Packing can be a chore. It’s perhaps the worst part of traveling. Many people confess to absolutely dreading it, and often let it be till the last minute and then hurriedly toss in things without giving it much thought. This way they are not only likely to over pack but also miss out on some essential travel buddies. The Week lists a few items that you must have on you when you travel as well as things you can/should do to make your next trip relatively hassle free. Of course, you can live by the mantra that what you don’t pack, you buy – many travelers just take the bare essentials, buying everything they need when they need it – but it’s much easier when you don’t have to run around to find a local store selling what you want the minute you reach your destination.
Make a toiletries pouch
This is where you keep your toothbrush, a small tube of toothpaste, face wash, shampoo and other important things that you can’t do without on a daily basis. We suggest you buy a medium to large sized makeup pouch and fill it with these items and just keep it tucked away for when you travel. This way you don’t have to pack and unpack it every single time, and you also won’t forget a vital item.
Toss in a nail cutter, an emery board, a pair of small scissors, some cotton balls and cotton buds too in this handy kit and you are good to go.
Have a gadget/health go bag
Have another pouch with your chargers ready – this includes your mobile charger, laptop charger (if you have work to finish while on a trip), a battery backup, and other extra cords you might need.
Though it might not be feasible to have an extra set of chargers and cables for when you travel, you should definitely have a separate pouch for it so that you can quickly toss in all that you need and not run the risk of any getting lost or tangled with your clothing items. The same applies for health items too. You should have a separate pouch for any prescription medication you are on or just regular medicines like throat lozenges, antacids, cold meds, and first aid items. It would also be a wise idea to carry some painkillers and antiseptic lotion with you.
Limit your liquids
We all know about it by now, and yet there’s still a mass confusion and hold-up when someone tries to sneak a bottle of water past airport security. Much to everybody’s chagrin, pan-European baggage restrictions state that all liquids carried in hand luggage must be no more than 100 ml per item, and must fit into one small and re-sealable transparent bag (usually available at International airports for a nominal fee). If you’re carrying anything larger, stow it with your checked-in suitcase. If you want creams and lotions in your handbag, then there are stores like Miniso in Kathmandu that sell small travel friendly plastic bottles where you can store creams to last you a couple of uses.
Travel checklist: The absolute essentials
Skip the shoes
Shoes are the most annoying items to pack. How many pairs of shoes you should take depends on how long your vacation might be, but we think that two pairs is a reasonable average for a seven to ten day getaway. More important than volume is versatility, so make sure you’re not stuck hiking in stilettos by bringing a pair of shoes for every realistic occasion of your trip. Wear your most cumbersome pair on the plane – plus, stuff your socks in the rest – and you’ll save even more space. An acquaintance told us that she has set aside two pairs of shoes for travel purposes – one is a comfortable one that she can walk around in and the other is a little peep toe kitten heels for dinners and party nights. If you are headed to a beachside, you might want to pack a pair of flip-flops too.
A bedspread and a towel
For those of you traveling on a tight budget, you might want to include a pillowcase and bedspread set and a towel in your luggage. Not all budget hotels and dorm rooms have crisp sheets and towels that luxury hotels do and you might end up wishing you had brought your own. You can, however, check ahead to find out if the hotel you have booked provides clean towels on a daily basis and then pack accordingly. These space fillers can also actually come in handy to keep your other clothing items neatly tucked in your suitcase and prevent them from getting all jumbled up.
Last chance clothes
Pack underwear and socks that are just one use away from the trash can. These items should still be usable and durable, but maybe it’s a sock that has been through one too many muddy runs or underwear that’s beginning to fray. That way, you can throw them out after using them and lighten your load along the way. Or take those t-shirts you really don’t need and wear them as night clothes or a base layer during your travels and leave them behind as well—opening up more room for souvenirs.
Little things that you can’t do without
A needle and thread, a few safety pins, some wet wipes, a pen and notebook are some little but important things that you might want to consider packing. There are so many fashion issues that can be fixed with a needle and thread or a safety pin. And wet wipes are of paramount importance especially if you headed to a hot and humid place. And why is it that no one seems to have a pen while traveling especially when you have to fill out immigration forms at the very start of your journey?
Consider what else you need on a regular basis – this may vary from person to person – and lug it along in your trip. You’ll be glad you did.
