Traveler's kit - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**expatben** · 03-18-2006, 02:31 PM

I thought it would be cool if we brainstom things we consider essential or at least a bonus when traveling...aside clothes and why.

Heres mine:

A deck of cards. Cards are light and do not take up much room. They provide hours of entertainment and do not require plugs adaptors or batteries. If you're by yourself you can play alone, if your on a train an with strangers and you're looking to break the ice-get a card game going! Infact, I plaid rummy for the first time was in an airport in Erfurt. Some fellow travelers from New England taught me.
So for those reasons I believe that cards should be included in any travelers pack!

chasing a dream · 03-19-2006, 08:41 AM

beer money!!!

chasing a dream · 03-19-2006, 08:57 AM

But seriously, the cards are a good idea, and cheap entertainment!

Essential items=
1) Money belt
2) If you plan on staying out of reseraunts to save money, plastic plate, and silverware
3) a few 1 gallon size zip lock bags to keep things seperated and organized (wet clothes, keep important papers dry, bathroom products, ect)
3) a travel journal
4) pen & paper
5) list of contact info of your friends and family. Never know when you will need to call / write someone
6) translation dictionary
7) camera
8) hat
9) power inverter for your electrical items

Bonus items=
1) CD player and CDs
2) portible DVD player
3) If you're a techno geek, a laptop CPU (with a built in DVD player)
4) Book or 2. If you are taking a lapyop, E-books
5) I'm taking my PDA, and a bag full of accesories
6) extra pair of shoes
7) Spair suitcase / gymbag (collapsible, fit inside of your main suitcase) to bring home souviniers
8) accesories for digital camera

Thats about all I can come up with right now

**tumblezweedz** · 03-19-2006, 09:59 AM

A toothbrush and a credit card.

And a passport.

mark-0 · 03-19-2006, 01:18 PM

A hackey-sack to hypnotize hippies with.

**omisan** · 03-19-2006, 11:18 PM

And then a rifle to shoot 'em!

All kidding aside... Preparation H! Hear me out... not for hemorrhoids (though god knows you might end up needing it for that) but it's the best thing I've ever been handed for chaffing after days of hiking, urban or otherwise. Takes care of hiking, horseback riding, flip-flop chafe - you name it!

**aliz** · 03-20-2006, 02:22 PM

when you pack your camera, iPod, whatever electronic thingies you plan on taking... REMEMBER THE ACCESSORIES! charger, extra batteries, memory cards, the cord that you need to connect to a computer, adaptors.... whatever, there is always one thing you end up forgetting and its a pain in the butt.
also get one of those handheld massage thingies they sell at the body shop. they make you extremely popular

**bluepea** · 03-20-2006, 02:42 PM

A swiss army knife. Oh my, how many times did we use that?

Duct tape - at least a little. You just never know.

These things are more for camping, but could easily come in handy otherwise:

Flashlight. So many uses. You can get pretty small ones.

A couple tea lights. Useful for heating up a can of beans or lighting up your campsite, plus uber small.

**benna2** · 03-20-2006, 02:46 PM

A camera is definately my essential. I love my pictures. But also, a swiss army knife has come in very handy.

**LostFarmboy** · 03-20-2006, 05:49 PM

1. condoms....call me an optimist

2. vegemite - I really missed my vegemite and wished that i had brought some on many occasions. (not to be used in conjunction with item no. 1)

3. put another vote down for a deck of cards - they are a travelling essential

**benna2** · 03-20-2006, 05:57 PM

Yeah anytime you combine the use of condoms and vegemite...I don't think that sounds like a good time!

Though you Australians enjoy weird things, so who knows??

And Nick...there is nothing wrong with being an optimist!! I'm sure you probably went through at least a three pack on your trip!

**LiveFreeorDie** · 03-21-2006, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Preparation H! Hear me out... not for hemorrhoids (though god knows you might end up needing it for that) but it's the best thing I've ever been handed

Hopefully the person who did the 'handing' hadn't previously been using it where is is generally supposed to have been used.........was the tube a bit brown around the nozzle??

I am just glad to hear you didn't decide to use it as lip balm..........

**BelfastFlyer** · 03-21-2006, 01:18 PM

a couple of miniture bottles of booze. Always handy as a ice breaker or too swap for something with another traveller!

**omisan** · 03-21-2006, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Hopefully the person who did the 'handing' hadn't previously been using it where is is generally supposed to have been used...

Hah! No, thankfully, that's the reason he had it, too. A lot of chafing goes on in humid areas w/ lots of hiking, etc. And hopefully not from the local streetwalkers. Eww.

Speaking of hygenic stuff.. ANTIHISTAMINE! Not only is it good for allergies (duh), it's a topical pain reliever, so long as you never put it on an open wound. Just break up the pill/capsule and rub it where it hurts. Taking antihistamine (not rubbing it on) also helps relieve sunburn.

**MolsonGirl** · 03-22-2006, 07:05 AM

I always have:

Passport
ViSA Card
Toothbrush
String
Lock
Camping Towel

Then clothing wise (on back packing trip, not my DR trip) I generally for warm weather have...

Board Shorts
Bathing Suit
2 - Tshirts
skirt
flip flops

**ScarlotteDorian** · 03-22-2006, 07:39 AM

-passport
-a couple credit cards
-moneybelt
-camptowel..(totally forgot one on this last trip and anthon and i were drying off with t-shirts at one hostel)
-toothbrush
-camera w/ xtra memory card

those are pretty much the essentials for me with all clothes aside

uninspired · 03-22-2006, 02:00 PM

--> tylenol with codeine. My doctor swears by it for travelers--stops a bad cough (so you don't sound diseased), kills headaches and other aches and pains, and apparently even can help with, er, bowel troubles. I love multi-purpose meds

Oh, and a basic antibiotic, because I get sick constantly.

--> a mirror. Yep, I'm such a girl. But they work for signaling too, or blinding people

--> duct tape. It's wrapped around my water bottle for easy access.

--> a headlamp. I won't get caught out without one again. Plus, it doubles as a reading light, so I don't kill my eyes.

**bellelass** · 03-22-2006, 04:29 PM

I have a teeny tiny former makeup bag full of winnie the pooh bandaids, a few alcohol pads, a bottle of neosporin and some antihistimines. I am uber clumsy so I cant live without it.

Also I have a travel size down comforter that goes EVERYWHERE. Now I know this sounds a little bit decadent but hear me out. Its so warm (I wrapped up in it waiting outside victoria coach station in london in the rain in the middle of winter and stayed quite toasty) and superlight, and packs down really really well. Its also very comforting to have something thats your's to wrap up in on an airplane, in a manky hostel bed, to have a picnic on, etc. I loaned it to my best friend when she was biking around france and she also swears by it. Is getting herself one before she heads out next time. And I can toss it in the washer to clean. I dunno how much they cost since mine was a gift..

Cards or the travel size chess sets. Everyone plays chess right?

Postcards from my homestate, Texas. I like to write things on them and leave them with people. Its cooler than the old scrap of paper email exchange thing.

Also, I am never without pictures of my family, namely my sister and brother. They go everywhere with me. People like to see family photos and it makes me feel like they're closer or something.

**Sabrosa** · 03-22-2006, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bellelass@Mar 22 2006, 07:29 PM
Postcards from my homestate, Texas.* I like to write things on them and leave them with people.* Its cooler than the old scrap of paper email exchange thing.

Also, I am never without pictures of my family, namely my sister and brother.* They go everywhere with me. People like to see family photos and it makes me feel like they're closer or something.

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I love your idea of the postcards.....

I totally agree...Family pics are essential!

KaseyCaye · 07-16-2006, 10:45 PM

A Frisbee - not only are they fun but you can use them as a plate