Essential Items for Traveling the World
With Christmas behind us and Easter just a few weeks away, travelers around the world are studying their next travel destinations for 2016. Whether it's a winter getaway or in warmer or tropical climates, an urban trip with excursions in the cold cities of the Arctic Circle, or even a simple weekend in a popular tourist destination; the question that usually arises is: what are the modern essential and necessary items for a trip around the world?
Essential items are those you must have at hand at all times. In an absolute emergency, can you walk away from your travel plan and take a plane home, leaving everything else behind?
Whether you are walking through unknown terrains and need the robustness of the ResponsePak, or strolling through your favorite city and want the security of the Passport Delux; for most travelers, keeping essential items at hand is second nature. The Utility Pak is the middle ground between these two models, offering adequate space for your essential documents, a water bottle, and other essential items. No matter your needs, Snugpak has a wide range of luggage for explorers, adventurers, or tourists traveling thousands of miles or not from home.
The 10 Modern Essential Items for Traveling the World According to Snugpak
Each individual will have different thoughts on the range of equipment to take, whether you choose to take the 10 essential items on a classic basis or a more complex approach. Using this approach for equipment, can the same system be used for urban exploration? Or even for easy walks in European countries? When does a day off outing become an expedition? All these questions are subjective, and regardless of the itinerary, an individual will need to have many essential items at hand; including those we have described below.
The 10 Modern Essential Items for Traveling the World:
1. Passport, visa, and tickets. 2. Money, checkbook, and credit cards. 3. Useful phone numbers (embassy, consulate). 4. Health and insurance documents (European health insurance card). 5. Mobile phone and backup battery (with charging cable). 6. Maps (tourist and topographic). 7. Camera or camcorder (digital). 8. Sun protection (SPF50, hats). 9. Small first aid kit and medications, including a roll of adhesive tape. 10. Water bottle and snacks.
Depending on the destinations, you should always be attentive and respectful of the laws, regulations, and customs to bring your essential items. For most low mountain hikes in the UK, a small penknife is necessary; you never know when you will need to remove a stone from a horse's hoof or use the small pliers to remove a splinter. But first, check if carrying a penknife is legally allowed; some countries outside the EU have strict laws regarding knives and weapons, and no one wants to get on the wrong side of a foreign legal system.
Your passport along with the associated visa and travel tickets should be secured without risk. Although there is an option in most hotels to place such documents in a safe in your room, in some countries you may be asked to leave your passport at the hotel during your stay. Make sure these documents are always secure! You can take a photo of your passport and store it on your phone. If you lose your passport or need to replace it abroad, the local Embassy can facilitate this process, usually for a fee, but they will need to know your passport number to replace it to verify your identity.
Convert some of your travel money into local currency for small purchases like drinks and food, so you always have an advance of funds available in the form of traveler's checks. Check with your bank if using your credit card abroad incurs additional costs, and to know the level of protection you have against theft and fraud. Make sure you have recorded the emergency number in case you need to cancel your card urgently.
A valid European health insurance card gives its holder the right to access temporary medical services provided by the state in which they are located, in the European Economic Area or Switzerland. The treatment provided will be the same as for a resident of the country and at a reduced price, or even free in many cases. This card covers the necessary medical treatment until its holder returns home. This includes treatment for pre-existing medical conditions. This card is not an alternative to travel insurance. It is important to have this card, as well as private travel insurance in place before traveling.
A smartphone can be vital, even without a network. Check that the data loads correctly with your phone service if you use 4G instead of a WiFi connection. Make sure to bring a backup battery and the charging cable and do not leave expensive products in plain sight, except in absolute necessity. Learn to use your phone and its applications before leaving and put your important documents, such as plane tickets, on a storage space that does not require a connection. If you are traveling in a group, or with family, make sure one person has all the necessary information. Be sure to know the emergency numbers to call, such as the police or emergency services, as these numbers differ by country. In the EU, the international emergency number is 112.
The military "Swiss Army knife" is an essential expedition item; the modern equivalent for travel is the Smartphone and its applications
Nothing is more recognizable than a tourist stopped on a sidewalk holding a tourist map! Other travel books can provide valuable information, but make sure they are up to date. In the UK, we are lucky with the Ordnance Survey as many different types of maps are available; but other countries may limit the availability of topographic maps, which can be a problem for traveling outside established tourist areas. Take advantage of both types of maps and make sure you navigate safely around the chosen destination. Remember natural orientation methods by finding North; or consider using a map on your phone in offline mode, such as those available through various mapping applications.
Although your phone has a high-definition camera, opt for a smaller digital camera, with several models providing quality images for less than €100. If you use your phone to take photos, be aware that it encroaches on battery life and reduces your chances of always having a battery in case of need. Memory cards and other accessories are cheap to remember your adventure; but remember to take the time to look around you during your trip – too many people spend their day looking through their camera viewfinder: undertaking a trip is an experience!
Make sure you have adequate sun protection, even in cold climates. SPF50 sunscreen is used to prevent sunburn, especially when you are hiking high peaks closer to the sun or fresh snow. The SPF index corresponds to the calculation of burn time by a specific number, that is, 50; this is more generally called the UV Index. If in a specific area the UV index is 5 minutes, by applying SPF50, the burn time is 250 minutes; you should then reapply sunscreen frequently according to the burn time. These can be found on travel websites, including the following site which offers a good list of UV indices based on the region of the world: http://sunburnmap.com
As well as sun protection, use a foldable jacket to protect yourself from the wind or provide good insulation, such as the Snugpak Venture Wintop or the SV3 Softie jacket. These garments are foldable to take up minimal space and provide the minimal insulation and protection you need.
A first aid kit can make minor cuts and scrapes bearable. Of course, attending a travel first aid course will make a huge difference in understanding travel matters, especially learning the generic names of medications for local pharmacies; traveler's diarrhea is common – do you know how to choose between Loperamide and Loratadine?
Finally, make sure you have bottled water for each person, as well as some candies and snacks. Haribo is a much better choice than melted chocolate. Snacks and food are difficult to pass through in some popular destinations, always check that the packaging is clean; if necessary, eat sealed snacks and drink bottled water.
Where to Take It All?
Items must be secured and risk-free for the individual, but they must also stay out of curious eyes. Tourists can be easy prey for criminals, with foreign passports in high demand, money and credit cards as well as high-value smartphones. Keeping essential items out of sight deters many, and simple security measures can be easily implemented so you can travel and fully enjoy your vacation, instead of worrying about criminal tourist aspects. Most destinations are safe overall, but if you venture further than expected, additional precautions should be taken. Check your destination on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
There are 225 countries listed, covering most destinations worldwide, and each country has specific ratings regarding current travel advice, safety, terrorism (threats), local laws and customs, entry requirements (Visa), health, and money.
Due to limited space and weight, many flights have a restriction of less than 20kg per person. Taking essential items is therefore critical to optimize space for both checked and carry-on luggage.
Similar to military personnel deploying abroad, take the time to ensure that the clothes you bring and the items you would like to enjoy during your trip are in sufficient quantity, and that you have not taken unnecessary items. Leave some space for necessary purchases you will make abroad and need to bring back home!
Pack your items in freezer bags and compress them to remove excess air, this will reduce their size and you can compartmentalize your suitcase using the Snugpak Pakbox, available in sizes 1L, 2L, 4L, and 6L.
Don't forget other items, including a wash bag; keep your toothbrush and toiletries together with lightweight towels that take up minimal space and weight.
Remember: There are many restrictions on the items you can take in your carry-on and checked luggage to take a plane, regardless of the destination!
Assembling All the Items:
With many essential items to take, in addition to your clothes and other equipment, packing your suitcase can be intimidating. As well as the Pakboxes, Drisaks keep your used and dirty clothes separate from your clean clothes, while reducing the space they occupy by expelling extra air and keeping them dry.
Suitcases and carry-on luggage can seriously eat into your baggage allowance, so consider alternative options like a Snugpak Kitmonster Holdall available in 65L and 120L, or the Kitmonster Roller (65L and 120L) for more serious expeditions, or the Snugpak Subdivide in 90L.
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