Valderi, valdera, my knapsack on my back...

[qatarperegrine]

The friend with whom I'm traveling to Spain asked my advice on what to pack, so as a follow-up to my travel planning tips, I am now sharing my default packing list when going to a new country for 7-10 days. I like to think I travel pretty light, but I know some of you are way more hard-core than me -- your feedback is welcome. :-)

Clothes

• 3-4 lightweight shirts, some combo of T-shirts and long-sleeved depending on climate
  
• two pairs of pants with lots of pockets and that don't need belts, one of which is convertible to shorts
  
• fleece jacket and/or rain jacket
  
• 3-4 pairs socks, 1 cotton underwire or sports bra, 7 pairs cotton underwear
  
• one pair of decent-looking sneakers, for preference my trail runners since they're most versatile
  
• optional: swimsuit if destination involves swimming; flip-flops if destination is South/Southeast Asia; hat/gloves/scarf if destination is cold; tank top and gym shorts if destination is warm & liberal, or I'm staying in a hostel

Toiletries

• travel-size shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, SPF 15 moisturizer (necessitating a quart-size Zip-Loc, if I'm traveling to a stupid country). I know taking my own soap and moisturizer is self-indulgent, but I freaking hate getting dry skin on vacation from caustic hotel soap, so I self-indulge
  
• bug repellent and/or sunblock, depending on destination
  
• contact lens solution and case, glasses, backup pair of contacts. My contacts can be left in for a month at a time but I still remove them for flights -- maybe I should experiment with not doing that, and just take eye drops, but I'm totally paranoid about getting stranded without usable contacts
  
• antibacterial hand sanitizer, if I'm going somewhere with sketchy hygiene
  
• whatever medications I'm taking, and a full tube of ketoprofen gel
  
• 1-2 doses each of Naproxen, Immodium, Pyridium, and Zyrtec, and 2 bandaids -- just enough to tide me over until I find a pharmacy, if I get sick
  
• female-type products if necessary
  
• the above all goes in a toiletries bag, or a large plastic bag if I'm watching weight
  
• sunglasses
  
• folding brush/comb thing (a QA business class freebies) and two hair ties (I always lose one)
  
• sleeping mask (another QA freebie) in case of migraine
  
• maybe a washcloth or small hand towel, if I'm staying in hostels
  

Gadgets

• iPod touch -- omg, I can't travel without this anymore. Music, videos and games for boring travel interludes, and internet for on-the-go travel planning, blogging and IMing. It's like my laptop away from laptop. Plus, my earbuds double as ear plugs, and can be used with in-flight entertainment systems.
  
• digital camera
  
• my cell phone if I'm going somewhere with GSM (for emergencies, and because hostelworld SMSes you directions to your hostel for free)
  
• charger/converter and cables for the above three
  
• a headlamp
  
• my travel watch, which figures out time zones for me
  
• Justin likes to take our handheld GPS unit, which can be handy for finding your hostel at the end of the day, but lately I've decided it's not worth it

Miscellaneous

• passport, of course
  
• credit & debit cards. My friend asked how much cash I take; the answer is NONE. My credit card (CapitalOne) has amazingly low currency exchange fees and my ATM card (PNC) reimburses us for ATM fees -- I get way better rates with them than through cash exchange.
  
• a moneybelt to keep the above in
  
• driver's license, health insurance card, Qatar Airways gold card, possibly in a wallet
  
• printouts of all plane/train tickets and hostel reservations (with directions)
  
• printouts of applicable Lonely Planet chapters, which I then throw away as they become unnecessary
  
• ballpoint pen. I can't tell you how many times I've had to beg for a pen to fill in entrance visa and customs paperwork at airports
  
• a novel to read. I try to choose one with dense type, to maximize reading time relative to weight :-)
  
• a little nylon bag that folds up into its own pocket, a bit like this one but smaller, in case I want to use my backpack as a daypack, or in case I go crazy and buy more stuff than I can fit in my backpack (e.g., tea in Sri Lanka) or stuff that I can't take carry-on (e.g., samurai sword letter opener in Japan)
  
• I often carry a small bag of nuts for snacking, and of course a water bottle

All this goes in my beloved GoLite Jam².

So what's on your packing list? What can't you leave home without?

Comments

[materjibrail.livejournal.com]

It always surprises me how little the list changes from a one week trip to a several month trip. My main differences- more socks, old fashioned cotton hankies, only one pair glasses (worn) plus prescription, a travel alarm clock, a book of Sudoku,tea bags if not in U K ,and it all goes in a wheelie suitcase on account of my advanced age and decrepit skeleton. I used to carry gifts but limit that severely these days. But doesn't the electronic stuff increase! And our iPod is older and bigger. Enjoy Spain.

[roseandsigil.livejournal.com]

Hey, Marjorie. Are you going anywhere this summer? Tom Cauchois, his girlfriend and I are going to be in (mostly as yet indeterminate) parts of Europe for large parts of the summer.

[qatar.livejournal.com]

Oooh. Yep, I'll be in Spain June 14-24 with my friend Ryan: two days each Seville, Granada, Montserrat, Barcelona and Madrid, in that order.

I'll also be in Pittsburgh June 28-July 5, not that you live there anymore. :-)

[y-pestis.livejournal.com]

Aww, so you won't be coming to England for your nephew's first birthday? And to think, you so enjoyed the day last year. :-)

[roseandsigil.livejournal.com]

Ah, we won't be over there until a month or so later, and will probably further north and east. Tragic!

[mdrnprometheus.livejournal.com]

I find that even though you're right about ATMs working OK, I still like to have a little bit of local currency on hand at landing time when traveling outside US/Europe. Have occasionally found that there's not liable to be an ATM around in India when you need one, and when I get off flights I'm cranky and don't want to deal with more logistics than necessary.

[qatar.livejournal.com]

That's true, we had some problems in Delhi with this strategy. If I have like $50 or €50 in cash sometimes I bring it along to have a hard currency just in case.

In India my main problem was always having small enough bills, since ATMs give you bills that are unspendable. I'm not sure what the best strategy for that is. In Sri Lanka I found that hotels were happy to break large bills for me, presumably since I'd be spending some of it tipping their employees, but in India I stayed in guesthouses and that didn't work.

[mdrnprometheus.livejournal.com]

True, US currency definitely works in a pinch. Never had to use it, but carried about $10 for just that reason.

As far as breaking big bills, I find that biscuits and similar are my friend. Shopkeepers HATE getting the Rs 1000 or Rs 500 notes, but the MRP is on the packet, so they have to find the change.

[(Anonymous)]

You're going to Spain????? How exciting! I look forward to reading about your adventures :-) Ruth

touch me!

[(Anonymous)]

I love me some touch, too. Do you have the first or second generation iPod touch? (the 2nd gens have the volume buttons on the side.)

If it's second, you can install Skype for free and turn it into a Skype phone! International calls for pennies (or free)! If you've got Wi-Fi, you've got iPhone.

You just need a headset with a microphone (http://store.apple.com/us/product/MA850G/A?fnode=MTY1NDA3NA&mco=MTc5MTE1Mg), because the new touch can accept audio but doesn't have a built-in mic.

T.

favs

[(Anonymous)]

what are your favorite games for ipod?

Re: favs

[qatar.livejournal.com]

Current obsession: I Love Katamari. :-)