwards. Then bring at least twice as much of it. Bring a reasonable assortment of film. Even though you're going to a country where you expect the light to be good and you'll be using a snappy, low sensitive film most of the time, there may be dull weather days or you may visit a place where you can't use a flash. Most travellers will probably find that a small point-and-shoot camera will give them satisfying results with color negative films. The smallest models features a weak but nevertheless built-in flash (good for images of people a few meters away but nothing more) and a wide-angle lens. These models are small enough to fit in a shirt pocket. The more advanced point-and-shoot models usually have a zoom lens and some more features that are seldom needed. SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses are the most flexible, expensive and heavy. They require more from you, the photographer, and are more prone to being stolen, but are also likely to give you the best results. Whatever camera you decide to bring with you, if any, remember that almost all camera models will need batteries, so make sure to bring at least one or two extra sets of batteries with you, however expensive they may be. Flashes are known to malfunction whenever they're needed the most. They also consume lots of batteries. Check your flash before you leave home and bring extra batteries. Probably the worst camera bag to bring on a trip is the kind that looks like one. Unfortunately, those are usually also the ones that protects your camera best. Professional photographers often pack their equipment in sturdy aluminium or rubber bags during the transport and then bring whatever they need for the day in a shoulder bag that doesn't quite look like a typical camera bag. Such shoulder bags are manufactured by companies like Domke and Billingham. They will last a lifetime and costs quite some. If you have a point and shoot camera, you're very unlikely to need a camera bag. It is always a good idea to try to minimize the weight during a trip. Therefore, unless one of the objectives with the trip is to photograph, bring a few zoom lenses instead of several lenses with fixed focal lengths. Also leave the more odd lenses, like super wide-angle lenses, at home unless you're confident that you're going to need them. A tripod is probably the best accessory for a camera. However, they're bulky and heavy. If you don't want to bring a large tripod, consider to at least pack a small tabletop tripod. Come to think of it, pack one even if you'll bring a large one. Bridget DobbinsMy current pack is one of those "convertible" ones that can double as either a backpack or a suitcase with a handle and shoulder-strap. The problem is, it does neither well. It is too bulky for me to handle as a suitcase, but it is difficult as a backpack, because the weight tends to ride mostly on my shoulders, rather than my hips. My own special thing that I bring along (besides a small Walkman and a couple of books) is two very small, narrow plastic cups. I enjoy a bottle of wine now and again, but drinking straight from the bottle is a bit, uh, gauche. The cups are handy for drinking anything else, as well. Why two? Well, in case I meet a fellow traveller along the road, who hasn't a cup of his/her own... (I've never camped while travelling, so I don't bring any other utensils along, besides my handy swiss army knife.) Malcolm DunnClothes For good looking, light-weight clothing: Rohan (UK). They make a suit jacket which will roll up to almost nothing. I took a navy blue jacket and cream trousers (big mistake!) through Africa and they served very well. In fact I still have them! Tilleys of Canada are also OK but I prefer Rohan styling. (NB: not cheap...) Clothes for men I don't think Dr Martens are a good shoe for travel. They aren't that tough and the stitching you see is fake. If the uppers break away from the soles you can't repair them. And in some places you may be mugged for them! I am unable to recommend an alternative, however. I don't recommend jeans for travel either, unless you are desperate to fit in, or want to trade them on the black market. They are heavy and cold when wet, hard to wash and dry. Light cotton or corduroy trousers would be better, though less fashionable. For packing Instead of padlocks on baggage try adjustable chain links. They look something like a small mountain-climbing 'carabiner' except that there is no spring clip, just a closure which screws tight and closes the link. Most baggage handlers who are interested can crack those little padlocks in seconds. The chain links make them think a bit, and you don't have any keys to lose. If they want to get into your baggage, they'll manage, locked or not. The adjustable chain links are available here in hardware stores or the shops where you would get supplies and equipment for sailing boats. I found them useful to keep my pockets closed while wandering through crowded streets and most airports in Africa and the Middle East. The people who regularly search baggage for small things to 'borrow' seem to have trouble with these links (until everybody starts using them - then they'll carry a wrench with them!:-)) Eating/food equipment The MSR XGK stove is small and uses a Sigg fuel bottle. It burns anything (even dry cleaning fluid!) so you don't have to carry fuel with you on the plane. Airport authorities can be difficult about fuel bottles. With an MSR you can always find fuel when you get to where you are going. Miscellaneous Frisbee Much discussed in Ken Walsh's 'Hitch Hikers Guide to Europe'. I settled on a stainless steel plate which could be used as a plate, frying pan and frisbee! Balloons Great gifts for kids. Sewing needles Great gift for the adults - they were really appreciated in Sudan. Tobacco Might be against your principles but loose tobacco and cigarettes make good gifts and help to smooth out problems at border crossings in Zaire! Finally, a rule for packing, which I have heard in many forms, but which goes something like this: Decide on the minimum of what you need to take on your travels that you will carry in your pack, and the amount of money you think you need. When you have everything, lay it all on the floor with the clothes and things on one side and the money on the other. Now, pack only half of what you see on one side and double your money! :-) Gavin BrebnerMaybe a word or two inserted about the sarong might be an idea, as there is a difference between the way it is worn depending on whether you are male or female (at least in Malaysia, to my knowledge). Although when you buy it you just get a sheet-like bit of material, women are supposed to sew it together in a sort of tube, whereas men just wrap it around themselves. My wife found out why people kept looking at her and laughing when a local woman took pity on her whilst we were waiting for her son to ferry us across to an island, and sewed it up for her. Wearing a sarong the male way is great for showing off your legs, but it definitely frowned upon... Nigel GommT-shirts are a pain. I much prefer collared shirts - you can open up the buttons and they are much cooler (after the head most body heat escapes from the shoulders & neck) - the baggier the better. They dry quicker because you can hang them such that there is only one thickness of cotton. They are smarter & more versatile - the same shirt (after a wash) can be used for trekking in Borneo or drinking a Singapore sling in Raffles (I've done just that). Christine FinlaysonFor women tampons, or sanitary pads are not available in many places (or they're humongous!) so stock up in advance. One thing we probably would have carried in S America is a multi-fuel stove. We hired camping gaz stoves but these are completely ineffective at high altitudes. We got a Colemans Peak something or other later, and were really pleased with it. It takes kerosene or white spirits and either of these fuels is readily available everywhere. C. Keith LaurieShorts I took four pairs of light weight cotton/spandex biking shorts which doubled as underwear. This meant that I could change from my long pants(mornings in June in Tanzania can be quite chilly) to my regular baggy shorts "in public" without any problem. Also when having to use the "local" toilets, I could hand my shorts to a friend and "squat" without worrying about holding up my clothes or anything falling out of the pockets. Just wish I had gone into training for the use of these facilities as it took me a week to get it just right. Skirt There is a style of skirt from India that is wrinkled. It is meant to be stored twisted to preserve the look so it is very easy to travel with. It usually comes in cotton but can also be found in silk or rayon. I have seen these in London, Nairobi, Bremen, Tampa and even here in Barbados so they should be easy to find and usually are not very expensive. Hat I found mine very useful for keeping the dust out of my hair and a good place to put the pins that I bought along the way as souvenirs. Visas Barbados is part of the Commonwealth. Most Commonwealth countries have agreements whereby citizens do not require visas, but check before leaving home. Insect repellent Make sure it is strong enough for where you are going. I bought some that worked wonderfully in Barbados, but was only adequate against mosquitoes in Tanzania and useless against Tse Tse Flies (which bite very hard). Cups/Glasses We made up some coffee one day to take with us on an all day game drive and cut some of our used water bottles to make cups. Each bottle makes two cups (remember to keep the cover) and we were doing our part for recycling. Just be careful as the edges can be quite sharp. Eileen CannadaJohn Fluevog's basic oxfords and such are the most brilliant shoes for travelling...extremely bouncy, comfortable, durable, great tread, all-natural hevea tree latex soles! ChristinaI got a small black dress from the Gap my last trip, that loose artificial material kind (spandex? only looser), and it was fab! Spanish discos and Italian ice cream parlors suited my dress. I could wash it in the sink and it would be dry by morning. I crumpled it in the bottom of my pack, and the wrinkles fell out in a half hour. I tucked it in my pants as a shirt. well, it was great! I also chose for pants a pair of linen slacks from the Gap. They wash easily, dry quickly, seem to be warm and cool (how do clothes do that) and the only down side is they pretty much always look like they need to be ironed, which doesn't bother me any. The other nice thing about Gap clothes is they have the deepest pockets. Who needs a daypack? I could carry dosteyesky in those darn pockets, or cut Lonely Planet and half in each pocket, with room for the Swiss army knife. Hey, bring more film. Take pictures of everything especially people. Snap a pick of every friend you make, religiously, you'll be amazed what a difference it makes to your travel memories. And label every picture when you get it back. I don't know where I took half the pictures from my junior year of college (I'm thirty now... sad) Maybe you should include mental packing. The one thing I always pack is my free floating paranoia. It is the thing that says, gosh, I wonder if there are pickpockets, so you put your hand in your pocket on your wallet, and it is the thing that makes you put the leg of your chair through the strap of your daypack, or makes you keep a purse on your lap instead of on the back of your chair. A little light paranoia will make you always lockup your valuables, even if your just going down the hall for a shower, keep your camera and moneybelt in your pillow case while you sleep... I think when traveling it's best not to think to yourself "its probably fine" Okay, I'm a Gapaholic, that's for sure, but their clothes survived my travels, and were versatile. And I'm a naughty girl, but even the most puritanical of us might get the urge to let down our hair, especially when the sun is setting in Greece and your with a handsome stranger with a sexy accent. Oh, last thing. The best book, in my opinion, for travelling is "Zen Flesh, Zen bones" It is very small (it comes in a pocket edition now) and it consists of short parables, Koans and meditation techniques. It can be read and reread for the rest of your life, it is funny and deep at the same time, teaches you to meditate, which is great on ferries, trains and when in long lines, and the koans will keep you puzzled for hours. I can't recommend this book too highly, especially for those looking to be transformed by their travel experience. Sean KimmelOn your Photo equipment section, you suggest using a Konica camera with panoramic lens. May I suggest, with over 17 of these in my possession, Either a Kodak Single Use Camera, or A Kodak Advantix Advanced Photo System (APS) Camera. The single use cameras come with or without flashes, in panoramic mode, or in a watertight (to 6m) case. You can also et one that uses the APS, so you get almost another 2 inches on the sides of a photo. A good compromise between panoramic and normal, without the extra cost. The Advantix cameras are probably the most inginuitive on the market. For 70USD, you can get one that does everything for you. Just drop in the leaderless film cartridge and off you go. Auto focus, auto wind, auto flash, auto rewind, and best of all, you can get three picture sizes; "Panoramic", "classic" or "group". group is a longer version of the classic. Plus, you've got reliable Kodak quality. Check it out. Almost 99 percent of the Kodak (only Kodak) one-time use cameras are recycled. Yippee for mother earth. Doug LinderIt's a very good idea - as you mention - to write down the numbers of yoru traveller's checks. I also like to write down my credit card numbers, bank account numbers, various ID numbers, and tons of other important numbers that I might need if trying to deal with a bureaucracy far from home. Naturally you are thinking "yees, but if anyone finds that list, you are in big trouble!" The answer is simple: "encrypt" then with a very simple code that only you know. For example, you could multiply them all by six. Or subtract the year your spouse was born. Or add three fake digits at the end of each number. As long as you do the same "encryption" to all the numbers, you're all set - any thief will have useless numbers, if you use something that's easy to remember, it's no problem for you to quickly come up with the real numbers. Renata de AquinoI have traveled alone and swear by two products. 1st, the Body Shop's (found in Europe and the U.S.) carries Body Butter that smells great, is a wonderful moisturiser (lips, body even shaving) and is concentrated and thick so it won't spill everywhere like normal lotion. 2nd, Eagle Creek makes a cable lock that doubles as a motion alarm. The cable lock can be used on anything, luggage bikes etc. An you can hang the motion alarm on your hotel door or window. Its loud so you'll know if anyone is messing with you stuff. Dan DmytryshynMy Grandparents have a cabin in northern Canada, in the boreal forest. We get MILLIONS of mosquitos there and we have tried every type of mosquito spray there is. The best is called "Deep Woods Off", made by S.C. Johnson wax. Note however you will smell like a chemical plant when you have it on. "Off" made by S.C. Johnson also works ok, but it is meant for places with less mosquitos (ie southern Canada). Ones to stay away from are sunscreen/bug spray combos, they don't work as well as putting on each by themselves. Also, anything from Avon (Avon Skin-so-Soft) DOES NOT WORK!!!! The stuff seems to *attract* mosquitos to you. Another decent one is Mukitol (sp) but it doesn't come in a spray bottle/aerosol can just a bottle that you tip against your finger and you have to rub on. Now for the enviromentalists out there, the only sprays that work are the least enviromentally friendly ones. The chemical DEET works wonders. Also, Deep Woods Off only comes in a aerosol can. Michael GoeseleIf you are using slide films it can be hard and very expensive to get in the US. Best bet are small photoshops (expensive) or mail order shops in New York. But it is often hard to stay at the same place til your order arrives... I personally never use a tripod although I like making pictures at night or in low lit places. Pressing the camera firmly against a wall, a lamp post,... works pretty well. Or just put it on a table or rock and use the timer to avoid shaking the camera while you push the trigger. Fellow traveller from MinnesotaOne should contact their Credit Card Customer Service people and possibly their fraud departments to alert them that you are going to various other cities, countries, etc. My husband and I were recently travelling in Iceland and Holland, and our VISA account (which we had been using for all of our meals, hotels, and major purchases) suddenly could not be used. It had had a block placed on it by the computer back in Minnesota at the issuing bank as a result of charges starting to show up in foreign countries! It took us several hours of long-distance calling before we had the block removed so we could continue to use this card. In light of the experience, we would now do the following when travelling: 1. Call the VISA issuing bank to tell them where we are going and that when charges start to show, that it is indeed us. 2. Probably travel with more than one credit card. 3. And definitely bring along all the contact phone numbers for the credit card issuers, in case of a problem (including having a card stolen or lost). Our VISA issuer has even a number that can be called collect if necessary when problems occur. But, of course, we did not have those numbers with us on our recent trip, except for the 1-800 number on the back of our VISA card, and you can't use 1-800 numbers calling from Holland. Michelle TaylorWhen I travel I take small balloons. I blow them up and put them in my socks and underwear and they dry quicker. I also take address labels of family and friends rather than carry an address book. Essi KorhonenEmail all your important details to yourself to an address which you have access to through the Internet (i.e Hotmail, Yahoo). Passport number (even a scanned copy of it, if you're up to it), credit card details, pin codes, hotel vouchers (if you booked via Internet), telephone numbers, flight details... etc. Of course you might consider hiding them within some other trivial mail, if you have doubts about security or afraid of hackers :o) That way, should you loose all your possessions, including your notebook with all details, you can always find an Internet Cafe where you can easily check everything and maybe, if necessary, print them out. Or call a friend and ask her to check it for you. Jenn V.I have a pair of Blundstones that I bought in my local hiking shop - I walked in and asked for a pair of good, solid shoes for urban walking. I'm not sure if Blundstones are as universally available as Docs ((Dr. Martens)), but I've found them sturdy and reliable, and they clean up well with a damp cloth. My advice, though, is to ask at a good hiking-supplies store. Jeremy GriffinBring a P-38 can opener, it's US military issue item. It is a little over an inch in length and about 3/4 inch wide and on one side there's a hinged piece of metal that has a curved blade on the end facing the bottom and on the main part it has a notch where you place the lip of the can and the because it's open you place your thumb on the flat shaft and rock the thing back and forth on the lip piercing the lid with the pointed end. This whole thing folds flat and goes on a key ring. You can find them at most any hardware store and many camping supply stores now. The best ones are US surplus but I've used the camping brand types and they work. It's a trick to learn to use it but once you figure it out it's far more effiecent than a Swiss Army knife or a big bulky can-opener. Also, it's a fun cnoversational piece because very few people have seen or used one. And it's very sturdy with a rigde in the shaft so I've used it to pry on small things, I've used it as a screwdriver and I've used the point and semi-sharp edge to cut and poke all kinds of stuff, including opening a new cd, which is hard as heck to do. Dick HemmingsI have used "Time Out" shoes by SAS (San Antonio Shoe) for several years. In twenty years I have worn 6 pairs all over Europe, China, Australia, and the US. I still have three. One I use for working in my yard, and two for all other requirements. The black pair I wear with a tux or when wandering through the woods. Just a little polish and they are ready to go again. Their advantages are that:
Kathryn HigginsInstead of a a portable iron, bring a water bottle and a coat hanger. Spray a shirt with water, hang it up at night, and it will not be wrinkled in the morning. Mary MycioA great place for carrying money is in bras with removable demi-pads. Just remove the pads and insert folded up bills into the pockets. Loose shirts help conceal contours. I tried this with some Victoria's Secret bras while travelling alone recently in a remote corner of Russia and found it MUCH more comfortable than a money belt. The softer, more crumpled the bills, the more that will fit. Vigorous movement ocassionally made the money slide (not out of the pockets but to a position that may have made their presence more obvious to my paranoid traveller's mind). But repositioning it required no more effort than the usual daily bra adjustments. Carla SmithPickpockets are very sneaky. I warn against fanny packs - ESPECIALLY turned around to face your "fanny" and even facing front. VERY young gypsy children in Italian cities are known to distract you by holding a newspaper or piece of cardboard up to your body while they reach under and quikly unzip your pack, taking everything. These kids are small and fast and they come out of nowhere. Neck pouches can also be an easy target: snip the string from behind, the pouch lands on the ground and it's gone before you can turn around! If you swear by the neck pouch, wear it inside a tucked-in shirt. Eddie Bauer (in Canada and the USA) makes a great travel pouch - it survived the gypsy trick. It has a thin shoulder strap and also a slot to loop your belt through. You can use one or the other, or both. It is wide, so it will hold foreign notes which are generally larger than US and Canadian bills. It has multiple pockets inside big enough for a passport, and one mesh one where I keep pics of my family. The cash pocket zips closed, and the whole pouch folds and clips together so it is virtually impossible to get into. The gypsy kids got the outside change-purse zipper open, and that's all. Money belts are always the best choice, but are hot, sticky, and somewhat embarassing when you are constantly putting you hand down your pants to get out your money!! Doesn't work if you choose to wear a dress. Vinyl-covered passports don't breathe very well either. Jackie TarryWhen camping or traveling where you will be using a public bathroom situation: bring along 2 "over the door" hooks (purchased at bed & bath stores or housewares stores, they are small, about 6 inches long, & have a "J" hook at one end with a square hook at the other----the "J" holds your stuff, the square end goes "over the door"). Public bathrooms have notoriously gross floors so you don't want to set your towel & clothes on the floor while you use the sink, toilet, or shower. & usually the sink counters are flooded wet so you can't set a bag down. But with the handy "over the door" hooks, you place your hooks on the shower stall door while washing (or on the outside of the toilet stall door while using the sink) & use one hook to hold your towel and clothes & the other to hold your bag of toiletries. Everything stays dry & handy! I just did this on a recent camping trip & it made a washing in a crowded & wet bathroom much easier! Kyle SetzerI have found bungee cords useful when travelling: use them to strap on more luggage, to make a handle (use a small one), secure train compartment doors (I don't know if this is legal, I went throught europe and never got in trouble...Just open quickly if it is the conductor), compressing luggage, a belt (if you loose or break the one you brought), a line to hang wet clothes on,... Linda GoodmanI attended a photography workshop and the best tip I have heard is to remove finial (decorative screw) from the top of a lampshade in a hotel room. Remove the lamp shade. Don't be tempted to turn the light on at this pont. Then screw your camera onto the top of the lamp. They are universal in size and it actually works. I've tried it. Also, the lamp is usually taller than most other perches so it's quite good. Stephen PsallidasWhen I have a book which I have finished, and I can't find anyone to swap it with, then I just leave it in a hostel or wherever I am staying. But I write inside the front cover my name, and the date and place where I left it, and a little note asking whoever picks the book up next to do the same when they have finished with it. I like to think of the book travelling all over the world - probably doing 100 times as many miles as I do in a year! Yes, I know I'm a bit sad.... :-) Maria JacobsI am from the United States and when I travel to other countries, especially in eastern Africa, I take a backpack full of Coca-Cola in bottles with me. I have found that in some countries, even though you can buy it there, a bottle of Coca-Cola with English printed on it is worth more than gold. There have been many times when I have been able to get out of trouble at customs over bringing a pair of scissors with me by giving the custom officers a coke each. It is also helpful to learn to say the phrase "I bring these to trade for food." in the native tounge ahead of time so that you can tell Customs office, that way they are least likely to confiscate them. Of course, you can't take these on air travel, but boating across the ocean can be a lot of fun. If taking Coca-Cola isn't an option, then take T-shirts, hats, patches, and other things (such as pens, pencils, etc.) that have the Coca-Cola logo on them. A T-shirt and 2 pens got my boyfriend and myself a hotel room and a hot shower once. Norine FisherI am always paranoid that the 3x5 cards I use for data (phone numbers, addresses, lists of credit cards, etc) will become bent, soggy or some way indecypherable. I laminate mine with clear contact paper on both sides of the card. It is cheaper than the laminator guy at the stationery store, but not as sturdy as the luggage tag laminator that may make some people more comfortable. I reduce the size of my resale license and use the luggage tag laminator for it. Erik SanderSmall trick to ensure that you always will have access to the local electric power. Bring a small sample of "screw on" single plugs. They come in round and flat configurations. Get acces (find one in a shop and look at it) to one of these "global power plugs" and find out, which of your own small, single ones, you need. Some of the round ones you might need a pair. Produce your own female plug by using round, single female ones, that will fit your equipment. Have the wires cut, cleared and "tinned". The whole outfitt will fit into a round, standard filmbox. It will take much lesser room than your reserve bank. So when arriving, take a look at the wall plug, use your swiss army knife small screwdriver, put on needed single plugs (be sure that they are insulated before putting them in), and go. You will be amazed to learn, how few you need and how fast and versatile, and illegal, it is. The system has been in use in places like North Luangwa Walley, Coppermine and onboard a russian expedition wessel at Wrangel Island. Plus several other odd places. To get most out of that equipment, buy a small electric "dipping" boiler. They comes in "fold away" versions with little weight. Use your alluminium mug (it�s that odd thing under the bottom of the belt carried canteen bottle) place it on a peace of cloth. And coffe/soup is ready. That thing will double as "cooking equipment" over campfire if needed. Holds around 1/2 litre. Tested in Lappland, the banks of lake Kariba etc. Geoff RothwellI've moved on to the water sock variety, which also come in handy in public showers and around pools. Stay away from water in those thongs (whatever you call them): you'll slip and fall on wet, hard surfaces. Also, until guys learn how to use airplane toilets, put something on before entering or suffer soggy consequences. Water socks on an airplane also have the added bonus of giving you the sense of being in "2001: Space Odyssey". While Doc Martens have been my travel shoe, they're no good on any form of H2O: ice, water, or steam. Whatever those soles are made out of, they slip. So, if there is the possibility of ice and snow in your travel plans, you need to add some clamp-on spikes. I bought mine from some catalogue for about $15. They're attached to a thick rubber band like thing and wrap around just about any shoe, including Doc Martens. Marisa MurphreeOn the issue of shoes, I was very pleased with my Corcoran Field Boots. Made by the company who designed WWII jump boots, these have a very similar, old fashioned style: soft leather uppers with hard, shiny toes and heels. I prefer them to athletic shoes, not only because they have some style, but also because they support and protect my feet better. They appear huge, and feel heavy when you pick them up, but the weight is in the sole, and the top is soft and conforms nicely to your foot. They needed very little breaking in. I wore them daily for over a year, in sun and mud and snow, and they are still in supurb condition--I'm sure they have at least five more years good wear in them. Although I couldn't afford waterproof ones, these had a moisture-wicking system that left my feet feeling good, even after streets ankle-deep in melting snow. I enjoyed their mid-calf height because of the warmth and protection it offered. On really terrible days, I could tuck my pants inside and wade through anything. The biggest problem is that this same feature can become rather hot if the temperature is over 95F. I bought mine for $100 from U.S.Cavalry--a military surplus magazine. At the time, I couldn't find any in women's sizes and had to settle for the smallest men's size available (not as nice because the heel is wider and it generally doesn't fit as well). Since then, I've seen them in women's sizes in other military surplus mags. (Mass Army/Navy, I believe.) A pair of black leggings is invaluable to a female traveller. They can be worn under skirts or pants for extra warmth, or alone with a large shirt. You can sleep in them, and they look just as good the next day. They were wonderful on platscar train trips in Russia: I could pull off my jeans in a car full of strangers and hop into bed, not feeling the least bit immodest. A really good pair is comfortable enough to live in for weeks. On long bus/plane/ train rides, the tightness acts like old-lady support hose and keeps your blood circulating and the swelling down. Dave SmithCarry a few twist ties - the kind you always seem to have a drawerful of in the kitchen. They are handy for a multitude of uses, including repairs, bundling small items, and tying up your cheese and sausage in a bag before you pop them in the hotel's bar fridge overnight - keeps the odors down. You can strip off the outer covering and get a fine piece of wire to thread clothing to a piece of string to dry, or even make an emergency fuse replacement if your rental car's radio suddenly stops working. Always carry a lighter, whether you're a smoker or not. It can give you emergency lighting, sear the unravelled end of a cord or a loose thread, melt a fraying nylon seam, light a candle in a church, or destroy papers you don't want to have go any further, like credit card receipts that you don't plan to keep. Consider a zipper repair kit. I bought one of these at a camping supply store, and it included new pulls and stops to repair various sizes and types of zippers. Comes with a manual, and you may need a Leatherman tool or pliers. At the very least, check all your zippers before you leave, and fix any broken or dubious ones. debMotion sickness: Ginger (can be in the form of sugared ginger, which is like candy, or powdered, which is lighter and less bulky but not quite as convenient or tasty (you can mix it with water and sugar in your water bottle, if available, to make it more palatable) has been shown to be effective against nausea. Eat if if you start to feel queasy. Henrik MartinJust wanted to give you a heads up about something that happened to my undeveloped rolls of film from my recent Sweden trip. I had 6 rolls of film that I had taken during my vacation. I packed them in my suitcase instead of my camera case (which I take as a carry-on item). One roll of film was still in my camera. After I came back from my trip, I took them to Wolf Camera and had them developed. Much to my disappointment, most of the shots were ruined, except for the ones from the roll that was in my camera during my trip home :-( Looking at the negatives, I could see a sinewave-shaped streak going across all the frames. I suspected the baggage x-ray scanners, and took the prints and negatives down to Wolf. They confirmed that it was definitely ruined by the scanners, and they said that it happens much more frequently these days. Some rolls were definitely more affected than others, so it apparently made a difference how/where in the suitcase they were packed. Anyway, with the heightened airport security measures, my guess is that they've cranked up the intensity of the baggage scanners, or installed new "meaner" ones. Since the one roll that was in my camera was completely unaffected (along with one brand new roll that was in there too, that I've since developed), my conclusion is that it's safer to store the undeveloped film in your carry-on luggage since the scanners used to screen carry-on luggage seems to not harm the film. Matthew CollinsThose bungee elastic travel clothes line are really great to jury rig your mosquito net up with at night. They can also be used to strap extra items to the outside of your pack. I have entertained myself for a dull afternoon by making a catapult with one and targeted pesky flys. Judi BrewsterI always throw in 2 miniature bubble-blowing bottles (the type given as party favours) into my toilet bag. They are great for times when kids are in enclosed spaces hotel rooms, apartments or when the weather is rainy. We have used them on hotel balconies, in undercover car parks, and under verandahs on rainy days, to relieve the tension when everyone has "cabin fever". When we return home, I just re-fill with dishwashing detergent and a little water. |