- Take a scarf. A scarf is multi functional and comes in very useful. You can use it to cover up your sunburn, keep you warm, cover up at religious sites and even double up as a hand towel. One item, many uses.
- Take comfortable footwear. There is nothing worse than going for a full day out in shoes that hurt your feet.
- You don't need to be fluent enough to hold a conversation, but know enough of the local language to be polite. Making the effort to be polite will be appreciated, even if most of the conversation has to be in English.
- Write down the address of where you are staying. This will help if you get lost or if you are trying to tell a taxi driver where you want to go.
- Bottled water. Enough said. Make sure you don't get dehydrated if you are out somewhere warm, it's easy to forget to drink water. I bought a large thermos bottle to keep my water cooler for longer whilst travelling in hot climates.
- Get a paper map before you leave the airport. If you didn't travel with one get one. It will not only highlight popular places, but is much more useful for navigating. I have used paper maps to pick out what I want to see in a day and decide on which is the best order. A lot of good travel guides will have paper maps of popular areas, as well as suggestions for things to see.
- Don't rely on google maps. It got me totally lost and whilst I will use it in the UK, I will not trust it abroad again.
- Carry a worldwide travel adaptor. I have 2 of these and they are so much better than having to get a different one to travel to different places. One item and you are covered for whichever country you end up in. I also recommend a universal sink plug, as not everywhere you go will have one. See My Top 6 Travel Purchases for more useful gadgets to take.
- Protests may be fun to watch but they are a nuisance if you are trying to get somewhere. Chaos ensues with all the roads they close.
- Take a reusable cup. I have a silicone collapsible cup, which is light weight, doesn't take up much space but expands out to a large cup. More and more places give you discounts if you take your own cup for takeaway drinks. I have also been known to take my spork away with me. It's also useful if you don't quite trust the crockery.
- If you pack light, you have more space for shopping. One for all the girls out there. Be realistic about what you need to take and try not to take things you are unlikely to use at all. We all do it, but the less you take, the more space you have for souvenir shopping.
- If you have medical supplies/medication carry them in your hand luggage. There is nothing worse than your hold baggage going missing with all your important medication and supplies in. Also, carry medications in their original boxes as it will help if you get your bag searched. However make sure you put your sun cream in your hold luggage due to the 100ml cabin bag restrictions for liquids.
- Take a hoody/jacket. Even if you are going somewhere warm, the plane can get quite cold, so take a hoody and maybe a pair of socks to help you stay warm.
- Take clothes that mix and match to make a number of outfits. Rather than pack your whole wardrobe, take things that you can mix up to make different outfits for all occasions.
- Packing cubes/Travel vacuum bags etc help you pack. I took travel vacuum bags which the air rolled out of when I went travelling to help me make the most of the limited space I had available in my bag. My friend used packing cubes and wash bags to keep everything contained. Remember to keep what you might need first easily accessible though for when you arrive.
- Roll it, don't fold it. I got this from a book and to be honest was a bit sceptical, but it does work. Rolling your clothes actually reduces volume allowing you to pack more. When I spent 3 months travelling I rolled all my clothes before I packed them into a vacuum bag and I haven't looked back since.
- Consider if wheels help or hinder. Suitcases have their advantages but they also have their downfalls. I was very much pro-suitcase when I travelled before. Suitcases are great for a beach holiday, however if you are travelling they can be a lot more effort than they are worth. If you are somewhere with lots of staircases, or worse, cobblestones then a suitcase is a bad idea. I took a camping rucksack on my 3 month travels and was pleasantly surprised. It was easy to pick up and go, took up less space than a suitcase, was very durable and as I was carrying it, stairs and uneven ground were not an issue.
- Layers - enough said. Take layers, regardless of your destination. Some of the hottest countries get a bit chilly by night, plus you need to remember what season it is when you arrive back home. Layers will make it easier to adjust if you are too warm or too cold.
- Carry a light waterproof. Unless you are going somewhere cold when you will need a thicker waterproof. Always stick a lightweight waterproof in your bag for those unexpected showers or to keep you warm if its a bit windy. Remember it rains in hot places too and should you meet monsoon season.... well enough said.
- Share your experiences Whether you keep a diary or write a blog or just tell your friends over coffee. I started to journal after a friend at University told me I should and the blog started at the request of friends who wanted to know what I was up to when I spent 3 months abroad. Keeping a record for yourself also helps you save those precious memories.
Thank you to everyone who made suggestions for inclusion in this blog post.
