Travelling is a Privilege

If it's anything that we have learned from the pandemic, it is how much of a privilege it is to travel to foreign places and be present at some of the world's most beloved sites. So out of a love for travel and an inability to do so, I thought I would compile my current knowledge about preparing luggage into a blog post.

What Type of Traveller Are You?

When I am travelling, I feel that I most enjoy my time when I act like a nomad, setting up a base camp and then exploring the city I am in, followed by a migration to another city, to make another base camp. You need to assess what kind of traveller you are. If you feel that you will stay in one major location, more luggage is feasible because you take what is necessary daily, leaving bulkier luggage in a hotel room. But for me, I'm migrating from city to city-- so I need to be nimble.

Being Nimble

I have found the best way to travel is to travel light, only with carry-on luggage and a satchel. Consider some of these benefits:

  • Reduced airfare cost, depending on both the airline and your preferred class.
  • You save ample time by skipping baggage check in and pickup.
  • It reduces how much you need to carry from city to city.
  • It makes train, bus, or taxi trips much easier because you will not need to stow your luggage, or worse, forget your luggage. (This is a key reason for me, since I'm forgetful.)

For day by day use, I do not carry my suitcase. Instead, I opt for the use of a satchel. In it I store a small water bottle, my itinerary, and day to day purchases. This is a slight departure from what accomplished traveller and PBS host Rick Steves recommends, since I find backpacks make me sweat. Rick Steves calls his the day bag.

Now, you might be thinking, how could I live without this thing or that thing. In my experience, things meant to entertain me on long train rides and in the air went unused. They were bulky-- and weren't necessary. You're travelling: that's the experience.

Drawbacks

The one drawback I can find is that bringing back items will be more difficult, especially if you like to shop. There is a work around: you could ship yourself items. However, I would be reticent to buy things similar to what you can find in your local area.

Current Passport

Ensure your passport is up to date and valid for the length of your trip, at an absolute minimum.

Always check with your foreign ministry, office, or state department website to determine the various entry requirements of the country you are travelling to. For example, at time of writing, visitors to Schengen affiliated countries (e.g. Germany, France, Italy) require a travellers passport to be valid for six additional months after departure. Some countries, such as Australia, have obligatory tourist visas.

The Roster

Now on to the roster of essential travel items. Each will have some level of description. As for the items themselves, I'm assuming a summer vacation. Plan accordingly. I use packing cubes that you can find on Amazon. It will make packing your luggage easier.

Clothing

Having clothing that is multi-purpose, compact, and light really is the name of the game, especially in the summer months of July and August in the northern hemisphere.

Athletic clothing has a lot of useful properties: it is moisture wicking, most are made of breathable fabrics, are light weight, wash and dry quickly, and roll up well. They are suited as beachwear and can double as pajamas.

Clothes should be thoroughly washed with detergent in the hotel sink, rinsed, and dried nightly. Always choose clothing that dries quickly, made of synthetic materials like polyester and nylon.

I will make some suggestions below about quantities and fabrics based on my experience. Women will have a slightly different wardrobe, and it also depends on where and when you are going.

Working inside out:

Personal

  • 5 Underwear - Use athletic underwear only.

Top

  • 3 Shirts - Cotton weaves or light polyester, short or long sleeve.
  • 3 T-Shirts - Light cotton. 🇨🇦 As a Canadian, designs and Canadian symbols and branding are encouraged, but this will mark you as a tourist.
  • 1 Sweater or Hoodie - Polyester, best for cooler nights.

Bottoms

  • 4 Pants or Shorts - Khakis and shorts are recommended. Always include a pair of formal dress pants for business casual events or upscale restaurants. Athletic shorts are helpful here. If you feel lost without denim, I would opt for something on the lighter side.
  • 5 Pairs of Socks - Opt for cotton or polyester socks with at least one that complements dress shoes.

Pajamas

  • Athletic Shorts and T-Shirts double as pajamas. If the nights are cooler, include some flannel bottoms.

Jacket

  • Light Jacket or Coat. - Weather dependent.

Shoes

  • Regular Walking Shoes - make sure they are broken in, otherwise you'll get blisters.
  • Dress Shoes - Always include a pair of dress shoes for business casual and formal situations, such as restaurants and the Vatican. Bring it with a shoe bag to prevent dirt from soiling the rest of your luggage.

Miscellaneous Clothing

  • Include string and plastic clips to hang dry clothes.

Toiletries

Liquids, Creams, Gels, Soaps, and Toothpaste

For these items you should prefer travel sizes, or purchase the items at your destination. A clear Ziploc bag is needed for all liquids for security clearance. TSA and equivalent rules across the globe require a maximum of 1 L of liquids, with each maxing out at 100 mL.

  • Toothpaste
  • Mouthwash
  • Deodorant
  • Liquid Laundry Detergent (Purchase a travel sized bottle)
  • Shaving cream

Sanitation

  • Toothbrush and Comb
  • Dental Floss
  • Razors - Only bring disposables and discard after one or two shaves. Safety razor blades are prohibited in carry-on.

For the day bag:

  • Baby Wipes - These are quite convenient for cleaning, sanitizing, and to cool off in a pinch.
  • Microfiber Washcloth - One that is under 30 cm squared (one square foot) will be sufficient on the go and it dries brilliantly.

Medication

  • Tylenol or Aspirin or Ibuprofen - For mild pain relief, use what is familiar to you and only as directed.

For the day bag:

  • Polysporin - A sterilizing topical medication, use only as directed.
  • Bandaids - There may be instances of mild cuts, scrapes, and blisters.
  • First Aid Kit - You can purchase pouches of sterilizing chemicals. Use them as directed.

Day Bag or Satchel

Sealable Folder

  • Itinerary - I like to have a neatly planned and scheduled itinerary. Perhaps that's another blog post.
  • All Tickets Pre-printed - A great way to skip as many lines as possible. Buy all of your tickets online in advance to save significant amounts of time.

Cellphone

iPhone

I personally prefer to have a dedicated travel phone that is separate from my main phone, which I leave at home, in case I lose it.

iPhones are the best phones for international travel because of broad band support, so you may get faster internet access from carriers. Purchase an older model iPhone at an authorized or competent reseller for under $200 and limit your apps on the phone to just the essentials. You should also bring a battery pack that can charge for additional power.

Purchase a local SIM card that will last the length of your trip as you don't want to be without cellular data. I pre-purchase a SIM via Amazon with an established carrier in the region.

Apps

Having a chat app with voice is important if you want to remain in contact with family members back home. Save money and data by using hotel wifi. There are many chat apps to choose from, including WhatsApp, Messenger, Google Meet, Telegram, Signal, Viper, Element...

iPhones already come with maps and free e-reader software, meaning you don't have to take bulky books on your travels. If you're on a budget or prefer physical books, consider downloading the greats for free in EPUB format from Project Gutenberg instead.

Camera

I keep my camera in my day bag or around my neck. The improvements that cellphone cameras have attained has been incredible, so if you're on a domestic trip or not much a photog like I am, you can skip this section. If, however, you like taking travel photos, consider these items:

  • Camera
  • Batteries - I recommend to carry two.
  • SD cards - Carry multiple SD cards or one that is large enough for your purposes.
  • Charger - An essential item to charge up your camera.

Advanced Camera Items

  • Lenses
  • Filters - If you do want to bring filters, consider a polarizing filter for more vivid colours (better looking skies) and UV filters for protection.
  • Lens Hoods

And of course, shoot in RAW. But you probably knew that already.

Cash

To enter other countries you must have some physical currency on you, preferably in the denomination of the country or a nearby well-established reserve currency. For example:

  • US Dollar
  • Euro
  • Japanese Yen
  • British Pound sterling
  • Chinese Renminbi
  • Canadian Dollar
  • Australian Dollar
  • Swiss Franc

Also, you need to have some money to return.

Credit

Of course, have all credit cards you used to purchase your tickets and reservations. Don't let other family members purchase tickets or reservations for you; you will be out of luck. Let them gift you the money to purchase the ticket instead.

Miscellaneous

Gum - Keep in your pocket on flights for ascent and descent, to alleviate ear popping, if that is uncomfortable for you.

Most of all, have fun!