Light, Functional, & Stress Free Travel
For those of you that have travelled overseas, you know the absolute drudgery of getting through customs both in and out of the United States. From checking a bag through, picking it up at the baggage claim in a new city, and finally having to re-check it again after it goes through multiple screening securities, it can be quite the time suck. By the time you are through one set of customs, you are running through a foreign terminal praying your bag really does make it on the plane you are currently trying to huff and puff your way to. The golden rule when traveling overseas: Allow yourself time.
When I was traveling home from Dublin not too long ago, I went through 4 sets of security lines before I could just breathe easy and get to my gate. With heightened security both domestically and internationally, traveling overseas is not going to get any easier. You do however have control over the way you approach your travel, and packing light is where you can start. Packing light reduces the risk of having to check your bag in the first place, it leaves room for souvenirs, and it saves your back as you trek through foreign lands looking for a place to crash for the night. Most trips overseas are over 12 hours at least, so your carry on bag should hold all of your belongings you will need both day and night.
My first trip overseas I was only eighteen years old, and heading to Europe with my cousins. I had no idea what to expect and brought a large and heavy suitcase with me, and boy do I look back now and shake my head and laugh. Everything in Europe is small, and efficient (aka: your large suitcase isn’t going to fit well on the subways and trains). Oh, you are going by taxi? They are even smaller. Not to mention you get the absolute “tourist” evil eye by the locals, which can set you up for many things such as the pure shame of feeling like a travel rookie, excess tiredness from lugging your crap, and the most drastic case of all being mugged when you are jet laggin. My point in all of this is to encourage you to try and fit in with the country you are visiting, and pack efficient for a more functional travel experience.
Before You Go
By this point I assume you already know where your adventure lies, so this is the time to do research on the weather when you will be there, so you can pack the clothing and accessories you are really going to need. When we travelled to South East Asia in May I knew it was going to be wicked hot, so I packed accordingly. Sure enough, the only time I pulled out my sweatshirt was on the airplanes. Once you have the weather figured out, try and visualize the activities you will be doing on your trip. Hiking? Bring shoes that will not kill your feet, but are functional for everyday walking around the country. Swimming? Bring at least 2 bathing suits. Site seeing? Make sure you wear pants or a long skirt that will cover your legs, and a scarf that will cover your shoulders. You never know what temple, church, or holy site you will bump into that demands modest clothing. These are just examples.
Packing 101
The Bag
This is the first and most important item you will be bringing with you on your trip, because you will be carrying it with you everywhere you go. I have evolved from chunky inefficient traveler to efficient one bag traveler and it started with my suitcase. I recommend taking a backpacking bag, or travel backpack when traveling overseas for a number of reasons!
The streets in many countries are not as smooth and large as in the United States of America. Have you ever tried rolling your suitcase down a cobblestone street in Italy, or through a crowded sidewalk in Vietnam? It is a loud and clumsy experience let me tell you! When you have a pack on, you can walk through any terrain with it, and it will fit in most public transportation spaces without being too obnoxious to the people around you. There are two options to consider when looking into backpacks, and they are the traditional backpacking pack that opens from the top, or the travel backpack that opens like a suitcase but still can strap to your back. Let’s look at the pros and cons of both.
The Backpacking Pack Pros
Back support! This is one of my favorite things about taking a traditional pack overseas, because the weight is taken from your neck and shoulders and distributed throughout the entire pack. You will be thinking of me when you are lost somewhere in Cambodia trying to find a hostel for the night, and your back doesn’t hurt from the hours you have been walking around. If you are hung up on the difficult access to your clothing, just use packing cubes like these ones, and call it even. I love my packing cubes! Some of my favorite packs are: Osprey Aura 50 AG Pack, Deuter ACT lite 60+ 10 SL pack, and Gregory makes a great brand too but I have not personally owned one! It is best to make a trip to REI to get professionally fitted for a pack before making a purchase. This is key, as they come in many odd sizes, and feel differently once stuffed full.
The Backpacking Pack Cons
You look like a tourist! This may be a con, or a pro but it definitely draws some attention to the fact that you are a foreigner in their land. But then again so would a suitcase. If you do not use packing cubes, your clothing can get really messy really fast which is never a good thing. Wrinkles, smells, and lost clothing are not friends of an efficient traveler.
The Travel Backpack Pros
Easy access to your clothing is a huge perk with this style of bag, and appeals to many people. I used this style of bag when trekking through France and Italy, and my bag was a little more organized than my husbands was (he was using an Osprey backpacking pack.) I used the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 45L for that trip, and it is also waterproof which came in major handy when we first arrived in Paris, and the rain was coming down hard. My bag repelled all of the water and nothing got wet by the time we reached the hotel. Some other great backpacking bags with good back suspension to go with are: Osprey Farpoint series (all different sizes depending on trip length), and the Osprey Waypoint bag. To see a full lineup on these bags, click here. The Kelty Redwing, and the Kelty Flyway are also great packs!
The Travel Backpack Cons
Most of these packs are only meant to be used about an hour, and then they get very uncomfortable. If you pack them too heavy, you may not even get one hour out of them before they start irritating your neck and shoulders. I had to unfortunately experience the utter agony of this when we were making our way from Nice, France to Monte Carlo by train. Once we got to Monte Carlo we were forced to walk the steep hills of the city to try and find our hotel. Three hours later, and borderline in tears I begged my husband to trade me bags because my neck and shoulders were on fire. I used my broken Italian to communicate with a bellboy on how to get us a taxi to our hotel. My husbands Osprey pack felt like heaven. I bought one when we returned home.
*Side note: Walking instead of taking public transport everywhere will get you familiar with the city, the locals, and you will get a workout in too!
Okay whew! Now we have the bag knowledge down we can move to more fun and exciting topics!
My Essentials
Because everyone’s trips could be so different I am not going to include a clothing packing list of any sort during this article. However, it is best to come prepared with a piece of clothing that will cover your legs, and one that will cover your shoulders to be modest for Holy sites. It would be a real shame to not get to visit them due to the tank top and shorts you decided to wear for the day. Never overdo it on jeans as one pair will suffice, and bring one outfit on the dressier side just in case. I have found that Pinterest is great for getting packing lists based off of the country you are going to, so check it out!
The Toiletry Bag
This has always been one of my favorite things to pack before heading overseas because I know how important it becomes once you leave home. My favorite toiletry bag to take is the Eagle Creek Specter Bag, and you can check it out by clicking the image above. It fits everything in the list below that I usually take for my trip and airplane ride, so I do not have to pack two separate toiletry bags. It is nice to have it on the airplane as well because you can clean your tray table off with wet wipes before you park there for 12+ hours. It also allows you to freshen up to brush your teeth, as well as brush your hair after a long flight.
Inside
Travel size everything! If you run out, I assure you that there will be places a your final destination that will provide you the basics. It is fun to explore international branded toothpaste and shampoo too!
Toothbrush and 2 tubes of travel sized toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash
Travel size hair brush
Travel size straightening iron: This one is so very important, as most regular sized straighteners provide way too much wattage for most international outlets causing you to blow fuse in the hotel (yes I am guilty of this rookie mistake.)
Make up- take your basics and no more!
Deodorant x2
Wet wipes
Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Face Wash
Sunscreen
Hair ties and bobby pins
Small Tide Detergent Travel Packs for sink laundry!
Small Safety Kit: Bandaids,Neosporin, Advil, Benadryl, Immodium, Tums,Dramamine, and CIPRO (universal antibiotic just in case!)
Kleenex (This comes in handy when you have to pay for toilet paper, or none is provided in bathrooms!)
International Outlet converters for charging anything
My Carry On
This carry on bag is important for a number of reasons, one reason is this bag will become your “day pack” when you hit the town during your trip. In some countries you are required to carry your passport on you at all times, and others you can safely leave locked in your hotel room or place you are staying. Either way this bag needs to have an opening and closing zipper to ensure your valuables are out of easy reach for thieves. A daypack is smaller than a regular backpack, but not too small to where you can’t fit your basics.
The daypack that I like to use ranges from North Face, to Osprey but they all give you exactly what you need. Another one of my favorite travel purses/bags to take anywhere I go is the LongChamp Le Pliage Tote that is water proof. This purse has gone through thick and thin with me, and will hold up under any circumstances or weather. Take a look here!
Inside
Passport, ID, Wallet, Cash
Phone, Camera, and Chargers
Headphones
Sunglasses
Toiletry Bag
Socks
Snacks
Entertainment- make sure it is light entertainment such as a book or magazine
De-flatable travel pillow (Lifesaver!)
Gum, Lip Balm, Hand Sanitizer, and Water Bottle
Copies of your passport and drivers license for yourself and anyone that is traveling with you. This will come in handy if you find yourself with a stolen or lost bag. Be sure to exchange them with people in your group so everyone has your information and vise versa.
Snacks are absolute lifesavers for many different reasons on your flight over as well as in the country itself. Many close friends and family who know me well understand I do not like fish. Well in Asia that is absolutely unheard of, and there were many fish options on our in flight menu one of them being “fish floss.” Lucky for me, I brought cashews and a protein bar to hold me over until the next meal was served! It is nice to have snacks to munch on when your body is trying to acclimate to new foods once you arrive at your final destination as well. Have fun with this one!
At this point you should only have your main carry on and your daypack, and that is it! Crazy how light you can travel yet give yourself all of the basics you need at the same time.
International Tips and Tricks
Read up on the cultural norms and etiquette of the country or countries you will be visiting. There are many simple gestures that can come off as offensive to other cultures, so get updated!
What’sApp is a great tool to keep family and friends up to speed on your trip for free. No need to spend extra money on expensive phone and data plans. Viber is also a free calling app that is great to use as well as Facebook.
Walk around the country as much as you can, and get to know the people and cultural norms. Being ushered into a tour bus is one of the most sterile ways to travel and you won’t enjoy the culture as much.
Buy from the local markets instead of eating in a restaurant each day. Many of the markets offer very healthy and fresh ingredients to make meals from. Take a cooking class, and you will be even more excited about the markets!
Set up times to do your laundry. We wash a lot of clothing in sinks in the morning, and let our clothes air dry all around our room and even off of the balcony while we explore. If you wait until it’s too late, you may be moving onto your new destination with damp clothing.
Depending on where you are, know that it is okay to bargain and tipping at restaurants is not always required! Be aware of these tips that could save you money during your travel.
Don’t ever get into a taxi without a working meter. Just don’t do it.
Buy your currency at your local bank, not at the airport! You will save a lot more money that way.
Have FUN!
I am going to leave you with one of my favorite travel quotes, by the famous Anthony Bourdain, he inspires many to step out of their comfort zones and embrace a culture so different from their own.
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts; it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.”
Get packin!
xoxo Lauren Nicole
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